Dealer charges
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 893
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From: St. Pete,Beach,Florida Florida
Dealer charges
Is it customary for a dealer to charge a fee for checking out a problem with my corvette? They told me "there would be a $100.00 charge to look at my car" is that the normal mose of operation? TIA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,119
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From: Spring Branch Texas
Yes, unfortunately more and more shops are starting to charge a "diagnostic fee" for figuring out what is wrong with a car. I guess the logic is that you could simply refuse their estimate for repairs (and fix it yourself now that you know what is the problem). Their continued logic is to charge this fee only if you reject their estimate to do the work. They put in labor to diagnose the problem but get no income if you reject the estimate.
Now my opinion: I think these fees really suck and highly suggest that even the repairr shops (mostly dealers) don't even have the confidence in their own abilities to manage your repairs effectively.
Now my opinion: I think these fees really suck and highly suggest that even the repairr shops (mostly dealers) don't even have the confidence in their own abilities to manage your repairs effectively.
Corvette ***** OG
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Charlotte NC
St. Jude Donor '05
CI VI Veteran
Originally Posted by jrose7004
I'd find another shop or at least one who would rebate the fee if they do the work! 
The other thing that is getting more and more common is many dealerships charge the diagnostic time to check out your car and then DON'T put it towards the repair time.
I can see a diagnostic charge if they have to take the time to chase down an electrical problem or something that required quite a bit of work but when I was at the dealership getting my CLB done, they called me up and said they noticed my oil pressure gauge was pinned. I casually told them to check it out and let me know what was wrong. Idiots charged my 35 to tell me the sending unit was bad. To me, that's wrong, not because it's me but because they know it's a common problem. (then the morons quoted me almost 500 to change it out)
If the dealership spends time chasing down/diagnosing a problem, that's one thing... but if they put your car up on the lift, look at your diff and say "yep, you need a seal replaced" I'll be damned if I'm paying diagnostic time.
Mark
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,119
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From: Spring Branch Texas
Originally Posted by MyBlueC5
Idiots charged my 35 to tell me the sending unit was bad. To me, that's wrong, not because it's me but because they know it's a common problem. (then the morons quoted me almost 500 to change it out)
Mark
Mark
I rest my case. The oil pressure sensor is about $40 and about 1.6 hours labor. I thought robbery was agains't the law!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,010
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From: SE Idaho
St. Jude Contributor
Not to defend dealers, but:
Does a Doctor charge you for an office visit and all diagnostic tests?
Does a plumber charge a fee just to come to your house, regardless of what the repair is.
Does a lawyer charge a per hour fee to hear your problems (unless he/she takes the case on a contingency)
However, if a dealer charges a diagnostic fee, and then charges you for the repair, they better damn well fix it, or they should be taken to court. If they are "acting professionally enough" to say they diagnosed the problem, they should also be professional enough to repair the correct item.
Does a Doctor charge you for an office visit and all diagnostic tests?
Does a plumber charge a fee just to come to your house, regardless of what the repair is.
Does a lawyer charge a per hour fee to hear your problems (unless he/she takes the case on a contingency)
However, if a dealer charges a diagnostic fee, and then charges you for the repair, they better damn well fix it, or they should be taken to court. If they are "acting professionally enough" to say they diagnosed the problem, they should also be professional enough to repair the correct item.
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Former Vendor
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From: FL
St. Jude Donor '13
Originally Posted by tkbillg
Is it customary for a dealer to charge a fee for checking out a problem with my corvette? They told me "there would be a $100.00 charge to look at my car" is that the normal mose of operation? TIA
Dealers generaly charge a flat 1 hour diagnostic fee X the hourly rate.
With the electronics in todays vehicles,diagnoses can often be 99% of the time spent on a car.It is not uncommon for a techs day to consist of diagnosing 6-7 vehicles a day and then awaiting authorization for repairs.If the customer does not pay a diagnostic fee,the tech would make $0 for that particular day...
Last edited by C-5 TECH; Dec 5, 2004 at 07:29 PM.
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I really don't see a problem with them charging you for diagnosing a problem to the car - their techs don't work for free. $100 may be a bit much though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,772
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From: Tampa FL
Originally Posted by repo
If it is out of warranty, then they should charge you. Do you work for free?
A $100 diagnostic fee is a bit much and if they dont rebate it if you decided to take the work there, that to me is outragous.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Originally Posted by tkbillg
Is it customary for a dealer to charge a fee for checking out a problem with my corvette? They told me "there would be a $100.00 charge to look at my car" is that the normal mose of operation? TIA
