Is This A Fair Price???

[Dorjak]

I took my car in the other day to get the oil changed
and to have the transmission serviced.

The estimate I was given before the work was commenced
was $388 Plus Tax. This is OK because that's what's on the
Bill.

I didn't realize the cost for servicing the Transmission
is close to $336

This work was not performed by a Dealer.

The car in question is a 1998 Cadillac Eldorado.

It's water under the bridge now but I was just
wondering if the cost is in line or if it's the going rate,
so that I'll know better the next time.

.
.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/dorjak/scan0003.jpg

[mander]

Check your owners manual, but 20 litres of ATF??? :eek: According to this,

FLUID CAPACITIES
Auto Trans (4L60-E) Pan Removal: 5.0 quarts (4.7l)
Auto Trans (4L60-E) Overhaul (298 mm Torque Conv.): 11.2 quarts (10.6l)
Engine Oil & Filter Change: 5.0 quarts (4.7l)
Engine Cooling: 14.0 quarts (13.2l)
Engine Cooling with A/C: 15.1 quarts (14.3l)
Engine Cooling Heavy-Duty: 16.8 quarts (15.9l)
Fuel Capacity: 23.0 gal. (87 L)
Power Steering: 1.4 quarts (0.65l)
Rear Axle: 4.3 pints (2.0l)

You got robbed right there on ATF. Twenty litres of tranny fluid? I have never heard of any car having that much in it. That is from an earlier year, http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/cfb.html but still, thats 4 gallons...way too much. Dr. Dan will know better but the charges you show are excessive in my view. Oh and another thing I just noticed...8 litres of oil??? What are these jokes doing? Putting 3 litres in the trunk as spare? :ngf:

[Drthorne]

They probably used the 20litres of atf to flush the tranny clean, $80 sounds about right for the tranny filter

My pickup has a 5.0l V8 and it only takes 5l of oil

[mander]

They probably used the 20litres of atf to flush the tranny clean, $80 sounds about right for the tranny filter

My pickup has a 5.0l V8 and it only takes 5l of oil

I could stand corrected here, but do they not use a solution other than just straight fluid to flush the tranny? The way I look at it, its like saying we are going to flush your engine with regular motor oil. That wont to anything but flush out the old oil...not a true flush. Regardless, no engine in any cadillac takes 8 litres of motor oil even with the filter.

[Carz n Compz]

For one thing, this guy cannot spell (Liter, Tranmission?) Plus 20 L of tranny fluid and 8 L of oil is a rip off. Did this guy forget to put plug back after he drained the old fluid and pour the new stuff right through and out the engine? :eri:

[Dr.Dan]

That is a lil higher than I would expect.
The labour charges of 99.95 and 99.00 are usually merged to one charge of about $160 or so when getting both done at the same time.

Yes mander, that is how a real tranny flush works.. The new fluid pushes all the old out...

That 8L of engine oil has me stumped though... :tch:

[mander]

Thanks for clarifying that Dan. Charges seemed excessive to me and I guess thats why I was picking it apart. 8 L of oil is way beyond what is required unless you are driving a transport.

Might we know the business name so we know not to go there in the future? Location is not needed.

[Thaiwoo]

Just look at the bottom of the invoice and you can see the name.

[Carz n Compz]

Just look at the bottom of the invoice and you can see the name.

Maybe it's cut off? :rolleyes:

[kingpounds2002]

Maybe it's cut off? :rolleyes:

It says, Thank You For Choosing Robinson Automotive...That's what I see anyways :)

[T_Totler]

It says, Thank You For Choosing Robinson Automotive...That's what I see anyways :)
That shop is owned by Kirk Robinson who hosts the show "Auto Talk" on Rogers....

http://www.rogerstelevision.com/option.asp?lid=13&rid=16&hid=251

[Mouse]

Thanks for the laugh Carz. :d

[T_Totler]

Thanks for the laugh Carz. :d
lol... "Use The Spellcheck, People!" :d

[Lesster]

Yikes! I work at a GM dealership, I make up invoices and quote prices over the phone when booking appointments.

On that car, we charge $32.61 for a Lube, Oil and Filter if it is not a Northstar engine (8th digit in V.I.N. would be a Y or a 9 if a Northstar) and $40.00 if it is a Northstar. I think the Northstar became available in 1989, but I could be wrong. Northstar engines do take either 7 or 8 L. of oil.

A Tranny Fluid & Filter change should be about $175.00 to $225.00 (parts & labour), I can't recall the exact pricing as we rarely do that service anymore. We do a lot of tranny fluid flushes and they are $139.95 including parts & labour. That gets more of the old fluid out and if there's any metal to be found in the filter it's usually a noticeable problem before you drive into our location.

Prices are before taxes. I would expect the bill to be about $276.00 to $304.75 including taxes. And I'm on the high side because that's how I quote on the phone, and I tell our customers that ... it's the CYA method.

I am shocked at the price you paid, especially if that actually is Kirk Robinson's garage. I'd be asking management at that location to have a look at that invoice.

JMHO

[Carz n Compz]

Kirk Robinson? I believe he is the guy on the Rogers car show?

http://www.robinsonautomotive.com/main/main.htm That is the garage he went to. Dorjak, if you want an honest mechanic I know of a guy with a shop in Scarbrough (Warden/Cherry Centre) and Markham. PM me for info.

[T_Totler]

Kirk Robinson? I believe he is the guy on the Rogers car show?

Gawd you're good! (http://www.thecomputermechanics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=95535&postcount=11) ;)

[The Computer Guy]

Robinson is supposed to be a reliable good shop. The Lemon-aid show used to promote and the APA still does.

[Drthorne]

I could stand corrected here, but do they not use a solution other than just straight fluid to flush the tranny? The way I look at it, its like saying we are going to flush your engine with regular motor oil. That wont to anything but flush out the old oil...not a true flush. Regardless, no engine in any cadillac takes 8 litres of motor oil even with the filter.

The only easy way to get the fluid out of the torque converter, which could be up to 3 or 4litres is to keep pumping in new stuff

[Taz]

Thanks for clarifying that Dan. Charges seemed excessive to me and I guess thats why I was picking it apart. 8 L of oil is way beyond what is required unless you are driving a transport.

Might we know the business name so we know not to go there in the future? Location is not needed.


This is a bit off topic but just so you can say you learned something totally useless today......

Mander my International truck takes 28.5 L of oil

[funnyman82]

I am not sure but I had a tranny service on my QX4 a few months ago and I believe they only charged about $150 with taxes to do it. Why did this job cost so much more?

[Dr.Dan]

I am not sure but I had a tranny service on my QX4 a few months ago and I believe they only charged about $150 with taxes to do it. Why did this job cost so much more?
It takes less to do yours... you don't have to drop the pan to change a filter, so that was a big chunk right there ($78 filter kit + $99 labour).
Yours is just 'flush and go'.. very simple :)

[funnyman82]

Thanks Dr.Dan