By the way, my shop did not charge me for general inspection.
They found many things. I let them changed the serpentine belt only, and that is what they charged me for.

 

No, I had installed correctly. I double checked it and made sure it followed the original path. I even let the engine idle for 5 minutes and watched the belt to make sure it didn't fly off. Even during the test drive nothing was wrong.

I didn't include the labor cost (and I don't have it in front of me) but I think the labor was $375 alone. They took off the upper motor mount, of course, and had to reinstall it to take off the assembly. What's really annoying about this shop, they've used it for her car for a few years, the bushing? in the mount is broken on one side and should be replaced. Did they suggest replacing it while they have it off? Of course not. That would just be too helpful.

Nothing was wrong with the sway bar! That's what ticked me off so much.

The original links on the sway bars had broken in the past couple months. We discovered that on our Thanksgiving road trip. I picked up the link kits at O'Reiley (it's a universal kit). The difference between the originals on the car, and the new kit was two more washers and a short metal spacer. There were no instructions with the kit as to where those would go. But following instructions from a Hanes book, I reinstalled them as the originals were. The spacer slipped down to the end and the extra two washers I tacked on the bottom. I guess that wasn't the right order. So, the shop PUT them in the right order for $56.

Either my fiancée just heard them wrong, or they actually said "we need to replace the sway links." But they didn't replace anything! They just put them in the right order. If I left the spacer and washers out, it probably would've been just fine too. But then they probably would've installed spacers and charged her more. lol

Yeah. You know, all the shops I've gone to (good shops, reasonable shops, generous shops) look for the problem and give me a quote for the work. I have found that while they're working they'll sometimes give your car a once over and see if there's anything else they can make money on. That's how they stay in business. Plus, it helps me cause I'm no expert. But to turn around and say, "Hey, we DID the work, looked your car over here's a list of recommended stuff, and we're gonna charge you another $25 just cause we did" is not good practice. Her breaks weren't the problem. Thanks for looking, but don't be charging us for it, because we want you to fix the problem and not waste our time using test strips on her drums and checking the break lines for pressure and oil levels. MY regular shop also tops me off on coolant and washer fluids. This place made an extra $90 on the links and inspection and didn't even bother topping off the washer fluid. Good grief! Poor service!

I love my future wife dearly, but she knows squat about cars. She even said, "Well, what'd you expect? I'm a girl. Of COURSE they're going to over charge me!" She's gonna learn some stuff. I'm gonna make her. lol

 

any time shops go the extra once over bit it's a roll of the dice as they are trying to max out your fee's.


Just like Mortgage brokers & Mortgage realtors

If you can do the work or have a buddy help ya, its the only solid guaranteed route to go I think. Too bad we all don't live close huh =)