I've never paid a fee like that, but I've always fixed my own cars.
Mechanic charging for diagnostics?
- Thread starter bakechad
- Start date
Very normal to pay for diagnostics and analysis. Usually find this cost is offset against the necessary work completed by the same shop. More than ever, I think it is now worth buying an OBD 2 scanner to at least read the trouble codes, recognizing this is only the beginning of the journey. I am currently exploring bi-directional readers for Euro vehicles. Many options and price points so not an obvious decision. iCarsoft at the top of my list at the moment.
With even a relatively simple battery replacement requiring a reset, anticipate it will pay for itself after the first couple of uses.
With even a relatively simple battery replacement requiring a reset, anticipate it will pay for itself after the first couple of uses.
No way you can waive the diag if they do the repair. Here’s and example. You agree to 1 hour initial diag charge. If the tech figures it out in an hour which is maybe a 30% chance. And the actual part it say .3-.8 to replace if you waived the diag fee you would be losing money
So hypothetical 100/hr. You would have 100 in diag. But if repair was .3 that’s only 30 bucks. I can’t make a shop run on 30 labor repairs. If I tell you it’s 1.3 then some smart ass claims it’s only .3 and you are ripping them off. You can’t waive diag
Some of the service contracts don’t want to pay diag. I told one of the “inspectors” when he asked how I came up with the diag I told him I guessed. He looked baffled and said what… said I guessed. You don’t want to pay diag that’s all I can do. And my guess is probably better than some guy off the street
So hypothetical 100/hr. You would have 100 in diag. But if repair was .3 that’s only 30 bucks. I can’t make a shop run on 30 labor repairs. If I tell you it’s 1.3 then some smart ass claims it’s only .3 and you are ripping them off. You can’t waive diag
Some of the service contracts don’t want to pay diag. I told one of the “inspectors” when he asked how I came up with the diag I told him I guessed. He looked baffled and said what… said I guessed. You don’t want to pay diag that’s all I can do. And my guess is probably better than some guy off the street
Safe to say everyone thinks you’re crazy bud
I stopped dealing with 3rd party warranty/service contract work. I'm not going to be told how to run my business.....Been in many arguments over Chrysler labor times.
Drivability, Electrical, EVAP, & HVAC jobs get charged a "Time Spent" Diagnostic, I rarely charge diag fee's for brakes/steering/suspension unless the customer backs out of the repair.
gathermewool
Site Donor 2023
I can’t DIY a Dr note. Last time I checked surgery costs more than a checkup…
The fair answer is obviously not to charge a blanket diagnostic fee, unless you’re so busy that you can do whatever you want. If that’s not the case, why turn people on limited budgets off to even coming into your shop and missing out on a certain percentage of potential customers who either can be sold on additional maintenance while there or might come back as repeat customers?
Obvious solution:
Charge an hourly rate of your choosing for diagnostics, which should satisfy everyone in this thread. If the troubleshooting requires consumables, charge for those, too. To make it worth small, easy jobs, make it a minimum of X shop time for each diagnosis so you’re not peppered with tons of five minute OBD scan jobs.
It is not acceptable for a shop, in this very specific instance (not some hypothetical situation requiring tons of training and expensive equipment), to charge hundreds of dollars if they literally end up pulling the code and deciding to swap the sensor, taking all of five minutes. This is just an example, mind you. If the OPs issue takes longer, see the previous paragraph.
Yeah, but on top of actually doing the job? I just want to pay for the mechanics actual time and materials, including the time spent on diagnostics. If the diagnostics take 10 minutes and replacing the sensor is another 30 minutes, charging 1.5hrs of labor seems a bit much to me... I guess in some areas people will pay that, but it seems around here that would be unusual.
Test equipment and tools are expensive, plus you can't put a price on knowledge, so, I have to respectfully disagree.
Is it industry standard to be charged a diagnostic fee? Yes. Usually 1 hr for a visual inspection or easily verified complaint, 2 hrs (or more) if it involves electrical or any driveability issue.
Do many technicians deserve to be paid for their "diagnostic work?" No comment.
Do many technicians deserve to be paid for their "diagnostic work?" No comment.
It's different if you know them and have some established relationship, but basically no decent mechanic has the time for random people who won't pay for diag. They are probably really busy, and their time has value. Also random people coming in with their own diagnosis tend to be pretty high risk.
The only reason my Explorers get worked on with no diag is we are all on the same page with BS.
The only reason my Explorers get worked on with no diag is we are all on the same page with BS.
It’s is a fair charge if upfront . I believe customers who took free diagnosis and declined estimate spoiled the free ones before.
Well I think most employers make the value of knowledge and experience quite clear!
I guess the lines get blurry when the work is charged "by the hour", but not for using a scan tool? Lifts aren't cheap either, but I expect the expenses of being capable of doing the job to be included in the hourly rate?
For me I don't like forking out hundreds dollars for a simple job like in the original post, there are lots of jobs that are worth 100's of dollars an hour to me, but replacing a knock sensor isn't one of them. If I run into something I can't do or figure out, I also have no problem paying a mechanic for their time.
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I defer these type questions to the actual shop owners that pay the rent, taxes, utilities and consumables bill. They arent running a charity. Just another reason to develop a relationship with a shop that treats you fairly. People that hit and quit shop around rarely get the deals they are looking for.
