Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site denelvx.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!genrad!panda!talcott!harvard!seismo!hao!denelcor!denelvx!gmack From: gmack@denelvx.UUCP (Gregg Mackenzie) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: dodge omni repair bill Message-ID: <91@denelvx.UUCP> Date: Tue, 9-Jul-85 06:05:08 EDT Article-I.D.: denelvx.91 Posted: Tue Jul 9 06:05:08 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 15-Jul-85 07:19:07 EDT References: <119@emacs.uucp> Organization: Denelcor, Aurora, Colorados Lines: 72 > 1981 Dodge Omni, 63k miles, 2.2l 1983 Plymouth Scamp, 50k mi., 2.2l (Omni, Horizon, 024, TC3, Rampage, Scamp are all L-body cars, i.e., same basic car) > I had it repaired at the local Dodge Dealer (Silver Lake Dodge, > Wellesley, MA) and I think the bill was way too high. > > Transmission Fluid/Filter $66.30 ;labor > Check Brakes 70.20 ;labor > Misc Materials 25.95 > Shop Materials 13.65 > ------ > 176.10 > > Coil/Wires Installed 97.50 ;labor > Cables 22.62 ;parts Are these the "wires" that were installes? If so, the price sounds high. I just bought a high-performance set from Direct-Connection (Dodge's performance arm) and only paid $25. > Coil 30.80 ;parts Sounds reasonable. > Sealer 4.38 ;parts For the computer? Sounds reasonable if they used the whole can. If not, did you get to take the can home? If not, I'd think this would be "shop materials". If I remember right, the computer is about $300, so maybe it's worth $4.38, huh? > Shop Materials 9.75 > Tax 2.89 > ------ > 167.94 "Shop materials" is usually a flat fee to cover stuff like rags, cleaning fluids, nuts & bolts, brake fluid, the plastic they lay on the seat to keep grease off, electrical connectors, etc. The fee is usually posted on a sign somewhere in the shop and tells what all it includes. I'm not sure what "Misc materials" are. Sounds like more "shop materials" to me. As far as labor rates go, I do my own work, so I'm not sure. I suppose it depends on the prevailing rates in your area. Is it around $18/hr or is it more like $27.50/hr? More? > I wanted the transmission (manual) fluid replaced because a guy I trust > said Omni trans are bad nwes and should have the fluid replaced > occasionally. I couldn't do it myself because there was no drain plug! > The was a fill plug up high on the side but no drain. I presume they > took the side off and watched the fluid spill out. It has to be siphoned out the fill hole. > The brakes (non-power) are much tighter now. The pedal no longer goes > all the way to the floor and the parking brakes is no longer ornamental. > > The second bill was to solve the "stumbling/stalling when wet" problem. > I have had the wires, distributor cap replaced before to no avail. They > said the bad coil could have caused the cap/wires to fail. The sealant Sounds like they "gotcha". The cap & wires don't "fail". The only time they need replacing is when they "leak". To check this, first look for cracks in the wires and cap. If you don't find any, turn off the garage lights and look for blue sparks from the wires or cap. These are the "leaks" you're looking for. There's a plastic water shield in front of the distributor, so you'll have to take that off to check the cap. > Paul Czarnecki Gregg Mackenzie denelcor!gmack