I'm just kind of confused. I took my car into a shop last Friday, the 14th, to get the head gasket repaired. I was told it would take about four days to get repaired, and here we are a week later and its still not fixed.
I'm almost tempted to tell the guy that I shouldn't have to pay full price for something that's taken him twice the length of time he said it would. I've called three times in the past two days, and he's basically said the same thing each time, that he's "waiting to get the head from the machine shop" and that he'll "call me when its done".
What would you people recommend in this situation??
2007-09-21 10:01:16 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Four days seems like a generous amount of time to replace a head gasket. However, sending the head out for repair indicates their was some head damage in addition to the head gasket. This effectively blows out the four day estimate.
In all probability the cost estimate is also greater since the head work was not included in the original estimate. Before doing the additional work, the shop should have notified you and given a new estimate and completion time.
The mechanic is at the mercy of the machine shop.
One time I was doing a head gasket on a guys car. His head was damaged beyond repair and I tried to get one from a wrecking yard. The first two heads they sent me were warped beyond recommended limits. Took over a week just to get a good head. Customer was pissed.
2007-09-21 10:40:49 · answer #1 · answered by the mazda mechanic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are now at the mercy of the machine shop. The shop owner should have advised you as part of the job if there were going to be any complications with the repair. At this point whenever the head returns from the machine shop add in a couple of days for the repair to be finished. What a crappy repair shop
Why should you have to be made to wait. He's probably pushed your car outside while he's fixing someone Else's. If he had any business sense he would take a reasonable amount of money off the repair. Don't bring your car back to that shop unless he takes care of you.
2007-09-21 10:12:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I worked in a machine shop an it does take time I have seen some so bad a replacement had to be found . We had to order one from cal once It took over a week just shipping alone . You might try an find a rebuilt head an get it for your car. Almost all head jobs take from 3 to 7 days if all goes right it depends on the size of the shop an number of people working there.
2007-09-21 10:30:27 · answer #3 · answered by nikipoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are no laws covering timeliness of repairs.
This is a common occurrence in auto shops. They have things like part back orders or relying on a supplier like the machine shop. Shops also take in more work than they can complete many times (over booking) then use excuses to justify more time.
The best thing to do now is call and say that you were promised the car 3 days ago and you have driving you must do and ask them to pay for a rental. Don't sound angry, be nice but matter of fact. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Until you can find someone reliable you have to be nice but firm to get things done.
2007-09-21 10:16:37 · answer #4 · answered by beth 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does depend on how far from no-where you live. In Indianapolis you can get a faster turn around time and if they have one on the shelf they will swap the rebuildable old head with a one that is already rebuilt and send it out the same day.
They take in work as fast as it comes in and in that order. Some cars will take longer since they are less likely to have one already rebuilt sitting on the shelf waiting to be exchanged.
I like keeping the same head or heads on the same engine if at all possible.
They have to magnaflux the head to check for cracks and then soak it of hot tank it to clean it up, then tear it down and regrind the valve seats and replace any borderline valves and then lap them back in the head. They will gauge the mating surface of the head and resurface it if needed. Then it will be ready to re-install.
When the head can walk the length of rice paper, as delicate as dragonfly wings, and leave no trace, then it can leave the machine shop.
Good Luck!
2007-09-21 10:28:54 · answer #5 · answered by CactiJoe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you sign anything with the time expected on it? If so did it say COULD be 4 days or WOULD be four days. I think he should give you a discount or a free something or other for the extra time it's taken, but, I work for a company that has lots of machines that sometimes go on the fritz and we order parts and sometimes they come late because someone messed the order up, it was the wrong part, and in rare cases, weather delays. See what they have to say, and just ask for something, a discount or a freebie. All they can say is no. But don't be rude.
2007-09-21 10:11:44 · answer #6 · answered by misteri 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wait for him to call.
His work is backlogged in his shop because of your car.
The machine shop is apparently backlogged with work also.
Don't pressure them too much to hurry things up. The last thing you want is a rushed milling job on the cylinder head.
2007-09-21 10:10:42 · answer #7 · answered by Bobby Jim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
best suggestion is to wait it out. its obvious he had to rely on somebody elses to machine your heads so even he has to wait for the parts. complaining will just make a mechanic work faster and do a bad job. wait for him to finish up and next time try to do it yourself if possible. it isnt hard once you learn.
2007-09-21 10:09:12 · answer #8 · answered by Pablo G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋