Autodata and Mitchell - Gouging tools for auto shops ??

[The Buddha]

Hey someone has to work here at an auto service shop ...
Now I have some personal experience with autodata as of 8 years ago.
You take your car to the shop for a valve cover gasket replace, fuel injector clean and spark plug and wire change.
Auto data will give the shop the times that it will take per job. However it will not count the fact that to change the valve cover gasket, you gotta get the fuel injector module and all spark plugs off. You'd end up getting charged for that 2-3 times.
Anyone know if the software has changed to count in the repeats when multiple tasks are done in the same area of the car.
Cool.
Srinath.

[scottpA_GS]

Well, I dont know about cars, but at our Bike shop we use "Lightspeed" And I can tell you for certain that some procedures/repairs are not charged properly. It takes a good service manager to see (if he wants) that you are being over charged 

[mach1]

When I used to work in a shop stuff like that would be a bundle deal. Example... A Car comes in Needing a Timing Belt and the comsomer also wants a water pump, Well the water pump is driven by the timing belt so we dont charge labor for the belt only the price for parts, the reason for that is whne being charged for the Pump that includes the time for removing the belt and then putting it back on and checking the timing. Most honest shopes will realize that and not charge for both. As far as I go when ever I had to do A pump or belt on these cars I suggested the other unless it was just done. I ask the customer If their pump or belt was ever replaced and if no I suggest it letting them know It will save them money down the line.

[ohgood]

Hey someone has to work here at an auto service shop ...
Now I have some personal experience with autodata as of 8 years ago.
You take your car to the shop for a valve cover gasket replace, fuel injector clean and spark plug and wire change.
Auto data will give the shop the times that it will take per job. However it will not count the fact that to change the valve cover gasket, you gotta get the fuel injector module and all spark plugs off. You'd end up getting charged for that 2-3 times.
Anyone know if the software has changed to count in the repeats when multiple tasks are done in the same area of the car.
Cool.
Srinath.

I wouldn't say it's a gouging tool. I'd say it enables dis-honest shops to gouge more easily  though. It all comes down to how bad they are once your hood is open and the paper is signed.

I end up having to do things twice or thrice sometimes, but I cannot bring myself to trust a $10/hr kid (no offense kids) to things that cost major money to fix/replace later down the road. Oh, I'm a cheapskate too, so ...

[The Buddha]

In that case, I am looking for a good honest mechanic in houston.
Preferably someone who works from his house.
Cool.
Srinath.

[ohgood]

In that case, I am looking for a good honest mechanic in houston.
Preferably someone who works from his house.
Cool.
Srinath.

I know the feeling. We moved from MS to FL and don't know anyone trust worthy yet (aside family, and they don't wrench). The hardest part about moving is finding the ways around traffic, decent shops, decent retailers, decent eats, etc. Good luck finding an -almost- shade tree.

[Teek]

My hubby is a service writer for a Honda dealer (auto). This shop is one of the worst he's worked. He's an honest guy but the mechanics are always pushing for stuff the car doesn't need. The advisors are pressured to upsell. The parts prices are ridiculous! THEN they have something called the matrix that increases labor prices, so if you don't read the hourly rate sign on the wall and do the math yourself, you could pay an extra hundred or more in padding on labor alone. My guy takes discounts off of parts and wherever else he can, because he hates it, and he's looking for another job. Thge company is also messing up the pay scale for the advisors and adding to their workload, it's getting impossible, they are working even harder to make less, and everyone is quitting.

However, if you go in as an informed consumer (and of course you would be) and ask the prices up front (and check OEM parts prices on the 'net), and also check all the prices after, and catch them in anything funky, and whine, and ask to see the service manager, they will often do a big discount, at least out here. Apparently the savvy people grind the service manager and get stuff for free.

Me, I had an independent that I trusted, turned out he was screwing me over pretty good on some stuff. I pretty much knew what the vehicles needed, but some stuff can always be snuck through. I put my foot down when he told me my compressor was dead on my air, I said no way, it's 3 months old, and there's no noise and no sign of it having overheated and it wasn't seized. He wanted $1,000. to fix it, I drove without air for 2 years, all it had was a leaky o ring, my hubby had it fixed for $30 his cost when he was my new BF, and that's one of the reasons I finally married him.   

[ohgood]

My hubby is a service writer for a Honda dealer (auto). This shop is one of the worst he's worked. He's an honest guy but the mechanics are always pushing for stuff the car doesn't need. The advisors are pressured to upsell. The parts prices are ridiculous! THEN they have something called the matrix that increases labor prices, so if you don't read the hourly rate sign on the wall and do the math yourself, you could pay an extra hundred or more in padding on labor alone. My guy takes discounts off of parts and wherever else he can, because he hates it, and he's looking for another job. Thge company is also messing up the pay scale for the advisors and adding to their workload, it's getting impossible, they are working even harder to make less, and everyone is quitting.

However, if you go in as an informed consumer (and of course you would be) and ask the prices up front (and check OEM parts prices on the 'net), and also check all the prices after, and catch them in anything funky, and whine, and ask to see the service manager, they will often do a big discount, at least out here. Apparently the savvy people grind the service manager and get stuff for free.

Me, I had an independent that I trusted, turned out he was screwing me over pretty good on some stuff. I pretty much knew what the vehicles needed, but some stuff can always be snuck through. I put my foot down when he told me my compressor was dead on my air, I said no way, it's 3 months old, and there's no noise and no sign of it having overheated and it wasn't seized. He wanted $1,000. to fix it, I drove without air for 2 years, all it had was a leaky o ring, my hubby had it fixed for $30 his cost when he was my new BF, and that's one of the reasons I finally married him.   

Congrats love birds, however long it's been.

Short story, promise:

Ma-in-law's camry spun a bearing, it was run low on oil.    I keep my truck, the wife's car, and the maw-in-laws car, along with the gs running and serviced. I check the oil with EVERY fillup. I don't drive the maw-in-laws car much, and rarely ever fill it up. Soooo, I only check the oil when I change it. I felt like complete shaZam! when I changed the oil and heard the rods knocking. A 4 cylinder camry is one of the toughest, most reliable cars on earth, and I  had a dead one in front of me. Really really felt like shaZam!.

Took it to the local toyota dealer, paid $90 for a sludge diagnosis (there's a recall), and was given a quote of $4000 for a new motor, or $3800 for a rebuild. I said "No thanks man, I'll just junk it out to someone for $1200 and call it a total loss." He then IMMEDIATELY said "I can knock off $1000 bucks." My jaw hit the floor. No haggle, nothing, and he basicly said their prices are complete LIES. Padded LIES.

I was ticked then. I may just do the bottem end myself at some point, then sell it. I can't live with passing it off to someone with the rods knocking. Makes my stomach hurt.

Damned dealers, they're swindlers.

[Thrash67]

Srinath if you find anyone in houston let me know.....you looking for a mech. for bike or car?

[The Buddha]

Car, not bike mech, I am yet to meet a better mechanic than "the srinath armed with GStwin help". BTW, I prolly could get car help here too, except ... well I aint getting under the car.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Thrash67]

How much do you charge for bike services?

[Teek]

Ma-in-law's camry spun a bearing, it was run low on oil. 

It's done, and not on purpose, so don't beat on yourself. Teach Ma how to check the oil on the next one.   

Took it to the local toyota dealer, paid $90 for a sludge diagnosis (there's a recall), and was given a quote of $4000 for a new motor, or $3800 for a rebuild. I said "No thanks man, I'll just junk it out to someone for $1200 and call it a total loss." He then IMMEDIATELY said "I can knock off $1000 bucks." My jaw hit the floor. No haggle, nothing, and he basicly said their prices are complete LIES. Padded LIES.


Yeah, 5-6 years ago I would have been stunned.  You got one of the honest guys stuck in the system, doing the best he can in a job with companies that have no more concern for customer service, excellence, repeat business, nothing, just making a bigger bottom line. It used to be these were independently owned dealerships, now they are corporations. They are cutting their own throats, but first they are really hurting their employees. It didn't used to be so mercenary. 

[The Buddha]

How much do you charge for bike services?

I am usually pretty leery of taking on whole bikes from people to work on unless I was the one that sold it to them and its continued to be well maintained after that. I am usually free if done at your place though (cos I dont have the space really and I hate cleaning up after, and I cannot be held to any sorta time table, so I'll only be able to do short bursts with any sorta set timing) ... but I limit myself to the technical and supposedly hard stuff. Like for example, I wont be there to take off the tank and air box etc and get your carbs out, and when that's done, I'll help you with the carbs and help you with the first part of reassembly. Then you're on your own. My goal is to get you to progress without screwing yourself up in the process.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Thrash67]

If you could come one day and help with the carbs that would be great. Not any time real soon need to get up some money and stuff. But yeah cool.

[werase643]

why waste the $ on the diagnosis.... broke d!ck is broke d!ck

97-2001 camry engines are pricey
find a used one in a junk yard for $1000-1500 and get a shade tree guy to install it....for a couple hundred bucks

if the car was nice....fix it.... it will be worth more than 1200+engine costs if fixed(with a used engine)

[werase643]

talk about taking it in the butt....
i picked up a car the other day
in the glove box was a repair bill for the blower fan
$280 labor and 95 parts

i could have replaced the fan motor in.....10 min if i was real slow....3 phillips screws and 1 plug

also a 400 buck used 5 speed with a 500 buck labor cost

tranny's go for 200 and the labor should have been about 250-300

[The Buddha]

If you could come one day and help with the carbs that would be great. Not any time real soon need to get up some money and stuff. But yeah cool.

OK anywhere on the I - 10 from Katy to D/T ... that's my regular commute.
Hit me via PM with a location. Too far off there, may have to defer to some weekend.
Now for Carbs, I have a standard $45 for clean remove plugs and rejet for your setup. Minimal refit help included. Carbs I do actually consider finiky enough to consider working on for others.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Teek]

Short story, promise:

Ma-in-law's camry spun a bearing, it was run low on oil.    I keep my truck, the wife's car, and the maw-in-laws car, along with the gs running and serviced. I check the oil with EVERY fillup. I don't drive the maw-in-laws car much, and rarely ever fill it up. Soooo, I only check the oil when I change it. I felt like complete shaZam! when I changed the oil and heard the rods knocking. A 4 cylinder camry is one of the toughest, most reliable cars on earth, and I  had a dead one in front of me. Really really felt like shaZam!.

Took it to the local toyota dealer, paid $90 for a sludge diagnosis (there's a recall), and was given a quote of $4000 for a new motor, or $3800 for a rebuild. I said "No thanks man, I'll just junk it out to someone for $1200 and call it a total loss." He then IMMEDIATELY said "I can knock off $1000 bucks." My jaw hit the floor. No haggle, nothing, and he basicly said their prices are complete LIES. Padded LIES.

I was ticked then. I may just do the bottem end myself at some point, then sell it. I can't live with passing it off to someone with the rods knocking. Makes my stomach hurt.

Damned dealers, they're swindlers.

Hi, this is teeks better half. Before you give up call toyota headquarters and say you have a few toyotas, had others before and are thinking about buying more but you know there was a problem (the sludge recall) so....(if you want to play the game a little) and they just might fix it free. If they say no, see if they will pay parts or labor or split it some way (60/40 etc). DO NOT let the dealer make the call for you because they want you to spend as much as possible so they get a piece. Also headquarters wont over-ride the dealer rep's decision. Kinda like to know how you fare, good luck!

[ajaxgs]

Short story, promise:

Ma-in-law's camry spun a bearing, it was run low on oil.    I keep my truck, the wife's car, and the maw-in-laws car, along with the gs running and serviced. I check the oil with EVERY fillup. I don't drive the maw-in-laws car much, and rarely ever fill it up. Soooo, I only check the oil when I change it. I felt like complete shaZam! when I changed the oil and heard the rods knocking. A 4 cylinder camry is one of the toughest, most reliable cars on earth, and I  had a dead one in front of me. Really really felt like shaZam!.

Took it to the local toyota dealer, paid $90 for a sludge diagnosis (there's a recall), and was given a quote of $4000 for a new motor, or $3800 for a rebuild. I said "No thanks man, I'll just junk it out to someone for $1200 and call it a total loss." He then IMMEDIATELY said "I can knock off $1000 bucks." My jaw hit the floor. No haggle, nothing, and he basicly said their prices are complete LIES. Padded LIES.

I was ticked then. I may just do the bottem end myself at some point, then sell it. I can't live with passing it off to someone with the rods knocking. Makes my stomach hurt.

Damned dealers, they're swindlers.

Hi, this is teeks better half. Before you give up call toyota headquarters and say you have a few toyotas, had others before and are thinking about buying more but you know there was a problem (the sludge recall) so....(if you want to play the game a little) and they just might fix it free. If they say no, see if they will pay parts or labor or split it some way (60/40 etc). DO NOT let the dealer make the call for you because they want you to spend as much as possible so they get a piece. Also headquarters wont over-ride the dealer rep's decision. Kinda like to know how you fare, good luck!

+1 on the good-will , i worked for ford for years and i was in parts and i could see people getting screwed so i would say for them to phone foed and ask for goodwill
worked most times !!! had alot of repeat buissness