I am now reluctant to get work done on my car in a country town!!!

You know I think I can see where you may have got you name from as well.

I have asked a reasonable question about the price and you reply with a personal attack.

If you haven't got something constructive to say then buzz off.

Gimmee

Even though I worked as an electronics technician and senior positions for 40 plus years and made more cables than you will see in a life time, I am now unable to do it for various reasons. Maybe BooBoo is in the same boat but for different reasons.

I think that was a bit rough mate.

BooBoo

I also think the price was fine. Labour is the killer where ever you go. And to have an inexperienced person do it as well.

We had our alternator break outside Injune and it cost $70 to remove it, extract the broken bolt and refit it with a new bolt.

Phil

+1
dealers make their money on after sales services.
Got an electrical problem? Go to auto sparks
Breaks problem? Breaks and power steering
Suspension? I think you see a pattern. But as the grumpy bugger said, its an easy job and sometimes it pays to have a look at it yourself.

Try finding an auto electrician in some country towns.

Scone has one auto electrcian and the town and outlying areas has a population of about 8000.

When I asked noone knew of one in town.

Repco/supercrap etc would have Anderson Plugs in stock. A half decent mechanic should be able to do the rest.

Generally dealers are a lot more expensive then mechanics etc but now I make the point of checking dealers for parts prices as I've been surprised a few times on their prices. Some things but not most are cheaper at the dealer. Not sure why but other parts are multiple times more expensive then aftermarket.

Rudds you're probably right.

In reply to Repco etc Walgett has only one coffee shop let alone a Repco or autobarn.lol

Rudds,

It takes more than a pair of pliers to crimp 50 amp lugs onto electrical cable.
You need either a very good soldering iron, a butane torch, or a purpose designed crimping tool.

That is what you may require Sand Man.

I have 50amp plugs fitted to my ute and my accessories. I run my fridge on one and have a second one for the other accessories. Both these plugs have heavier wire and the accessories have what ever leads they came with.

I fitted them my self with pliers by just crimping them and I have never had any issues with any of the plugs.

I still feel Boo-Boo could have a had a go at doing the job himself, regardless of what tools he used, he has nothing to loose and would possible surprised himself at his achievement.

yep - I changed my alligator clips for an Anderson plug just using pliers. Perfectly good only 2 years (but some rough roads) on.

Axle

I wouldn't go back to the Troopy.

The Dmax is just too good.

Probably the only drawback (and I'm nit picking), is there is not as much room in the front for all the things we had in the troopy. Maybe not a bad thing when I think of how much unused stuff I took out. LOL

Fuel consumption when not towing is 8.8/100 and 8.4/100.

The first towing consumtion is13.75/100, but I am carrying much more than I normally do (Frances is taking a 'few' things to our son in Melbourne, and the tyre pressure on the van was 5psi lower than I normally run. I'm doing a few trial and error things on the set up to see what changes there are in fuel consumption and obviously settle on the best combination.

I'll keep you posted.

that's how it should be mate but not many I've come across do.

Same here number 1
Except on Saturday arvo and Sunday on callouts its $110 if I have to do field work, in workshop it is still the same
Cheers
Charlie

in reality, you couldnt even fart in 15 minutes.
By the time the job is discussed and you grab the parts and tools-its gone.

to be fair, a lot of them stand around farting and head scratching for 15 mins before starting a simple job but it looks like he only paid half an hours labour of a pricey $120 p/h. Even the plug was cheaper than what Jaycar charge (minus the postage)

Too right Steve.
Using a tradesman I'm surprised if any charge is under $100, but then I live in WA!

With an anderson plug you dont even need pliers..A little gas flame and some solder,fill the little silver cylinders with hot solder and whilst liquid insert the bare wire..Red + Black-.

Exactly -

GST you cant avoid - so take that $9.00 out of the equation ..
If you had of offered cash he may have taken it , but does he know if your the local Tax man in which he then runs the risk off massive fines for the sake of a few $

He has to pay for Public liability insurance each year , and i am sure ever increasing - he has to pay for rental of the factory/ or mortgage - he has to pay employees , Payroll tax(PAYG), super , uniforms , tools , utilities , advertisement , deal with local council , in some cases EPA - waste removal - Interest on loans , have to take bad debts insurance on property / contents and factor those into his general running costs ..

May even have an x wife with kids that CSA are now bending him over to squeeze every last cent they can out of him whilst she lives the good life with new hubby earning bucket loads and does not need his money.

You could off coarse spend 3 years plus at tafe , get your trade qualifications, spend your life savings setting up a shop and charge everyone that comes through your doors 1/2 the price of everyone else take home $500 a week- live on the poverty line - but be happy knowing you saved someone else a few dollars ...

BB

"If you had of offered cash he may have taken it , but does he know if your the local Tax man in which he then runs the risk off massive fines for the sake of a few $ "

Little misconception there-there's nothing illegal about paying cash, or giving no receipt (unless requested) under $100 is there?

Paying cash implying no need for receipt ( and no addition of GST ) Is tax avoidance and as a business , no matter how small the amount is a big no no .... and by your logic every single fish and chip shop that sells item from 20c to $20 does not need to record a transaction ?? ( via reciept roll ) as its under $100 ?

NO beggaboy. I did not say they did not need to record a transaction. I said they did not have to supply a receipt unless you ask for it.
GST is the responsibilty of the seller not the purchaser.
If you buy something retail (and have no need of the receipt for tax purposes) you dont have to keep it or produce it to the ATO.

Ever had a receipt from Mr Whippy, or other small vendors of a similar nature? Or do you say they are all criminals merely because they dont offer a receipt and dont offer EFTPOS/CC facilities?

I dont recall mentioning wanting a receipt? ( in my original post ) all i mentioned is paying cash , which in 9 times out of ten mean cash under the table / off the books - Not registered through business nor and implied levied GST so i have no idea why you are lecturing me on not needing a Receipt when i buy an ice cream from Mr whippy

"Paying cash implying no need for receipt"
Cut and pasted from your post.
Not worth getting stressed over it though :-)

yep - that's right - I was actually thinking that $66 labour was reasonable and they've charged an hour but they've been very reasonable either way, As you said, more likely charged half an hour because $120 p/h would be more like it. As somebody previously said, in these big companies it takes some of them 15 mins to scratch their @r$e and that's why they charge ridiculous hourly rates. Also, somebody has to pay for the frequent showroom refurbishments. Not really ripped off Boo and most of these replies reflect how we've become used to accepting $125 p/h charges. You haven't done that badly really.

Hi Bill.
I had a prob with the Prado recently on our first trip towing our new van. Every time I put it into reverse a fuse blew cutting out the aircon and indicators. Also the alternator but I didn't find that out til later.
Went to the RAC contractor in Southern Cross and the bloke there was a bit perplexed and advise he wasn't sure what the prob was and I should try the auto leccy around the corner but he may well be out at a minesite, where most of his work came from.
We were in luck, he was there but going off on a job but said he'd have a quick look, checked all fuses with his light and found which one was blowing.
This was when we found it also controlled the alternator.
He couldn't take the time to trace the fault then but generously gave us 5 fuses to help us along the way and refused any offer of money for his time.... about half an hour.
Now that was more than anyone could ask for and was very pleasing in this day of greed and more greed.
Top marks and many thanks to the leccy at Yilgarn Auto Electrices.
AlanH.

Best result for all involved I think.. ;-)