How DH Saved About $1200

[ChetMC]

So the car is making a funny noise. DH takes it in to be serviced, and asks them to figure out what's making the noise.

The local VW shop takes a look. They say that we need a new cataletic converter. Although the one we have is working fine, some connecting pieces have rusted and it isn't attached to the muffler anymore. A new cataletic converter from VW is $1000, plus labour. They don't sell the connecting pieces separately. You have to order a whole new cataletic converter.

DH takes the car home and thinks about it for awhile. He calls an independent muffler shop and explains the problem... that our cataletic converter is no longer connected to the muffler. The muffler guy tells him to come on over right now.

The muffler shop takes a look, and fixes the problem for $87 on the spot with a bit of welding. DH is thrilled. They guy showed him what he did and DH thinks it's brilliant.

I'm just happy it was only $87. We have three weeks to sell the car before we move to England.

[shoes]

that's awesome! I love hearing stories like that...

[glorified_rice]

That is awesome. Our second vehicle also needs about $1000 of work too. This makes me wonder if we could bring it somewhere else and maybe get it fixed for less.

[ollineeba]

That was smart of your DH!

[naupakamama]

Very cool!

[Adamsmama]

That is so awesome!

[phatchristy]

Originally Posted by shoes

that's awesome! I love hearing stories like that...

I have a really disguesting story how my DH went to a brake shop for pads and was told he needed the *works*...including some parts. It was something like $1300 dollars. The guy told him how unsafe it was...my DH wanted to do it.

I was seriously skeptical (this is FL, stuff just doesn't rust out on a 3 year old car). I told DH to take it to our dealership. If the parts were actually bad, it would be covered under our warranty.

Sure enough, he ONLY needed pads. It was $200 at the dealership.

Though, it's not a *good* story. Because that means someone tried to dupe DH at the brake store. :

[Girl In The Fire]

I took my car to Pepboys once to have the brake pads replaced, they called me a little later saying I needed a whole new brake system for something like $800. I told them not to do a thing to my car went and picked it up and brought it to a different brake place and told them what had happened. They looked at my car and laughed and said there was nothing wrong with the braking system and all I needed was new pads. Always take the car for a second opinion elsewhere!

[annethcz]

What a fabulous story.

[polyhymnia]

Wow, I guess it sure pays to get a 2nd opinion! Glad you didn't need a new catalytic converter. Those things are a pain ($$).

Good luck with your move to the UK!

[notneb]

I just wanted to throw out another money saving tip. We were having some weird electrical problems with our car, and did some research on the internet before bringing the car into the shop. We found that the problem was so common with our make/model/year car that there had been a class action lawsuit, and anyone who had that car could have it repaired at no charge plus have a free oil change and tune up. We brought it to the local dealership and they did all of the work for free. That saved us about $1000. If we had just brought it to the mechanic without researching the problem first, we would never have known that we could have had the work done for free.

[Nikki Christina]

Im glad he got a second opinion & didnt let himself get ripped off

however..im kinda surprised for the F & F board.. nobody has brought up learning car maintenance & repair yourself, or your husband..

[mrsmom63]

We have a friend who is always willing to look at the car and give us ideas...he has saved us a ton! We have friends who take their car to a local school's auto shop and have been thrilled with the price (and results!)

[MacroMama]

I can't remember what problem one of our friends had with their car, but they were quoted something like $1000 to fix it. They then took it somewhere else who said they could fix it for $800. Since they didn't like that price either, they took it to an acquaintance who fixed it for $50.

Also, my sister accidentally bumped a car on it's bumper when she was leaving a parking space. So they went to her mechanic to fix it and he told her it would be about $150 to fix replace the bumper and the owner of the other car could come back the following day. Well, the owner made a big stink, demanding that my sister rent her a car and compensate her and whatnot. So, the mechanic said that since she was in such a big rush, that he could fix it that day in a minute. So he went over and grabbed a rag, dipped it in something, and then cleaned the paint scratch on the bumper. Good as new. He only charged my sister $50 for that.

[mnt_mommy]

Originally Posted by phatchristy

I have a really disguesting story how my DH went to a brake shop for pads and was told he needed the *works*...including some parts. It was something like $1300 dollars. The guy told him how unsafe it was...my DH wanted to do it.

I was seriously skeptical (this is FL, stuff just doesn't rust out on a 3 year old car). I told DH to take it to our dealership. If the parts were actually bad, it would be covered under our warranty.

Sure enough, he ONLY needed pads. It was $200 at the dealership.

Though, it's not a *good* story. Because that means someone tried to dupe DH at the brake store. :

Oh that would be so much funnier if that didn't happen to me when I was 18!
I took my car to a "certain national brakes-only chain".

The damage was $400, when I waitressed and made $9/hr.
I did know enough to ask for the used brake peices when they were done. (If those peices were actually from my car and not another lie/prop...) They were fine. I took them and showed them to a mech. buddy.

Darn my bad luck!

Live and LEARN!!