Do you think the garage ripped us off?

Question

A week ago we put the car in the shop because it was apparent that you could hear the transmission shifting. It wasn't a big deal, but we took it in anyway. 3 days later they say they can't find anything wrong with it.. but then the garage guy wanted to take it home and check it out over night. He did that and the next day he said it needs a transmission overhaul. $2.8k So for a few days nothing is wrong w/it and then they decide that it needs an overhaul... kind of odd right?

It wasn't detrimental to have it done yet, and even now the car sounds the same! It has a noticeable shift. Did they rip us off? Should we call and complain?

My fiance's dad pays for all the work to the Sebring. The garage is at the dealership where they all buy their cars (every time in cash). The dealership and family have a very good relationship.

80k miles and it was bought new in '02.

I'm just really pi$$ed although I'm not paying for it! I am on the verge of breaking something.

The work has already been done. We've had the car back for a few days. It shifts the same! I turned the radio off today and I could hear it getting high and then shift.

Answer 1

What I'd do is to get an estimate from different places and see what they find. It is difficult to deal with a lawsuit, which is based on your words against theirs. In fact, the mechanics personally took your car home with your permission, it is not the garage's responsibility either. If other shops can't find anything, I'd just let it go.

Answer 2

I have seen some transmissions that work fine when they are cold but after being driven 20 or 30 miles they start to act up. On newer cars if the transmission is going out it will usually turn on the check engine light. I was wondering what the sound the transmission was making most often the computer will put the transmission in second gear in what's called limp home mode and just leave it there. maybe you were hearing the engine rev because it wouldn't shift up. It is quite likely the diagnosis was correct.

Answer 3

Maybe he is telling you the truth.
Transmission, when properly rebuilt, will take 2.8K. Rebuilding automatic transmission alone would run $3000. To drop the transmission, it will take about 10 hours of labor. so for price, it is lower than the average.

As for requiring rebuilding, making noise does not justify the transmission rebuilding. It takes 10 hours just to drop the transmission to take a look at it. There got to be more than transmission shifting noise to put this much work. Usually when transmission goes, it is noise combined with gear slipping. Or certain gear would not go in (common one is reverse)

Answer 4

sounds like they tightened the bands in the transmission, if they overhauled it you`ll get a few more months out of it before it will need to be replaced, and no the dealership did`nt rip you off, sure you could have had the work done somewhere else for cheaper, but could they have done the work as fast as the dealership? most places i have experience with usually holds the car for a few months till they can get to it leaving you without transportation, maybe the problem is`nt in your transmission but in one of the sensors in the transmission, only way to tell is replace the suspected bad part with a new one and hope that it`s not bad too. calling to complain is`nt good. you could call and let them know that you still have the same problem and that it was ok for a few days and it went back to it`s old tricks, you mostly paid for their time spent working on your car they don`t want you to be an unhappy customer, they built their business on making the customer happy not ripping them off

Answer 5

It was VERY unprofessional for anyone at the dealership to propose taking the car home so they can "check it out over night". That should have been your first clue this garage is unprofessional, inexperienced, and very shady. Any work that is to be done to a vehicle, is to be done AT the shop.

Contact a lawyer, when they said nothing was wrong, then one guy took it to his personal residence, and THEN all of a sudden it needed a new transmission, that makes him liable for it. Do not speak with them any more, have your lawyer do the speaking and have him inform them that they are not to contact you, any communication with you can be done through your lawyer.

Answer 6

I have changed a lot of starters, and have never broken a cable. In fact, I don't recall hearing of anyone breaking a cable. It is possible that the cable end was rusted by years of highway salt. If they were cleaning the cable end (the part that has a metal piece which bolts to the starter) and it broke, they can reattach a new end piece to the cable, without having to replace the whole thing. You might want to call up other shops in the area, and see what they say about replacing the cable end. Good luck.

Answer 7

I guess you are talking about an automatic transmission. Did you check the fluid==was it clear. cloudy. muddy thick or runny? When the trans shifted did it take a long time to shift or was it real quick? check your manual for approximate speeds for shift change. If you don't trust the mechanic or is he a shade tree mechanic, I suggest you take it to a transmission shop--they ain't cheap--but when ever I need transmission work or questions I ask them.

Answer 8

I do not think you were ripped off, the work has not been done yet. $2800. sounds about right for a rebuilt unit. What we need to know is the sound worse when the car first starts up? If YES. You need a r-built in short order. GOOD LUCK.

Answer 9

2.8K FOR A TRANMISSION OVERHAUL IS CRAZY
you could have brought a new one for that price. even with a
good relationship dealer pricing is always way higher than a
good private shop. Best rule on repairs : just like doctors
always get a second opinion......

Answer 10

$2,800 for transmission work????? Nothing else? I'd have gotten a second opinion for that kind of money.