General Question about your mechanic charging methods / fees

**dciisir** · 05-04-2011 01:45 AM

Hi All,

I just wanted to find out about how your mechanic charges you in terms of repairs / diagnosing problem.

I recently had some problems with my car and ended up going to a mechanic to get it looked at. He told me that this particular part needed changing so I did. Upon changing it, the problem was still there. I ended up spending $250 and the problem wasn't fixed. I was a little annoyed. I mean I am paying a qualified mechanic to tell me what is wrong and what needed fixing. I now have to further diagnose the problem and if he ask me to change another part and it doesnt fix the problem, then I'll be even more out of pocket.

Is this how your mechanic works as well ? Am I making too much out of it ?

**androo** · 05-04-2011 06:51 AM

It all depends on how experienced your mechanic is. That's why you pay more for a more experienced one.

For example, if you go to HONDA to get it fixed and they charged $400, you can be 99% sure that it'll be fixed. If it isn't, they're more likely to help you out. Whereas if you went to another mechanic charging $250 and he messes it up, you're already spending more than you would at an experienced one.

Try finding a place that specialises in your car in your area. Hard to recommend a place since you're in Melbourne and I'm not sure which car of yours you're talking about. Maybe post up what car and area and one of the Melbourne guys on here can recommend a place.

You can try complaining and getting your money back, but it can become pretty involved. But yeah I used to go to a mechanic who charged me for 3 separate parts and 3 separate amounts of labour and still didn't fix the issue. Went to an experienced guy who just changed 1 thing and made a few adjustments and she was as good as new! And it was such a simple fix that it cost me less than even 1 of the other guys fixes. Tried getting my money back but it got too involved and I just left it at that. Said those parts needed changing anyway...

Good luck.

**dougie_504** · 05-04-2011 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by dciisir

Hi All,

I just wanted to find out about how your mechanic charges you in terms of repairs / diagnosing problem.

I recently had some problems with my car and ended up going to a mechanic to get it looked at. He told me that this particular part needed changing so I did. Upon changing it, the problem was still there. I ended up spending $250 and the problem wasn't fixed. I was a little annoyed. I mean I am paying a qualified mechanic to tell me what is wrong and what needed fixing. I now have to further diagnose the problem and if he ask me to change another part and it doesnt fix the problem, then I'll be even more out of pocket.

Is this how your mechanic works as well ? Am I making too much out of it ?

What's wrong with your car?

Some people will charge you for no result, whereas I know my family mechanic (56 years experience) and about 4 of his mechanic friends from different businesses all once tried to diagnose a problem on one car individually before passing it around to one another, never once charging the owner out of tradesman-honour as they hadn't found the issue. I was really shocked that they'd never figured it out or charged anything.

There's little you can do, especially when they're still holding your keys and asking for money...

**flipfire** · 05-04-2011 01:19 PM

Get it diagnosed by different mechanics and compare the quotes and what they you are gonna get charged for.

**egb16b** · 06-04-2011 01:29 AM

My mate has had an interesting experience recently.

He needed to change the dizzy seal and went to a few mechanics to get a quote. His car is a N14 SSS Pulsar

The first dude said about $600 because it's a big job and will have to charge a lot for labour. - dix!

Second guy said about $300 because to get the dizzy he has to remove a lot of parts so again labour will be a lot.

Now by the time he went to a third mechanic, he pretty much knew what to say and exactly what the problem was. The mechanic must've thought that this guy knows what his talking about so he can't talk sh1t to him. Firstly the mechanic is like why can't you do it yourself? My mate said his too busy and has no time. The mechanic ended up quoting him $50 for the job!!

So when you go, make it out like you know your stuff so they can't rip you!

**dciisir** · 06-04-2011 02:00 PM

Great story. I dont think it will work for me though. Mine is just a knocking sound when i brake. Apparently the pads were loose in the caliper. Changed pads for $250 and problem was still there. Went to Brakes Plus today to tighting the spring or whatever you call it and problem was still there. Costed me $124 this time for 2.5 hours work. Sigh... cars annoy me lol

**dougie_504** · 06-04-2011 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by dciisir

Great story. I dont think it will work for me though. Mine is just a knocking sound when i brake. Apparently the pads were loose in the caliper. Changed pads for $250 and problem was still there. Went to Brakes Plus today to tighting the spring or whatever you call it and problem was still there. Costed me $124 this time for 2.5 hours work. Sigh... cars annoy me lol

$250 for pads is a bit much.

Where is the knocking coming from? A particular corner of the car?
Consistently timed knocking on braking only, no other time?
Feelings of vibration?

**bennjamin** · 06-04-2011 08:56 PM

mechanics do their job to make money. Not to help YOU out and just charge for parts alone.....

**mugen_ctr** · 06-04-2011 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by bennjamin

mechanics do their job to make money. Not to help YOU out and just charge for parts alone.....

thats the difference between a good mechanic and a crappy one.... a real mech would look after his/her customer, not tryn rip them off

**egb16b** · 06-04-2011 11:04 PM

knocking sound coming from brakes could be wheel bearing.

and I never take my car to brakes plus, they charge you a shit load!!

Can't you go to the mechanic you did the original job and get them to fix it for you because they clearly didn't do it right.

**flipfire** · 06-04-2011 11:16 PM

Mechanics is one of the least trusted professions in Australia. Right next to Taxi drivers, real estate agents and politicians.

Thats why always get an independent second opinion before getting any work done.

**Bludger** · 07-04-2011 07:58 AM

It's the nature of that profession.

It's not like "going to a super-market" to buy your shopping.

Problems take diagnosis and that takes time and money.
Sure people are happy to pay to fix the problem right the first time but its not that clear cut in the real world.
Some mechs are better, some are worse. Do your homework.