Am I getting ripped off? (Mechanic Tips Thread)

[basco]

Every damn time.

There's an auto mechanic that gives all the employees at my workplace a 10% discount, a friend recommended that place so I've taken my car (97' V6 Honda Accord with 71k miles) there for my last 3 oil changes. Every time they find about $200 worth of problems. This time we have the following:

Fuel Filter needs to be replaced - $65
Brake Fluid is dirty - $65
Battery needs to be replaced - $120

I just bought this car used last summer, I'm pretty sure it had a new battery, or at least that's dealer said. My plan is to take the car to another mechanic and get a 2nd opinion... any other options here? Any recommended mechanics in north Minneapolis?

[Gunny Highway]

LOL

[onthebutton]

The brake fluid is hard to tell, but replacing the fuel filter or the battery yourself is easier, and will cost you about 1/3rd of what they're trying to charge you.

[Jackie Onassis]

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Am I getting ripped off?

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[mattw]

yes, you are getting ripped off. no way a fuel filter or battery should cost that much. find another mechanic.

[eleventyone]

Did they find tiny unicorns in the exhaust as well? HAR HAR HAR.

You should try to build a repoire with the mechanic so you don't get f'd like this again. And by a repoire I mean conversing with the dude and making him like you enough to where he won't screw you. Doing this has definitely saved me money and gotten me discounts on oil changes and whatnot.

[disjunction]

Mechanic Tips -- great thread.

[JasonK]

Even if all that stuff needs to be done you're still getting jacked paying those prices.

[Riverman]

Yeah thats ridiculous. All are at least 100% overpriced.

[basco]

God that was a good episode. Thanks all, sounds like it's time for me to move on.

high-five.