No Way!! Beware Reno Ladies...(and Gents):
I'm a 53 yr old female, and stopped in at Greg's Garage on Friday March 6th at about 1:30 pm for a simple estimate to remove & replace my Bank 1-Sensor1 fuel/O2 sensor on my 2003 Lexus.
My "check engine light" had already been diagnosed as a bad B1S1 sensor at the dealership in Sacramento--just before I moved to Reno. Because I was short on cash at the time, and the technician said it could wait (just would have decreased mpg) I put this fix off for a few months.
So, I knew what the problem was before driving over for an estimate. But, I couldn't remember if it sensor 1 or sensor 2. I spoke with Pat Beardsley, and told him all of the above info, and that I couldn't recall whether it was B1S1 or B1S2. I asked him if could quickly just use the Check Engine Light Code Reader to confirm whether it was sensor 1 or sensor 2 ---(BTW--ANY auto parts store will do this for free), before giving me an estimate.
He insisted that they had to do a FULL check engine light diagnosis, which would cost $159, and that they'd need to keep my car for an entire day---PRIOR to even giving me an estimate. I thought that, perhaps, he didn't understand me...so I repeated what I wanted done: an estimate to remove and replace the fuel/air sensor--but that I just couldn't recall which sensor, please use the code reader. He repeated himself: $159 to diagnose, need the car all day, then we'll call you with an estimate.
What a joke! I immediately left, and went to O'Reilly's to have them throw the code reader on (FREE) so that I'd be reminded which sensor was bad. Sure enough it WAS Bank1/Sensor1. I ordered the part off of Amazon.com for $86 and Sierra Car Care (on W. 7th) removed/replaced the sensor for $73. I ended up spending $159 for BOTH the part and labor, and now my car runs like a dream again.
The amount for the ENTIRE fix was equivalent to what Pat Beardsley at Greg's Garage wanted to sucker-me-in for JUST TO DIAGNOSE a problem that had already been diagnosed!
He could have just as easily said, "I can go ahead & use the code reader, and give you an estimate on replacing the sensor that the code reader diagnoses...but until we get the car in for repairs...this will be JUST an estimate."
By assuming that I was an idiot...Greg's Garage lost my business. Who's the idiot now? read more