Trial and error...

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Should I feel shafted that mechanics charge for trial and error testing??

My 120 has had its air bag warning light flashing on the dash for a month or so. Finally had the opportunity get it checked out and...

First mechanic (neighboring business at work) checked it and replaced the SQUIB through the steering wheel... didn't fix it so he put the original back in... Have to pay for his labour.

2nd mechanic (Toyota at Morningside) have a look a it as they fixed an error back in April and now say it needs the seatbelt pre-tensioner assembly replaced.

Have that done, pay the bill and jump in the car... airbag symbol still flashing

Now, they have found a break in a wire from the ECU to the pre-tensioner assembly. Just needs to be fixed/soldered or something they tell me...

So, I'm guessing I didn't need that pre-tensioner after all


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

I'm of the opinion that if you send it to a Toyota specialist , then they better get it right first time , otherwise ill take it too someone else who will do it cheaper . Then again I would only ever send it to Toyota if it had a very specific problem that can't be fixed by my regular mechanic. You would think with their specialised diagnostic equipment , they would get it right .

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Should I feel shafted that mechanics charge for trial and error testing??

My 120 has had its air bag warning light flashing on the dash for a month or so. Finally had the opportunity get it checked out and...

First mechanic (neighboring business at work) checked it and replaced the SQUIB through the steering wheel... didn't fix it so he put the original back in... Have to pay for his labour.

2nd mechanic (Toyota at Morningside) have a look a it as they fixed an error back in April and now say it needs the seatbelt pre-tensioner assembly replaced.

Have that done, pay the bill and jump in the car... airbag symbol still flashing

Now, they have found a break in a wire from the ECU to the pre-tensioner assembly. Just needs to be fixed/soldered or something they tell me...

So, I'm guessing I didn't need that pre-tensioner after all


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You have every right to ask for a refund, as they stated what the problem was, and in the end it wasn't what they said it was

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

If they replaced the unit and it didn't fix the fault why should you pay for it, tell then to put the old one back, and you don't expect to have to pay for labor while they bush range.

Had a friend awhile back, put car in for head gasket fault, gets a call car finished, picks up car engine management light comes on on way home.

Takes back to dealer next day, they give him a call engine ecu is faulty, had to replace, bill $3500! I asked him did the radio work when you picked up the car the first time, yes it did, well the first thing they should have done before commencing work on the motor was disconnected the battery so your radio should have lost its settings, ask them why it didn't?

The service rep goes quite on the phone then said they must have noted all the stations and then reprogrammed them!

I said tell him to replace the original ECU and that your going to have a EFI specialist repair centre diagnose the and what has caused it.

When he goes to pick up the car they say the fault must have cleared itself when they swapped the ECU's yeah right.

Mind you they still charged him $1500 for labor and he was silly enough to pay it.

Leigh

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Hmmm, I should go for a refund. Total was $380 for parts and labour. I'm too soft though

One the radio note... I'm guessing they do have a fast way to set the stations back to 'a standard' as both times mine had all new stations set (popular local stations for BNE) in the same order, but not how I have them set. Time was also correct but trip computer/avg economy /avg speed were all reset.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

It seems to be the 'done thing' though... they aren't the first mechanic to charge for trial and error testing.
I accept that labour needs to be covered but the part???


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Hmmm, I should go for a refund. Total was $380 for parts and labour. I'm too soft though

One the radio note... I'm guessing they do have a fast way to set the stations back to 'a standard' as both times mine had all new stations set (popular local stations for BNE) in the same order, but not how I have them set. Time was also correct but trip computer/avg economy /avg speed were all reset.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The good service centres use a memory saver, the crappy ones don't, my friends service centre is a crappy one!

Leigh

[juc33_prado Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close juc33_prado]

The good service centres use a memory saver, the crappy ones don't, my friends service centre is a crappy one!

Leigh

with normally only 6 push and hold presets, i wouldn't think it would take that long anyway

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

It doesn't take long but it takes time and effort, a memory saver is quick, if they have to write it down it is probably not going to happen.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

a memory saver is quick

These are handy, I have one. Cost about $20, takes a 9v battery and plugs into the cigarette lighter socket.
Saves all the settings for the in dash radio/GPS, but not the trip computer or odometer unfortunately (cig and radio are on the same circuit)

Mick

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Hmmm, might be handy the more I tinker with the car.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk