webby
07-13-2020, 01:24 PM
Recently had 2 major issues with my Gen 4 ACR. Trans was grinding when going into reverse, and really horrible lifter tick. I had tried fresh oil and Seafoam which didn't help at all so I knew something was f**ked with the lifter.
Local shop charged me (hourly rate of $145 - I don't mind spending money on quality labor, but I'm concerned that the # of hours involved is way more than it should have been):
Transmission:
$650 - 4.5 hours - "remove trans to send out to be rebuilt"
I was told by several people that the transmission should only take ~2 hours to be removed.
Engine:
$750 - 5.2 hours - "complete tear down of customer's engine"
When I got there, the engine was not even removed from the car (it was in pieces though - but wouldn't a "tear down" be easier if the engine is removed first?). Also, with the extremely loud lifter tick, why was a tear down even necessary? They should've immediately seen that the one lifter had fallen apart (see attachments). Why did they need to spend 5 hours doing this? I asked if the engine needed to be replaced or could be rebuilt and he couldn't answer me. So apparently the full 5 hours was spent simply identifying a bad lifter
Engine quote:
$2800 - 19.3 hours - "Install customer's complete engine, replace all customer's components, replace engine oil and filter, coolant"
I didn't go through with this, because I ended up buying a new engine from an awesome member on here who towed my car free of charge and installed it for me for less than 1/2 the labor cost
When I had decided to replace the engine, he offered me $1,000 for the old one. Ok sure - that's just sales, I needed to do my due diligence and counter offer. But come on, $1,000??
I've emailed and called the guy a few times asking for a detailed breakdown of what was involved with the labor, and he keeps promising to send it but doesn't.
So... was I ripped off? Or is it possible that the amount of labor involved was valid.
From all of my conversations with this guy I get the impression that he a) doesn't respect me because I obviously don't have much mechanical knowledge and b) is all too happy to take advantage of me for that reason.
Local shop charged me (hourly rate of $145 - I don't mind spending money on quality labor, but I'm concerned that the # of hours involved is way more than it should have been):
Transmission:
$650 - 4.5 hours - "remove trans to send out to be rebuilt"
I was told by several people that the transmission should only take ~2 hours to be removed.
Engine:
$750 - 5.2 hours - "complete tear down of customer's engine"
When I got there, the engine was not even removed from the car (it was in pieces though - but wouldn't a "tear down" be easier if the engine is removed first?). Also, with the extremely loud lifter tick, why was a tear down even necessary? They should've immediately seen that the one lifter had fallen apart (see attachments). Why did they need to spend 5 hours doing this? I asked if the engine needed to be replaced or could be rebuilt and he couldn't answer me. So apparently the full 5 hours was spent simply identifying a bad lifter
Engine quote:
$2800 - 19.3 hours - "Install customer's complete engine, replace all customer's components, replace engine oil and filter, coolant"
I didn't go through with this, because I ended up buying a new engine from an awesome member on here who towed my car free of charge and installed it for me for less than 1/2 the labor cost
When I had decided to replace the engine, he offered me $1,000 for the old one. Ok sure - that's just sales, I needed to do my due diligence and counter offer. But come on, $1,000??
I've emailed and called the guy a few times asking for a detailed breakdown of what was involved with the labor, and he keeps promising to send it but doesn't.
So... was I ripped off? Or is it possible that the amount of labor involved was valid.
From all of my conversations with this guy I get the impression that he a) doesn't respect me because I obviously don't have much mechanical knowledge and b) is all too happy to take advantage of me for that reason.