Current Events > Car came out of the mechanic with a check engine light... what do?

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I brought the car in to diagnosis a squealing noise, and paid to replace the harmonic balancer. When I went to pick up the car, the car had a check engine light. Note that the mechanic verified that check engine light was not on when I brought the car in.

Upon troubleshooting the check engine light, they found out it's the camshaft sensor and the O2 sensor going bad. They're quoting ~$700.

I told them that all I know, and that they verified, is that I came in without a check engine light, and now there's a check engine light. They said what they fixed has nothing to do with what broke, and won't budge on price.

What do...?

Bend over and clench your teeth
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shop elsewhere and send them the bill
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What type of car? Get a second opinion
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$700 to replace two sensors? Either the car is designed horribly and the sensors are impossible to get to or you need a new mechanic

IdiotMachine posted...

I brought the car in to diagnosis a squealing noise, and paid to replace the harmonic balancer. When I went to pick up the car, the car had a check engine light. Note that the mechanic verified that check engine light was not on when I brought the car in.

Upon troubleshooting the check engine light, they found out it's the camshaft sensor and the O2 sensor going bad. They're quoting ~$700.

I told them that all I know, and that they verified, is that I came in without a check engine light, and now there's a check engine light. They said what they fixed has nothing to do with what broke, and won't budge on price.

What do...?

I would take the statement of what they did and take it to another mechanic and see if they can prove the last mechanic was the cause
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It's the dealership themselves. They gave the lowest cost to fix the harmonic balancer issue...

As far as the car, it is an old winter beater: 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe with 100,000 miles on it.

Go to AutoZone and tell them to scan for the check engine code it's free and they give you an idea what it is.
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take it to a local mechanic not a dealership i went to a local mechanic to have my headlights aligned and only costed me $10 plus he gave me a roll of lifesavers and a pen

Dealers over charge by a lot mostly because the parts are original but they charge too much compared to regular mechanics. Go to AutoZone and get a quote as well go to Oreilly while you're at it and get a quote as well
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Complete_Idi0t posted...

$700 to replace two sensors? Either the car is designed horribly and the sensors are impossible to get to or you need a new mechanic

To replace a camshaft sensor you usually have to take the head off which is a lot of work. O2 sensors are usually pretty easy.
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Tc I would get the codes cleared and if they come back then consider your options
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smh they prolly don't want to buy you a crankshaft position sensor

second opinion time
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josifrees posted...

Complete_Idi0t posted...

$700 to replace two sensors? Either the car is designed horribly and the sensors are impossible to get to or you need a new mechanic

To replace a camshaft sensor you usually have to take the head off which is a lot of work. O2 sensors are usually pretty easy.

Weird. On my Neon you just need to remove a couple screws holding the camshaft sensor onto the cylinder head and it pops right out.

Well at least it does according to the repair manual. I've never tried it.

Complete_Idi0t posted...

josifrees posted...

Complete_Idi0t posted...

$700 to replace two sensors? Either the car is designed horribly and the sensors are impossible to get to or you need a new mechanic

To replace a camshaft sensor you usually have to take the head off which is a lot of work. O2 sensors are usually pretty easy.

Weird. On my Neon you just need to remove a couple screws holding the camshaft sensor onto the cylinder head and it pops right out.

Well at least it does according to the repair manual. I've never tried it.

Yeah different cars have different designs. Some are easy and some are a real pain in the ass
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I've had a few times where the dealership fixed something and something else "broke" while it was there. Each time they either fixed the new problem for free (because it wasn't broken when I brought it in) or only charged me for the parts and not labor, and either way they always give me a free rental for a day or two while they fix it.

Though I can't say every place is like this.
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So I talked to the manager, and he said he can eat the cost of labor; I just pay the parts. It'll be around $300. Aww... I'm going to buy them donuts and bring it to them so that we can continue to have good relationships.

josifrees posted...

Complete_Idi0t posted...

$700 to replace two sensors? Either the car is designed horribly and the sensors are impossible to get to or you need a new mechanic

To replace a camshaft sensor you usually have to take the head off which is a lot of work. O2 sensors are usually pretty easy.

No. Replacing a cam sensor does not ever require a head removal. They bolt into the end of the head from outside.

As for TC, definitely take it to another shop. While it is extremely likely that nothing the dealer mechanics did caused your check engine light, I'm wary of $700 for replacing two sensor (I'm also wary of just outright declaring a new O2 sensor is necessary based off just reading the scanner - that being said, I am only basing this thought on what was in the OP).
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