Is my son being TAKEN ???? Help

[hammersley]

A Pickle - please give me advice.....



I Know this is about a gas DODge - but the problem applies to us all.



I sent a message about a week ago concerning my son's 2001, Dodge 1500 318 GAS Rig - 5 speed gertreg(sp?)transmission problem. I took it to a shop here in Vancouver Wa, and they told us it was the transmission, and it they wouldn't know what was wrong till they took her apart. Since the truck has 75,000 on it (son has owned her since new) we thought the time would be right to do a clutch, since the labor would be covered in the transmission job. The estimate was anywhere from $1500-$2500 for the transmission and $200 for the clutch, thow-out bearing, presssure plate and resurfacing flywheel. Well they took her apart on Monday and DISCOVERED NOTHING wrong with the transmission!!!!! With the driveline off, they discovered that the noise was a bad rear end. They completely replaced everything in the Rear End, cost $1100! They want to charge us $475 for the clutch. I wanted the clutch, but only as the labor would be free. They apparenetly aren't charging us for the transmission dissassembly ( wow) but are charging some labor for th eclutch - although less than doing it all by itself. What should I do - Complain vehemently that we wouldn't have had to do the clutch till a later point ( was about 75% gone) = or live with it??????

 

[rrausch]

Boy, this is one of those things where a little better diagnosis would have made a LOT of difference. However we all are human! I think the shop should get some respect for not lying to you! Had they been dishonest, they could have tried to bamboozle you.



My 2 cents is to go ahead with the new clutch, after all they are coming down on the installation labor.



I have been in the auto repair business, (Auto Glass Shop) back in the late 1970's and identifying the problem is not always easy, but the shop does bear the responsibility in my opinion. When we made a wrong call in the glass shop, we generally ate some of the labor, but not all of it. It sounds like they are reputable, if so they are just as sad about this as you are. I don't think you are getting ripped off, I think you are the victim of human error.

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

Try to look at the bright side. The rear end problem is fixed. (less than a transmission job) They charged you less than full price for the clutch job which the truck would have needed anyway before that 318 gives out. With the transmission out ,it would have been just plain bad judgement not to change a clutch that was toast. I would'nt expect this for free. It is a big repair bill but the shop was upfront with you. If they were a crooked shop ,the bill would have been arround the 2500 first mentioned.

 

[hammersley]

Thanks guys

I feel the same way - they could have tried to bam-booozzle you, but I was really amazed that they were upfront and said nothing was wrong. They could have also tried to run up the bill on the rear end, but didn't either. I only wish that when they took out the driveline, that they rotated the rear-end, the noise was pretty evident - but worse things can happen, and it is now done. I only wish I understood what caused the rear-end to go out. My son is a very careful driver and doesn't hurt the equipment.

 

[rrausch]

Grease worms have been mentioned before on this site.

These pesky little critters seemingly materialize in Transmissions, Rear ends, etc. , they devour all the grease and lubricant then disappear into thin air.

 

[fest3er]

Re: Thanks guys

Originally posted by hammersley
... I only wish I understood what caused the rear-end to go out. My son is a very careful driver and doesn't hurt the equipment.

IIRC, the rear diffs in the 1500s are notorious for failing, especially if the truck is used to tow a lot. At least that's what I've heard.

N

 

[Bill Lins]

Re: Re: Thanks guys

Originally posted by fest3er

IIRC, the rear diffs in the 1500s are notorious for failing, especially if the truck is used to tow a lot. At least that's what I've heard.



N

Funny you should mention this- Gitchesum burnt his axle up while towing a trailer to the Lone Star TDR Rally this weekend.

 

[Ladders]

Let me take a stab at this: You were expecting a bill of 1700-2700 with the trans and clutch. The bill for the rear and clutch is: 1575. To me its a no-brainer. You are getting off for less than expected on the original estimate (if the trans was at fault) and you got a teardown/fluid change on the trans (I think thats what you inferred). I would be happy they did not set you up for the trans and then the rear added. Gud shop, give us the name in case we in the area with a problem. (You do say its a manual, but if it was an auto, they probably would adjust it and change the filter - being the "nice" guys they are about the pricing)



SOTSU!!

\\BF//