RxSeven1

iTrader: (2)

That ic block off plate is classic. LMAO. I blocked my hole with ducktape.

revsteve

iTrader: (6)

If the work was authorized by you or your father, then your recourse is limited. I would, however, tell him to 1) replace the pill w/ one that is the proper size (and therefore returns your engine to 11 psi it previously had).

As for the idle problem, did this just recently start up, or was it like this RIGHT AFTER you got it back? I suppose the point is that it could be a coincidence as well as faulty mechanical work.

Oh yeah, next time do it yoruself. At least you know if you break something, its your own fault!

Lastly, all the work he does should be free of charge, and never go back there again.

PVerdieck

Bring Vaseline if you ever go to that shop again

theorie

iTrader: (31)

Ok another update:

When I first went in, I told mike the problems. At first he was being kinda snotty about everything. After I talked to him a little bit, he started to be more understanding.

They hooked the car up for a smoke test to check for leaks after the throttle body. Well, we found a leak...

The gasket between the lower intake manifold and the rotor housings was busted and parts of it were sticking out a little.

That explains the boost leak I was getting. I don't know WHERE this broken gasket came from. I didn't have any boost leaks before I took the car to them for the clutch thing. I can't really blame it on them though. It is a 10 year old paper type seal...

They are replacing it, but I have to shell out some big $.

The gasket is pretty cheap, but he says it will be about 10 hour labor, so I'm looking at about $700 for everything. He said you have to take a good deal of the motor apart, including taking off the turbos.

This is correct?

While everything is off, I'm having him put on an M2 downpipe and making sure that I still push 10psi (and no more) when he gets everything back together. I bought the downpipe off him pretty cheap, and he said he would take care of the restrictor pills so that my boost is perfect when I get the car back...

Damn, too much $.... Once again I'm broke!

(it's all worth it though!!!!!!!!!!)

clayne

[dbl]

clayne

Dudes, most of the charges were for labor.

It doesn't matter if you can do it in less time - they run a business and they charge you a pre-defined rate, hourly.

It's their *job*.

In addition, they also fixed things you should have fixed initially (the intercooler duct), and didn't do a half bad job with things.

They also did not enlarge the wastegate - they only enlarged the actuation line pill which causes the wastegate to be opened earlier.

clayne

You know, I really don't think these mechanics are being unreasonable nor out of line in anything.

Honestly, I'd probably be pretty snotty to you as well if you owned an FD but your father was still dictacting choices.

MR_Rick

iTrader: (7)

yes and it will yield to lower boost also. at lest that happened to me.

Umrswimr

I would have to agree... Those prices are actually pretty reasonable if you consider that it's being done by a business. Sure, you could've done it for cheaper, but name one thing that you COULDN'T do cheaper yourself?

theorie

iTrader: (31)

ok you do not understand a few thigns:

1) i know most of the charges were for labor. i understand that. the problem is, some of the work was stuff that did not need to be done. because my dad was the contact while i was out of town, and he knows nothing about the car, it was wrong for the mechanic to get permission from my dad to do things that werent needed (and i did not initially ask them to do).

2) i know they did not enlarge the wastegate. i know they just drilled the pill. people misunderstood what i said in my earlier post.

3) yes i own an FD, which i pay 100% for. loan payment, gas, insurance, repairs, mods, etc. my father was "dictating the choices" while i was out of town, because my cell phone was dead and i forgot my charger while i was in texas. there was no way for the garage to contact me, so i called home and asked my father to keep in contact w/ the garage for me. i do not live at home by the way. so dont assume im a spoiled brat who was given an FD.

anyway, now that i have talked to mike alot more, he is being cool. i think he assumed i was a spoiled dumbass when i first brought my car in, but now he understands the situation.

too bad its still going to cost me $700+ to get it fixed. if only i had the time/tools i could do it myself, but i cant while attending school and working 3 part time jobs.

Snook

iTrader: (12)

hey bro ive read another post by you a while back getting charged a lot for **** at the same shop. The guy seems to really know what hes doing to keep your fd in check but he charges way too much. I would tell him you are not paying for the 72 dollars to change the pill out that is a 15 minute job and 36 for the clamp is too much too but just use that to get your 72 dollars back. thats ******* 1/3 of a profec b. Explain to the guy that this is way too much and you know whats involved because youve done it before or something or just charge it on a credit card and then dispute it.

I hate when shops do this, the guy I used to go to in largo did it to me a few times and I found out he does it to everyone. 5 guys that I know either sewed him or dont go there any more because hes a piece of ****. If I were you id find a good rx7 buddy to help you out. Im never going to a shop again you should do the same or find another one. In fact you should go to the only mechanic I would EVER go to if I had to. He is in tampa and guess what he charges 800 to remove and reinstall the entire engine!!!!!! They arent taking out your engine for the lim gasket just the uim turbos and then lim. Thats a 3 hour job at most of them I guarantee it. At least if you want to give him a call and ask for an estimate pm me. Its kinda far but to drive a few hours to tampa to save 400 may be worth it for you.

areXseven

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like there may have been a little mis-communication between the both of you. Looks like the mechanic was just following orders. If not, you should not be responsible for ANY work that was done without the Mechanic first obtaining the proper authority.. Good luck with the car.

theorie

iTrader: (31)

PM'ed you

poss

iTrader: (5)

It's more than a 3 hour job.

theorie

iTrader: (31)

Another update:

Ok, today is Monday. I gave them the car last Tuesday or Wednesday...

I just got off the phone with Mike Lowe. He said it might be done by tonight, but he can't say for sure.

I was going to have him put on a (slightly used) M2 downpipe he had laying around. He said he would sell me the downpipe, install it, and swap pill so I still hit 10psi all for $250.

Well now I ask for a price quote and he says:

about $950 for the LIM gasket replacment (labor/parts), $250 for the downpipe business, and then he was asking if he should port the wastegate for an extra $100 while the turbos are off.

WHAT THE HELL???? he told me it would be like $700 at first for the LIM gasket replacment.

so now my bill was going to jump from Under $1000 to Over $1300? JUST FOR A NEW LIM GASKET AND DOWNPIPE INSTALL?

does this make sense?!? HELP!!

PVerdieck

The only thing that makes sense is you don't know either when to tell him to stop, or to go somewhere else with the car.

Why do you ask for advice, if all you seem to do is keep on bending over?

Why are you doing the work at that shop, when there are better options in Florida?

theorie

iTrader: (31)

thats because he keeps changing faces... first he acts like a dick, then he acts cool. he switches every time i talk to him.

uh, im asking advise so i can argue my bill with him. but since he already had the car, what else could i do??

hmmm 1) because they are all a few hours a way 2) because i am in college and don't have time to get the car to these places

---------

i mean. can anyone say that it would cost around $950 just to replace the LIM gasket???? i know this makes NO sense, but what proof can i use to argue this with him?

PVerdieck

Here is the problem. Shop labor rates. He is probably looking at a Mazda rate manual, and see it is x hours of labor, so he charges that.

Here is what you should do. Call Pettit, or another Florida shop that is mentioned as being reliable, and talk. Explain the situation, and ask for advice. You will probably get a straight answer, as the other places have good reputations.

Frankly, do you have proof that the LIM gasket is torn, or even an issue? There are few crap paper gaskets on our cars, and I don't believe it is major if they tear. Others can answer that better than I.

This sounds like the standard trick of finding things to fix on your car. The proof is their original work on the boost restrictor pill, since it was working fine.

If you are going to be lazy, and keep the car there, then you are going to pay. Accept that and stop whining.

Can you do without the car until the end of the semester? That is why this is a dumb car for college kids, or anyone who needs a reliable one. If I were you I would yank the car from them immediately. Say no thanks, see ya.
Either take it somewhere else now, or fix it later.

For all you know it is working fine, or good enough to hold over until summer. Asking questions here won't solve a single thing. Getting other input from reputable shops and FD owners in the area, who can see your car, will.

Scrapiron7

Could you call a local Mazda dealer and ask how many book hours it takes to replace that gasket? They should be able to tell you that fairly quickly.

theorie

iTrader: (31)

just got off the phone with pettit. I asked them, "what is the price range for a LIM gasket replacment (parts/labor) on a 94 rx7?" he tells me "about $500"

im going to give mike a call to ask him EXACTLY what he is doing, and everything i am going to be charged for. this is crazy. hes trying to charge me like twice as much as he should.

its not that i dont have the $, its that i dont want to shell out that much $ to this guy who is trying to rip me off. anyone would do the same.

domesttuner

tell lowe's that pettit quotes 500 for the job, and when lowe's argues it (and he will) get a detailed WRITTEN work report of everything he says needs to be done. fax that to pettit and have them look it over and fax it back to you with a revised estimate. take the new estimate (if it has changed) and go back to lowes and get them to do the work for the same price (they more than likely will match the price since pettit is a competitor). if they don't, take the car elsewhere, or keep it there and pay out the ***.

it's your car, not lowe's, so demand to have the work done properly (you are paying for it after all), or you will yank the car from their shop.

silver93

Maybe you could pay a forum member in your area to fix it -

PVerdieck

Lowes won't be able to match that rate.

I'd be willing to bet that Pettit's rate beats the dealer rate. He has experienced people who can do the job quicker. Same with comparison to Lowe's.

Now, if I am correct, you remove the LIM after removing the UIM and other stuff.

Tell me this: Who do you want taking apart your UIM properly, with a lesser chanced of busting solenoids, with a lesser chance of screwing up the hoses when they reassemble everything because they have done it dozens, if not hundreds of times more?

Lowes, or Pettit?

If Lowes matches the rate, do you really expect them to honor it?

You need to find time to either get that car somewhere else or shoot yourself in the head, because that will be the least painful solution.

If you have time to attend Supra Nationals in Texas, then you have time to drive that car somewhere else, instead of leaving it at a place that has already done unnecessary work on the car. There are no justifications for leaving that car there while one of the better shops in the nation (Pettit) is a few hours away (that would like me getting tuned at some hole in the wall instead of going to Dallas for Gotham Racing). If you don't want your FD fixed right, then just admit that to yourself, instead of making up excuses.

PS. You should get new FPD (fuel pulsation dampener) installed at that time.

theorie

iTrader: (31)

supra nationals = spring break

the LIM seal didn't go until after i got back from texas. so yes, there is justification. from now on, the car will be taken to pettit. i can take it down there on a friday if i need to. im not asking someone to judge my reasons for not taking the car somewhere else, im just asking for advise on how i can get this bill brought down to a reasonable price.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

These two I wouldn't be mad about. To set up a pressure test, find a leak, fix the leak, and re-run the pressure test would take 20-30min.

The block-off plate issue could have been handled differently, but since your Dad was the only contact available I could understand them going ahead to do it. And $20 for doing anything (it's labor) is a bare minimum. It depends on what your Dad set up with them whether I would feel this is a poor fix.

Dave