Mechanic charges for undone work: how would you address the problem?

[OR VietVet]

I think the OP should take a look at the dipstick, wipe the fluid off on a white rag or towel, and post the pic.

I had a paper towel which I used to wipe the dipstick. Dark and gritty. Dunno where it is. Can try again but ...

... I'm leaning toward just dropping it quietly. I can pay someone else to do it properly (and of course I will chack). So I lose another $400-$500. I'll recover.

---

Related: the first shop (the one I suspect of not completing the servicing) told me my brakes needed replacing. The second shop (who reported the dirty trans fluid) said my brakes would last a while longer.

Guess this is part of the price I pay for not learning to pull wrenches myself, and for not having a workshop where I could try.

That's what driveways are for.

 

[petethepug]

Ask …

* Who did the service.
* Can we ask him how he did it?
* Is it ok if I answer your questions about my questions after we’re done?

Then pull the trans dipstick and show them your concerns.

 

[LurkingLuke]

I guess my concern goes back to my original post: what is the most effective way to bring this up to the mechanic? If I caught him charging me for something he didn't do, he will either apologize (and all will be fine) or he will dig in his heels. I'd like to bring about the first option, but I'm not sure I can prove it strongly enough that he will yield.

I guess my concern goes back to my original post: what is the most effective way to bring this up to the mechanic? If I caught him charging me for something he didn't do, he will either apologize (and all will be fine) or he will dig in his heels. I'd like to bring about the first option, but I'm not sure I can prove it strongly enough that he will yield.

An analogy: I order a steak cooked medium rare and it comes out medium well. I could send it back, but I would not trust the cook to not spit on my second steak.

 

[Fless]

Ask …

* Who did the service.
* Can we ask him how he did it?
* Is it ok if I answer your questions about my questions after we’re done?

Then pull the trans dipstick and show them your concerns.

^^^^ This. A year has gone by and there's no telling what it looked like after the "service," so I'd either go back and do the above, or let it go. Confronting the mechanic in an accusatory manner is not going to go well; count on burning that bridge. Asking questions like the above is a consumer's right.

Find a shop you can trust, in case the first shop is under suspicion (although I'm not sure it should be), have the service done, and check the fluid afterward. That's the time to bring up questions about the fluid condition, since most of it should be new. But if it's just a pan drop and filter change, remember that quite a bit of old fluid remains in the torque converter and the transmission body.

 

[SpareParts]

Wonder what the second mechanic did to make it look like the first mechanic did not do what you wanted so he could charge you.
How do you know the second mechanic is being honest?
Maybe your trans is going bad from a mechanical defect? 6L80's are known to have early failures.
Im not saying the first mechanic did or did not do the service.
You did not do your part by at least taking the dipstick out to see if the fluid was new or not.
A year later without you ever pulling the dip stick a second mechanic is showing you brown fluid and dirt on the dip stick.
I think a year later you need to chalk it up to experience and next time check things out before you accept the vehicle back.

 

[mikez71]

You can't prove anything strongly enough because you have zero proof of anything! Not much to make him yield with..

Other possibilities have been mentioned.. I might be concerned the wrong fluid was used while we're speculating?

It sounds like you're the one digging in your heels, on a hunch, one year later.

You might find out from the next mechanic who changes your filter, if the filter looks original...

 

[OR VietVet]

In this day and age, instead of being called a mechanic, like I used to be called for many many years, I would be called a technician now. Technicians never mess up or rip off. Find one of those.

 

[Doubeleive]

I guess my concern goes back to my original post: what is the most effective way to bring this up to the mechanic? If I caught him charging me for something he didn't do, he will either apologize (and all will be fine) or he will dig in his heels. I'd like to bring about the first option, but I'm not sure I can prove it strongly enough that he will yield.

I guess my concern goes back to my original post: what is the most effective way to bring this up to the mechanic? If I caught him charging me for something he didn't do, he will either apologize (and all will be fine) or he will dig in his heels. I'd like to bring about the first option, but I'm not sure I can prove it strongly enough that he will yield.

An analogy: I order a steak cooked medium rare and it comes out medium well. I could send it back, but I would not trust the cook to not spit on my second steak.

own up to the fact that you were not diligent enough to check the work when OR before you paid the bill.
A STEAK DOESN'T TAKE A YEAR TO COOK, like this situation a steak on the grill for a year is long gone turned to dust.........
could it have been accidentally overlooked sure, you posted this almost as month ago and still have the squirrel running in circles?

 

[GMCChevy]

It's like ordering that steak and going back to complain days/weeks/months later. You waited a year, you're not going to get anywhere with it now.

 

[LurkingLuke]

ALWAYS check fluids after changes/flushes. In my case, I would even crawl under and check diff fluids. But, I do all my own fluids changes.

Yea, no receipt because you are guessing at the total. Save the damn receipts! Possible transmission problems? Do you tow with the truck? How many miles, 1 year later, after the 82k miles service? "Dirt" on the stick? You can "feel" dirt? Or just looks dirty? Color?

ALWAYS check fluids after changes/flushes

Yeah. Sad that it took me this long to realize this. One of the negatives one finds, having grown up in a high-trust society.

 

[Doubeleive]

ALWAYS check fluids after changes/flushes

Yeah. Sad that it took me this long to realize this. One of the negatives one finds, having grown up in a high-trust society.

you can't trust anyone, family, friends, etc especially when it comes to money
there is a reason why money is called the root of all evil
there are people out there that will kill you for pocket change, if you don't believe that I can take you to a place you would not dare walk alone

 

[Fless]

there is a reason why money is called the root of all evil

Not money in and of itself, but 1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV) says "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils." (emphasis added)

 

[homesick]

Not money in and of itself, but 1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV) says "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils." (emphasis added)

Thank you. Money is only a tool- just like paper, toothpaste, and guns. It has no mind and no will.

Any good or evil resides only in the user.

joe

 

[LurkingLuke]

Could the "dirt" you saw on the dipstick be clutch material (gritty?), not actual dirt?

The fluid is medium-dark brown and the "dirt" is a grimy black substance, sorta like road grit on white paint (except it's in the dipstick fluid).

 

[mikez71]

If it drives ok, I would change the fluid asap.
@swathdiver @Doubeleive have some writeups I think.

You need one adapter fitting (https://www.amazon.com/YiEC-ZAN-Transmission-Fitting-1996-UP/dp/B0CRB3V87T)
some hose, a 5 gallon bucket, and the transmission line removal tool. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HXI8H8Y)
You can buy your fluid there too. Jegs or Summit maybe cheaper on fluid..

Better yet have someone do the filter too, then you will have filter in hand if in fact it wasn't changed.

 

[07burban88]

at my shop, even if just a oil change i always show the customer the dipstick or new fluid if a coolant flush/job and stuff before they pay to make sure there satisfied

 

[OR VietVet]

at my shop, even if just a oil change i always show the customer the dipstick or new fluid if a coolant flush/job and stuff before they pay to make sure there satisfied

I did a lot of the same things, when I was running shops. Take them to the vehicle and open the hood. Show them anything that could be seen, including dipsticks. Show them the old parts and if they wanted them, all good. If not, we still held for 48 hours and then threw away. They knew they had 48 hours and if they did not contact back, they went in the trash.

 

[petethepug]

You could also address the issue of them using an inferior fluid and insist on a comp for another fluid change. You could even suggest you're going to have it analyzed and they’ll make the fluid disappear fast.

 

[DoubleDingo]

I guess my concern goes back to my original post: what is the most effective way to bring this up to the mechanic? If I caught him charging me for something he didn't do, he will either apologize (and all will be fine) or he will dig in his heels. I'd like to bring about the first option, but I'm not sure I can prove it strongly enough that he will yield.

I guess my concern goes back to my original post: what is the most effective way to bring this up to the mechanic? If I caught him charging me for something he didn't do, he will either apologize (and all will be fine) or he will dig in his heels. I'd like to bring about the first option, but I'm not sure I can prove it strongly enough that he will yield.

An analogy: I order a steak cooked medium rare and it comes out medium well. I could send it back, but I would not trust the cook to not spit on my second steak.

It's been too long. You need to accept that and move on. Fix what needs fixing and learn from this experience.