Did I get ripped Off??

not to much
40% and possibly a little more
I was an injectatech for 40 years till 4 weeks ago when I retired

Glenn,
If this had happened to me then I would have said to them that you did not bother to contact me to authorise for the EXTRA so called work and charges and I believe you have every right to question them over this. If you get no satisfaction as you probaly will not then pass your disatisfaction to the Fair Trading Department in your State. Don,t wear this kind of sh$t from them.

Good luck and don,t give up .

That is discusting.
You have been ripped off!
Was it a Toyota dealer or a 'mechanic'?
Parso

sounds like you got ripped that price should be a new pump.
also i wouldnt be paying them if they didnt phone you simple as that.

Hi Glenn,

I had a leak on my 1990 1HZ fuel injector pump, but it was fixed for ~$150 odd (was about 1 1/2 years ago now). The fuel leak is apparently just an O ring that cracks with the low sulphur diesel now in use. From memory, they had to take the fuel pump out to access the part, most of the bill was labour and a few $$ for the O ring.

It seems they completely reconditioned your pump and injectors - did you ask them to recondition your injectors or just fix the fuel pump leak?

Either way, doesn't sound like they did the right thing by you. I would take this to fair trading in your state.

Cheers

Captain

Glenn,

I had a similar job done a few years ago on the old GQ and spent just short of that amount. Although that did include the cost of a boost compensator for the aftermarket turbo. Inflation would easily bring mine up to what you paid. I was pretty dirty though when all that "jonny" didn't fix the problem.

A year or so later while chasing another part I discovered that I could have got a brand new Bosch pump to fit the old girl, all fully balanced and ready to be installed for only $750. Now add about $100 for the labour cost of fitting the new pump and the big bucks look a bit too big.

I'd say you paid the market price for the repair. Is that a fair price? Probably not but I'll bet if you ask the repairer he can justify it.

Duncs

Glenn

The responses so far are all over the place, depending on each of our guesses as to what might have had to be done. Maybe you should have got the guy to write on the docket to "phone with estimate" or something; but in your shoes I think I'd do a bit of follow up. If it show's he is genuine then you will feel less ripped off, if not then he will at least be a little more careful next time.

I reckon I'd go to the local Auto Club (NRMA, RAC? etc), and in writing ask their technical people to review and provide an opinion. If they don't, the Motor Traders Assn or Fair Trading Dept. Someone who can talk techo and make him justify himself.

For what its worth
Max

I have a mate who put his wife's car in to Holden to have a quote done as to why the aircon didn't work.

They rang that afternoon saying it was ready to pick up. When he got there they said it needed a new compressor and that it came to $???. Was a few hundred at least anyway. He said it was only in for a quote get stuffed and they said that he wasn't getting the car back until he paid.

Anyway he sent a letter to the head of the dealership and also to the head of Servicing of Holden or the like. Later that week he got a phone call from the dealership asking him to come in. They gave him the keys and said not to worry about it. They had left the compressor in the car so it was all fixed and there was a nice big bunch of flowers in there too for his wife.

My advice "don't give in"

You asked for a quote and were given a huge bill. Any mechanic with half a brain would have rung you with a quote for a job like that even if you didn't ask for it. I mean who takes there fourbie in for a service and EXPECTS a $2560 bill?

Surely the machanic would discuss your options with you. Being new parts or recondition your existing ones or other options

Some people wouldn't be able to pay the bill up front or at all.

Things like this s--t me. I hate getting wronged or hearing about others and always do everything in my power to right them.

Utemad

Glenn,

Even back when I was a diesel mechanic - about 20 years ago - even then, nobody in a general repair workshop or main dealer actually rebuilt a diesel injection pump. It's a specialist job that should be done in dustfree, almost sterile environment. These specialists regularly rebuild and hold a stock of rebuilt pumps for many different makes of vehicle. They do little else and no general repair work. If a mechanical workshop wants a recon pump, they buy one from these specialist rebuild firms and simply fit it and retime the injection timing. The specialist firm keeps the cost of a recon pump down by doing nothing but pumps. i.e. High part turnover and less expensive labour costs.

I think you've "had a job done on you". You went in for a fuel leak and came out with a fuel pump rebuild that you didn't ask for nor were you consulted on it. It's now a case for the Ministry of Fair Trading IMO. They went overboard - way overboard.

The cost of rebuilding a pump, recalibrating it and refitting it CAN take 10 hours - easy. However, these days nobody rebuilds pumps in this way. It's cheaper by far to get a recon pump and just refit it and retime the injection pump. Total time for that job is about 2 hours maximum.

A recon pump was a far cheaper option available to the repairers and to you. But they seem to have taken another option that was far more expensive and forgot to ask you about either option. The question to ask is DID IT NEED A REBUILT PUMP TO FIX THE FUEL LEAK?? Generally speaking and without knowing the full details, the answer to that question is, NO. They need to prove that the leak needed a pump rebuild, if they can't prove that, then you shouldn't be paying. And I seriously doubt that a leak would need that extensive attention. At the sort of money you paid out, I'd be seeking an independent auto engineers opinion - look in the Yellow Pages. Cost would be about 150 bucks. Another option would the RAC etc, but my experience with them here in Perth has been hopeless. I wouldn't let 'em inpsect a billy cart.

Diesel fuel pumps very rarely go wrong. On high mileage interstate semis and earthmoving gear I've seen 'em do a a million kms with the original pump. I doubt your would have done that since 1991.

Some of these repair shops and main agents think they're dealing with "don't nuffink fools". I've taught 'em otherwise on several occasions.

Bilbo

If you have a mate who is a solicitor contact him, you will need him. If you've paid, Fair Trading will do diddly squat!. They are a useless, bogged down, don't want to know about it, joke of a dept...
Trust me I know...
You have to create a storm to resolve this.
JC

Glenn, give me a ring on my mobile and I'll give you the number of our local Consumer affairs rep here. He is a member of our 4WD club and may be able to help. If you don't have it, Lyn does.

sounds like they stuffed the pump up and had to fit a newy or rebuild!

Hi There, I would have asked to see the old parts, in any event, they should have kept them and given them to you.. This is entirely seperate issue from the rediculious bill....

Hi Glenn,
I also would be be surpried and question a bill of that amout.

I had an injector pump leak on my 3L 2.8D hilux about a year back. I rang around Melbourne to get some idea of the cost of such r repair. Melbourne City Toyota estimated $700 to remove and replace the injector pump, plus any cost to repair or provide a changer over pump, whould was to be another $600 to $700.

I found a diesel mechanic in Moorabbin that remove old pump and fitted a change over replacement for the total cost of $700 cash.

My point is the price varys greatly depemding on where you take it, but I still would not expect to pay anything like $2,500. I would be seeking them to justify the cost against a changeover pump from other supplier. I hope they stop and see it from your side - cheers Anthony

I would say without using KY on you.

Try www.lcool.org see what other cruiser owners are paying

Hey all,

I don't live in SA, so it won't effect me, but I think that we should have every right to know who this mechanic is. Word of mouth is word of mouth isn't it?

It works both ways, my mechanic looked after my girlfriends old man's car years and years ago. He did a fantastic job at a more than reasonable price, and as a result, not only does my girlfriends entire family go(4 cars), but my entire family goes there, grandma and all.(6 cars) That's 10 cars for one good service.

Gday Firstly, on the pump, you got off fairly lightly....last week another guy in the 80 group payed 3800 for a rebuild. The pump was leaking like yours, but after disassembly, everything was stuffed. The low sulphor fuel is the cause of all your pumps leaking, later models like 98 plus get the new type seals and dont need to be changed/dont leak in the first place.
Now the second part of your question was their lack of consultation. This was not acceptable, but looking from their side they would see this every day and whilst they should have called, they have also charged you what i would call a reasonable amount, so if you were saying they didnt call, and charged you 3800.....that would be worserer wouldnt you think??
Have a good look at your filration, and change the elements regular. Also buy fuel from a large volume servo of main brand like M or C... this type of damage is caused from bad filtration and/or fuel.
Andrew

Had mine ('90 GQ TD42) fixed for slight leak about two years ago, no doubt due to low sulphur fuel. They "overhauled" the pump, replaced a few worn bits and pieces for a grand total of $650.