Would You Like to Super Size that...

[Bhatti, Mohammed]

Yep, pretty much agree with you on all that you have said.  The thing is that I recently replaced the cam seal (and TB etc) not more than a couple weeks ago.  Admittedly, I didn't clean around the cam afterwards so it could have been just the old grime.  Also been underneath the vehicle and again, didn't see any leaks and certainly none from the valve cover.  I guess I need to double check again.
 
It's been a while since I've been to a dealer so I guess the prices really shocked me.
 
mohammed
97 A4 1.8tqa

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: Brett Dikeman [mailto:brett at cloud9.net] 
	Sent: Wed 12/31/2003 4:04 PM 
	To: Bhatti, Mohammed; quattro at audifans.com 
	Cc: 
	Subject: Re: Would You Like to Super Size that...
	
	

	At 1:56 PM -0500 12/31/03, Bhatti, Mohammed wrote:
	>content-class: urn:content-classes:message
	>Content-Type: text/plain;
	>       charset="utf-8"
	>
	>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
	http://www.users.cloud9.net/~brett/