well another problem today :( :) 1989 CONTI

[towncar95]

well as you guys know i put in a new alternator and regulator.
then the other day the air conditioner quit on me and the passeneger window came off the track. WELL today going to work , the fan belt start coming apart. we had put a new one on too. well there was a gas station by my work and i went there.
cost me $127 for a new fan belt and the labor. the reason?
he said the auto parts store where i got the alternator put the pulley on the wrong way with to much spacers. when i put the alternator back in the pulley didnt look any different to me. anyway he printed what happend on the work sheet and im going to go back to the store.

umm do you think im still crazy for this essex machine? YES !

[v8_dave]

Your crazy, fix the Town Car.

[towncar95]

thanks dave lots of people tell me that :):):)
well i got the window on track again tonite.
it was glued in with silicon to two small plastic
holders. next the air then the TOWNCAR FOR DAVE !!!

[Steve Moran]

I hate to say it but the parts store is messing with you or something is wrong. you do ny shim a pully or an alternator. I would love to see what he put on the invoice.
Even with removing shims????????/ Whatever.
He should have only have been removing a nut and a pully. the rest can not move at all. I would love to read this invoice.
You got the right alternator or the wrong alternator, it is a clean cut deal, you need no "shims" to install any alternator, and the pulley needs only a small spacer to keep the pulley from rubbing the housing, if it took any more then that it is wrong.
I think the service station screwed you with the info I have gotten from you.
Go to the parts store, face them head on and if they pan out then the service station is messing with you.
I bet it is the service station because you should have not seen a bill for a third of what you did for what they say was wrong, and I really think it is the station.



I hate this crap!!!!!!AAAAAUUUUHHHHHH!


I see a court case in your future.

[MichiganTeddyBear]

After my past experiences with part stores alts and starters, and my recent experience with locally re-built alt, (the place does starters too), I am NOT buying another one from a store. The local rebuilder will get my business... and they are cheaper too!

best part is, I dropped it off on my way to work at about 8:30 am, it was done by noon, and they even left it outside the store hidden behind a bush so I could pick it up after work (I get out after they close). I did of course pay in advance, that helped that out a lot.

Just looking at the starters and alts on the shelf behind the counter makes you wonder what monsterous engines some of that stuff comes off of... some of the starters where around 12-16 inches long, and 8 or more in dia!~!!! them starters looked to have more power than my little ole 3.8.... if the diesel/tractor mechanics are using these guys, they are good enough for me. When your livelyhood depends on the tool (truck/tractor/fishing boat, ect) working, and they put their trust into this place for repair/rebuilding, it says a lot in my book.

[towncar95]

steve
i went and asked the station again. the guy that called to tell me to pick up the car told me that. but what it was when i asked again is that the pulley was on backwards. the higher edge part was towards the fender and the lower edge of the pulley was towards the alternator. the owner told me that. the cost was $75 labor $44 for the belt.

[Steve Moran]

$75 to remove 1 nut, 1 washer, and what ever spacer was used,flip the pully around and reinstall the nut, washer, and belt.
I am in the wrong line of work.:(
At that amount, I am going to say they must normally charge $100 per hour shop rate.

I guess I should not think so badly about shops, I do my own work and after while I guess I forget what could be a fair price to do work.
I'd still soil my pants if I had to pay someone that much to do that job.

[towncar95]

yeah i know its alot. you know i do most of my own work too.
just that it was at work and that was that. well the price they charge for labor in north new jersery is im going to say $85 to $95 an hour. i have seen dealers charge up to $110.