A severe case of sticker shock
Or, whenever we see the light at the end of the tunnel, someone moves the tunnel…
For the last two weeks Casper, my haunted van, has stayed in the driveway. The brakes were bad and I wasn’t going to risk life and limb driving with bad brakes. This morning Casper went in for inspection and to have the brakes fixed.
I’ve come to realize that for us, nothing is ever simple. No, this wasn’t a simple brake shoe replacement and the labor involved was long, intensive, and quite expensive. According to the print out my brakes and tires are in good condition. However, the final total of the bill came to $699.82. Dear Hubby had a coupon for $4.00 off an inspection, which dropped us down to $695.82, whoopee.
So if it wasn’t the brake shoes what the heck was it you ask?
- Replace brake booster-$159.90
- Plenum gasket-$5.99
- PCV hose-$7.98
- labor-$265.20
- Replace worn tie rod left side outer $28.95
- labor-$38.95
- Wheel alignment-$59.95
- Oil and filter change + the green disposal of old oil charge GOG-$10.15
- oil filter-$5.60
- oil-$10.15
- EPA removal and material $5.90
- labor $12.60
- State inspection $2.00
- labor $18.95
- State emission test-$2.40
- labor $35.80
I think I have it all down, have you been keeping track?
Total parts-$208.42, misc chg $20.45, LABOR $431.45, Tax $39.50, -$4.00 coupon=$695.82. Maybe I should quit writing books and become an auto mechanic…
Um…nope, writing still wins.
Posted on December 13, 2009, in Misc, My blog and tagged Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing. Bookmark the permalink. 11 Comments.
Doggonedmysteries 
ya mean the tunnel has an end !!!!!!!!!!
The thing with tunnels is… you turn a corner and there’s another tunnel. That was a hefty garage bill!
High, yes, but part of that $431 labor bill was for knowing how to remove and replace all those parts (and the training behind it) and the tools (including some hand-held computer-based diagnostic ones) to do it.
Cars have become a lot more complex over the last 30 years, and the days of the shade tree mechanic doing tune ups with a screwdriver, adjustable wrench, and matchbook are gone.
Hey, I gotta stick up for the wrench-twisters of this world.
Not long ago Devoted Spouse took my car to get an oil change and have the tires looked at — my checkbook took a thousand dollar hit that day. Yikes. oil, tires, brakes. 2009 was the year of the appliances and personal injuries. I’m afraid 2010 may be the year of the car – either repairs or replacement. It just never ends. Oh well. You are getting a link in my Monday blog posting – hope again to help you reach your goal. My few readers may be just enough to put you over the top. I do have 8 faithful ones now you know. LOL Hugs!
Don’t know if mine has an end or not, the light’s burned out.
Jim, We actually had a glimpse of the tunnel end there for a second.
Jan, Just once I’d like to get out of the tunnel long enough to see the sky.
Dave, HAH! I knew this post would drag a comment out of you! I know they are well trained and all but the labor cost more than double the parts…groan.
Linda, I hope you have a year with no major expenses.
Elena, Maybe Dave can change the light bulb he’s quite tall you know…or how many writers does it take to change a light bulb?
How many writers does it take to change a lightbulb?
Two.
One to do it and one to figure out the character’s motivation for changing it.
The brake booster and tie rod were probably remanufactured units, which are considerably less expensive than new ones.
Another factor contributing to the labor cost (unless it’s changed in the last few years) is mechanics work off what is called a ‘Flat Rate Manual’ which says (for example) replacing the brake booster, plenum gasket, and PCV hose should take X hours and Y minutes. Even if he finishes the job in half that time, you still pay the flat rate the manual states.
Plus, do you know how expensive grease and oil cutting hand cleaner is to buy?
How many writers does it take to change a lightbulb?
4, one to write the scene, one to critique it, one to rewrite the scene, and another to change the bulb.
The hand cleaner must be that $20.45 misc. charge…
we own an auto repair shop & Dave is right, the labor is figured through a Flat Rate Manual, our labor rate is $55/hour. Another factor in the rates is that most auto techs now are certified and do continuing education too, so you pay for that experience as well. Those hand held computer scanners, the one we use cost us quite a penny (we are still paying for the darn thing) so much as I hate that you had to pay that much, it’s the *new way* with all the cars being so computerized now. Oh & those misc charges are probably “shop supplies” that were used while fixing whatever needed fixing, grease for this bolt, topping off fluids, etc
Hi Angie,
Yes I understand the charges and the whys of them, etc.
However, the (ouch) result of that total meant:
1. I had to call my dentist and change my appointment to next month because I can’t afford to go there this month.
2. I had to pare my grocery list for the month to the bone.
3. It’s a good thing we don’t celebrate Christmas because that would’ve been it.
4. Our clear charge account is now no longer clear.
5. When the charge account bill arrives I have to figure out which Peter to rob to pay Paul
6. Every tax bill known to man has arrived and MUST be paid too
7. This is also the month my car insurance is due
Is it any wonder why I went into shock and moaned and groaned about the cost?
Oh I know all about those things, shew!
What is the deal with property taxes being due in Dec anyway, I hate that! It’s a bad enough month as it is, without handing those over.