I have been following this thread and for the same reasons as this guy, I also do my own repairs because these mechanics are talking a bunch of nonsense. I also had my one time experience with them and that was it for me. Just like this summer, I am saving enough money to do over my timing cover seal to fix timing chain rattle with new tensioner and guide and upper oil pan seal which takes care of the front and rear main seals. You know how much they would charge me for that kind of work? pretty much another 4th gen so I rather do it myself and get it done right the first time. The members in this community will help you through any problem better than any mechanic could.

 

You got a few free diagnosis out of them...so they got you.

 

HAHA on the subject my sister just called me and asked if I would do her brakes. It's a VW Rabbit/Golf, stealership wants $350 for rear brakes only! I am questioning how on a car with 20K miles the rear brakes need done but the front ones don't unless she drives around with the e-brake on. So at the dealership she balked at the price and said she would get it done elsewhere. They then told her that would violate her warranty if anybody but them did it.

Of course thanks to having read somewhere on the .org a section of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty act I knew that was bogus, told her I would do them as long as she files a complaint with the BBB and maybe the DA if they are willing to record such a complaint.

 

i know it might be a lil weird, but maybe tow it back to the shop and then secretly video record what is being said? Or have him write down what he's claiming is wrong with the car? I hope you have receipt from the last service for the fuel pump. It was like when channel 7? had work serviced with jiffy lube with changing the oil, to transmission flush to coolant flush. They didn't even put the car on the lift and gave it back to them. Since its channel 7, yea, they got **** for it and lost a lot of businesses.

But i'm sure that you're new mechanic won't mind giving a statement saying that the fuel pump is definitely not new.

 

Did you say Fletchers? are you in Richmond va? thats a local tow/repair place here but they are pretty big....would surprise me if they were pulling crap like this.

 

^^ He said twice he's in Arizona.


Anyways, that noise doesn't sound like any experience I've had with a bad fuel pump, but that's not to say I've experienced every noise you can hear from a bad fuel pump. Is that noise coming from the rear of the car where the fuel pump is or the engine compartment? If it's coming from the engine compartment, it's not a fuel pump noise.

It sounds a bit like when my starter was grinding against my

Anyways, here's hoping you get it fixed for minimum out of pocket cost. You already got screwed once, hope you don't get screwed again. lol @ $3200 and then $8200 for a new engine.

The only person I personally know that got an engine replaced at a shop for a maxima paid $1300 in labor and $500 for the engine. I've bought numerous VQ30s for $300-500 and they take a day to install is all. Nothing you should ever pay those prices you were quoted for. $2000 max to swap a VQ in a max or I30 I'd say.

 

i only trust mechanics who make me feel stupid, i went to a shop to get my struts and springs installed. they said 260.
went to another shop to also see this guys car (300zx with a chevy big block, chrome91 would be seizing up.) and he said 280 but he refused to do it because i was missing essential parts he felt would ruin the setup, gave me a parts list for me to go find my own prices for! so i rescheduled for the following Thursday, he made me feel a bit incompetent but i was thankful.

 

 

Definitely get a manual on your car and figure things out. They may also be local org members that can help out. My cousin was a mechanic and they would do stuff like that sometimes he said. If you have a local Firestone just go in there and wait and listen to the quotes they give for stuff, it's all scare tactics to make profit. They will tell you what's wrong but quoting $1800 to replace a steering rack because it has a small leak to me is ridiculous as example. Not to mention they have pricing by the hours a book suggest it takes. It may say 5 hours, they do it in 1 and you get charged for 5. Gotta be able to do your own repairs if possible.

 

wow.... just wow. no ethics at all