I hate this truck...I really do

[boysmomoflabs]

Latest and not so greatest......*sigh*

My "free" engine....yeah right. Like you guys didn't see this coming eh?

Per previous threads, I asked to have new gaskets installed. Replacement engine...new gaskets. Made sense to me.

So, they're charging me for the labor to install these gaskets. Said it took mechanic 6 hrs and they're charging me for 3.

Rear main seal
Crankshaft seal
oil pan gasket set
Valve cover gasket set
thermostat
thermostat gasket
upper plenum gasket

labor: $293.70 Parts: 240.47

AND....the real pisser....

A/C unit. While sitting in their bay, they noticed the A/C wasn't holding compression (?) and leaked. So they asked if I wanted that fixed and NO Charge for labor.....

2 yr warranty or 24,000 miles on 1 compressor, receiver/dryer, gaskets, seals, orifice tube.

$499.95

plus tax for a lovely grand total of..... $1,132.36

did I mention I HATE this truck.... (am I allowed to swear on this forum?).....

Evangeline

 

[Skandocious]

No lower intake gasket? Thats the one that blew on my truck a few months ago.

Total BS that they're doing this. I'd take it to the BBB.

 

[lil_dq]

Up side is it sounds like you will have a nice truck now. I know it hurts, I have been there before.

I had just built a motor for my truck, had close to $20,000 in it and then popped the transmission on the test drive! That was pisser. LOL But it all worked out in the end and now I have a built transmission too.

 

[LEB Ben]

$100/hr...that better be one helluva shop.

 

[5.0Flareside]

hahah a gasket set only costs like 80 bucks FOR ALL gaskets for the engine including Head gaskets and lower intake gaskets... they screwed you...

 

[O'Rattlecan]

It could be worse, and I've never shopped for this SPECIFIC compressor, but many compressors are around $800.

Ryan

 

[73F100Shortbed]

hahah a gasket set only costs like 80 bucks FOR ALL gaskets for the engine including Head gaskets and lower intake gaskets... they screwed you...

Just because it costs $80 for you to walk into a store and buy the gaskets doesn't mean that a shop will charge you $80. The shop would be out of business in a day. And I've seen engine gasket sets cost double that if you get good ones. The poster is still money ahead given the engine itself is free and they are giving a warranty. They honestly did not have to do any of this given the situation. People don't work for free. It costs money to run a shop and unless they went to a place called 'Charity Auto Repair' I wouldn't just say they are totally screwing her over. The a/c compressor sounds like a good deal actually. It costs a lot more to do most of them. And I doubt the shop is using Autozone garbage because they don't want the truck to come back. Personally I don't think they are totally screwing her over. I don't think the BBB needs to be called like suggested either. If you buy a used car whether a mechanic checks it or not does not mean everything is 100% perfect. I get the discouragement of so much money spent at one time. It is a lot for people to handle especially if money is tight, but it doesn't mean the shop is screwing her over. It honestly sounds like they are bit in over their head in what they are doing if it took 6 hours to do those gaskets and the engine is out of the truck most likely. Good thing they aren't doing the headgaskets. They might have to bill her for 3 months

 

[boysmomoflabs]

Thanks Sean!!!


Lil-dq...I'm waiting for the tranny to go. I have no doubt that will happen....*pfft*

thanks everyone too~

Well, I called around to a trusted friend of the boss. His shop does charge $100 per hr and he was kind enough not to say "I told you so". Said the A/C was right in there for local costs and for the shop to charge me 3 hrs vs the mechanic learning at 6 wasn't bad. Said I did need the A/C working due to everything running else running off that belt.

The way I've decided to look at it. I've got a 2 yr warranty on A/C and 90 day warranty on replacement engine both for no charge on labor. I can't find fault with that.
This whole truck is a PIA....but that's not the shop's fault. Playing devils advocate here: The shop could not have told me about the engine compression and I would have been out a motor, and when the A/C leaked that could have seized up everything else on that belt...right???

Yes, this bites....big time, and no I'm not happy, and yes...a guy would have handled it differently, and yes....I should have....this and I should have that...
I have two choices.

Suck it up and deal with it, or hate the truck.

mind if I lean toward the latter for a bit before I have to put on my big girl panties.

 

[boysmomoflabs]

I have the seal breakdown costs:

Rear main seal $35.
Crankshaft seal $30.30
Oil pan gasket set $59.95
Valve cover Gasket set $59.95
Thermostat $19.12
Thermostat gasket $2.79
Upper Plenum gasket $33.36

(no mention of headlight fluid gasket) ;P

 

[73F100Shortbed]

I think you have a good outlook on it. At least when it is all fixed up you will be ahead because everything is fixed. You won't be fixing a little here and there and getting nickeled and dimed over little things. It will be done. Then you can enjoy your truck. Dropping thousands of dollars really sucks, but I think when you get past this part it will be more enjoyable then going on a trip and needing a tow truck. At least you will enjoy the truck.

 

[73F100Shortbed]

I have the seal breakdown costs:

Rear main seal $35.
Crankshaft seal $30.30
Oil pan gasket set $59.95
Valve cover Gasket set $59.95
Thermostat $19.12
Thermostat gasket $2.79
Upper Plenum gasket $33.36

(no mention of headlight fluid gasket) ;P

Given shop mark up those prices are pretty legit, at least in my area.

 

[boysmomoflabs]

I think you have a good outlook on it. At least when it is all fixed up you will be ahead because everything is fixed. You won't be fixing a little here and there and getting nickeled and dimed over little things. It will be done. Then you can enjoy your truck. Dropping thousands of dollars really sucks, but I think when you get past this part it will be more enjoyable then going on a trip and needing a tow truck. At least you will enjoy the truck.

LOL!!!!

Maybe I should list the stuff that needed work but I didn't authorize. A tow truck might still be in my future.

(positive is the only way to look at stuff, otherwise you'll hate the world)

 

[5Rangers]

If your happy with it and didn't break the bank over it... It's a good day. If you not happy about it, fight the good fight.

I'm gonna take a chance and go against the grain here.

To me it sounded like they did alot of work for not to much money.

Most with mechanical aptitude could do the same, but would spend many many hours or even days to get the same things done. Just the rear main seal alone involves pulling the tranny. Sure, its just nuts and bolts, but wrestling that thing around can be a killer.

I would be happy with it myself..

 

[73F100Shortbed]

^^^good post. Welcome to ftf

 

[DNFXDLI]

$100/hr...that better be one helluva shop.

$80-$150 per hour here.

It could be worse, and I've never shopped for this SPECIFIC compressor, but many compressors are around $800.

Ryan

Agreed.

Just because it costs $80 for you to walk into a store and buy the gaskets doesn't mean that a shop will charge you $80. The shop would be out of business in a day. And I've seen engine gasket sets cost double that if you get good ones. The poster is still money ahead given the engine itself is free and they are giving a warranty. They honestly did not have to do any of this given the situation. People don't work for free. It costs money to run a shop and unless they went to a place called 'Charity Auto Repair' I wouldn't just say they are totally screwing her over. The a/c compressor sounds like a good deal actually. It costs a lot more to do most of them. And I doubt the shop is using Autozone garbage because they don't want the truck to come back. Personally I don't think they are totally screwing her over. I don't think the BBB needs to be called like suggested either. If you buy a used car whether a mechanic checks it or not does not mean everything is 100% perfect. I get the discouragement of so much money spent at one time. It is a lot for people to handle especially if money is tight, but it doesn't mean the shop is screwing her over. It honestly sounds like they are bit in over their head in what they are doing if it took 6 hours to do those gaskets and the engine is out of the truck most likely. Good thing they aren't doing the headgaskets. They might have to bill her for 3 months

Well said!

 

[Truckin4life]

No lower intake gasket?

Or was that part of the "re-seal" they were going to do.

I do agree that really is not to bad of a price all together, as for the ac. Whom ever told you it would lock up the engine is wrong. There are a few fail safes there... The AC compressor has an electronic clutch, when the ac is off it just free spins like a regular pulley, not turning the ac compressor when its on, the clutch engages and the pulley is now turning the ac compressor. If the fluid is low there is a sensor that won't allow the pulley to engage the compressor. So really you would just be with out AC.

The worst that could happen is that the pulley could lock up and the belt would melt and break, the alternator would stop charging the battery and your battery would die. But your engine would be fine, the truck how ever would die and eventually leave you stranded or not start its self once turned off...


All in all, your getting a fair deal. Not a GOOD deal but not a bad deal, its honestly straight across fair. All the prices are fair and charging half time for a learning mechanic is what ive seen as the norm. If something isn't right, don't be afraid to take it back. I know i always wanted to be involved if a vehicle i worked on came back. We learn from our mistakes.

I've authorized 1200 bucks for a compressor to be replaced and the system to be charged, 05 f350 diesel...

 

[73F100Shortbed]

Don I saw an a/c compressor sieze and keep the car from turning over. It was a chevy cavalier. But I would say that isn't a common occurrence.

 

[Truckin4life]

I would simply blame the fact that its a chevy!

But seriously, ive never heard of that before... Heck i would think at the minimum it would just spin the belt around the ac pulley or the harmonic balancer...

 

[73F100Shortbed]

That would be my thought as well. But a few years back a car came in witha no start. Starter had power so checked for seized engine but we could spin the crank a bit. Took ac belt off and car started right up lol. Compressor wouldn't spin no matter what we did to it. Weird situation that I may never see again but it is possible. I would have thought the belt would have broken when cranking it.

 

[Truckin4life]

Most interesting, but i guess there is a first time for everything!