Thread: Rip off of the week

Originally Posted by woods223

If you worked in the automotive/mechanical trade long enough you’d know what the markup’s are like. 8.50 sounds a bit cheap for a pulley bearing. As @blip says, how long would you stay solvent doing 8.50 bearings taking into account overheads etc.

You guys are assuming way too much here

Originally Posted by blip

How long would you stay in buisness doing idler pulleys for $8.10

Probably a very long time as everyone would come and support you, and because they wern't getting ripped off they would buy heaps more stuff from you.

People are ripping you off for phone chargers as well. Ask a mate in the fire department how good the cheap ones are

Got quoted $2000 to replace water pump and cambelt on the corolla today....off to the wreckers it will go.

What engine is in the corrola

1800 sits crossways.front wheel drive automatic.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Got quoted $2000 to replace water pump and cambelt on the corolla today....off to the wreckers it will go.

Its sad when a couple of repairs can spell the end of a good car because of the outragous prices charged to fix it.

If you put a good quality pump in it last time you might get away without doing the pump. Only used to do mine and the kids when they leaked( taught them to regularly check oil and water) if its driven off cambelt different story tho.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Got quoted $2000 to replace water pump and cambelt on the corolla today....off to the wreckers it will go.

Man doesn't need those bills just before Xmas.Good luck with yr new purchase MD.

Look at partsouq for parts.
Typically Toyota parts are 40% of what Toyota NZ charge, and they are here inside a week.

I'm all about supporting local businesses,but TNZ take the piss a but much for this guy.

why so dear mickey do you know??

You only normally need to do water pump, cam seals and maybe crank seal while yr in there.

Cam belt , tensioner, pump, seals. Oil and filters

There isnt 2 k in that sorry.

Those water pumps aren't even that difficult, a fair bit of farting about getting to them though.

Those bearings in the idler pulleys are a classic, I've done a heap on marine engines and used the higher spec bearing than what comes in the OEM idler kit. Last a lot longer, run quieter and the belts last longer and the bearings are usually sub $20 for the pair. Marine parts chargers would make an automotive parts person blush, they are just off the planet. I suspect they have the idea that they are part of SpaceX or somesuch, not a marine engine parts crowd. The other one is replacing OEM-supplied belts with the nearest same-spec industrial power transfer spec belt. Half the price, four times the quality and usually the difference is about 6mm of length (automotive and engine suppliers usually spec stupid sizes like 897mm instead of 890 or 910). The smaller belt usually squashes on and works perfectly, lasts longer, runs smoother and doesn't come with manufacturer tax.

Originally Posted by gonetropo

you guys have never had the misfortune to work on a tesla, no info, no spares and total junk.

I think Elon Musk is accumulating his wealth more via the Spaceship and Starlink projects. The Chinese EV's are apparently able to give the Tesla's a run for their money. Depends if they can get them in after the proposed tariffs. Not stupid to back DT eh. LOL. GM are abandoning their robocabs.

If you have the time and patience , you could put the car on trademe or facebook marketplace.
A mechanic would pick that up and do the work , put his trade to good use and fix it and then keep it or flick it off at a profit.
Pity you are not closer, I would do the cambelt and other work as not hard to do.
You will probably get more money if you sold it on face book or trade me as needing work but like I said , you need a bit of patience and time to deal with the idiots.
(not saying you dont have patience)

Did a job today. Guy reconed the rip off mechanics were charging to much for a crank angle sensor so he went and got a cheap sensor off the internet and did the job himself cause he was getting ripped off. Bought it in still running worse than before he saved money fixing it himself. Turns out he didnt put it in properly it fuked the sensor and the pickup behind the crank pulley so yea now he has to get a rip off mechanic to do it properly and use the proper sensor...