The check engine light was on in our 96 Chrysler T&C minivan. My wife wanted it checked out by the dealer even though I was pretty sure it was the oxygen sensor. Plus it was time to bring it in for an emissions test.
I had stopped going to the Lynch auto dealership years earlier as I felt they were way overpriced. Now that they are under new management I thought I'd give them another shot at earning our business.
They tell my wife it will be $149.95 for a diagnosis which could be applied to the repairs. I said lets do it, figuring if it was the oxygen sensor that it would be under $200 to fix. I had one replaced on another vehicle about 6 years earlier for $130.
Lynch tells us the one sensor which is bad costs about $299 plus labor to fix. Lynch recommends we also replace the 2nd sensor which is still good but should be replaced for $399 plus labor. Lynch says the engine is probably now carboned up and should be cleaned for around $300. So Lynch wanted over $1000 to fix the check engine light problem.
I said no way and told my wife just bring it in and see if it passes the emissions test anyway. She did and the emissions center in short said we need to fix the oxygen sensor in order to pass. Right there I learned I could have saved the $149.95 Lynch charged for a diagnosis.
I went and picked up an OEM Oxygen Sensor from AutoZone for $72.00 and paid a friend to replace it $50 which took about 40 minutes in my garage. Took it back for the emissions test 2 weeks later and passed - problem fixed for about $125.
Called Lynch to tell them I felt I was treated unfairly and the manager there said he'd review it later. They charged me $149.95 for a diagnosis the emissions center will do for free and the manager wasn't sure why I was quoted a litle high for the repairs. I doubt Lynch will ever respond - so I got lynched!
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