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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