Perhaps I am misunderstanding your post but it sounds like your normal repair guy does not have a lift? This seems very odd and would limit the amount of repairs he can do.
I agree with other people who have responded. Perhaps the communication could have been better but typically a leaking oil pan would need to be dropped and the gasket replaced. You would not need, nor want, a new oil pan unless it was damaged. It sounds like these people operated in an entirely reputable manner by doing only what was needed. If they were disreputable they would have called you up and said you needed a new oil pan (when you really didn't need one) and charged you for it ($480) instead of just replacing the gasket. I would bet dollars to donuts that your normal mechanic said/meant that you needed a new gasket for your oil pan and not a new oil pan. The estimates you received (essentially $300-$400, most expensive at the dealer and the independent shops being about the same) were undoubtedly for the labor and price of a gasket. If you call up and ask for an "estimate for a leaking oil pan" there is really no expectation that the estimate would be for anything other than replacing the gasket. Once the work started, if it was determined that the oil pan needed replacement then I would have expected a phone call indicating the the original estimate was too low. An oil pan is simply a piece of stamped metal. Unless it collided with something they typically don't ever need to be replaced.
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Originally Posted by billybye
I have found many fine vendors using TOV - I also appreciate a warning, this is why I am posting this. I wish I checked TOV first.
My main car repair person who changed my oil told me I had a leaky oil pan, and not having a lift to put it up on, someone with a lift could do it much easier. He told me it should be about $200-$300 depending on parts.
I call Toyota in Leesburg and was quoted $400 - expected that, but checked anyway.
Found Tri County Auto on my way home (Rte 441, south of Lowes.
Went in and Josh quoted me worse case scenario of $296.00 - I brought it in next day for repair. When I called to check status, they never called me as they were supposed to. He told me it did not need a pan, but cost was $292 and I could pick it up before they closed. When I said why, he said he never quoted me with a pan and it would have been $480 with pan.
They had me. They had me once, not again. Owner only said I had a bad repair person that said I needed a pan and it was up to Josh, not him to price people, I know he heard conversation.
My regular mechanic is Vaughn at Tire place on 466 by 441, who is the most honest mechanic I have ever met.
I only have one car, so in future I guess it's Dealer if I need a repair he cannot do. I don't know any other repair place golf cart accessible.i
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