Any Chevy mechanics?

**MadMonkey** · 02-23-2007, 03:55 AM

One of my coworkers just brought up a problem with his 1997 Lumina. Seems the turn signal switch (one of these thingies) has gone out... he took it to a shop, I believe he said Christian Brothers, and they wanted $200 for the part and $300 labor. I told him it was a ripoff and he's asked me to help find someone who can do it cheaper. The cheapest labor he's found would be $250 though

So does anybody here work on Chevys? Or can you at least direct him to a shop that won't ream out his

?

Thanks

**Radio-Active** · 02-23-2007, 04:33 AM

That sounds abou right for a new dealer only part. They wanted $189 for the turn signal/horn switch on my 1982 Chevy Luv back in 1992. The horn wouldn't work because the brush that rides on the stearing whell had worn down to nothing. Of course the didn't sell the brass brush alone.

Labor, I could see a shop charging that much to remove the steering wheel. Especially with the air bags on the steering wheel, that liability would probably constsute some of the high costs of labor. See if theY factored in an alignment in the cost of repair. Shop rates are $75-$100 now-a-days I guess.

**MadMonkey** · 02-23-2007, 05:44 AM

Thing is, I found the part brand new online for $55 for him. And it just doesn't seem like labor would be THAT much...

**black roadster** · 02-23-2007, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by MadMonkey

Thing is, I found the part brand new online for $55 for him. And it just doesn't seem like labor would be THAT much...

Most shops charge around $75/hr. It seems it would be rather involved so I'd guess the labor quotes are pretty close. Now if it were me, I'd buy your part and try to do it myself. CB approved!

**channelmaniac** · 02-23-2007, 07:55 AM

Buy the Chilton repair book, rent the steering wheel puller, and go to town. It ain't that hard...

**onething** · 02-23-2007, 08:00 AM

Had a warranty issue on the wife's Chevy and they said it was $300 to pull the column. $250 on the 04 Suburban. This was at the dealership. I asked why and the service writer said it took a lot of work to R/R.

I got a Sawzall

**sammm** · 02-23-2007, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by black roadster

Most shops charge around $75/hr.

Originally Posted by onething

it was $300 to pull the column. $250 on the 04 Suburban. This was at the dealership. I asked why and the service writer said it took a lot of work to R/R.

Stealerships have a book detailing how many 'hours' it takes to do a particular job. You get charged for that number regardless if it really takes them that long or not.

**POS Racing** · 02-23-2007, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by channelmaniac

Buy the Chilton repair book, rent the steering wheel puller, and go to town.

It ain't that hard...

Yea what he said! It's not that bad of a job, you just got to take a lot of stuff apart to get to the darn switch assembly!

**cam76034** · 02-23-2007, 10:42 AM

Ahhhhh. Good old GM quality. When the cruise control on my Suburban started going on and off due to a short in the turn stalk, I decided that was the final straw of my many repair bills on that pile of

.

I sold it. Used the money to buy a Miata and kept the change.

**Treibenschnell** · 02-23-2007, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by sammm

Stealerships have a book detailing how many 'hours' it takes to do a particular job. You get charged for that number regardless if it really takes them that long or not.

Which is why I made a good friend of my VW tech and just showed up at his place for the largest repairs.

Cash payments on the side and no dealer rip-off, ahhh... very nice!

**sammm** · 02-23-2007, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

Cash payments on the side and no dealer rip-off, ahhh... very nice!

No V-Dub....ahhh, even nicer!

**Treibenschnell** · 02-23-2007, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by sammm

No V-Dub....ahhh, even nicer!

Bingo!!

**Black_devil_miata** · 02-23-2007, 01:14 PM

He can always use hand signals for awhile

A buddy of mine that is a mechanic told me what all they do when they come up with the amount of time it takes to do a repair. A guy with a stop watch starts the timer when the tech gets the car and doesnt stop the timer until after the tech has done the repair, put up his tools, taken the car for a test drive and parked it outside.... so it isnt just the actual time to take the part on and off. Which to me is prety crappy, but thats how techs make their money..its the actual dealership that is raping the consumer.

**MadMonkey** · 02-23-2007, 03:35 PM

Well, the guy isn't exactly a mechanic and he's scared to dig into his car. Anybody here know of any shop that won't tear him a new one?

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