Did My Second Opinion Mechanic over Charge Me?

Llunamoon1969 on 05/05/2022 - 15:46
Last edited 06/05/2022 - 10:31 by 1 other user

Check engine light came back on less than 2 days after usual service. I asked what codes came up during the service. I asked why they didn’t address it. They said they weren’t confident in transmission services.

I called up a second machine for their opinion, provided the exact code and diagnosis specifics provided by the first mechanic. He recommended bringing it in for a transmission flush and/or fluid replacement.

I had budgeted for the transmission flush/fluid replacement (+ labour) cost. Dropped the car off in the morning, came back in the late afternoon. (Second) mechanic said he doesn’t think this car has ever had a transition service so the fluid was quite dark. He also said didn’t have the filter for the transmission flush/fluid replacement so therefore couldn’t perform the job. So we agreed that I’d booked to bring the car back in about a week’s time so he could get the filter in.

But then I was handed a tax invoice of $150 for diagnosis of the code, range performance and recommendation for transmission flush. I paid the $150 because I understand that machines are professionals and should be paid for their work, time and labour. I also understand that their are a lot of business costs for mechanics.

This only bothered me because now I have to budget for the cost for the services next week PLUS the $150 for this visit. Which I wasn’t expecting.

However, I don’t know if I was ripped off because I also provided the mechanic with the diagnosis/issue with specifics from the previous service and he couldn’t even do the job we had discussed him doing. Did he charge me to re- diagnosis the issue? I know that $150 for a mechanic’s hourly rate is on the lower cost side of the spectrum. But I don’t know if he even did any labour?

2013 Nissan Pulsar - bought second hand, very good condition, no major issues.
6-12 monthly regular services.
140000 km
Only use premium 95

Automotive Nissan

Comments

  • Drakesy on 05/05/2022 - 15:51
    +9

    I'd expect the $150 to include the flush and filter the next time you bring it in.

    Otherwise you've paid him $150 to open the transmission bolt, check the fluid colour and close it up.

    You're in the right i believe.

    • HeWhoKnows on 06/05/2022 - 08:10
      +4

      The mechanic should have advised you in advance of any such costs.
      Sounds to me like they simply pulled out the dip stick and noted the dark transmission fluid.
      Any fool can do this in 10 secs and no mechanic charges for this.
      In reality no work was carried out on your car!
      And you dont need any diagnostic eqwuipment either to check the colour and condition of the transmission fluid nor did you ask for a diagnistic analysis.
      Sounds to me like you were invoiced in error
      Id be asking some questions!

      • md333 on 06/05/2022 - 13:06

        A lot of transmissions don't have a dip stick. Would take me about an hour to check the fluid on my car, but should be quicker for a mechanic with a hoist.

        Whether that was a useful thing to do is another matter.

        • the Unforgiven on 06/05/2022 - 14:51

          How do they fill autos without a dipstick to run the fluid down?
          How do they know when the oil level is right? Too low & you get slippage, too high & you can blow seals

          • md333 on 06/05/2022 - 15:34

            @the Unforgiven: Inspection/fill port on the side. I've read some new autos are supposedly 'sealed for life' which is probably shorthand for saying they expect you to scrap the car when the gearbox dies.

            • the Unforgiven on 06/05/2022 - 18:37

              @md333: Not good. It is like a Victa mower I saw last year or the year b4 that said the engine oil never needs to be changed!!! I was telling a mower place about these mowers and we were having a laugh about how he will be doing a lot Victa motor repairs in a few years time.
              The world has gone more nuts, stop the world I want to get off

              • md333 on 06/05/2022 - 19:21
                +1

                @the Unforgiven: Nah, he won't be doing repairs, just selling more mowers to replace the thrown out ones, probably electric.

                I picked up a mower on the verge rubbish last year that was thrown out apparently without ever having been run.
                Discovered the carb float bowl was full of engine oil. Presumably they put oil in the fuel tank and fuel in the crankcase and wondered why it wouldn't start, put it in the shed for 5 years then threw it out.

                Actually I remember the pull start was missing so may have tried to start it a lot of times and broken that before giving up.

                • the Unforgiven on 06/05/2022 - 19:52

                  @md333: Some people eh. Good on you for picking up that fault. How can someone get it that wrong, were they too sober?
                  I picked up a ride-on mower cheapish that had not my hours on it. The bloke said it didn't cut well. He took it back to the mower place a couple of times & they didn't fix it. I took it home & just removed the blanking plug that stopped the grass from coming out of the side of the mower! The grass was just going around under the mower with no way out, and not even the mower joint that sold the thing to him picked it up. Some mechanics should be shot (not me please. Can I change my answer?)

      • the Unforgiven on 06/05/2022 - 14:53

        That's what I used to do. The oil tells a lot about a transmission.
        Hey OP, does the oil smell burnt? 'cause usually dark oil means burnt oil from burnt clutches

  • PissLUR on 05/05/2022 - 15:51
    +3

    He recommended bringing it in for a transmission flush and/or fluid replacement.

    seems like he didnt do anything to your car. so it shouldnt have cost you anything/

  • MS Paint on 05/05/2022 - 15:52
    +8

    Only use premium 95

    This is the real issue.

    Why?

    6-12 monthly regular services.

    But the CVT was never serviced in 9 years?

    • lunamoon1969 on 05/05/2022 - 15:55
      -2

      It’s a dumb habit/value that my father and grandfather instilled in me. They’re car enthusiasts. To keep the engine “healthy” and “clean”. I don’t think it makes a difference, I just never got out of the habit.
      This car doesn’t get a huge about of use.
      So if fuel prices are too high. I don’t fill it up.

      • MS Paint on 05/05/2022 - 15:57
        +10

        It's an easy habit to break. Next time you reach for the bowser move your hand left 30cm. Voila.

        • boomramada on 05/05/2022 - 15:59
          +6

          Not 30cm to the right or it will be a expensive mistake lol

          • MS Paint on 05/05/2022 - 16:00
            +2

            @boomramada: Especially at my local Caltex. They don't have 98 at all bowser's so diesel in a petrol Nissan would be very expensive indeed.

        • SBOB on 05/05/2022 - 17:01

          Next time you reach for the bowser move your hand left 30cm. Voila.

          damn it… i picked up the diesel handle now I'm screwed :/

    • lunamoon1969 on 05/05/2022 - 15:57

      He said it “looks like” it hasn’t been serviced (transmission). I’ve only own it since 2019, and I’ve had a regular service at least once a year.

      • MS Paint on 05/05/2022 - 15:59

        Did the previous owner service it at a Nissan dealership? If so it would have been done or you could call the dealership to confirm.

    • HeWhoKnows on 06/05/2022 - 08:15
      +1

      Ive seen this issue with Mazdas (2012 Mazda 2)
      Nowhere in the car's service manual or schedule does it mention servicing the transmission or checking and/or changing the transmission fluid.
      This is professional negligence on thier part
      Time for a class action claim against the car Manufacturers !

      • MS Paint on 06/05/2022 - 09:01

        Not a CVT in a M2

  • brendanm on 05/05/2022 - 16:10
    +9

    CVT in a pulsar. That's not good, it's probably stuffed like all the rest.

    • Drakesy on 05/05/2022 - 16:58
      +4

      Agreed, the Nissan CVT's are a ticking time bomb.
      Was eyeing off a second hand Xtrail but the possibility of a CVT (with a lifespan apparently of 200,000k's was a little too much for me to accept).

      Back to a sportage manual and love it.

  • USER DC on 05/05/2022 - 16:47
    +1

    For $150 I'd say you could have gotten actual transmission service itself.
    If you are unsure and you cannot find out if service was done or not, better to just get it serviced, instead of getting charged $150 for checking if you need it serviced or not.

    And generally speaking no point you going to mechanic and asking should i service my transmission etc. ofcourse they run of profits hence are gonna demand you to get & pay money for the service.

    Have heard from some people too, they they had paid dealership for services, but they never did full service charged to them. From my experience have learned it very hard way after mistakes, that you are best to know and do most basic stuffs for your car,
    regarding mechanics just so hard to find a reliable mechanic, ultimately people are people, some only care about capitalisms.

    • HeWhoKnows on 06/05/2022 - 08:18

      Maybe not for $150 but certainly for around $200

      • USER DC on 06/05/2022 - 09:03

        Even in that case, why not simply pay $50 more and actually be sure that service was done, instead of relying on mechanic's saying of "transmission looks good, may be it was serviced".
        If its good only then we should service it na, if it's bad wont, will actually have repair or replace it.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 05/05/2022 - 17:39
    +1

    2013 Nissan Pulsar - bought second hand, very good condition, no major issues.

    How's the transmission?

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 05/05/2022 - 18:06

    I paid the $150 because I understand that machines are professionals

    I'm not sure what their hourly rate is. ;)

    • USER DC on 06/05/2022 - 09:07
      +1

      From my experience plenty of them are scammers, (charge for full work, but perform partial work), or rip offs (charge way too much), not sure if you meant professional in these things?

  • salmon123 on 05/05/2022 - 18:14
    +5

    But then I was handed a tax invoice of $150 for diagnosis of the code, range performance and recommendation for transmission flush … I know that $150 for a mechanic’s hourly rate is on the lower cost side of the spectrum

    $110-150/hour is the going rate in Sydney, for an average shop (not a clean dealership type workshop).

    That work sounds like 15-20mins tops. Perhaps this mechanic had a minimum of 1 hour, I don't know.

    He also said didn’t have the filter for the transmission flush/fluid replacement so therefore couldn’t perform the job.

    Not clear why the mechanic would take on a job with having parts ready to go or being able to source them in a day or so. A pulsar is a pretty common car. Parts should be easy to find.

    I'd be pretty p***ed off with this sort of outcome.

    Check engine light came back on less than 2 days after usual service.

    I'm skeptical a transmission fluid flush will solve the issue. You should be prepared for a major breakdown.

    • HeWhoKnows on 06/05/2022 - 08:22

      Only takes 10secs to pull out the dip stick and check the transmission fluid
      Its a NO COST service provided by all mechanics just like checking condition and amount of engine oil.
      Certainly if the transmission fluid is in such a poor state then a flush and new transmission fliud may resolve

  • Peter Enis on 05/05/2022 - 21:18
    +3

    Bwahahaha asking if mechanic is ripping you off, meanwhile ripping yourself off at the bowser.

    • kiitos on 06/05/2022 - 13:21

      What's the best alternative to 95, when the manufacturer recommends premium?

  • TheOtherLeft on 06/05/2022 - 08:36
    +2

    If your first mechanic told you it was a transmission issue why didn't you take it to a transmission specialist instead of another regular mechanic? Chances are they'd have the required parts.

  • skillet on 06/05/2022 - 10:54

    If you bought it off someone then I would have done all the fluids and filters then you have a reliable starting point.

  • OzHunterNSW on 06/05/2022 - 11:51

    If transmission you should have went to a "transmission SPECIALIST"… why didn't would be the question.

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