I was offered a quote of $1200 to replace my head gaskets. They called and said they had trouble getting the cam bolts off, causing extra hours of labor. Then they told me that it was extra to send the heads to the head shop for inspection ($110 x 2). Then they charged me on top for the bolts to be replaced. These combined, the total is now $1900. I would have thought that those charges should have been included in the estimate ($1200). They had taken $600 off the price (would be 1800) because they put in a new thermostat, water pump, and oil pan , for which I already paid $700 (and the car was still overheating). It seems to me they're trying to make up the cost they reduced. Should the bolts (cam and/or head), head shop inspection and extra time have been included in the quote or extra?
2007-07-07 10:56:29 · 6 answers · asked by cinderella4653 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The head bolts and sending the heads out to be checked for cracks should have Been included in the estimate. They had no way of knowing about the cam bolts that sort of stuff just happens.
2007-07-07 11:06:20 · answer #1 · answered by 310S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That SHOULD have been a simple off and on - which takes time to do. The estimate.
As best as I can translate:they had trouble getting the bolts off(broke them) broke them in the heads(both heads) so they had to be extracted by heating(safest way is thru a head shop/machine shop).
They did a F.U. and are trying to get you to pay for the extra time and cost.
The quote is something that is put on paper - its more than just an eyeball estimate....it is itemized list of parts and tasks (how long the job takes for each activity and in total) - so for them a bit of paperwork and calculations. There is a shop manual that tells how long it takes to change head gaskets on a Ford, or a Chev, or a Dodge, or any specific foreign car. This is the book that is used to protect THEM and the CUSTOMERS.
The one time use bolts should have been in there too.
Your initial problem was overheating(why they would change the oil pan is beyond me)
They should have come up with a new estimate (which should have given you the ability to go to other shops and get an estimate as well.) They do not own your vehicle. The parts in the car are now yours. Unfortunately not the ones needed to go but they are done.
Ok you say, give me a written up quote and they should have itemized what the work was that they planned to do,(timewise and costwise) That cost should not vary more than 10% above the written quote.
As part of their sales pitch they probably said "and I will have the heads cleaned and checked out for warpage or cracks while they are off before reinstalling them" No mention of extra costs there....and there should not have been(he would have absorbed it in his estimated price.)
Your quote should be written down and that is what they can charge(but they have to do the work.) The better business bureau should be contacted should they want to screw you on this deal.
Heck, you could have fixed the car yourself if it means replacing the motor for another one.
2007-07-07 18:40:07 · answer #2 · answered by ButwhatdoIno? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a shop owner.
Mechanics demand a certain pay without exeption. Electricity has to be paid without exeption. Rent has to be paid without expeption. Part suppliers want their pay without exeption. So from a business stand point profit has to be made. Most of the time the jobs work out smoothly and eveyone is happy. Sometimes rusty/old bolts come out hard or brake. It's imposible to predict the future. And as I have learned advising someone of all the possible bad scenerios only drives people away to a shop that does not tell them the worst scenerio. Replacing or rebuilding heads in never an exact science. If the engine overheated it's posible the heads warped. It's possible the engine cracked. It's possible it melted sensors. It comes down to the integrity of the shop. I am a shop that is very honest with eveyone. If it takes a little longer to do the job I dont charge extra even though I have to pay extra to my mechanics. If it takes hours extra I have to charge. I don't like charging extra and neither does my costumer. But in the end, the cost goes towards doing the job right. More then likely the shop is not ripping you off. I give it a 90% chance they are honest. But there is that 10% chance.
2007-07-08 09:15:56 · answer #3 · answered by prepelita1212 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you shouldn't be charged for the extra time it took them to loosen the bolts. when they give you an estimate they follow a book that tells them how much labor on average it should take to do a job in its entirety. if it took longer then what the book said it should take then i would tell them tough cookies. as far as the head inspection, they may have found something that they may have felt needed extra attention but should still have told you about the added expense.
2007-07-07 18:06:11 · answer #4 · answered by george 2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they should have warned you first that these things may add cost. inspection should be included, and extra labor for the bolt removal is b.s.
a qoute and an "estimate" are different.... Estimates can be changed, because it was merely an estimate. A qoute is almost like a contract, and should not be changed.
2007-07-07 18:06:47 · answer #5 · answered by CHRIS S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Big question is was it a quote or an estimate, a quote would be written and itemised, an estimate verbal, if it was a quote, they should live up to it.
They did contact you about the extras, so there doesn't seem to be a lot you can do.
2007-07-07 21:57:57 · answer #6 · answered by dinkydionline 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋