So long story short I took my 4.7 dodge to have the timing chain replaced. Was quoted 1100, and 2200 with a new oil pump, didn't think 1100 was too bad for a new chain but I told him to hold off on the pump because I didn't think it was bad, I told him to call me if he he discovered otherwise.. Well 2 weeks later he calls me and tells me my truck is done and it's going to be 2200 because the oil pump was shot.
so first off isn't it illegal to do more work than was originally agreed too?
And second From everything I've been reading the main reason the oil pump is usually so much to replace is because it's behind the timing chain so I feel like hes trying to charge me twice for labour.. also the more I read if he dropped the cross member instead of pulling the engine to get the oil pan out then it should have been even quicker!

What would y'all do if you were in my shoes. I'm going to pick it up today after work.

 

Do you have the conversation documented? Anything written on the work order about NOT doing the oil pump? If so, then you have a leg to stand on. If not.... then it's open to question.

And yes, I think he IS trying to charge you labor twice..... In order to do the chains, he is going to be down to the pump in any event. So, did he do the chains, then find a problem with oil pressure? Were YOU having any oil pressure issues before the work was done?

 

Most of the talk that went on was over the phone so no I don't really have documentation but I did ask him on 2 occasions over text if my truck was done and he said not yet. I also stopped over when it was supposed to me done at the latest and it was just getting in the shop. I told him to manually check the oil pressure as it takes about 15 seconds to reach the normal mark after starting. I told him multiple times to call me if he runs into anything and if he believes the oil pump was bad.. well when I went there and they had already started tearing my truck apart he didn't say anything about a bad oil pressure so I figured it was good. I mean how are you going to test or tell if an oil pump is bad when you can't run it?

 

It's not that I'm upset that he did the oil pump I'm upset he did it without telling me and also I'm upset that he's trying to charge me so much

 

Technically, he didn't get your OK to do the pump, so, you don't have to pay for it. However, he still has your truck, and I doubt he is going to give it back, without you paying the whole bill. If you have something else you can drive for a bit, chat with a lawyer, see what they have to say. If you don't, pay the bill, make sure he knows you are unhappy about paying it, THEN go see a lawyer.

 

The best thing to do is just pay the bill, get the truck back, and tell him that because he did the oil pump without prior authorization that you'll never be back, and he just bought a lifetime of free advertising. Then, don't go back again. It's not going to be worth the time or money to try and get a lawyer after him. If he's not the shop owner, tell the shop owner what happened, that you're paying the bill but won't ever be back again. The shop owner might cut a deal with you to just cover the price of parts or something.

 

Tell him you want all your old parts back. Get a second opinion.

 

So I picked it up the bill looked legit. A total of 10 hours labor and the rest parts. I reluctantly gave him 2k out of the 22 (I had him do my leaf spring shackles too) and told him I'll hit him up later with the rest. I saw the old oil pump and pan didn't see the timing chain I'll go back tomorrow to get them.
also after further inspection I see that he didn't even take off one of not both valve covers.. isn't that like a BIG part of doing the chain or can you do it without removing them?

 

Is this a legit shop?

 

Not chain... chains. There are three. Not possible to do all the chains without removing the valve covers and the timing cover. You can see why here...