Am I getting ripped off?

[Torborg]

A bit of background info: on my way home from work yesterday, I saw smoke coming out of the dash on my VT with an accompanying smell of burnt rubber or plastic. I stopped nearby when safe, disconnected the battery because my high beams came on automatically and stayed on even after I turned the car off, then checked behind some of the interior trim which showed damaged/exposed wiring.

So I called out the RACV, who diagnosed an electrical fault and organised to tow my car to an automotive electrician. So far, so good.

I called back the auto electrician today and they said my entire dash will need to be removed and various parts of my electrical wiring replaced. That makes sense.

But...they've quoted me 10-12 hours labor. ie approx $1000.

I've never dealt with this business before and I rarely let anyone work on my car that I don't trust, but felt in a bit of a bind because my car is basically undriveable until repaired, I was referred by my regular mechanic, and I need it back soon so don't like the thought of towing it around Melbourne getting quotes.

I accepted the quote and told them to go ahead and repair the car. Stupid, maybe? You tell me.

On the phone, the repairer emphasised that removing the dash (and putting it back together again I assume) would be the main cost associated with the repair. Having never pulled the dash completely apart on a commodore before, I can't say for sure if that is reasonable, but it did surprise me.

Regardless, I'd just like to know if it's a fair quote, so that:
1. I can question the repairer and perhaps even challenge the bill when I pick up my car.
2. If I've made a mistake, I'd like to learn my lesson so I don't repeat it in the future.

Cheers.

[C4B]

Regardless, I'd just like to know if it's a fair quote, so that:
1. I can question the repairer and perhaps even challenge the bill when I pick up my car.
2. If I've made a mistake, I'd like to learn my lesson so I don't repeat it in the future.

You've accepted the quote so the only way you can challenge the bill is if:

1: They charge you more than what they've quoted.

Or

2: They don't carry out the work properly.

You had your chance to question the quote BEFORE you accepted it.......

[Torborg]

You've accepted the quote so the only way you can challenge the bill is if:

1: They charge you more than what they've quoted.

Or

2: They don't carry out the work properly.

You had your chance to question the quote BEFORE you accepted it.......

I get your point and obviously I will pay the bill regardless. I disagree with your reasoning though. In my experience, anything can be challenged when new information comes to light. I've been down this road before in other situations and had a previous (previous for good reason) accountant half his bill because I challenged it.

Lets not forget, the quote could be 100% justified. That's the thing I'm trying to work out. I'm just wanting to be informed. If nothing else, it's a lesson learnt.

[VTSSDUDE]

The amount of hours they have quoted for dash removal, fix wiring, and dash re-install sounds about right.
So without parts that's $83 an hour, but I am assuming they will use some wiring, and some bits. Sounds about right to me.

[Torborg]

The amount of hours they have quoted for dash removal, fix wiring, and dash re-install sounds about right.
So without parts that's $83 an hour, but I am assuming they will use some wiring, and some bits. Sounds about right to me.

Cheers mate. That's all I want to know.

[peter b]

C4b's reasoning is very sound especially since the work has been authorised. This is in no way similar to accounting and workshop is well within their rights to keep your car until the bill has been fully paid.
It does go to court and in every case where the job has been authorised and not paid for the shop gets ownership of the vehicle.
Whether your being ripped off or not is now irrelevant as you have the go ahead.

[Torborg]

C4b's reasoning is very sound especially since the work has been authorised. This is in no way similar to accounting and workshop is well within their rights to keep your car until the bill has been fully paid.
It does go to court and in every case where the job has been authorised and not paid for the shop gets ownership of the vehicle.
Whether your being ripped off or not is now irrelevant as you have the go ahead.

I don't disagree with any of that, except the part about it being irrelevant (at least to me). I'm not going to lose sleep or risk court action over $1000. The worst case scenario is I learn something new and don't get ripped off next time. I have no problem with C4B's post. As I replied to him, "I get your point and obviously I will pay the bill regardless".

I'd be interested to know how others would act in similar situations when they're ignorant about the validity of quotes.

[C4B]

I'd be interested to know how others would act in similar situations when they're ignorant about the validity of quotes.

I'd just say I want to confirm a few things and then contact a couple of other Auto Sparkies. If you're physically there you could just go out onto the footpath and look up a couple and let your fingers do the walking. If you're only talking on the phone it's even easier, just say you'll call back in 20 minutes to confirm whether to proceed.

If you find out everyone else quotes say $750 vs $1000 I'd then go back in and say it sounds like their quote is a little steep and ask if that's the best price they can do. If they say yes, and the difference is significant enough I'd call a Flatbed and get it moved to where the price was cheaper.

[matthewfnorbert]

they quoted 10 to 12 hours.... not including the phone call IF a disaster is found and additional expensive bits are needed or more labour... the can of worms has not been opened yet, not until the dash is out that is..

[FrangaFry]

Howdy, feel your pain buddy; I had purchased some Aeroforce gauges (and sensors for AFR and boost) some time back and after installing the gauges myself (ok it was easy, OBDII connection and run the wires down the back of the dash - used a coat hanger to feed them through), I wanted to get the additional Wideband/AFR sensors installed and wired up (I supplied all the bits). Was expecting a couple of hundred bucks as the cost, but it ended up costing me $1000 bucks as 'the dash' apparently needed to come out to do a decent job ..... was a little annoyed at the time, but Sh1t happens and I was happy with the result (and I do understand that labour is expensive ...... apparently it took over a day and trip to an auto elec to get the job done) ...........

Get it done and move on mate....... money, you can' take it with you.......

[Micks]

Greatest problem with burnt looms is the damage you can't see. If only part wiring is replaced there's a chance of further crystallization in the conductors causing all sort of problems in modern vehicle electrical system's!
Say the repairer is covering his backside for the unknowns.

[JezzaB]

Greatest problem with burnt looms is the damage you can't see. If only part wiring is replaced there's a chance of further crystallization in the conductors causing all sort of problems in modern vehicle electrical system's!
Say the repairer is covering his backside for the unknowns.

Exactly right. And whats the first thing you will do if the dash lights cut out or something doesnt work? Head back to them. They have done well to quote it at all. Once the smoke gets let out it is VERY difficult to know what it has affected. You might have burnt one section but fried a module or burnt somewhere near a relay or fuse in the engine bay as well when the heat and load started to get more and more.

[Torborg]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Lots to think about. I had a look at some of the burnt out wiring today and it's pretty extensive, going from up near the sun visor right through the dash. After reading some of the responses here and seeing the damage first-hand, that $1000 quote is actually looking pretty reasonable. Lol.

[feistl]

The other option (although probably a bit late for yourself) if your good with the spanners is to change the electrical system over yourself....

About 2 years ago i converted my VX SS into a WHII Statesman (electronically) so it has climate control, auto headlight, intermittent wipers, 8 way electric seats etc. I found a good donor car (so i could pull out everything i needed) and the total conversion cost me $1200 in parts. Probably took around 25-30 hours of work, although i was doing some other electrical stuff simultaneously. Hardest part is getting the wiring loom through the firewall due to the strut tower being in the way (meaning de-pinning the engine fuse panel).

Not much help for you now, but at least this way everything would have been changed. The danger with repairing electronics is you have no idea what else is damaged.

Also, do you have full insurance? Becuase your insurance company would have written the car off (pretty much any electrical fire = write off), could have bought it back as a wreck and either get it fixed and re-registered or moved the parts over to a new donor car...

Cheers

[Torborg]

The other option (although probably a bit late for yourself) if your good with the spanners is to change the electrical system over yourself....

About 2 years ago i converted my VX SS into a WHII Statesman (electronically) so it has climate control, auto headlight, intermittent wipers, 8 way electric seats etc. I found a good donor car (so i could pull out everything i needed) and the total conversion cost me $1200 in parts. Probably took around 25-30 hours of work, although i was doing some other electrical stuff simultaneously. Hardest part is getting the wiring loom through the firewall due to the strut tower being in the way (meaning de-pinning the engine fuse panel).

Not much help for you now, but at least this way everything would have been changed. The danger with repairing electronics is you have no idea what else is damaged.

Also, do you have full insurance? Becuase your insurance company would have written the car off (pretty much any electrical fire = write off), could have bought it back as a wreck and either get it fixed and re-registered or moved the parts over to a new donor car...

Cheers

I'd love to have that skill set, but it's well beyond where I'm at right now. All of my automotive skills are self-taught (with internet-forum help mostly ) and the VT is my daily. Pulling it off the road for anything more than a week is pretty much out of the question. I'm using a hire-car right now to get me through.

I only have 3rd party insurance, so can't go down the road you've suggested. My regular mechanic has told me to fix it, sell, and buy something newer. I'll probably wait and see how successful the repair is, then consider my options.