$75.00 diagnosis fee

dwaynefu · August 27, 2004

Does anyone know if Chevrolet applies this to your labor if you decide to let them fix it? I know Nissan would do this on my old car and my wife's car.

MS3DALE · August 27, 2004

Its up to each dealership but I know here we don't,The diagnosis fee is charged in addition to the repair fee,so if they charge $75.00 to diagnosis something and the job pays say another $75.00 to fix your bill would be $150.00.

I know it sometimes does not sound fair and I've complained about it myself but at least that is the way we have it set up here,plus our techs. are union so its in there contract for them to get paid the diagnosis fee on top of the repair fee.

toyotatech · August 27, 2004

If you go to the doctor with a problem, and he tells you what is wrong, does he waive his diagnosis fee? The doctor gets paid for his time. That is how he makes his living. Techs get paid for thier time. That is how they make thier living.

tmf6902 · August 27, 2004

If you go to the doctor with a problem, and he tells you what is wrong, does he waive his diagnosis fee? The doctor gets paid for his time. That is how he makes his living. Techs get paid for thier time. That is how they make thier living.

No he doesn't waive his fee....but then again....if looks at me and finds that I have strep throat...he doesn't charge me extra to write a perscription.

facn8me · August 27, 2004

just depends on if you want a tech or a part replacer. buying parts and throwning them at a vehicle is not cheap. imagine also that your a tech after 2 hrs time you find a broken wire under the dash but you can only charge 3 min for fixin the wire. how would that be fair? now if someone charges you $75 to jack up one side of a vehicle and check the obviously bad wheel bearing it's a different story, kinda. I have many people come in and try to tell me what is wrong with the vehicle they are driving. no symptoms just this is it. 90% of the time they are wrong. are you willing to pay for a starter if only a battery cable is bad? just a few thoughts.

oh and P.S. doctors only "practice" medicine they do not have to be right. Techs do not 'practice' woking on your car. they are expected to fix it right the first time. even though there may be multiple problems. that show up after the "major" problem is fixed. when I went in for tendonittis i was told after 2 min it will hurt for many years sorry now go pay your bill.

blue2kzr2 · August 27, 2004

How would this sound for fair. You pay the higher of 2 bills. Diagnotsic vs. repair labor. If it takes 2 hours to diagnose an electrical problem, charge 2 hours. If it takes 1 hour to change a wheel bearing, after a 5 min. diagnostic, charge the 1 hour of labor and include the diagnostic in the charge.

Honestly, if you tell a customer it took 2 hours to find a broken wire under the dash, they'll be somewhat understandable and just pay the bill. If you tell someone you're charging 2 hours labor for a 1 hour job and a 1 hour diagnostic for an obvious problem, they won't be so understanding.

I got charged a half hour once, for a tech to tell me my key was worn and that was why it wasn't working in a new lock cylinder THEY had keyed and installed. They proceeded to cut a key for me, and include it in the service. Shouldn't that have been checked before it left the shop?