Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Unnecessary Repair?

Just a quick question. You take your car to a repair shop for let's say a noise in the A/C compressor/clutch, they do a thorough check and tell you it's a bad compressor. You go a head and let them change the compressor for , the next week you hear the same noise in the A/C compressor/Clutch general area. You take it back to them since it's still under their 3 month/6 month, etc. guarantee. They check it again, but now they tell you it's the clutch, for example. Are you required to pay to have the clutch replaced as well since it was an incorrect diagnostic on their part, or are they required to pick up all costs? Is there any law or something about this?

Thanks

P.S. Just using the A/C as an example, could be any car problem.

Mmmm someone is playing the guessing game. Be blunt with them. "Look I just brought this in here and you tell me it's one thing and now another. Am I getting hosed here or what?" Tell them you're not eating the entire bill.

Thanks. Is there a law or something that will protect the consumer in a situation like that? I mean that in the sense if I do what you say and they tell me "Well that's what we came up with initially, you will have to pay as well for the clutch and labor" Will I have to shut-my mouth and pay/go somewhere else or will they be required to fix it free of charge?

You are usually out of luck as they replaced what they said they would. But you usually can negotiate a better deal. For instance, offer to pay for the new part, but they should absorb the labor. You did get another compressor so you would legally have to pay for the part. However, if I ran a shop (I was a mechanic for 9 years), I would replace the clutch at no extra charge to keep customer good will.

THE question is whether or not they were replacing the parts causing the problem YOU wanted fixed. If they replaced the compressor under the guise of solving the noise issue and it didn't, then they should continue searching--on their nickel. Now, you might be responsible for the cost of parts (hey, you did get a new compressor) but labor costs should be nill.

Hi there. Talk about unnecessary repairs!...I used by local Ford Dealership (Fairway Ford in Greenville, SC) for the first 5 years of my 1997 SE's life and when I look back at all the things they "took" me for I am amazed. I spent over $6,000.00 in maintenance over that first 5 years because they would alway find crap that "needed" to be replaced, repaired, etc. They even held my car a couple times and made me rent a car because they "couldn't in good conscious put it back together the way it was and let me drive it". I was truly suckered and have learned to be a complete bastard if I ever return to them....I mean, come on...6 complete brake and rotor replacements in 5 years?....

So basically I should object if I have to pay labor if it something other than what was originally diagnosed. I just hate when they play the guessing game. If I go with a problem and you tell me "it's this part, that'll be X dollars" I can accept that, a price and the repair is done problem gone. But don't bull s**t me around with the ol' "Well let's try this and see if it's gone." My dad has a 94 T-Bird V8 that occasionally will not start, so many shops led him around with the "guesses" that he's ready to sell the car. Neutral safety switch, battery, starter, ignition switch, plugs, coil pack. Just horrible....