We bought a 1996 379 Pete. Previous owner had done alot of after market electrical on her...headlights, chicken lights, steering whell, etc. Few months down the road the lights either wouldn't come on or flicker on the truck and/or trailer. Rush said best solution was to replace the harness and everything would be fixed at $4500 for 70 hours of work. ok...they had the truck 11 days before they started, said they were waiting on the part. FYI: Visted shop on day 10, when we said we were coming to get the truck if the repairs aren't started...then the part showed up! Not to mention, the A/C wasn't blowing and we needed that fixed most of all after driving in 100 degree heat the last month or so. Rush said they'd fix that even if the part didn't arrive, it wasn't done. OK...on day 12 we visited shop and saw truck broke down with old harness out and new harness laying next to it and they were still assessing all the problems. Even broke a knob on the A/C controller taking off old harness...tried to tell us we would need to get a new one...u broke u buy was our response. We were fine with on day 12 expecting 70 hours of work lay ahead, we needed a vacation anyway...but OMG! Day 13 we called to check in...told it was going to take more money and time because when they hooked up harness the lights didn't work.

OK...we feel we were quoted more than once $4500 at 70 hours to "Get everything working right". First, how does 2 days of work translate into 70 hours? We knew exactly when the work started.

How would you proceed? Do we have any recourse?

Post by Big Country:

Well I sure would not be happy... If they replaced the entire harness stating that was the problem and it did not work, then all labor from that point is at their expenditure and only parts to fix the problem would be yours... (by the way did you get the estimate in writing? such as a pre print out work order?)

A few options you could do
Better Business Bureau
Austin
512-445-2911
And/Or
Consumer Protection office
Austin Regional office
512-473-2100

Reply by agoodgurl:


It was an education to say the least. With my 2nd rig the '97 Pete you see pictured, I not only did oil samples but, brought along my buddy who use to have his own shop to inspect the rig top to bottom.

THANKS BIG COUNTRY. I kinda feel like my husband does about the deal...becareful making complaints at a restaurant ya never know what they might do to your meal. Oh Boy...what's an o/o to do?

Well that was my post but I will let Big Country take the credit lol anyhow I hope you get it straiten out... Sounds like they are trying to take you all for a ride, what a shame they are trying that when people are having such a hard time making on the road nowadays...

I would say they gave you a flat rate to R & R the wiring harness, thats where "the book" calls for say 20 hours to replace a part. Most good mechanic's will usually do a repair in about half the time, but you still pay for the "book" time. Do didn't state how busy they were, i seriously doubt they were planning on working on it that long. Electrical issues are hard to estimate, that should have been explained to you. Changing out the complete harness pretty much covers it. Them breaking a part and charging you is about the norm. As long as everything is working right i don't see much you can do. Big repairs such as this can be irritating, i feel your pain. I just paid 18 hours to R & R the front cover on my cat and the problem wasn't even behind there. They R & R'ed that cover in 8 hours, but that's another story.

Well that is the problem they are having, replacing the harness DID NOT fix the issue with the lights... So, the issue is now somewhere else and they want to keep charging them more money for labor... You are correct that electrical issues are among the hardest to diagnose, these people have already paid $4500....... using your labor estimates 20 hours at $100 an hour is $2000 in labor, I could be wrong but i am pretty sure no harness cost $2500... So, I think the shop has already taken enough money from these people and they should be responsible for diagnosing the true issue with the truck and the owners pay for the part, labor free to have it installed...

That's why I gave her several consumer agency numbers to make sure this company deals with them correctly from this point...

I agree they've taken enough money from them, the 20 hours was just an example, maybe the book calls for 70 hours of labor, seems like alot. You wouldn't think wiring in the headlights would be a big deal after replacing the whole harness and i certainly wouldn't want to give them any more money after laying down $4500 and knowing they don't have the 70 hours of time in it. It's hard to keep a cool head when dealing with issues like this, in my experiences bad deals only get worse.

Sounds like an every day occurrence at Rush. I wouldn't do any business at all with them. Not on sales and not on service/repair work.

__________________

We are very greatful for all of your support here on the forum. We will keep you posted because since following up this morning with the day supervisor, who originally gave us the quote, he doesn't know what the night supervisor was talking about. This is very emotional with this being our first truck, new company, etc. so one kinda takes all this personal. But we're trying to keep it all in perspective. Our customer's have been great too...they miss us. We'll get through it.

I've never dealt with them myself (and won't) but my cousin took it deep from them a few years ago in Ok. from the sales AND service depts.According to him,they are a pack of liars and won't honor their word.I don't know first hand,but he wanted to slap a couple of them around pretty hard.

As for shop rates just about anywhere,you are going to get gouged.They are going to bid your work on the book hours(book was written WAY in their favor,not yours) and on top of that,95% of the shops out there will have one mechanic working on three or more trucks at the same time and billing them all.Shop owners are a very unscrupulous bunch and they would all do to watch with two good eyes.Or more if you got 'em.

__________________
"I have trouble remembering names,may I just call you Scrote ?"

NO HABLA JIBBER JABBER

"Haven't I told you a million times not to exaggerate"

Every so often, I like to stick my head out the window, look up, and smile for a satellite picture

CBA # 454

Ya definitely keep us updated, I curious how things work out....