Crooked mechanics

[CURLYTJ3582]

so my girlfriend called me and told me that her car wouldn't start. i would have taken a look at it but i'm stuck in the middle of the gulf of mexico bringing gas prices down haha i wish i could guys believe me!!! anyway she takes it to a mechanic and she says its her distributor and rotor. dude says its gonna cost around $675. thats just ridiculous!!!

[OhioYJ]

What kind of car is it? I've seen several distributors that are $300+ from the local parts stores. Failed distributor, my guess is a Honda.

[CURLYTJ3582]

its a 98 infiniti suv. i checked on line for distributor and rotor and the most i saw to pay was 55 total.

[bullfrog]

$55 for the cap and rotor? Or $55 for the whole distributor and rotor????

[Jason Clark]

Part of the issue is that it is an Infinity.

Looking at one site, I found that the distributer alone was over $300. That wasn't including the cap and rotor.

Given what bullfrog just mentioned, in just parts you are looking at more than $400 dollars. With labor that isn't bad as far as I can tell...if it is the entire distributor.

[Texas4X4]

spray WD-40 in it :D

[CURLYTJ3582]

yeah i was looking around on the internet and i found the right prices for the distributor and yall are right. she's actually getting a fairly decent price. too bad that she has to spend that money right now though.:confused:

[DrLewall]

it aint cheap!..I just replace a clutch and front brakes on the 1 ton, $1625 :eek:

[Hodge]

I work for myself, and I have always felt that I gave a very fair service for what I charge. But, you can always find someone cheaper. In 3 or 4 years, though, when tile is cracking or you are getting wrinkles in your carpet, you will find that I was cheaper when you add in the value or proper installation. We all have to eat, including that mechanic, and we always want to get the cheapest price, but what do WE do for a living? Do we try to get the most for what we do? Yes. I have found that usually, the chinchiest customer was the most well off.
I'm not directing this at you, Curly. Just the idea in general that everyone is out to cheat someone else.

[Tonka]

Part of the issue is that it is an Infinity.

I would have guessed Mitsubishi.

[PB2]

I'm not a mechanic by any means but I've never heard or a whole distributor failing. It's basically a gear at the end of a shaft which turns the rotor. My guess is the mechanic figures most women have at least heard the word Distributor and know it is part of a car. When told it is bad they tell him to replace it. Have her take it somewhere else. Even if they are crooked too they will probably tell her something else.

[Hodge]

Any gear that meshes with another can wear. I once had a shaft seal go bad on a distributor, and once the oil thinned, it would fill the cap up. Anything mechanical has the potential to fail.

[mrosbro]

isnt there a jeep not being used that she could drive tiil you get back? just a thought. at least it wold save labor for you to switch the distriutors