YACT: How much does your dealer charge you for a diagnostic?

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
The closest nissan dealer to me - crownpontiac nissan, who ironically did NOT make this site, are charging me $90 diagnostic fee, which is good towards labor, to check out a rattling I've got from the engine compartment. 1.5 hours labor automatically? Seems a bit rude to me.
 

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
6,986
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If you have not taken it in yet.

Remove the fan belt to hear if it goes away.

If it does, wiggle the pulley's to feel if any are too loose,
a little play is OK.

Water pumps can make a rattling sound.

The belt tensioning idler for a polygroove belt has a worn out voice too.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: Budmantom
Mine charges $60, Autozone is FREE.
I didn't know that autozone offered certified capable mechanics who specialize in nissans to check on a difficult-to-diagnose problem, such as this one :Q

 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: galvanizedyankee
If you have not taken it in yet.

Remove the fan belt to hear if it goes away.

If it does, wiggle the pulley's to feel if any are too loose,
a little play is OK.

Water pumps can make a rattling sound.

The belt tensioning idler for a polygroove belt has a worn out voice too.
Hey, man, where were you when I made the original "YACT my car is rattling"? :) Great ideas, but unfortunately the buggar is in there now. I couldn't locate the rattle on the weekend, though I didn't do what you recommended. I really hope they can find it (it is difficult to replicate) because I'd love to know what the heck it is.

I've been trying to learn how to do everything on the car that is possible, but this one I couldn't deal with.
 

GermyBoy

Banned
Jun 5, 2001
3,524
0
0
He charges $3 and usually gives the first sample for free. But then I'm addicted and need a fix every 15 minutes. :(
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
Man it's apparent that Nissans are nothing but problem cars. I keep seeing YACTs regarding Nissans like almost every day!
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: dabuddha
Man it's apparent that Nissans are nothing but problem cars. I keep seeing YACTs regarding Nissans like almost every day!
Yeah right :) Other than this rattle I've put 21k miles on my bought-used maxima and the only repairs have been a bad o2 sensor and coolant temp sensor. My bought-used (very used) 93 sentra I've put 31k miles on it now and the only repair was an alternator and thermostat.

 

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
6,986
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Skoorb, just like on this forum, its a box of chockolets, never know what you'll get.

When i go to NAPA the guys there have been selling parts and dealing with customer problems for years. Just think about the knowledge base of a good partsman, even if he's not a wrench. Granted some are just there to move parts, others are very in the know.

One that suprised me was a young Mexican woman named Norma at Autozone. She manages a store in the high desert now, sharp gal.

One of the advantages of studying the manual is being able to use the proper terms, this make it a lot easyer for everyone involved.
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
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81
I've put about 118k miles on my 92 honda accord and haven't had any major repairs done at all. Just the regular maintenance.
Same with my 94 accord, nothing major needed to be done.

Maybe you should become a honda fanboy :D
 

EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
15,670
1
0
They look at me and go "Uh, are you sure that's our product?"

Damn n00bs in the service department. Thank god the only thing I needed from them was a new key, which I was able to get from them by forcing them to run the VIN :p
 

Quixfire

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2001
6,892
0
0
Skoorb, here are my basic diagnostics fees.

Driveability ? 1.5hrs = $60.00
Chassis/Suspension Inspection ? 1.0 hr = $40.00
Brake Inspection - .6 hr = $24.00
Electrical System Diagnosis ? 1.0 hr = $40.00
Climate Control Systems ? 1.5 hr = $60.00
Vehicle Safety Inspection - 1.0 hr = $40.00

Bad Advise on Anandtech Off Topic Forums = Free ;)

I do waive some or the entire diagnosis fee depending on the repair. I also don?t charge the full amount if it ends up being something simple.
 

Lash444

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2002
1,708
64
91
80 dollars - krane dodge. THEE MOST GOD AWFUL PLACE EVER
i started going to milosch dodge in flint because they dont bend me over
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: dabuddha
I've put about 118k miles on my 92 honda accord and haven't had any major repairs done at all. Just the regular maintenance.
Same with my 94 accord, nothing major needed to be done.

Maybe you should become a honda fanboy :D
Hondas are too slow :)

 

wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
10,074
0
0
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: dabuddha
I've put about 118k miles on my 92 honda accord and haven't had any major repairs done at all. Just the regular maintenance.
Same with my 94 accord, nothing major needed to be done.

Maybe you should become a honda fanboy :D
Hondas are too slow :)

Does getting to 65mph .5 seconds faster really make that much of a difference? You know after owning a gas guzzling 230hp V6 J30, I went back to a more economical 155HP 4cyl and I don't miss the V6 one bit. I'll take the reliability and efficiency over raw speed any day.


< ----- Honda/Toyota fanboy



 

Budmantom

Lifer
Aug 17, 2002
13,103
1
81
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: Budmantom
Mine charges $60, Autozone is FREE.
I didn't know that autozone offered certified capable mechanics who specialize in nissans to check on a difficult-to-diagnose problem, such as this one :Q


Autozone doesn't offer "certified capable mechanics who specialize in nissans" but they do scan engines codes for free and my Nissan dealership charges $60 for that same scan and calls it a "diagnostic fee".

As far as those "difficult-to-diagnose problems" I have a mechanic who makes house calls, and I never take it to the dealership(it hurts my wallet).
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Does getting to 65mph .5 seconds faster really make that much of a difference? You know after owning a gas guzzling 230hp V6 J30, I went back to a more economical 155HP 4cyl and I don't miss the V6 one bit. I'll take the reliability and efficiency over raw speed any day.
I have the 93 sentra for cheap transport :)
Autozone doesn't offer "certified capable mechanics who specialize in nissans" but they do scan engines codes for free and my Nissan dealership charges $60 for that same scan and calls it a "diagnostic fee".

As far as those "difficult-to-diagnose problems" I have a mechanic who makes house calls, and I never take it to the dealership(it hurts my wallet).
Yeah, certainly as far as basic trouble codes I'd never go to nissan. I've done the autozone gig before and liked it :) But you can't diagnose everything with the OBD!
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: dabuddha
I've put about 118k miles on my 92 honda accord and haven't had any major repairs done at all. Just the regular maintenance.
Same with my 94 accord, nothing major needed to be done.

Maybe you should become a honda fanboy :D
Hondas are too slow :)

hehe maybe but at least they keep moving unlike Nissans :D
 

BooGiMaN

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
7,955
0
0
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: dabuddha
Man it's apparent that Nissans are nothing but problem cars. I keep seeing YACTs regarding Nissans like almost every day!
Yeah right :) Other than this rattle I've put 21k miles on my bought-used maxima and the only repairs have been a bad o2 sensor and coolant temp sensor. My bought-used (very used) 93 sentra I've put 31k miles on it now and the only repair was an alternator and thermostat.

its the luck of the draw on cars...i have a gmc with 90k on it and all i have had to do was replace the battery...now i have a toyota tundra we will see how that goes...