2-21: Consumer alert! Better get a estimate elsewhere before you approve services recommended by the Tempe (Elliot Rd) auto
service. Here's what it cost me to repair what initially was a
small fluid leak at the front left side of my Acura. Location
was marked with colored chalk under the area of the leak, and I
gave them a paper with a sample of the fluid.
12-3-99: They installed a new oil pan gasket @ $160.01
Leak continued following day, plus additional leaks in same area.
12-14-99: Returned, thinking the service warranty would pay for it since the initial leak continued. They replaced the power-steering pressure hose AND said I needed to replace the rack and pinion assembly. Cost: $915.42. (I since inquired as to the location of the rack and pinion, which is well behind the power steering, and not the same fluid... There is not one drop of fluid leak on my garage CARPETING in that area. Wish I had known
where the rack and pinion was before I reluctantly submitting to
the "repair".)
Original leak still there...
1-10: Returned for third try, again marked the leaking area with colored chalk, expected warranty to pay for it. Nope! They replaced the power steering pump with a remanufactured (I asked for the old part back... They paid $50 for the reman. Part, and
charged me $336.90 for it.) Total cost for all repairs:$1,535.69.
I since checked the repairs and catalog costs for repairs and labor with a reputable auto service and found the actual cost of
labor and resealing of the pump (more reliable and longer-lasting) to be only $135.00. And the dealer recommended service
for a rack and pinion assembly is to reseal... At a most lower
cost. (Actually, all I needed was to reseal the power-steering
pump...) Found out from friend in the auto racing industry that one should ask for the dealer catalog price of all parts and labor before agreeing to any repair. If it sounds unreasonable, get another estimate elsewhere.
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