tvguy
Question anything the facts don't support.
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2003
My cars are 14, 17, 30 and 52 years old, so they haven't seen a dealer service department in years. A good independent mechanic is a god send. But my independent mechanic's labor rate is $90 an hour. He needs to make $25 an hour just to pay the rent on his shop. So $100 an hour for a dealer would be a bargain.
The flip side is, there are some repairs almost HAVE to be done at the dealer due to special tools, equipment or software required, items that an independent shop may not have or can not justify buying .
Now, in the defense of your dealer, ignition repairs are no longer replacing an inexpensive switch. Almost all ignition switches now incorporate chips as part of the security system. I had to replace one on my 2003 Focus and the part alone was $200. The Youtube video on how to replace the switch involved HAMMERING the old unit out. And once it was in, my mechanic had to take it to a locksmith for $75 to have the new switch programmed to the old keys. All things that make your car harder to steal.
The flip side is, there are some repairs almost HAVE to be done at the dealer due to special tools, equipment or software required, items that an independent shop may not have or can not justify buying .
Now, in the defense of your dealer, ignition repairs are no longer replacing an inexpensive switch. Almost all ignition switches now incorporate chips as part of the security system. I had to replace one on my 2003 Focus and the part alone was $200. The Youtube video on how to replace the switch involved HAMMERING the old unit out. And once it was in, my mechanic had to take it to a locksmith for $75 to have the new switch programmed to the old keys. All things that make your car harder to steal.