Car in garage..how long?

166million

Hi there, could anyone give me their thoughts on how long I should wait before ringing the garage who are supposed to be finding out what is wrong with my car (leaking oil). I took it in at 8:45 this morning, don't want to annoy them by hassling them when they may be working on it already....?

Strider590

Just call em and ask if they've found anything, what tends to happen is the mechanic is given a job, he does the job, parks the car and goes onto the next job. So chances are the admin folk are being lazy !!!!!!.....

Not to mention of course that if they notify you at 5pm, you can't ring around and get quotes elsewhere and will probably say "yes ok do the work".

fivetide

166million wrote: »

don't want to annoy them by hassling them when they may be working on it already....?

They certainly shouldn't be workign on it already.

They should be calling you to say what it needs and giving you a quote before you go back to find they've put a new engine in "because that's what it needed"

Ok that's extreme but you get the point.

5t.

166million

Thank you I spoke to them and they weren't annoyed.

166million

Thanks I meant working on it as in looking at what might be wrong x

166million

Hello again! Car is back from garage and I would like to check some opinions on the quote they have given me:
Rear Main Oil Seal
196+vat labour
19.60 +vat seal
20+vat oil and filter

poss clutch....??? I'm ignoring this as it seems like a hidden cost they are hoping to add on at the time.

Thanks for your advice so far

MX5huggy

What's the make and model? On a Bentley that would be a bargain price on an old escort a bit steep.

SteveJW

If the oil has got on the clutch, it will need one
£196 4 hrs at £49 per hour
Without knowing make and model of car and area of the country impossible to say how long to remove gearbox and replace rear main oil seal and what is a reasonable labour rate

Additionaly leaking rear main could be an indication of other problems.

Notmyrealname

166million wrote: »

Hello again! Car is back from garage and I would like to check some opinions on the quote they have given me:
Rear Main Oil Seal
196+vat labour
19.60 +vat seal
20+vat oil and filter

poss clutch....??? I'm ignoring this as it seems like a hidden cost they are hoping to add on at the time.

Thanks for your advice so far

Sounds a fair price. The gearbox is going to have to be taken off the engine to get to it as is the clutch and flywheel. The clutch pressure plate could be contaminated with oil and need replacing. I would say get it replaced regardless if you intend on keeping the car for some time as it'll save you £196+VAT labour in the future if the existing clutch goes before you sell it. You usually find most clutches on cars high enough mileage to get a rear oil seal leak aren't far off being completely worn anyway.

cootuk

Quite often it's a long term saving to do the clutch at the same time depending on wear and tear as stripping down to the seal can take that out anyway.

Lum

Yes, a clutch is one of those parts that costs about 50 quid for the part and £200 to fit the bloody thing.

Replace it anyway, unless you're doing it up to sell.