CHEATED? 2003 ION $500 to replace ignition switch, part $30, $470 for labor and code reading etc

hello,

here in Honolulu, @ the saturn dealer.......


I'm thinking i've been cheated, granted i agreed to pay the $130 to
have saturn diagnose that i had an ignition switch code

and then they apply the $130 towards the $500 repair, however why
should 1-2 hours of ignition switch labor and recoding the 'security
system' cost $470

i was already in for the $130 and had no idea what it should cost.
so, felt i had to agree.

i understand there may be some recall, though they told me there was
not.
http://www.alldata.com/TSB/53/035325iV.html



CAN anyone shed some light on what the heck is going on or RIGHT?

Thx in advance.


J

 

You didn't have to agree. For that much you might have been better off to
fix it yourself once it was diagnosed, or at least go get a second opinion.

 

1) ALWAYS, ALWAYS get an estimate before allowing them to do the repair.

2) what is the labor rate of the shop? here in STL, it is often over
$100/hr - I've heard it as high as $150/hr at some dealers.

3) is the 1-2 hours how long it took them, or how many hours you were
charged? For good or ill, shops use "book rate" for labor times. If the
tech can beat it, he & the dealer make more money. If it takes him
longer, oh well. I paid 8 hours labor for a job the tech got done in 5.
(one of the last times the car was at a dealer BTW)

 

my understanding is that they had to reprogram the computer and that
had i taken it to another shop to change the ignition
they may not THEN have been able to complete the reprogramming, not
having the dealer's tools

i did try calling another shop by phone to get an idea what they would
charge, however was told 'they would have to look at it' would give no
ballpark over the phone. the repair shop, per my understanding will
only apply the diagnosis charge to the repair, if the repair is done
the same day.

he did give me a verbal estimate of say $450, though nothing written,
i did pay for it by credit card and am sort of wondering if i can and/
or should put it in for dispute.

so, if the per hour rate is $150/hr, then $450 could have been about
right ; this is definitely not a job i could do myself, e.g.
reprogramming the computer etc

thx much

 

So they told you what it was going to cost. You agreed to the work
knowing what it was going to cost and now you are thinking of
disputing it with the credit card company. Seems to me you are
questioning the wrong persons integrity.

Steve B.

 

there was no written estimate, as i've said

i'm to take it up with the service manager on saturday, i'm not asking
for assistance on the process

my intention was to understand if this could possibly be the going
rate for the service

but, yes, to complain, about being burned by the $130 cost to read
the codes off the car ; which is ridiculous and a systemic problem
IMHO

 

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Reliability.aspx?year=2003&make=Saturn&model=Ion

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Reliability.aspx?year=2003&make=Saturn&model=Ion