Bad Service/Rip Off...What would you do???

[MR MAC GU]

Ok, since i recently replaced my exhaust with a larger one i thought it would be a good idea for a dyno run to adjust the Stienbour Chip on the Patrol to suit, I had noticed it was a little sluggish off the line of late but from 2200rpm and above it has heaps of go...

I rang a local dyno shop/turbo specialist (i wont name names but located on Beaudesert Rd at Coopers Plains) and asked them what it would cost. I was told that a dyno run was about $135 inc GST

I booked my car in as a "wait job" and arrived at 8.30am this morning. When I arrived they told me the mechanic was out but should be back soon. At 9.00am my car was still sitting in the car park and as I went to enquire about what was happening I noticed a mechanic getting into it. Over the next 15 minutes I heard my car revving on the dyno 4 times and then a short break and then another two times. at 9.35 i watched my car drive back in from a road test and get parked in the car park.

Finally after my car being finished for twenty minutes or more a mechanic came in and told me that my car was all done and there are no problems other than my maf needed cleaning which he did. He did notice my lack of power on take off but they cant test an auto below 2500rpm on the dyno as it will just keep kicking down so he cant do anything about it.

They finally came to take my money and asked me to pay $367 and not the $135 they quoted. I questioned this and they said the $135 was for the dyno time but doesn't include the mechanics labour of $105 or cleaning the maf which they charged me $27.50 and as they didn't find any problems they thought they would perform a scan test of the computer at a charge of about $100 which showed that the car has no faults recorded. I told him that they should have asked me if they wanted to do extra work and they said they only ever do that if there is significant costs involved. I asked doesn't the original quote tripling in value class as significant.

In the end as they only worked on my car for about 40 minutes tops and they used no parts and the only material was a little maf cleaner i figured that even $135 was over priced and i told them i would only pay the original quoted price (I promise i was very polite) and no matter how good the mechanic is no mechanic is worth $500/h which is about what they were charging. Not to mention they couldn't do what I had asked for in the first place and that was down low performance. I paid the $135 grabbed my keys and left...

Keep in mind that I am not stupid when it comes to cars as i have worked in the Automotive Repair Industry for over 20 years

What would you have done???

[heath74]

Probably similar. I might have been ok with paying for the MAF clean.  Its really frustrating when someone tries one on like that though.

[Jon]

Same.

Local Mi$^^&*U(i Stealer for the Triton 45000km service.
Quoted $420, inv comes out for $790.
"Let me see the invoice please"
"You are charging me $198 for 7litres of oil?"

Some to-ing and fro-ing later, I paid $490. Not been to a factory stealer since.
Theiving criminals.

[McGirr]

Yes finding a good and honest mechanic is hard to find. I had 3 quotes to get my daughters car timing belt done. So far quotes from $820 to $1100.

Good mechanics will call you to mention any thing that was found and not asked to be done.

I would have done exactly the same and also advised them about the poor service.

Mark

[Jon]

car timing belt done. So far quotes from $820 to $1100.

Mark

Volvo 240 series timing belt- Volvo dealer $135 just for the belt.
Bearing services- Gates equivalent $13.

[singo-26]

Yes finding a good and honest mechanic is hard to find. I had 3 quotes to get my daughters car timing belt done. So far quotes from $820 to $1100.

Good mechanics will call you to mention any thing that was found and not asked to be done.

I would have done exactly the same and also advised them about the poor service.

Mark

A really good (read trusted) mechanic does not need to ring you for approval. Then again I would struggle to charge to clean the Maf on a zd30, It's a 10 minute job tops.

[sol]

Hi Mcgirr
What make of car does your daughter have?
I'm a motor mechanic,self employed and have own business.
I'd be more than happy to give you an honest quote.That way you know
what your really up for.I'm not interested in doing the job but would
gladly help out with quote.I fit around 100 timing belt kits a year.
       

[jetcrew]

Mr Mac GU,

I'd have done exactly the same , Had similar experience with a plumber who fitted our gas hotplates and gas line out to 2 x 9kg bottles. I could smell gas outside on bottle 1 so wifey called him and said no rush to come out as I switched it to the No2 bottle. So next time he was in the area could he drop in and have a look. No probs so far.

3 weeks later he calls wife and says I've had a cancellation I will be out there in 2 hrs .no probs. he turns up and the thread on the bottle needed tightening. Now I fitted the bottles so it was my stuff up.

He then bills us $200 and claims it was an emergency call out .  I say .you took 3 weeks to get here. then he says he was way over the other side of town and had an hour drive to get here after his job got cancelled.

I refuse to pay the $200 bill. things start to get nasty over the next few weeks with a few messages and demand notices. He threatens court action . So I pay him $88 (which was what he charged per hour to do the install) and tell him if he wants the rest and can convince a magistraite that 3 weeks is an emergency call out then I'll happily pay the rest. I never hear from him agian.

Worst part is he did a bloody good job and I would have referred him to anyone and used him agian .but he got greedy.

No one minds  paying a fair price but I hate rip offs too.

Jetcrew      

[Bird]

Yes finding a good and honest mechanic is hard to find

Agree 1000%...

Im onto a good one at moment... hope it stays that way

[McGirr]

Hi Mcgirr
What make of car does your daughter have?
I'm a motor mechanic,self employed and have own business.
I'd be more than happy to give you an honest quote.That way you know
what your really up for.I'm not interested in doing the job but would
gladly help out with quote.I fit around 100 timing belt kits a year.
       

Mate a 98 Mitsubishi magna 4 cylinder as they recommend doing the water pump at Thr same time. Sorry for going off topic. Sol pm me thanks.

[Garry H]

I rang a local dyno shop/turbo specialist (i wont name names but located on Beaudesert Rd at Coopers Plains) I significant costs involved. I asked doesn't the original quote tripling in value class as significant.


What would you have done???

stick to the facts (you wont get in trouble) and name them in Public on this forum
companys try it on all the time and some people fall for it..............

[Redback]

I wouldn't have taken it there in the first place, I'm not a fan of dynos, any mechanic worth his weight should know why a car is lacking power in low revs, without using a dyno.

I'd be taking it to whoever did your exhaust.

Baz.

[Gunna Do]

I had a similar situation years ago when I had the timing belt replaced in my Patrol.  I was quoted about $150 for the job, dropped the vehicle off and a short time later had a phone call to say that there was a shower heat exchanger in the way and that it would be extra work to do the job.  Didn't think much of it and told them to do what was required to do the job.  Went back to pick it up and got a bill for $466.00.  When I questioned this, the service manager said that the extra was for the removal of the heat exchanger, replacement of coolant etc.  When I pointed out that the heat exchanger was held on with four hose clamps and could be pulled back and out of the way without the loss of any coolant, he just shrugged his shoulders.

From memory it was an extra two hours labour for this extra unnecessary work.

I paid up reluctantly and when I got home I drafted up a letter to the manager of the company outlining what had happened and what was involved with the removal of the heat exchanger, and I also attached several photos.  This letter was sent off and to this day I haven't received a reply or even an acknowledgement of the letter.

I've never been back near that Nissan dealer again, for anything.

[SKEMPIE]

Mr mac gu,
Name and shame is the game ! Is this not the same exhaust shop that others on here have had hassles with earleir this year for asking for a exhaust quote and then getting numerous phone calls weeks later asking why there not coming in for the exhaust ....

[MR MAC GU]

Mr mac gu,
Name and shame is the game ! Is this not the same exhaust shop that others on here have had hassles with earleir this year for asking for a exhaust quote and then getting numerous phone calls weeks later asking why there not coming in for the exhaust ....

It is a dyno/turbo shop not an exhaust shop.

[MR MAC GU]

I wouldn't have taken it there in the first place, I'm not a fan of dynos, any mechanic worth his weight should know why a car is lacking power in low revs, without using a dyno.

I'd be taking it to whoever did your exhaust.

Baz.

The reason the power range of the engine has changed is because it has suddenly had a massive increase in exhaust flow and lower back pressure. The only way to adjust the aftermarket computer is to run it on a dyno to adjust the fuel mix etc which is a common thing and something that i knew would need to happen, The exhaust shop did nothing wrong and in fact they advised that this would happen. They dyno shop that initally fitted my upgraded computer in my opinion is just trying to take me for a ride. The owner actually said to me that they do this all the time and no one has ever complained...until now...

[Rumpig]

stick to the facts (you wont get in trouble) and name them in Public on this forum

i believe it starts with a M and rhymes with Notsons