5 and a half hours to do an intake manifold gasket???

[bmob01]

Hey, I just got my car back from the shop (couldn't figure out what was wrong with it) and they replaced the intake mani gasket and throttle body gasket. Now before I brought it in, I sprayed starter fluid around the gasket and it didn't affect my idle at all. With that aside, they want $514.41 for their work WTF. They said it took 5 and a half hours to do... (and I gave them a brand new intake mani to put on instead of the old one so they didn't have to remove the old gasket from the old one). This sorta sounds crazy to take that long. I understand the fuel rail needs to come out but 5.5 hours for a professional shop where they know what there doing? Any ideas if this is accurate before I talk to the shop?


UPDATE!! THOSE THIEVING MOTHER !@#$ERS!!!!!!!

So the exact time was 5.5 hours, and my bill was $574. OK I'm a little upset, but I can live with it. I get my keys, get into my car and drive off. Just as I made it 1/4 a mile it bogged down, backfired, and was exactly the same as before! I had a feeling they were complete idiots! I told them exactly what was up, and how it ran perfect b4 I took the CAI off. I told them it wouldn't run at first, but once I moved some vacuum lines around it ran. NO THESE IDIOTS WASTED MY TIME AND MONEY!!! Then I asked them what they were going to to. They said they would look further and give me an estimate. An ESTIMATE?!?! YOU JUST PROCLAIMED MY CAR FIXED AND YOUR GOING TO CHARGE ME MORE MONEY?!?! I was lividly screaming when there was a room full of customers (had to be more than 8, and one left when I was yelling ). After I calmed down, I remembered some things I learned in business law. I smiled and left, went to the local court and got small claims papers. Now filing a suit.

 

[pboglio]

I see. 80% of the battle is diagnosis, the other 20% is knowing how to swap parts in the fastest amount of time and the tricks to do it.

Would be nice if there were a network of DSMtuner members who were certified mechanics. I'd rather throw my money that way and support members. To be honest, if I never had to drop a transmission again it would make me happy and I'd pay a certified member to do it if the rates were reasonable. I just have an aversion to shops as individuals seem to be more honest when they are working for themselves.

 

[BlackMount]

Would be nice if there were a network of DSMtuner members who were certified mechanics. I'd rather throw my money that way and support members.

^^^^

This kid is on to something....


There actually is a place in Athans AL, that specializes in DSM's....

Eclipse Talon 3000GT Stealth Parts And Professional Repair

They specialize on all Mitsubishi's not just working on them, but Tuning too.

 

[motomattxxx]

First of all, let me enlighten you all...NO SHOP IS BOUND BY ANY BOOK TIME! Any shop can charge ANYTHING that they want, book time is simply the amount of time that the manufacture pays for WARRANTY repairs, thats it...its not the time that the shop SHOULD charge or CAN charge you...where I work now, we made our own book time, based on what it has actually taken the techs there over 25 years to do certain jobs...the manufactures still pay the book time for warranty work, and we charge OUR book time for non warranty work...OUR book time is sometimes less and sometimes more than the warranty guide calls for, but its what is the most fair to both the techs and the customers. There are many times I wish I was getting the book times for a job and many times that I'm glad I'm not, it all evens out in the end. By the way, it varies by state but in our state we dont have to get previous authorization on repairs unless the are OVER $500...in other words by signing the work order you give us permission to repair your unit UP TO 500$ without any further communication with you, thats after all why you sign a repair order, read it next time. I also suggest that from now on you tell them to call you if the repair is going to be over "insert dollar amount" then there will be no surprises.

 

[bmob01]

Would be nice if there were a network of DSMtuner members who were certified mechanics. I'd rather throw my money that way and support members. To be honest, if I never had to drop a transmission again it would make me happy and I'd pay a certified member to do it if the rates were reasonable. I just have an aversion to shops as individuals seem to be more honest when they are working for themselves.

+1 on this, or maybe more of a group of people who know how to work on DSMs and wanted to get together to tune..always a case or two of beer involved though

 

[BlackMount]

+1 on this, or maybe more of a group of people who know how to work on DSMs and wanted to get together to tune..always a case or two of beer involved though

Agreed on the Beer.

 

[KGB Pilot125]

With out a doubt given the information we've been given op appears to have been ripped off. However pointing the finger at what should have been done can not prove or disprove that smoke testing for a vacuum leak would have netted a different result.
I simply intended to give the op some advice to get the problem resolved as I have been on both sides of the fence.

Very true but they should have been tipped off because it sounds like he might have told them thats what he thought was wrong. Maybe I am assuming that though.

A smoke machine was one of the best investments we have made at the shop. Especially with all the check engine lights caused by "small vac leaks" Its pretty cool when doing a boost leak test too. fill up all your IC pipes with smoke then apply the "boost" witht he compressor and its gets you in the right area faster.

 

[bmob01]

Yeah I let them know exactly how it was running, how it ran before and after I messed with the vac lines, and what I had narrowed it down to what I thought it might be. Turned out to be an 02 sensor they said??? I also noticed that when I got the vehicle the first time from them, and the second time, that one vacuum line was hooked up and one wasn't... second time it was hooked up...