Saw a vid on the web a few weeks ago. It must be true because it was on the Internet. Showed some kids fixing a dent much like yours. They heated it for quite some time with a hairdryer. Then they used a can of pressurized computer cleaning air stuff. Can upside down so just the cold propellant came out. Dent popped out. I know it would never work for me but someday I'll try it anyway.
Definitely. Has anyone ever taken a vehicle in for pad replacement that they don't assure the person they're going to die in a horrible accident if they don't have the rotors turned? However, many new cars now have computer systems that light up the brake warning light unless a dealer programs the computer indicating the brakes are fine. We have a Mercedes that based upon both mileage and time will start lighting up warning lights only the dealer can turn off. Doesn't matter if we haven't driven it a thousand miles since the last servicing. Of course, they claim that's for OUR protection.
all the warning lights can be reset by the owner even on mercedes ...different procedures for different models..so if you research i am sure you can find how to do it...
Also, let's be real. People mess up with those tools. Letting the mechanic do it is a kind of insurance - he messes up, he fixes it. Which is why they're charges for "little" things like that are higher than what seems appropriate.
I replaced my brakes once, down to the rotors. I had a set of rebuilt calipers and new rotors and a decent tool box (I thought). I pulled out my trusty Haynes manual and got to work. Long story short, I took about 6 trips to Sears for tools and such that I didn't have. I get to a point where I need to replace the cotter pin. So, I went back to the store and purchased a cotter pin. I was still working on the first side. Let me know when you understand the flaw in my lack of forethought. LOL
Typical. They're hoping to stick it to your insurance company for a bunch of BS that doesn't need to be done. From your description, my advice is: Go to AutoZone and get a suction-cup dent puller for about $15 and pull it out yourself.
i use a pry bar a wrench and a c clamp to do my brakes...rotors don't need to be replaced unless you have grooves in them..this is caused by not replacing them soon enough and the metal on the pads hit the rotors;;calipers very rarely need to be replaced unless you see leaks from the rubber seals...you should repack the bearings on the front wheels about every 100k miles..
Trust me, I'm very much aware of why the rotors and calipers needed to be replaced. It was an 88 Mustang GT with over 200,000 miles. It had been raced a lot. I really loved that car. It was the fastest production car, off the line, in it's class. I drove that car as a daily driver as well as a quarter mile racer on the weekends for over 10 years. It had over 400,000 miles when I sold it, on the original engine. What makes that happen is regular maintenance. I can't preach that enough. Regular oil changes, radiator flushes, transmission, check your hoses and belts, etc.
Mid 14s in the 1/4 mile, completely stock; with drag radials, knock off another .5 second depending on track conditions. That would not beat a stock 1988 Corvette which was a 13 second machine off the showroom floor. My stock 1984 Honda Interceptor (500 cc) ran a 12.86 1/4 mile the one time I took it to a track. One of those run what you brung, sort of events. Granted that's a motorcycle, not a car. There weren't many production cars (no mods) that were that quick that's how I remember the Mustang GT times.
Not necessarily, but what does it matter? There's really very little done in the automotive industry to ensure that a "mechanic" has any sort of training at all. Our cars are the end result of the most advanced technical processes that are known in the 21st century, and we still repair them with general techniques that would be thought outmoded in the 18th.
And in all reality that is the entire crux of the issue. As i said before people are paying for a convenience fee. They are paying a "you don't know how to fix this or you are unwilling to fix this yourself so you have to bring it to me" fee. So it basically boils down to shops being able to charge folks whatever they please because they know most people can't fix things themselves or they wouldn't be bringing it to them. And a vehicle is one of those essential parts of life that people NEED to have so they have to get it repaired when it breaks. It's how Capitalism works. You can pretty much charge whatever people are willing to pay. Most repair shops do this and its not exclusive to auto repair. I also build and repair computers and I know that computer shops rip you off as well because computers, like cars, have become an essential part of life in todays age and when they break people need them fixed, now. I just built my last PC for a friend of mine a few weeks ago. I told him to buy all the parts and have them shipped to my house. I built it for him for a 6 pack of beer. His quote "Man I called the place around the corner and asked them how much to put it together for me and they said 400 bucks? Why the hell is it so expensive it took you like 30 mins to put it together..." Simple answer. "Because you don't know how to do it and you need it done" Period. All of this stuff is driven by what folks are willing to pay. Even if "you" say you aren't paying that much somebody else somewhere is more than willing to break out their credit card. So unless everyone collectively refuses to pay such prices then the market will continue to charge such prices because they can.
Eh...yes and no. I am fairly knowledgeable when it comes to cars but many of the newer cars coming out are pretty foreign to me with all of these electronic gizmos and stuff. Some production cars are very different than others. If you don't believe me then buy a Saab or an Audi and take it to the local auto shop for repairs. Hang around awhile and watch all of the mechanics in there giving you dirty looks and throwing wrenches across the bay and silently cussing you out under their breath lol.
Well, well- so I got the final estimate from the other shop. Ready? The owner did the estimate for me and quoted me $370 at most. He told me that if they can do paintless dent repair it will be around $150. If they have to use paint, $370. That's a hell of a lot better than $1900!
May I inquire as to whether you have the Volkswagen ding shield service plan? https://www.vw.com/content/dam/vwcom/PDFs/vw_dent_shield_protection.pdf
I did not. However, the plan apparently would not have covered something this size according to the PDF. It's a bit over 5 inches. I do have the wheel protection plan though! The potholes around here lately are scary. Each of my wheels is $1000 to replace. That was a chance I did not want to take.
Yeah I missed the part about the dent being the size of a credit card, I suppose the plan is mainly for door dings not hit & runs.
They tried to sell me on that when I bought it. But it just did not seem worth it. It just didn't cover enough. I think bumpers scratches were excluded too, but I don't remember.
Update. Picked up the car from the shop today. Turns out it came in under the estimate- $225, and it looks great. You can't tell there was ever a dent!
Little over a year ago, my truck was running rough. I took it in to a shop to have them look at it. It wasn't my normal shop I take it to. I told them what it was doing. I made it clear that I just wanted them to check it out and call me when they figured out what it was, before doing any work. I was heading out of town that day for a couple of days and told them to take their time. I wasn't in a hurry. I got a call from them on Saturday(I had taken it in on Thursday) and they are usually closed on Saturdays. The owner told me that this is what was wrong with the truck, that they already did the work, and it would cost me X amount. I didn't say anything on the phone, since he still had my truck for the remainder of the weekend. On Monday I went in to the shop and raised hell. I told him, that I never authorized for him to do any work on my truck, but to just see what was wrong with it. He told me he usually doesn't just diagnois issues and not make repairs. I told him that I usually don't authorize for work until I know what is going to be done and how much. He ended up taking the labor charge off of the price, I just had to pay for the parts. I should have fought harder, but I just wanted to get out of there. Needles to say I won't go back there. As far as the OP's initial about the dent. I had a small dent about the size of a dime on the front fender of my new truck. I called the dentless repair place. They came and checked it out and quoted me $100. Said it would be an easy fix. Couple of hours later and they removed the dent, but the paint was messed up. Said he would get back with me to fix that. Over a week later, I get a call from him to come fix it. He shows up and spends a couple of hours doing something to it. Gets it somewhat, but the clearcoat is screwed. Says he has to paint it. Says he will call me to set a time to do that. Another week passes, I hear back from him. We set up a time for them to repaint it. They never show or call on that day. Another week after that he finally calls me back. This time I ignored him. I'll eventually get it fixed by someone I can trust. Since I was supposed to pay when it got fixed and since it never got fixed, I'm not out any money, yet.
Wow- that was very similar to the dent I had. Mine was not quite as big, but close! - - - Updated - - - Fortunately, I had a better experience! The shop that did it for $225 did a great job. You'd never know there was ever a dent.
