stevenknapp

I had the truck in for some warranty issues. Since winter is here, I thoght I'd just pay them to do some services. Oil change, diffs, and the fuel filter.

They charged me $12 for the oil change, I had my own oil and filter. I was very happy with this.

The diffs were about $200, $120 in parts, $90 in labor. High, but what I expected knowing the mopar diff oil is $$$.

The fuel filter was the shocker.

$38 for the filter kit (much less from Cummins, and I even had a spare in the truck...doh).... But 1hr for labor, which is $90. This seemed very high.

I know that all of this is both normal, and absurd at the same. I know I paid too much. I know I should do it myself.

The thing I don't know is if an hour is the correct book time for fuel filter swap? Or did they confuse it with a gasser.

stevenknapp

I called em and they said it was indeed an hour of book time. But it's SO easy, I'e even do it roadside if I needed. Well, I'll never pay for that again.

rossn2

You could've done everything yourself, just by climbing under the vehicle and saved big dollars....
Frt and rear ends have reusable gaskets...so the only parts you paid for was the frt & rear end oil!
It takes about 10 minutes to change out the fuel filter too!

cumminsboy

Hounddog

I bet BOOK time on fuel filter is .2 or .3.Call a DEALER and ask them warranty time on R&R fuel filter.On the OLD 12 valves we charged .5 and they were a LOT more work then the new trucks.

Buckshotmckee

I work for a dealership (vw) and we just got our latest/greatest update from ALL-DATA, and I looked up fuel filter time on your truck and it's .8 tenths of an hour to do it. So there not too far off. But yes that is priceee.

Hounddog

Thats Alldata whats Chilton or Motors or warranty flat rate.Warranty flate rate times 130% is Chilton and Motors time on almost every OP through the entire book.A OIL&FILTER change is more time comsuming and harder then a fuel filter is on a late modal truck.Now the 12 valves can be a pain in the butt.On another note.The MORE competitive dealers&shops charge LESS per hour on MAINTANCE stuff.Its easier and thats were the competion is.If BRAKE jobs and air and fuel filters/tire bal and roate etc was done by the full repair rate customers get wise and go elsewhere..8 at $90.00 per hour is $72.00..8 at $54.00 a hour is $43.20.Big differance.The dealers I worked at ALL had maintance rates which were a FAR cry from the REPAIR rate like major wiring or window regulators etc.Can't rape your customers and keep them.Some of you dealer techs may scream but if its not done this way all you end up with is heavy duty mind boggling repairs.The CADDY dealer I was at we did front brakes on front wheel drive autos for $99.95 period.Turn rotors(on or off car)and new factory pads.Techs got paid 1.5 on that.Another Caddy dealer got almost $300.The SAVY customers showed up on our door after calling around.Never lost a brake job on $99.95.Still MADE money and usually sold more work to boot.

TRAVIST

I also work for a dodge dealer. The motors guide time for fuel filter change is .3. Less than half an hour means with our labor rate it would be $37.50 plus filter to change.

Hounddog

Thanks Travist.Thats my point in a nut shell.I would take my bill and ask were in the heck one hour came from to do that simple ob.The service manager may then make some changes.I use to scan EVERY invoice every night or next morning for things like that.

stevenknapp

I would take my bill and ask were in the heck one hour came from to do that simple ob.The service manager may then make some changes.

That's what I did, and the answer was "that's book time".

Anyone know the multidigit code the computer uses for the job? I could compare it to mine? Or ask about that?

I'm going to call another dealer or two just out of curiousity. They've taken really good care of me in the past. And the $12 for the oil change was VERY reasonable.

Ross, I know I SHOULD do it myself. More so now. It's cold out, 20F, there is 3" of icy snow on the ground, and it's already at the dealer. I thought I'd just pay. I should have asked for a quote first.

Hounddog

WHO"S BOOK! He made that one up! The ALLDATA was high but it wasn't a hour labor.Not a good way to make and keep customers wanting more then arranty repairs.Rape them once is not the way to do it.$12.00 for the oil change sounds about normal to me.When they do gassers for $19.95 the labor is only about $9 or $10 dollars of it.

coolslice

WOW! It only took me 3 or 4 minutes the first time I ever did it. Take your vasoline to the dealership.

stevenknapp

I think it took me about 15-20min, but that included stealing a waterbottle off my wifes road bike to drain the diesel into. It also includes answering a bunch of "what are you doing?" type questions from the neighbor 5yrold who thinks my truck is where it's at.

I'm not sure who's book. I had assumed that the Dodge comptuer gizmo has some database for this stuff. I know warranty repairs all have some standard catagory, no? My guess is this is the gasser price.

I'm not going to get in a big fight over $40. I didn't ask the cost before the service, that was my bad. I've learned my lesson. But it does have me thinking about another dealership to try.

I know $12 seems reasonable, but when I called around it was always $80-90 for a diesel change. And they didn't give much of a discount for my own oil change. The local quicky lube wanted $70 or $40 with my own oil and filter.

Hounddog

Wow.The dealer I worked at $9.95 labor for a LOF was for everbody as a courtesy.It was GRUNT work.Oil changes are a loser profit wise to start with.With other work being done on a auto/truck it was ok.Its the STAND alone oil chages folks ought to have to pay more money for.I can prosie you D.C.flat rate for a fuel filter is NOT 1 hour.Probaby like .2 Heck Alldata was high at .8.The service manager should have done a little investigative work and given you a break.Would have kept a customer probaby.Print these threads and send them to the G.M.or the Dealer Princable/owner.

stevenknapp

I'm thinking of calling other dealers, finding out if it's the norm, and if not sending a nice letter to the owner. The gist would be "I like your dealer, they've treated me well, but this service you perform is overpriced compared to your competition. This leaves me wondering where else I need to watch my back."

The reality is *I* should have asked for the estimate tho. And if it was $90 labor I would have just said no-thanks. I remember when I had my Jeep they would charge 1hr labor to change the transfer case fluid. Which I never understood, once on a lift it's not THAT much harder than an oil change. It was just their fee, and I never paid it.