Can a mechanic do this?

Question

I took my car to a mechanic and he said that he was going to charge $100 to fix the problem.I told him okay and if he finds anything else wrong or needs more parts to call me first,but he didnt he said he had to do extra work on it and he needed extra parts,but he didnt call.He told me when I went up there to pay.Now he is trying to charge me more,what can I do and what do I tell him?

Answer 1

The law allows for a 20% error. In other words if he quoted you a price, he can be off by 20%. Your mistake was not getting anything in writing. NEVER tell someone to go ahead and fix anything without a direct OK from you first. Turn him over to the better business bureau, and get an attorney if you think it is worth the cost of fighting. In some states there is a department that deals just with auto repair situations like yours, call the district attorneys office and ask for a referrel to one near you.
Good luck

Answer 2

You do not say how much more the added parts and labor are. If it is less than $50 more just pay it.

Often when you take things apart, you find more worn parts that must be replaced. You cannot always tell how bad things are from the outside. No one can do this. Some shops pride themselves in their ability to forecast. Actually they assume up front everything needs to be replaced and regardless of actual need, they replace everything in the general area - and you pay for it. Some people actually like the idea of the rigid price - but it is in fact the most costly way to acheive the end result.

I would talk with him about the added parts and labor but also try to see it from his side.

Cheap jobs may sound nice at first. Continually returning for more service because worn parts were installed to hold a price is not a savings either.

Answer 3

That's a pretty nasty knock. Knocking can come from a few conditions. It can be preignition because of too much carbon build up in the combustion chamber. You hoped that "Tune up in a bottle" cleaned that out but just idling around isn't enough to make it do its job. Spark timing too advanced can make the engine knock, but the knock sensor would have retarded the engine to arrest that and the performance would have been very crappy. If the timing belt slipped and someone adjusted to ignition timing to try and compensate for that, you could wind up with a serious engine knock and bad performance. I don't think your knock sounds like that though. Since the dipstick came up dry there migtht have still been a couple of quarts of oil in the bottom of the pan so the warning light didn't come on to signal no oil pressure. Oil primarily lubricates the engine parts a minimizes wear, but it also helps to cool the engine somewhat. When there isn't enough oil to take the extra heat, it will burn, deposit carbon and sludge and wear the engine more. Your knock sounds like a connecting rod bearing that is worn out and letting th erod wander onthe crankshaft an pound against it. Soon it will get stuck and smash its way out the side of the engine or through the oil pan. Rebuilding an engine after all that damage is often not worth the trouble. You can fully diagnose that condition by removing the oil pan and shaking the connecting rods. The bad one will be really loose compared to the good ones. The crankshaft will need to be ground and refinished and an undersized bearing installed. That's a lot of work that a machinist must do. Here's all the info you can use, since you're going to the shop. They will tell you all the stuff I said and probably ten or twenty more things they can get you to pay for on the way to completely rebuilding the engine for a small fortune. You can run out of oil and still turn the engine over. The last straw is when it seizes after you run it dry for awhile. I wouldn't try to repair that except to completely hot rod it with all new parts and bore it out. You decide.

Answer 4

A reputable mechanic should have called you first. Often the cost ends up being higher when you take your vehicle to someone who is less reputable or is a fly-by-night type of operation. They will try and screw you any way they can. I do know that repairs have to be authorized before work can be completed...at least that's how it is at most places. Did you sign something when you went in agreeing to the repairs or was it a verbal agreement. If you signed something agreeing to the necessary repairs you are stuck with the bill. If it was a verbal agreement is it solely your word against his...we both know which direction that could take. If you did not sign anything and he did the work without consulting you...I would contact your Attorney General's Consumer Protection division and ask them the proper way to go about it and what the laws in your state are concering your situation.
Sorry to hear about your bad luck.

Answer 5

If you tell them to call than they have to call. I think they have to after a specific amount anyhow. If they replaced parts ask to see the old parts and the new parts and an explanation why it needed to be replaced. This is good practice for a good mechanic. If they refuse to do that then refuse to pay that portion. If they refuse to give you your car back (or refund if that is the case) then threaten (and back up if needed) to take to small claims court and report to the Better Business Bureau.

A good mechanic is hard to find. Sounds like you are still looking.

Good luck
Beth

Answer 6

Tell him you asked him to contact you if he found anything else wrong because you cant afford anything more than the original bid. Find out exactly what he did that he is charging you for. If it was an absolute must for your car to be fixed ask him if you can set up a payment plan. It would help If you bring someone with you that knows more about cars than you.

Answer 7

if you specified that he was to contact you BEFORE doing any additional work/putting additional parts and he didnt, tell him you'll pay for the add'l parts (if absolutely needed), but he's going to have to eat the labor charges on anything above the original $100. as long as that $100 wasnt an 'estimate'. hope this helps

Answer 8

I don't know where you are but in California shops are required to give you a written estimate and any additions must be approved, by you ahead of time. California licenses auto repair shops through the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR). Estimate rules are strictly enforced by the BAR and you can contact them for help.

Answer 9

tell him that you are only paying what you two agreed to. you told him if it needs anything else to call. he never called. get an attorney and take the con artist to court. they you may not even have to pay for the repair! but as far as i know, they cant do more work to your car unless they have authorization from the owner (that being you) good luck. hope this helps.

Answer 10

My sister had the exact same problem and there is really nothing you can do except tell them that you will never come back and tell other people not to go there. Some mechanics will do any thing to make a quick buck.