Stinking Mechanic!

[Tjalfe]

I just got a call from the mechanic, after I brought in my car for service. The ABS light had gone on a few days ago, along with the "general brake failure, pull over immediately" light. I checked the brake fluid levels, and changed the pads, no change in anything... Anyways.. buddy tells me that the ABS computer is faulty, and is out of warrenty.. a new one is $1082cdn!!!.. this is mmaybe $20 worth of parts, along with a microcontroller.. I asked him to leave it, and show me where it is, I will then take a look for burned components myself...

oh yeah.. the car is a little over two years old
2001 Chevrolet Impala, 82447KM.. warrenty expired at 60000KM

[agallag]

Did you go to the dealer, or to a private mechanic? The dealer always hoses you on stuff like that. You may want to drop in to a wreckers, since you can usually get parts much cheaper that way.

[Tjalfe]

This was the dealer ( Highland Chev Olds in Aurora) where I bought the car.... untill now they had been quite reasonable, but now I will have to look elsewhere.. I will go looking at the wreckers sometime.. since my brakes still work, I am in no rush

[agallag]

I've had dealers quote me on things that I ended up getting 75% cheaper at a regular mechanic. The premiums they charge are astounding. I'd be surprised if you end up spending more than $500 total, including labour.

[Tjalfe]

First I will try fixing it myself, if that fails I will bring it to a private mechanic

[Gurm]

A _new_ ABS computer is a hell of an expensive thing. For my Volvo a NEW ABS computer would have been $1200... just the part!

Got one off a junker for $200.

Gpar_

[VJ]

My previous VW Polo needed a new computer (not ABS, but engine control) as well, luckily it was covered by warranty, as it would have set me back about €1200 !
Things went terribly wrong with that car, I sold when the RPM-sensor in the engine gave wrong signals (very intersting to see what happens when while driving the computer suddenly thinks the engine is no longer running, while in fact it is ) That simple sensor was €200, mainly in labour, as the sensor is very hard to reach (my car was the first ever in that garage to have issues with it). It was just under 3 years but I got tired of all the issues.


Jörg

[Strahd]

A buddy of mine has an older Colt. 92 or 94. Thge computer died on him. Similar story, garage wanted about 800.00. He called a bunch of scrap yards and they were selling to about 300.00. Last place he called wanted something like 50.00. Shows how many people would sell a dead bird to a blind kid...