Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting do mechanics really charge women more?

Some more info to help you make a decision and try to keep the mechanics honest.: exhaust system "from the muffler on back" should include just the muffler and a short tailpipe, and maybe some kind of connector (not catalytic converter, that is upstream of the muffler). If the quote sounds high, ask him to itemize it (how much for the muffler/tailpipe unit, how much for connectors or hangers, how much for labor, how much for 'shop charges', how much for bull****).

Two ways to verify a muffler leak: (1) the exhaust sounds louder; (2) start the car on a cold morning (or any time you can see the exhaust) and look under the back end, if you see exhaust smoke coming out anywhere except the tailpipe, hello, you have a leak.

However even if you see a leak, I would say the only reason to replace the muffler is when it becomes embarrassingly loud. (Most people in my neighborhood don't even do it then...) I don't think the small amount of exhaust that may be leaking in would be a health risk - today's engines put out very little carbon monoxide.

Brakes - if they are telling you to replace the rotors, ask if they can be 'turned' instead. That means they grind off the bad surface and expose new shiny metal...kind of like sharpening a pencil. Kind of. That would be a lot cheaper, but it's possible that after 60k miles they are too worn to be turned - mine were.

Oh, also, if you have somebody replace the brake pads, ask to keep (or look at) the old ones,to make sure they are really worn out.

Good luck.

Or if the car fails the Virginia safety inspection because of the exhaust leak (depending on how lazy the inspector is that day, of course).

Brian

I would say a balance. (had to rebalance my tires earlier this month, vibration at 70 +)

In addition to looking at the tires themselves (out of round or warped hub/rims) - the shop changing hte tires may have over-torqued the lugnuts - which warps the hub/rim on our wonderful cars.

I know others have said this - but the pricing on the jobs is way over. I love this kind of shop because they clearly do not care to even disguise that they are attempting to shake all the loose change out of your trousers. In Jax,FL - I keep hearing a radio advertisement (Brake Depot?) that wants to change all 4 brakes for $99. I think that may just be the labor, but pads for all 4 shouldn't run more than another $75 depending on what you get exactly.

The 'lifetime warranty' ones are worth it to me, as they generally give you a replacement after the former set wear out. Really sounds like 'buy one get one free'.

Nax

Unfortunately, its shops like that which gives us a bad name. For those of you who don't know me, I am a mechanic for one of the largest car dealerships in Montreal.
It always burns me up, bad stories like these make honest mechanics like me look like complete a$$holes.
It really pi$$es me off when some hack shop tries to rape someone on a job like that. I've always worked with the mentality that the car I'm working on is my own, so I stop and ask myself, "would I change this on my car?" As well, when a car comes in for an inspection, I'll break down the potential problems as things to be replaces now/soon, things to watch out for next season/year, and things not to worry about for a while. I feel that when presented in this way, that while the customer is made fully aware of what's going on with their vehicule, they also won't feel pressured to drop tons of money into their car on the spot. I also guarantee they are much more likely to come back as repeat customers when you treat them fairly...

As for women getting ripped off: YES
It is true that anyone who appears to know little about a car will be ripped off by some places, male or female. But I sort of like to see what they say right off, to me, that helps to know if they are rip-off artists or not. (The tier place I go in to ask about some Michelins... The guy goes out and looks at my tires, to "check the size" (even though I told him) He comes back in with "lucky you came in.. You need tires right away" The jerk doesn't know that I KNOW the wear bars are still 15,000 mi away, at LEAST!! So I would never go back there!! (The BF G/Michl. store at HWY100 and National Milw)
(I also love it when some fool says I need something fixed that I know my car doesn't even have!!!! the "blinker bottle syndrome")

no mechanics do not over charge women-- service advisors do....

My wife took our 2 year old Neon in to a local Monroe muffler for a $15 state inspection. I always take them in - but the car was only 2 years old so I figured it'd be no problem. Well, the "tech" looks at it and comes back with the HARD sell. "Well, you failed inspection, one of your brake pads seperated - thats VERY dangerous, you need it fixed immediately. Heres the work order ticket to let us do the work", cost estimate of 560 dollars!!!! Well, she's smart enough to just walk out even though the guy told her she could lose control of the car. I looked at the estimate and they were going to replace pads, new rotors and new calipers. On a car that was 2 years old?!?!? I pull the front pads to verify they weren't seperated, and the next morning "talk" with the manager. Considering they could've lost there inspection liscense, he was very apologetic. Next morning we got our inspection sticker, a personal apology from the tech and 10 coupons for free oil changes (that we gave away to our friends).

So, yes a lot of people may try and take advantage of a woman (or a man for that matter), best thing to do is always be willing to walk out and get a second opinion, and if you feel they were dishonest report them to your apllicable state agency, attorney general or BBB.

I read about a woman who took her car to 3 mechanics/advisors, who all told her she needed a new clutch/tranny because she was grinding gears some. Turned out her dad had moved the seat back, she had short legs and wasn't pushing the clutch clear down. No other problem.

I just got an estimate for all new calipers and pads and whatever else firestone's lifetime brake job entails. $365 total for the rear brakes. that's too much for me, i'll gladly do the work myself and buy the parts online. not calipers either, just pads and rotors. you should maybe get a haines manual for your car so you can at least learn what the parts are and how they work. it really makes you think twice about dishing out all that money for labor.

Have nice day!