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A rip-off?

26 messages,  Last post on Nov 13, 2012 at 12:37 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Subaru XT, Auto Repair, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 3 of 3

#17 of 26 Re: A rip-off? [dcm61] by thecardoc3

Nov 09, 2012 (11:04 pm)

Replying to: dcm61 (Nov 09, 2012 9:24 am)
Subaru's account for about one visit out of around 600 cars and there hasn't been a turbo'ed Subaru in the shop in more than five years. Besides, we ID everything by the VIN these days and the letters on most makes account for trim package levels so even now, I wouldn't try to remember whether the XT is a turbo or not.

#18 of 26 Re: A rip-off? [xwesx] by thecardoc3

Nov 09, 2012 (11:34 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Nov 08, 2012 7:18 pm)
As to the noise, heck yes that should be identified! The XT (and GT) was identified during the Outback's gen-3 time frame for turbo failure due to a filter screen clogging.
 
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1402279
 
A bit old but here is a forum discussing the filter screen that you thought of.
Now let's go back and add the O.P's description of the noise.
 
Recently started hearing a buzzing/clanking sound at idle
 
How did you get to a turbo starving for oil with the description of the noise occurring at idle? If the noise was described as occurring off idle, especially under a load when the turbo is spinning up, then it might be a turbo issue but not at idle. Plus a trubo noise doesn't "come and go", the heat shields on the other hand do just that when they are first loosening up. Seems every Suby we see has loose exhaust heat shields making noise. But I know better than to say that is what the sound is without hearing it first.
 
Seriously if the dealer had suggested the filter screen was a potential cause for the noise they would be even more deserving of scrutiny than the already are!
 
Does the OP know that? I don't know, but an owner saying that "something sounds different" / "I don't know what's causing it, but I can tell something is wrong" means it needs to be identified.
 
I agree, but guessing at it, without hearing it doesn't help.
 
When a shop says they cannot replicate, it's normal operation, etc., yet the noise is present at that moment, that's when it's time for a second opinion somewhere else.
 
BTW, retrospective on the oil issue. The primary cause of that screen plugging is (was) API/ILSAC oils that failed to meet the engines requirements. In that forum you'll see someone mention this reminds them of the Toyota sludging problem, they are right on the money.

#19 of 26 Re: A rip-off? [ateixeira] by thecardoc3

Nov 11, 2012 (12:56 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 09, 2012 2:32 pm)
You really think wes would have fallen for that lame trap? Please...
 
Hey, where did you all go? I thought you were all about proving how much you all knew. Funny how as soon as we get a few basic facts into the discussion and you suddenly disappear.
 
BTW, could I have caught him? Yea, I just might have but we will never know now.
 
To the O.P.
All anyone here can do is guess. Personally I don't like seeing the fishing expeditions that appear to have taken place with your car. I know why they occur and don't condone any of the practices at all. The reason I ever visted this site in the first place had to do with one of the editors of Edmunds taking part in a TV sting involving NBC and a rigged Jeep Grand Cherokee. Later on the network did a follow up to the story trying to show the dealerships that they trapped in a better light (probably over advertising $$$ the network wants) and they tried to put all of the blame on the techs and writers. Meanwhile the underlying reasons for what they found not only have never been addressed by trying to exhonerate those dealers from any wrong doing no real changes for consumers will ever come about, and the top technicians are suffering for that right alongside of you.
 
You do need to seek out a good shop in your area and have them service your vehicle as needed. IMO, there is a rip-off occurring at that facility and its primarily found with what management is doing to their employee's that in turn results in the problem you have encountered. Of course if challenged they will blame the employee's and some people will lose their jobs. Then the management there will simply start the process all over again until the next group have been exploited and the problem resurfaces.

#20 of 26 Re: A rip-off? [thecardoc3] by dcm61

Nov 11, 2012 (1:44 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Nov 11, 2012 12:56 pm)
Hey, where did you all go? I thought you were all about proving how much you all knew.
 
We adhere to Rule #1: Don't feed the troll.

#21 of 26 Re: A rip-off? [dcm61] by fibber2

Nov 11, 2012 (9:22 pm)

Replying to: dcm61 (Nov 11, 2012 1:44 pm)
Thank you! About time someone got to the real root of the issue here.

#22 of 26 Re: A rip-off? [dcm61] by ateixeira

Nov 12, 2012 (1:01 pm)

Replying to: dcm61 (Nov 11, 2012 1:44 pm)
Sorry, had a mosquito buzzing in my ear annoyingly.

#23 of 26 Re: A rip-off? [dcm61] by xwesx

Nov 12, 2012 (1:11 pm)

Replying to: dcm61 (Nov 11, 2012 1:44 pm)
Two reasons for me:
 
1. I was out enjoying my weekend.
2. I already responded; everything else was beyond the scope of the original inquiry.

#24 of 26 Re: A rip-off? [xwesx] by thecardoc3

Nov 13, 2012 (7:30 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Nov 12, 2012 1:11 pm)
1. I was out enjoying my weekend.
2. I already responded; everything else was beyond the scope of the original inquiry.
 
Glad you were out having a good time. Sorry for trying to use what you wrote for an example of how poor a lot of the advice people often get can be. Nothing personal was intended. As well intentioned as some advice may be, not fully corroberating the advice to the actual vehicles problem really isn't any better than what the dealership is doing. Even worse, should the O.P. go to another shop armed with faulty suggestions, it sets the stage for trouble even if the tech nails the problem and has the ability to fix it the first time.
 
You have several others who are piling on essentially trying to defend you and your advice. I'm wondering if you see why the banjo bolt screen suggestion isn't supported by the O.P's description, and if you still feel suggesting split boots was in her best interest as well?

#25 of 26 Re: A rip-off? [tpe3b] by klint22080

Nov 13, 2012 (7:46 am)

Replying to: tpe3b (Nov 06, 2012 2:20 pm)
Tpe3b,
  Different areas will vary on price, so I would call around in your area for a second oppinion on price and would probably get a second oppinon on the service that should be done. I own an indepent repair shop so I always recommend using independent vs dealer, but this is a whole other discussion. If this were at my shop I would the brakes would be around $300. The control arm bushings and alignment dont sound that far off. The struts call for 3.0 hours in mitchell which would be $300 labor and the parts are 150 each so about $600 for struts. They probably are recommending the strut mounts as well since they have bearings in them and are usually needed with the struts. Cost on mounts is $70 each. The axles sound like they are throwing something on there. Are they leaking? or the boots just cracked? Again I would recommend a second oppinion. But aftermarket axles for your vehicle are $160 each. Labor is 1.4 Hours each and is $280, so if you go with aftermarket axles you would be looking at $600.
 
All that being said at 60,000 miles this seems early. But most rubber products(control arm bushings) deteriorate around 5 years. Struts are recommended by most manufacturers at 70k miles on the late end. Brakes are determined by driving conditions.
 
Again, trust sounds like an issue, get a second oppinion.

#26 of 26 Re: A rip-off? [thecardoc3] by xwesx

Nov 13, 2012 (12:37 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Nov 13, 2012 7:30 am)
I'm wondering if you see why the banjo bolt screen suggestion isn't supported by the O.P's description, and if you still feel suggesting split boots was in her best interest as well?
 
I wasn't throwing the turbo failure out as a suggestion as to what her problem might be - I used it only as an illustration that it is important to take unusual noises seriously.
 
As for the split boots, that was suggested as a band-aid to extend the life of the axles. Even if the OP let the axles be, there's likely another 10-20K of miles in them. I noted that my boots were torn at about 110K miles on my Outback, but didn't have to ("have to" meaning they started making noise during turns due to wear) replace one axle until around 125K and the other lasted to 144K. Had I replaced the boots and re-lubed them, they might have lasted even longer. In other words, there's time to plan for the repair.
 
To get back to the point, the OP asked for an assessment of reasonableness on the cost of the repairs suggested by the shop. I provided such an assessment that was grounded in my experience with just such issues.

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