Had to have IAC valve replaced because my sport died at idle 71,000 miles.
Valve was $69 and they charged me 1.5 hours labor? I think I paid for the tech's lunch.
Then they wanted another $100 to clean out the carbon deposits. Where do they come up with that if it's already apart? I passed. What do they do? Spray carburetor cleaner inside?
Anyone done this repair themselves.
Yes. 2 bolts and 1 electrical connector. It's definately a DIY job.
Well, there would likely be some diagnostic time.... back in the early 90s, just before I sold my business, electricity was about $2800/mo.... lease on
4 bays was $3500/mo.... insurance was about $4500/year.... workers comp was about $2500/year.... a fair to middling scan tool was 'on sale' for a mere $4000 with yearly updates at about another thou.... having clean coveralls and seat covers was about $250/mo.... maintenance and upkeep, capital purchases, planned obselence or attrition of some equipment, the receptionist (and the rest of the hired help) always seemed to want a paycheck on time..... training... hiring dependable staff.....The list goes on and on...... At the end of it all, my family always felt that there really should be something left over for frivolous things like food and clothing (that's the same line the tool-monger uses, too...... even though ones toolbox can be worth more than many peoples houses).
Is it expensive to have an automobile repaired??? Yes.... though high price is not a sure guarrantee of satisfaction, one stands a better chance by visiting a store where the best personnel are hired and pride in workmanship is high.
Back in the 80s, a lady came to me with a flooding carb. I was already behind schedule, overbooked and behind the 8 ball.... It appeared that some debris had become lodged in the needle and seat in the float bowl so I resorted to an old farm trick. I took a very small ball peen hammer and tapped around the area where the needle and seat are situated....... voila! The black smoke and rough running vanished. I charged her $5 for my time (I make a living at this, remember?) and she was incredulous.... "$5 to hit my car????" "No", sez I, "I hit your car for free.... the $5 is for knowing WHERE to hit it".
HTH.
How about the carbon deposits? What is the recommended procedure for that?
That's a funny story Jim....
I agree with you 100 pct. It IS expensive to run a business, it just seems that sometimes they get carried away with the charges. I can recall the
400.00 tune up on an escort at a local firestone one time.. they tried to charge me book rate labor for replacing each of the following items; distributer cap, rotor, spark plug wires, and air filter, in addition to the "package price" for replacing plugs and adjusting the various things... after telling me on the phone it would only be "a few dollars" more for the required items. It added about 5 hours of labor to my bill. After becoming rather irate with them (they thought my wife was coming to pick it up), they magically reduced the charges and came up with a reasonable price.
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