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1998 Subaru Forester 190,000 miles
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forestie30
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Sep 26, 2009, 11:40 PM
Post #1 of 8
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1998 Subaru Forester 190,000 miles
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I have a 98 subaru forester. It was overheating mostly in stop and go traffic and seemed to be more at risk for hitting the red when the AC was on. Long story short I took the car in to a mechanic to be looked at, and by that I mean for a quote. I got back to the mechanic a few hours later and he had a bill for me for a radiator flush and some parts. I said No way, he said I couldn't have my car, the police came and I got my car back a few hours later etc.. The problem with the overheating seems to have been fixed but I noticed this evening that when I press on the accelerator from stop I can hear fluid rushing around the front of the car/engine area. I'm not sure how to describe it but it didn't do that before. It only happens when I press on the accelerator.
Thank in advance for your time.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Sep 27, 2009, 5:23 AM
Post #2 of 8
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Re: 1998 Subaru Forester 190,000 miles
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Well, since your car appears to be fixed, why don't you go back to the shop you left without paying and pay him for his time and he can probably tell you what the noise is.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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forestie30
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Sep 27, 2009, 6:49 AM
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Re: 1998 Subaru Forester 190,000 miles
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As I said before I took my car in for a quote. I did not authorize any work to be done to my car. If the guy had given me a quote I was going to take it to at least 2 more mechanics to get a second and third opinion. (and that would be because the last time I had automotive issues I was given three different prices from three different guys ranging from $300 to $1700 with one guy telling me I needed to replace a part that doesn't even exist on that car.) The guy didn't call me to say hey this is what I think is wrong with your car do you want me to go ahead with the work. There are dishonest mechanics and I am trying to protect myself as I have been ripped off in the past. What should I have done differently? I asked for a Quote. I didn't sign any paperwork I didn't want him to do anything to my car, yet. I wanted second and third opinions. I wanted to have time to save my money so that I don't have to live on 50 dollars for the next two weeks. Is that ok with you? It is my money and my car, and I have the right to make the decisions about what I will and wont pay for. I did pay the guy for parts in the end. I understand that mechanics get ripped off all the time. I know people come in and say fix my car, the guy spends his time and parts and the car owner doesn't pay. I do understand that but please try to see things from the side of a car owner who just doesn't want to get ripped off Again. Dishonest mechanics have made it difficult for the honest ones.
(This post was edited by forestie30 on Sep 27, 2009, 8:27 AM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Sep 27, 2009, 7:23 AM
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Re: 1998 Subaru Forester 190,000 miles
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When you brought your problem to this mechanic, did you expect him to spend time diagnosing this for free? Did you think he could just give you a free diagnosis without spending any of his time doing this. I hate to clue you but these things take time to diagnose. time is money to a mechanic. These things are not always that cut and dry. Sometimes you have to flush a cooling system to find out just how dirty it was. You expected him to donate his time, give you a free diagnosis and estimate so you could take his estimate and find someone to do it cheaper. We are shop owners and mechanics too and really don't like being treated that way by customers like you. You may think all mechanics are ripoffs but you are wrong and we take being treated that way very personally.
Let me add one more thing. If you respond with vulgar language again, I will delete your entire question.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Sep 27, 2009, 7:27 AM)
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forestie30
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Sep 27, 2009, 8:16 AM
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Re: 1998 Subaru Forester 190,000 miles
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Sorry about the bad language..
No I didn't expect a free diagnosis. When did I say that? You are assuming that. And this wasn't about getting something from him so I could find it cheaper somewhere else it was about getting a congruient diagnosis from more than one person.
You say you are mechanics and shop owners and I understand that time is money for you and I also understand that not all mechanics are ripoffs but because some are customers have to look out for themselves. I think it would be silly to take the word of the first mechanic I went to. As a matter of fact if I had I would have paid 2000 dollars for a cracked block when apparently my car has been fixed with not much more than a radiator flush
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forestie30
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Sep 27, 2009, 8:59 AM
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Re: 1998 Subaru Forester 190,000 miles
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How is comparing diagnosis the same as pitting one shop against the other? I was trying to find out what is wrong with my car so that I could budget for a potentially expensive job.. And how do you figure that the shop got ripped off? I honestly wasn't trying to rip anyone off. How should a customer handle this situation? When I bring my car in for a diagnosis should I expect a bill of over 200 dollars? He wasn't charging me for a diagnosis he was charging me for work. Fine you have to flush things to find problems but shouldn't you let the customer know before you do it? Tell them hey I need to flush it, it will cost this much to do that. Do you really expect us to come to your shop with what amounts to a blank check.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Sep 27, 2009, 10:22 AM
Post #8 of 8
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Re: 1998 Subaru Forester 190,000 miles
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Yes, your right. they should have made it clear up front.
That being said, they did solve your problem for a reasonable price.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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