$500 standard repair fee

[offroad]

Just helped my daughter get her brakes repaired at a shop nearby. $500 for replace roters brake pads everything. Seems like you go in for anything and it is $500 from any shop. Mufflers shocks tires water pump etc. all $500

Major repairs are. $1000.

If you have the tools- time- expertise - strength you can do it yourself for. $100 usually. But who has all that.

As alternative my sons moped costs $150 to repair. Crazy cost differences.

 

[Blue]

I keep friends with the mantinance guy at my hotel, he has family members who do everything, one guy fixes cars, one guy does home electrical, one guy does roofing and drywall, one guy does landscaping and yards... its sort of amazing what you can do with a big family like that... and you can always find cheap "I'll come to you" mechanics on craigslist, I'd rather buy the parts myself and get the work for 30 bucks an hour than double the price of the parts and pay 100 bucks an hour or more, and have to deal with a shop owner trying to con me about what needs to be done.

another way to save money big time... find the community college with the best auto repair program, lots of times the guys in the program will fix your car super cheap and if your driving something unique or that the instructor can use as a training focus all the better.

 

[sparky1]

One guy last year, was in my area, burned out his Van Brakes made it here, I replaced them for him. he paid for dinner..

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Hey Sparky...need some work done...got a McDonalds around there???

 

[sparky1]

Thanks--Nothing I can't fix, but automatic transmissions..

Personally, I just don't see why some on here wont add the state where they are..IE; Va as I put. "Yes" i'm very rural,
if someone breaks down say where the heck you are, maybe there is help a few miles down the road.
sparky1.
Mc'Ds 21 miles away in Appomattox,va

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Sparky, you're a "community" type of guy.
Shoot, I'd never insult ya by feedin ya McD food after a job well done.
I'd have to upgrade at least to KFC

Guess some folks are afraid you're gonna sneak up on em if ya know what state they're in.

 

[sparky1]

KFC even further, 40 miles east of me, thanks.
I've changed clutches, tires-balanced them too ,springs on MH's, exhaust systems, brakes, roof AC, I have a front end loader on tractor.
One lady friend, I replaced the entire Water piping system on her MH. parts + 10.$ a hr -took 63 hours. dealer told her to Junk it. they refused to do it. for under $4,500 labor
recently I changed Hydraulic hose on my MH leveling LR jack--dealer wanted $900 + hose..not a problem "they are crazy"yes it was a tough job. cardboard on top gravel, makes it better.
sparky1.

 

[user 423]

....another way to save money big time... find the community college with the best auto repair program, lots of times the guys in the program will fix your car super cheap and if your driving something unique or that the instructor can use as a training focus all the better.

My sister did that years ago with a VW bug and got a valve job done for $50. The instructor really wanted an air-cooled engine to work on to show the class and it was his first VW. Unfortunately, they forgot to reinstall the air deflectors under the cylinders and the motor blew up about 2 weeks later. A rebuilt then cost her $800.

 

[offroad]

Slow2day - there is always a got ya. No warranty on the shade tree mechanics. If they are family there is an implied warranty. You have to be long term friends with these folks. Or be just as much an expert and be their assistant while the work is done.

 

[steamjam1]

Rebuilding the engine and transmission are the only things I cannot do while on the road. If I ever find myself in that situation where I blow and engine/transmission.. I figure I'll throw my hands up, gasp, whip out the cell phone and AAA card. For just about everything else I carry the tools to repair/replace.

 

[Reducto]

I'm not equipped to do everything on my van, but I at least know the theory of how everything works and where everything is, which helps a lot when dealing with mechanics. I can go over to it while it's on the lift and negotiate exactly what needs to be done and if they can't find the parts I can go find them myself.

I got hit by some really blatant unnecessary repair suggestions when I was younger, but that doesn't happen often anymore and when it does I can spot it.

So many common repairs are really very simple when you do a little research and get over your fears. The internet has made it even easier - there are how-to videos on everything these days.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

funny you mention this, about 20 years ago, I noticed a similar thing, it seemed every time I brought my truck in for repairs it was 300 dollars no matter what, I noticed this with a Chevy van then my S10, I changed vehicles to a BMW 3 series, every time it went in it cost me 500.00.

 

[user 423]

Hey, they have to make those boat payments!

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Hmmm...had my brakes done on my minivan and a new caliper (i think thats it) and it was just under hundred.

 

[Blue]

heh... I am terrible with anything mechanical or technical... I mostly throw money at people who claim their experts and say "please dont take advantage of me" then mention that I have to go because the voices are telling me I must clean the guns again... ;-)

 

[offroad]

Dazar - where is this magical repair shop that costs less than $100 for brakes including replacing a caliper. ?

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Gassaway wv, maybe not worth the drive tho lol

 

[offroad]

Good drinkable water there?

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Relatively

 

[offroad]

Tune up on my car $500. So again it happens. Getting the the plugs requires remove the air intake system.