Would You Like to Super Size that...

[Brett Dikeman]

At 1:56 PM -0500 12/31/03, Bhatti, Mohammed wrote:
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>I dropped off my car at the local Audi dealer (HBL in Tysons, VA) to 
>have the ignition switch replaced under a recall.  The service 
>adviser also offered to super size my visit with the following items:
>
>- replace transmission tail shaft seal                      $530
>- replace both rear flange seals                             $520
>- replace rear brake pads and rotors                    $640
>- replace valve cover and cam adjuster gaskets    $870
>- replace RF tire (Michelin Pilot)                          $178
>- car wash                                                           FREE!!!
>
>Grand Total                                                       $2738
>

Replace only one tire?  There's a big no-no; you replace in sets 
unless the good one has very little wear.  As for the brake job- 
ouch.  $640 for a rear brake job?  Uh, not on this planet...that's 
about 2-3 hours at home.  Ask for the measurements on the rotor+pads. 
If they didn't write them down, you're probably getting scammed.

As for the rest, either take it to another dealer or independent 
mechanic, or get under there yourself.  The valve cover and cam 
adjuster gaskets will be obviously leaking if they need replacement. 
The tire will obviously need replacement if wear is 
excessive(alignment time!) or a suspension component is bent/worn 
etc.  A transmission shaft seal will again show an obvious leak.  If 
you want to be extra sure(and you're paranoid that the leak 
'appeared' at the dealer), clean up the oil that's there, and then 
check again in short order.  If the repair recommendations turned out 
to be bogus, photocopy the report, write a letter, and send it to AoA 
Client Relations.

However- I think a lot of the bad rap regarding items "popping up" at 
the time of recall are not actually scams on the part of the dealer. 
People(not implying you, just people in general) have the grossly 
mistaken impression that "if it drives and doesn't make funny noises" 
everything is OK, and dealers do legitimately find things wrong when 
they put the car up on the lift. It's like walking into the doctor's 
office for something minor, and the doctor going "holy cow, your 
blood pressure is through the roof!" when he looks at the chart the 
nurse did taking your vitals.  It happens.  It happens to listers 
when -they- look under their cars.  "Oh #$@!, what happened to that?"

A coworker complained recently about taking her car in for an oil 
change(or a recall, I forget which) and the dealer said "some 
something-or-other boots were about to go and they wanted $xxx to fix 
it".  I asked, 'CV Joint boots?"  "Sounds familiar."  "If they are 
cracking, they need to be replaced.  If you don't, the CV joint 
grease leaks out, dirt and water get in, and the joints will destroy 
themselves in short order, and that is VERY expensive."

"Oh."  A rapid conversation topic switch followed.

The same people will complain if the dealer doesn't say anything, 
too- say they go in for an oil change, and then a week later 
something blows up, falls off, whatever.  "BUT I JUST had it in for 
service!" is probably the first thing the owner will say when talking 
to friends.

Damned if you say anything, damned if you don't :-)

B
-- 
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"They that give up essential liberty to obtain temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin
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