NationStates Jolt Archive

I just found out that my truck has a leaking gasket, and that it is going to cost about $800 dollars to fix. I have no knowledge of automobiles other than how to change the oil and the battery, so I don't know what they are talking about or whether I am getting ripped off. That truck was my ride home from college and now apparently could explode at any moment.

I am going to pass the hat, any donations will be greatly appreciated. :(

Have you tried hitting it with a stick or bat?

Have you tried hitting it with a stick or bat?

Those condescending assholes at the repair shop say that is what caused the problem in the first place. What do they know.

Those condescending assholes at the repair shop say that is what caused the problem in the first place. What do they know.
Just hit the other side, duh

Head gasket? Well, if you had the tools, it's not that hard of a job to do yourself. But I'm guessing you have a pair of pliers and a screwdriver.

Wouldn't cost 800, either.

Head gasket? Well, if you had the tools, it's not that hard of a job to do yourself. But I'm guessing you have a pair of pliers and a screwdriver.

Wouldn't cost 800, either.

What should the job cost at a repair shop, did they give me a decent estimate.

I have 4 different sizes of screwdriver, a pair of needlenose pliers, a swiss army knife, a maglite, and the aforementioned large stick. Will that do?

Head gasket? Well, if you had the tools, it's not that hard of a job to do yourself. But I'm guessing you have a pair of pliers and a screwdriver.

Wouldn't cost 800, either.

If its a head gasket than you are NOT getting ripped off, my dads Toyota has a broken head gasket and would cost 1500 to fix, and nobody has given us a lower price than that. (Japaneese cars more efficient my ass!)

The guy says 800 greenbacks, where do you live, Carbondale, IL, USA, ok dont be surprised if you see a red Toyota Corolla!

what kinda truck?

It must be a Ford.

It must be a Ford.

You are wrong my friend.

Chevrolet S-10, I treat it like shit, so I am not surprised, but still, I really don't need this.

Well, so much for my Chevy superiority. You should add a vote to this: "Which automotive culture is the best?"

You are wrong my friend.

Chevrolet S-10, I treat it like shit, so I am not surprised, but still, I really don't need this.

Umm...the year?

Well, so much for my Chevy superiority. You should add a vote to this: "Which automotive culture is the best?"

Can I add a poll still?

Umm...the year?

1996, ~ 90,000 miles

Can I add a poll still?

Not if you're going to vote against Chevy, you anti-Chevite.

Not if you're going to vote against Chevy, you anti-Chevite.

My vehicle before this one was an S-10 also and it was great, never had to do anything to it. This one, however, sucks badly.

Broken or leaky head gaskets are a common problem for the Chevy S-10 and they have been known to completely "F" up after 90,000 miles, you should have know this....Why don't you have a Chilton manual for you car? If you had one you would have been able to find out what was wrong with your vehicle without taking it to con-men at the repair shop and you would have been able to detremine whether or not you could have fix it yourself

Broken or leaky head gaskets are a common problem for the Chevy S-10 and they have been known to completely "F" up after 90,000 miles, you should have know this....Why don't you have a Chilton manual for you car? If you had one you would have been able to find out what was wrong with your vehicle without taking it to con-men at the repair shop and you would have been able to detremine whether or not you could have fix it yourself

Because I am not perfect like you, Mister Perfect.

This is true. The Chilton guide is a great investment.

Of course, my ride is a '74 and there's nothing in there that you need a computer to diagnose.

This is true. The Chilton guide is a great investment.

Well, thank you, Johnny Come-Lately.

Anyone else want to jump on the Chilton bandwagon?

Apparently it is rapidly catching the bible in terms of world sales.

Quote from Consumer Reports:

"We expect the S-10's reliability to be much worse than average, according to our latest subscriber survey."

BUY JAPANESE! SAVE UNNECESSARY REPAIRS!

Because I am not perfect like you, Mister Perfect.
That's Ms Perfect to you, buddy...and at least I know how to fix my vehicle

That's Ms Perfect to you, buddy...and at least I know how to fix my vehicle
:D pwned by a woman :eek:

:D pwned by a woman :eek:

I'm just going to drive my truck off of a cliff.

You push, I'll steer.

I'm just going to drive my truck off of a cliff.

You push, I'll steer.
gladly :eek:

gladly :eek:

Alright, Kevorkian.

if it's a V6, AllData (many indie shops use this software) calls for 6.6 hours labor, plus .5 hours for A/C and cruise control. The gasket itself lists for about $26. Whoever you are taking it to is charging over $100/hour - that's a lot unless it's a dealer. We charge $86/hr and thats for mercedes and bmw's (in chicago - not a dealer).

The head gasket costs between $15-$35 to buy, which means you're purely getting ripped off for labor. I'll give the job a generous estimate of 5 hours and I come to the conclusion that you are being royally screwed.

5 hours to replace a head gasket? Is this job being done by three-toed sloths? you take it to a shop its more like 3.5 hours of laughing their asses off because they ripped off another college kid and then 1.5 hours of sloppy labor

can you post the estimit
like a scaned copy or somthing

They mentioned pulling the head gasket off, sending to a machinist, and then doing whatever they have to do to put it back on.

3 days total.

I called someplace else, they said $550-600