Anyway the car went in on Monday 23rd and I only got it back today.

The total price $915.49

They said the car was running hot but it had never done this before I handed it in, then they said the radiator will have to be tested when all I believe it was, was just the water pump and thermostat so I had to pay for their guess.

Note I put it in for only for a general service, and to fix the sweat under the head (welch plugs)

Here's what the service states done:
Service and safety check
*Drain engine oil and replace oil filter
*check brakes, hydraulic system, check hand brake
*Machine front rotors and re-face pads
*Check all fluids and top up
*Check all lights, replaced number plate lights (1 only)
*Check wiper blade condition
*Pressure test cooling system - running hot
*Locate water at welch plugs, remove exhaust manifold and replace 3 brass welch plugs
*Remove radiator and clean and repair top tank (went from 20% blocked to 35% all of a sudden)
*Replace thermostat (stuck open)
*Replace water pump, rocker cover gasket
*Pump up tyres

PARTS COSTS INCL GST:
Oil filter $14.25
Sump plug washer $2.04
Prem Engine oil $31.95
Disc maching $33.00
Wedge Globe $2.00
Rocker cover gasket $19.00
Manifold gasket set $27.00
Flange Gasket $9.00
Brass welch plugs $14.00
Brass welch plug $8.00
Thermostat $26.00
Gasket $3.00
Water pump $98.00
Coolant antifreeze $39.00
Clean and Repair radiator (new tank) $185.00

LABOUR costs total: 5.5hours? 71.50 per hour = 393.25

Does it take 5.5 hours to do that? I high doubt it

I also asked for a transmission service and I though that was in the price which it was not and I didnt notice that until I got home and read through it.

What do people think? rip? normal? should i ring them and complain?

thanks in advance

considering they did the water pump i thought 5.5hours was good

You covering the time they've spent on your car total. Parts don't magically arrive you're paying for their skills their training, rent, costs and all else on top. Thats covered by labour. sounds like a fair price.

You're studying law it's like how people will go why am i paying you x amount you didn't have to do much. Except go to uni for 4 yrs min.

My mate had welsh plug problems. They replaced one and found the same problem and replaced all of them then. He should feel ripped.

Don't like it learn to do it yourself.

Hey, ok i think it's a high price - i'm rather betting the shop mechanic doing the job doesn't see anywhere near $71.50/hr. a washer for $2.04? this probably costed 10cents max. you're seeing profit margin on top of profit margins.... unfortunately everyone does it. It's an australian culture of doing business - anything that requires service/labour/some to do it is gonna be using this business model so it's going to be expensive.

if there's a question of the serviceability of your radiator then i'd expect them to address the radiator. not every other part around it? & then tell you there still the one issue with the radiator which we don't know about that you might have to see someone else to address? so if it's still hot, go elsewhere - How professional is that? In my mind this reflects the general half-corked and uneducated nature of motor mechanics.

I 'll pay so that a shop profits to have my car fixed but this mob are a bunch of morons.

Don't like it learn to do it yourself.

Thats for sure, yet how stupid does it seem that they pull the radiator out before replacng the water pump, it would of been less to begin with rather then taking the more expensive option.

I suppose the industry does not have any set pay standards and this is across the board with any industry, almost. "charge what you want theory"

The thing that gets me angry is that the car was not running hot before I handed it in, so now I had to pay for their guess. However I did see the water pump and that did require replacing, the most it should of been is pump + thermostat + coolant + welch plugs + service.

One day ill be able to afford to update, but need this crap car to last a while longer

thats about the price we would charge at work, or even cheaper, so what are u complaining about?

And After That What Happens? Went Down To The Servo Driving Home Just Now Hear A Hissing Sound The Radiator Steam Is Leaking From The Bonnet

Racv Comming Now Lucky I Made It Home

Not Happy At All

ffs

Sounds like you've been stuffed over, I'd be taking that up with the mech's, didn't you say it never had an overheating issue before?

Sounds like you've been stuffed over, I'd be taking that up with the mech's, didn't you say it never had an overheating issue before?


I got RACV out yo come and he checked it all and fixed the hose temporary and I dropped it back at the mechanics tonight.

The hose from the water pump to the heater split cause steam to shoot out of the bonnet, and lose coolant.

They clearly are obliged to fix this as they did change the water pump, before I handed it I never had a cooling system problem!

(It's actually not that bad hoping that no damage was caused to the engine, I assume not as I drove it with no problems *fingers crossed* a Family friend know's the actual owner(s) and managers so it should work out smoothly.

Now they ****ed it up, hit them hard and get them to fix it all up properly and you will have new parts and should NOT have to pay for it. You just gotta give it to them hard, if needs be, go in front of customers and make them look like idiots that customers would feel like walking out and they will give in.

Did they contact you and explain what their findings were?
Did you give them the OK to go ahead with those repairs?

If not, then I believe you may have a case.

Hmmm, that price seems fair for all the work that was done.

And to answer the topic. No I've never felt ripped because I've never had my car serviced by a mechanic, it's my first car and I've always serviced it myself.

wow you got the welch plugs cheap haha... i re-did my welch plugs a month or so back and they cost me about 40 bucks for about 6 of them in brass...

A friends parents just got their magna serviced and it cost them $1800!!! now that seemed like a rip off... but when I looked closer, i spose they did 100000km timing belt and it was a pretty big service... still thats worth more than my car, i could just get a new magna if I had to spend that much servicing it haha.

They had it and checked it all out, all seems fine and even the hoses all seemed fine - was weird it split.

I'm just glad they are aware of it and if anything else happens they will know about it straight away.

It's good my family friend know's the owners so everything gets done smoothly

Did seem expensive but I guess thats the cost of running a car and having the luxury