Ok,


So just recently the car started idling really rough (felt like the mounting bracket on engine was broke rough) and all of the sudden the car stalls out and turns off. So logically I thought maybe one of the valves was clogged, or the alternator was dying. So I take it to the local shop here in Norman, I'm from KC and came down here for school and have no idea what shops are good here. I looked up reviews and this place was recommend the best, and a friend also went there and said they were great.

I get a call that the car needs a complete tune up cause the previous owner (father in law) evidently doesn't take the best care of cars. The truck had almost all original parts that have never been maintenanced (including fuel filter). So he gives me an estimate on how much it will cost, ~$830 (that's with the $67 tow). Is that about right?

Every plug, wire, and cap is being replaced, and a couple filters


Did I get as boned as I feel?

 

Without knowing what they did to come up with this solution, it's kind of hard to say. But if it did need a tune and a couple filters, if you are somewhat mechanically inclined and have the tools, you could do this for a fraction of the cost. But they do this for a living and need to get paid for their labor.

If they do the work (or even if you do the work), you want to insure they only use AC Delco parts for the tune-up. Insist on it, or you will probably have some problems not too far down the road. For some reason these vehicles only work well with AC Delco secondary ignition parts.

 

That's really high. With some tools and a little knowledge you can easily do the work, the only thing you might want to have them do is the #3 plug lol.

 

^^ X2

Can't argue price, they charge what they feel the job is worth. It's up to you to do the shopping. Insist 100% on using AC Delco parts, the aftermarket stuff will not last.

If you disconnect the steering shaft from the steering gear box, (5 minutes) it makes #3 the easiest plug to change!

 

Maybe you could do some of it and pay to have the rest done

 

That price definitely seems steep to me. Now I do all work myself, but there is no way parts will (if only what you listed) would cost even half that total price. I'd say maybe a quarter of it.

But, like already stated you can't argue cost of labor. Takes differen't people/places differen't time and effort for each job.

 

Alrighty guys, I got the wrap sheet back and here's what they did:


New distributor cap

New Distributor Rotor

6 double platinum spark plugs

Premium spark plug wire set

Positive Crankcase Ventilation Valve

Air Intake system clean

Fuel Injection clean

New ignition cables

Adjust ignition timing

Adjust idle speed

New Electronic Ignition System

New Fuel Injectors

New Fuel filter and assembly

 

That's a crapload more than just a tuneup. Looks like they gave it a complete once over. Then on the other hand...I wonder if they were just replacing parts until the truck started up

Most of those parts would have been probably needed to be replaced at some point anyway. Are the "platinum" & "premium" parts AC Delco?

P.S. What is an "Air Intake System Clean"? Is that when they take the leaves out of the air filter box? Just kidding, I'm sure that included cleaning the MAF sensor, etc.

 

Whats fuel injection clean? a bottle of injector cleaner in the tank?

 

Cleaned out the lines I'm guess haha, it was one of the cheaper things they did


But yeah, all in all not too bad seeing how it's the first maintenance since it left the lot in 1999! Other than regular oil changes to keep it running