2002 Isuzu Rodeo Question How much should the following work

GREGBTN

MEMBER
2002 ISUZU RODEO
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
95,500 MILES

Hi Everybody,

I have a 2002 Isuzu Rodeo that has a six cylinder and is two wheel drive. It has 95,000 miles and is in good to very good condition.

A few weeks ago I went out to start the Rodeo and the engine was turning over but it wouldn't start. I did some research and found out there was a recall on the fuel pump, so I arranged for the vehicle to be towed to the Isuzu dealer.

After the Rodeo was pulled onto the tow truck, I noticed a four or five inch piece of wiring enclosed in sort of grooved black plastic (it looked kind of like the grooves on those straws that you can bend in different directions).

Obviously, the problem with the vehicle starting had something to do with that wiring, but I don't know where it came from.

The dealer fixed the problem with the car starting and wrote the following on the receipt:

"Tech repaired wiring at ignition module/ Partially removed harness to access damaged area/ Repaired and reinstalled harness, reset computer, and test drove"

My question is: Approximately how much should this work have cost? I think I was overcharged (I'll tell you how much they charged me later).

I should also note that the "Check engine" light came on after they fixed this problem. I immediately went back in and told the Service Manager this and he said it would go away after I started the car 3 or 4 times. However, the problem did not go away after a week or ten days.

I took the Rodeo back and then the Service Manager called me up and said that the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced. He said it would cost $560. At that point, I became very upset and told him "So this problem wasn't there when I initially took the vehicle in, but now you want to charge me $560 to fix it?" He said, "I know it sounds like a coincidence."

At that point, I told him I would call him back. I looked into the problem and decided to get somebody else to check it out first to confirm that the oxygen sensor indeed needed to be replaced. I took the vehicle to Advance and they checked the codes and the problem was indeed that the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced. But the part was only $81 and another guy there said it would probably only cost $50 to install since it only involved a couple of easy steps. I had read online and was told by a friend that replacing the oxygen sensor was "as easy as changing a light bulb", so I figured $50 was totally fair for this. That would bring the total to around $150 (much less than $560!).

This makes me think that I was probably overcharged for the initial work mentioned above. And I think they bear some responsibility for the oxygen sensor not working since it was fine before I took it to them.

I want to pay them a fair amount for the work they did, but I have a feeling that I was overcharged. I would really appreciate any feedback anybody could give me on this.

Thanks a bunch for your help!

Greg

3 Replies

DOCHAGERTY

MECHANIC
9,601 POSTS

Greg, the agency you were at for the initial repairs did call you and quoted you a price, yes? And did you agree to the price? How much money did you pay them for the initial repairs to the wiring? What was the conversation? The issue I am trying to get to is what the conversation between you and the contact person at the agency was about, did you question them as to the break down on the repairs? Here in California, the Bureau of Automotive repairs regulate the industry and require the repairing agency to document the process, separating the labor from the parts charges, and obtaining permission to proceed from the owner BEFORE repairs can commence. $560 is pretty steep for an 02 sensor replacement I must agree and I would hold them to account regarding this entire process. Keep in touch with this issue and let us know what you decide. You know the old saying "The squeaky wheel gets the grease" Don't get nasty with them or loose your composure, just keep at them until you get satisfaction.

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Monday, June 9th, 2008 AT 2:13 PM

GREGBTN

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Dr. Hagerty,

Thanks for the response.

I did not initially question the price. But then I got in my vehicle and the "Check engine" light was on. I immediately went back and told the Service Manager and he said it would work after 3 or 4 starts. That didn't happen.

When I took it back, I was told the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced and that it would cost $560 to fix which I found out is four times what it should cost. I am the type of person that gives people the benefit of the doubt. But I got angry and suspicious when they tried to charge me $560 on a problem that wasn't there before they had my car.

At that point, I began to research all of this. And now I am going to dispute the initial charge (which I'm told should have been between $200 and $400 instead of $470) and ask that they pay for the oxygen sensor. Fortunately, I paid with a credit card, so I can dispute the charge through them.

I'm not sure what the laws are in Tennessee, but he gave me an invoice with a very vague description of what was done the first time. When I asked the Service Manager to write down exactly what was done and what the charges were, he typed in the notes that I mentioned in my first post. They didn't list the labor hours/rate or the cost of the part.

At that point, I felt like dealing with this throught my credit card company since I probably wouldn't have acted in a proper way if I confronted him again at the dealership.

Thanks again for your help.

Greg

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Monday, June 9th, 2008 AT 5:31 PM

DOCHAGERTY