On January 10 my 1994 Dodge pickup truck suddenly lost power as I entered the interstate highway. After several calls without success to my usual repair shop, I decided to call the Harrisonburg store. I had the truck towed to them and asked them to let me know before work what the problem would be.
My wife picked me up at the store and, on the way home, they called to let me know that a tune up was all that was needed. Being accustomed to tune up meaning spark plugs, rotor, and distributor cap replacement, I told them to go ahead. I was not told the estimated cost and I, unfortunately, did not ask as other repair shops would have charged less than one hundred dollars at the outside.
To my shock and horror the bill was $314.40 which included a headlamp. They replaced the above items plus spark plug wires. I argued with the manager who told me that the price he charged came from a computer and he had to charge that amount. I told him that was the first time and last time I would ever let his shop touch any vehicle of mine!
The parts are as follows: Rotor $2.99, spark plug wire harness $49.99, R&R ignition cable set $39.20, R&R distributor cap $33.60, six Bosch plugs $11.94, halogen light bulb $5.00, air filter $5.99, distributor cap $19.23 and sales tax $4.42.
Labor & service are as follows: diagnostic $56.00, tuneup $78.05, replace light bulb $7.99
I was told it took over three hours to install the above. I could have easily done it myself, and should have, in less than an hour!
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