Q: I know you are not one to talk down your trade but in my opinion the only good mechanic is one you never have to see or deal with.

My story is about work done to my 2003 GMC truck that had a head gasket problem.

I had it diagnosed at the dealership but their prices were worse than some restaurants, so I decided to take the car to a local garage, which was my first mistake.

I was quoted $800 to have the one head gasket replaced. One thing led to another and the price kept on going up, but they had a gun to my head so I had to leave the vehicle. What was I supposed to do when the head was (already) removed -- take the truck out of there?

I left it there and the cost ended up being $989.70. So much for the estimate, eh.

Where is your pride now that one of your brigands has been exposed?

A: I hope this answer reaches all the people to whom you have exposed your hostility, so that they can make up their own mind as to what took place with your truck.

You were quoted $800, which they could then legitimately charge you up to $80 over the quote, as per the mechanical repair act.

You also after the quote requested to have the truck's oil pan flushed, which according to the garage was not needed. The cost, $54. They also told you that they could use your old antifreeze because you have been adding for the past month or two but you wanted new antifreeze plus you wanted the radiator flushed. That's another $74 beyond your initial quote.

New plugs were also requested after the initial quote, another $31, no labour charge. They then gave you one of their trucks for a day, for which you were never charged.

Excluding the rental truck that comes to $959. However, at their request I have been told to offer you, excluding the $10 environmental charge, a cheque for $20 or a free oil change as a goodwill offer.

Now revisit your steps and take the time to tell the real story

Q: Can you please look into something for me? I had my car exhaust system replaced for about $300, and now they tell me that it is the converter that needed to be replaced.

My car was not running properly because of a plugged exhaust and I was told that it was the front exhaust pipe, then it was the muffler and the tail pipe had to be replaced along with the muffler.

On the way back to Hamilton from Toronto the car again started to overheat. The car was towed back to the garage and they called me and said that the converter was plugged also.

When I told them that it must have been the converter in the first place, they got very angry with me and said they would not give me the 10 per cent discount on the converter that they gave me on the exhaust.

I also told them that I had a mechanic who wanted to look at the old parts; they said that the parts had been thrown out. I was told that they cannot do that, when we the customer asked for the parts.

The car is sitting in Toronto because I cannot at this time afford the cost of the converter. I know this is a Toronto garage but I do live in Hamilton so I was wondering if you could help me solve this problem.

A: My arm does stretch to Toronto and yes I can help you. In order to have the old parts saved however, you have to request that on the work order before the work is started, so they did not have to save the parts for you.

Your car, being a 1999 model, most likely needed the exhaust anyway but that was not the problem with the car overheating.

That particular garage was very belligerent when I spoke to them but their corporate office had a much clearer picture of what took place and you will be receiving a cheque for $140 to cover the labor charge, or you can put that towards having the converter changed.

On the work order you will find the corporate number and if you call that number they will see that the converter is installed at another location and all you will need to pay for is the cost of the converter with a 20 per cent discount.

AUTO SERVICE Q AND A

Do you have a query for Dennis O'Sullivan?

Send your questions by email to: dennis.osullivan@cogeco.ca, or by mail at

Box 10019, Winona, ON, L8E 5R1.