This Is Ridiculous!!! Isn't It???

> The bill: $425!!!!
> Did I get a hosing on this one?

Probably not. There are a few plugs easy to get to (that you got) and
several that require removing (and replacing) a bunch of hardware to get at
the plugs. My guess is you were just charged a shop rate for the time the
mechanic spent.
John
I spent over 4 hours changing plugs my '93 and still didn't get 2 of the
plugs.

You could own something else!

http://www.epinions.com/auto-review-...3827C3C9-prod1

Robotron Tom wrote:

> BenF802961 started a controversy when he said... :
>
>
>>>From: Robotron Tom
>>
>>>The bill: $425!!!!
>>>Did I get a hosing on this one?
>>>
>>
>>>Should I complain or just be happy it runs right again?
>>
>>Be happy. you should know by now owning a Corvette is not cheap. He
>>didn't have to chop off half the labor amount.
>>My mechanic charges 90 bucks an hour.
>>By your Mechanic standards I would have been charged roughly 390.00
>>which includes tax.
>
>
> Yea...it was just quite a shock to see $425 for a tune-up. LOL
>

You could own something else!

http://www.epinions.com/auto-review-...3827C3C9-prod1

Robotron Tom wrote:

> BenF802961 started a controversy when he said... :
>
>
>>>From: Robotron Tom
>>
>>>The bill: $425!!!!
>>>Did I get a hosing on this one?
>>>
>>
>>>Should I complain or just be happy it runs right again?
>>
>>Be happy. you should know by now owning a Corvette is not cheap. He
>>didn't have to chop off half the labor amount.
>>My mechanic charges 90 bucks an hour.
>>By your Mechanic standards I would have been charged roughly 390.00
>>which includes tax.
>
>
> Yea...it was just quite a shock to see $425 for a tune-up. LOL
>

Bob I wrote:
> You could own something else!
>
> http://www.epinions.com/auto-review-...3827C3C9-prod1

Porsche is a nice ride, but I wouldn't own it.

--
_______________________________________
Not to him who is offensive to us are we most
unfair, but to him who doth not concern us at all"
-- Friedrich Nietzsche

Bob I wrote:
> You could own something else!
>
> http://www.epinions.com/auto-review-...3827C3C9-prod1

Porsche is a nice ride, but I wouldn't own it.

--
_______________________________________
Not to him who is offensive to us are we most
unfair, but to him who doth not concern us at all"
-- Friedrich Nietzsche

the "BOOK" is called the flat rate "GUIDE" and it is just that, a
guide. Flat rate for the wires is 2 hours, and 1.6 hours for the
plugs. most shops will cut you a break on the time because you already
have the wires off of the plugs to change them. Most shops will not
give you a break on you doing half of the job. The labor times above
come from Mitchell and Shop Key. We would have charged you
approximately 3.3 hours for the job, or 226.05 at our labor rate. this
does not include any diagnostic charge, which would have been 1 hour .
so it does look like they did give you a break, but they did not cut
the labor rate in 1/2
Just be happy that it runs right, or finish the job you started next
time. Greg 87 C4 1970 SS 454 Chevelle
On 27 Sep 2004 20:52:27 GMT, Robotron Tom > wrote:

>I had a miss throughout the RPM range and MPG dropped. I started by
>replacing the coil: no change. I purchased new OEM plug wires and Bosch
>Platinum +4 plugs and started installing them. Huge pain to do, I must
>admit. I got the 4 pass side wires on and new plugs in #2 and #4
>cylinders: no change. Dropped it at the nearby dealership this morning
>and they found #1 plug was dead. They installed the remaining parts(4
>wires and 6 plugs) for me and car runs great now.
>
>The bill: $425!!!!
>Did I get a hosing on this one?
>
>The mechanic was telling me he cut the labor in half because I had
>already done most of one side. So...how did I get charged for 3 hours
>labor for a tune-up if he cut the labor in half? A tune-up on a 93
>Corvette is 6 hours??? There was a 1 hour charge for diagnostic($89), so
>that made it 4 hours total labor.
>
>Should I complain or just be happy it runs right again?
>
>Thanks,

the "BOOK" is called the flat rate "GUIDE" and it is just that, a
guide. Flat rate for the wires is 2 hours, and 1.6 hours for the
plugs. most shops will cut you a break on the time because you already
have the wires off of the plugs to change them. Most shops will not
give you a break on you doing half of the job. The labor times above
come from Mitchell and Shop Key. We would have charged you
approximately 3.3 hours for the job, or 226.05 at our labor rate. this
does not include any diagnostic charge, which would have been 1 hour .
so it does look like they did give you a break, but they did not cut
the labor rate in 1/2
Just be happy that it runs right, or finish the job you started next
time. Greg 87 C4 1970 SS 454 Chevelle
On 27 Sep 2004 20:52:27 GMT, Robotron Tom > wrote:

>I had a miss throughout the RPM range and MPG dropped. I started by
>replacing the coil: no change. I purchased new OEM plug wires and Bosch
>Platinum +4 plugs and started installing them. Huge pain to do, I must
>admit. I got the 4 pass side wires on and new plugs in #2 and #4
>cylinders: no change. Dropped it at the nearby dealership this morning
>and they found #1 plug was dead. They installed the remaining parts(4
>wires and 6 plugs) for me and car runs great now.
>
>The bill: $425!!!!
>Did I get a hosing on this one?
>
>The mechanic was telling me he cut the labor in half because I had
>already done most of one side. So...how did I get charged for 3 hours
>labor for a tune-up if he cut the labor in half? A tune-up on a 93
>Corvette is 6 hours??? There was a 1 hour charge for diagnostic($89), so
>that made it 4 hours total labor.
>
>Should I complain or just be happy it runs right again?
>
>Thanks,

What's ridiculous is that after building cars for so many decades, chevy
STILL can't make the plugs accessable to change!!!!
Too many engineers & computers, not enough mechanics designing cars these
days!
My 2 cents...
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!

What's ridiculous is that after building cars for so many decades, chevy
STILL can't make the plugs accessable to change!!!!
Too many engineers & computers, not enough mechanics designing cars these
days!
My 2 cents...
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 11:02:55 -0400, "ThaDriver"
> wrote:

>What's ridiculous is that after building cars for so many decades, chevy
>STILL can't make the plugs accessable to change!!!!
>Too many engineers & computers, not enough mechanics designing cars these
>days!
>My 2 cents...
>~ Paul
==========================
Paul you are DEAD wrong.... The DESIGNERS are at fault....

When a car comes off the drawing boards in the styling studios the
engineers are then given the task of "fitting" everything inside the
Space available......

My neighbor retired a few years ago (Factory Truck Rep for GM) and we
have had this discussuion on and off for the last 30 years...as a
group "engineers" are practical people..but they are out ranked by
designers who work for GOD... or the current Harley Earle ..

A "sweet design" from an engineering standpoint just may just not make
it on the showroom floor...

Designers create Engineers just do what thay have to do...
and the mechanics just bust their knuckles ...we just pay...

Bob G.


I