WOW the price you dont pay!

[sprayzz]

hey guys just wanted to say thats it amazing how much mechanics charge you and im glad i love working on the vs and knowing how to do random jobs.The other day my fuel pump shit itself, i had myself a manuel and read up on a how-to bout doing the job, anyway i was able to do it, wasent to hard just a pain getting the unit out without breaking the float.after doing the job i was wondering how much it would of cost me to get a machanic to do it, the cheapest was $190 thats with a $105 pump the rest was labour the most expensive was $270 . for me it cost me $53 for the pump, now i saved atleast $150+ . so yeah GO THE HOME MACHANICS!!! point is its good to know how to fix your car and save a hell of a lot of $$$$$ who agree's lol ?

[FstStig]

Couldn't agree more, even though I have a fairly stuffed back, I still get in there and do the work myself. I know its getting done right the first time that way. Have only ever had to take my cars to a Mechanic Twice since owning a Car, so I think I'm doing alright

[sprayzz]

Exactly mate right time first time, and if you stuff up you can only blam yourself...

Couldn't agree more, even though I have a fairly stuffed back, I still get in there and do the work myself. I know its getting done right the first time that way. Have only ever had to take my cars to a Mechanic Twice since owning a Car, so I think I'm doing alright

[stockyvrcalais]

you paid $53 for a pump? where from?

[edals]

Yes for sure, Will do anything i can to save $$ But Some Jobs i will pay someone to do. Like when i got the VR engine mounts done, this requires to remove the air compressor and degas it, its about $200 to degas then go and get it regased. I paid $210 labor to get the engine mounts done, so really $10 in my mind and saved me a real head ache lol but really i do everything else lol

[sprayzz]

Ebay,believe it or not.i was abit unsure to begin with , but pumps in and working great.

you paid $53 for a pump? where from?

[stockyvrcalais]

Ebay,believe it or not.i was abit unsure to begin with , but pumps in and working great.

good one! as long as its doing its job thats the main thing

[sprayzz]

def, saved me from paying $105 for one...

good one! as long as its doing its job thats the main thing

[seq4x4]

Whats a mechanic?

[sprayzz]

Thats the spirit

Whats a mechanic?

[seq4x4]

They are helpful tho. Like doing a CAS because you cant be ####ed. My car has been in an exhaust shop more then a mechanic tho.
But im just the type of person that likes to do it myself so i know whats going on and if i break it, i break it, not they do and say its my fault. Plus you dont lose the car for a day.

[sprayzz]

im the same id rather know than not know.i broke down in the middle of nowhere and the prob was the wire to the alternator burned of , and if i didnt no what the prob was nor how to fix it i would of been F%*ked, so its worth fixing your car yourself.

They are helpful tho. Like doing a CAS because you cant be ####ed. My car has been in an exhaust shop more then a mechanic tho.
But im just the type of person that likes to do it myself so i know whats going on and if i break it, i break it, not they do and say its my fault. Plus you dont lose the car for a day.

[Brett_jjj]

Yes for sure, Will do anything i can to save $$ But Some Jobs i will pay someone to do. Like when i got the VR engine mounts done, this requires to remove the air compressor and degas it, its about $200 to degas then go and get it regased. I paid $210 labor to get the engine mounts done, so really $10 in my mind and saved me a real head ache lol but really i do everything else lol

Theres really no need to remove the A/C compressor or disconnet the refrigerant lines on a VSV6 when renewing the engine mounts, its just a waste of money having to get it degassed and then regassed again.. I just undo the compressor bolts with the A/C lines in tact, and then move the compressor to the side. I use a piece of wire to tie it to one side out of the way of the work area..

[VYMAD]

Whats a mechanic?

A person or persons who couldn't give a shit about your car, won't tell you what they broke while it was in their workshop, usually replaces the wrong parts, whilst charging 300% mark up, then gives you a bill for an astromical amount, hasn't fixed the original problem and blames you/your car for the ongoing problem.

[sprayzz]

well said mate!!!

A person or persons who couldn't give a shit about your car, won't tell you what they broke while it was in their workshop, usually replaces the wrong parts, whilst charging 300% mark up, then gives you a bill for an astromical amount, hasn't fixed the original problem and blames you/your car for the ongoing problem.

[james1988]

Random story:

My friend started his first year as a mechanic just as me and him got our P's.

So together we worked on our own cars. Me being an electrician apprentice at the same time helped us with some electrical issues.

But by the time he finished his apprenticeship we had done loads of work. And I have learnt loads from him.

The hardest thing by far we did at his work was a complete auto rebuild. Stuff that.

[SBM]

A person or persons who couldn't give a shit about your car, won't tell you what they broke while it was in their workshop, usually replaces the wrong parts, whilst charging 300% mark up, then gives you a bill for an astromical amount, hasn't fixed the original problem and blames you/your car for the ongoing problem.

We're not all that bad. But then again I live in a small town and have my own workshop so I like to make sure every car that goes out is 100%. Any vehicle that leaves I want to know is not going to come back.

[seq4x4]

We're not all that bad. But then again I live in a small town and have my own workshop so I like to make sure every car that goes out is 100%. Any vehicle that leaves I want to know is not going to come back.

My local mechanic is like you, but you still get some dodgys. Car has never been into their workshop, but they have done plenty of work for me, pressing bearings in and out, welding, inspecting parts and not to mention their whiling to do it for free.

[Krisp]

The problem with buying sumthing off ebay, especially a 38 dollar fuel pump with the 15 dollars postage , is you get what you pay for. No warrenty etc etc. Could of at least chucked in a half decent one that you wont be needing to do every 12 months.

[acarmody]

Yeah I don't think I would be using a $50 fuel pump. To important.

[inasinman]

Like everything in life, there are good and bad mechanics/bosses. My uncle used to work for a garage, a bloke brought his car in for a timing chain repair. My uncle repaired it without having to take the head apart. His boss told customer it was a big job and charged him $800 and gave my uncle $20 for his overtime. He left work only after a 2 years working for him and moved onto something else, when he left there was no luv lost, having said that it isn't cheap to pay rent, electrical and wages, as long as they are fair, people will come.

The general public are better inform with pricing these days through the internet and forums communities. Like the time I had to replaced my FORD TRANSIT fly wheel (dual mass flywheel). I rang up ford they wanted $1300 for a flywheel and $700 for clutch. I research on the forum and found I could get a Solid flywheel conversion kit.So I rang up a few reputable clutch shops and they wanted $1200 which includes a solid flywheel and clutch assembly. I thought I gave EBAY a try and bought the same kit for $770 from a guy in PARK ORCHID (home business). My uncle gave me a hand to replace the clutch, I could have done it but he did it so much quicker.

1. $2000 from FORD
2. $1200 from CLUTCH shop
3. $770 from EBAY

Ebay wins hands down and lucky free labor.

[monkeys437]

Love the backyard mechanics. A while ago I worked out how much I saved each job I did and used it to justify buying tools to make jobs easier

I dont begrudge paying for it if special skills, equipment are required but for just the nuts and bolts stuff I try and do it myself. I've never done an auto service because Its a pain to get all 4 corners on jack stands in my gravel driveway so I usually pay the local auto place for that.

But now they've put their price up to $155 for a basic Auto service (filter and seal kit and drop the trans pan 30 mins labour with a hoist tops right?) which is taking the piss in my view. Last year it was $130, the year before that was $110 so im thinking ill try somewhere else or bite the bullet and have a crack myself

[Krisp]

Love the backyard mechanics. A while ago I worked out how much I saved each job I did and used it to justify buying tools to make jobs easier

I dont begrudge paying for it if special skills, equipment are required but for just the nuts and bolts stuff I try and do it myself. I've never done an auto service because Its a pain to get all 4 corners on jack stands in my gravel driveway so I usually pay the local auto place for that.

But now they've put their price up to $155 for a basic Auto service (filter and seal kit and drop the trans pan 30 mins labour with a hoist tops right?) which is taking the piss in my view. Last year it was $130, the year before that was $110 so im thinking ill try somewhere else or bite the bullet and have a crack myself

Thats not taking the piss, thats inflation, their workers wanting more money. Mate is going to have to do it with his pc business. Prices of parts arent regulated by the mechanic shop, its regulated by the wholesaler. I use to work at stihl as a mechanic/retailer. The mark ups werent that great, around 20 percent per stihl tool. That bearly covered wages and shop front costs.

[Voodoo_SV6]

I have saved thousands over the years working on my own cars, but what I can't stand is people doing their own work on cars in critical areas without the correct knowledge. Brakes and suspensions especially are so dangerous if you don't know what you are doing.

If you don't know what you are doing, then get someone who actually does know to help you, OR pay a professional to keep you and other road users safe

[monkeys437]

Thats not taking the piss, thats inflation, their workers wanting more money. Mate is going to have to do it with his pc business. Prices of parts arent regulated by the mechanic shop, its regulated by the wholesaler. I use to work at stihl as a mechanic/retailer. The mark ups werent that great, around 20 percent per stihl tool. That bearly covered wages and shop front costs.

Granted that prices go up and running a business is expensive but a $20 filter kit, half hour labor and 4L of trans fluid probably shouldn't cost that much. Maybe im wrong but I think thats too much and its reached the point where im probably gonna cop the pain in the arse factor and do it myself