DO i have to cut my losses if my mechanic did'nt do his job?

Last month i took my car in just to get A/C service for $29.95 plus freon, but when i picked up my car the bill came out to $230 they gave me a receipt stateing all they did and my intentions were for my A/C to be fixed. IT worked now all of a sudden it's not working i took it back into to the same mechanic and he says theres a leak and for labor plus the part it will cost me $170. Should'nt the job have been done right the first time? What can i do can i get my money back since my A/C is not fixed????
DO i have to cut my losses if my mechanic did'nt do his job?
First thing you have to realize about auto diagnostics and repair is that - they are educated guessing game. The better the mechanic the better he will guess.





So there will be times when he will fix something and it will not be the correct fix. But if a mechanic HAD TO (by law??) guaranteed the fix will be correct the first time - he will give a laundry list and cost even more.





This is why many people keep buy new cars. To control their repair bills.


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In your case it is a slightly different case. If the mechanics told you that there's a leak the first time, it would have still cost additional $170 (the first time - for a total of $230 + $170). The fact that he didn't find a leak does NOT mean he didn't do his job. Sometime leaks are so small it takes day for it to happen.





Sorry to disappoint - but I hope you understand auto mechanics better next time.








Good Luck...
DO i have to cut my losses if my mechanic did'nt do his job?
Automotive problems like this are the most difficult kind of problems to remedy. If the receipt says they found and repaired a leak of some sort they should have retested, taking some extra amount of care to make sure it was. At least a good wrench would. Sure, something else could have let go a day later, especially if it's an older vehicle with over 100k on the clock.





I took my old truck in to get the A/C recharged and a switch fixed. It cost $35. A day later it quit working again. I took it to a different shop that fixed it for $400. It's been working ever since! Your getting off a little better, I'd say.
Reply:I would have to know how long the A/C worked the first time it was fixed. if it only lasted a day or two then he should nor charge again because that means he never fixed. But if the a/c worked for let's say over a week and there is a leak i would say that some other part of the system developed a leak and you just have to pay to get it fixed. And like the other person answered this is why people keep buying new cars because repairs are expensive and a hassle.
Reply:You can't really do anything to get your money back, unfortunately. The A/C was legally "fixed" when you left the shop if it worked when you drove out of the lot.





Your only real recourse is to take the car somewhere else next time and inform the shop who fixed the A/C the first time that they've lost your business in the future for not fixing your car to your satisfaction.





Keep in mind that there are several reasons why an A/C system can leak. It IS possible that the 1st shop didn't find all the leaks (or any of the leaks...) and just recharged the system to make it work for a short period of time to get you out the door. But it is also possible that the cause of your current leak wasn't the cause of your previous leak - meaning that the shop did nothing "wrong" techincally, something else just started leaking after the system was recharged and the new leak drained all the coolant from the system, rendering it inoperative again for a different reason.
Reply:most places by law have to approve extended or extra cost repairs on a vehicle. I would deal with that then the second problem (your leak) wouldnt have been a problem.
Reply:Ciara-





The first person who told you its an educated guessing game is DEAD WRONG! In the trade we call that "Shotgun Diagnosis," not only is that expensive, but it rarely solves the base issue.





Been doing this for a few years. Part of what has happened is that you have been taken advantage of, and the second part of what had happened is the monkey wrench doing the job did not do all of his diagnosis properly. That in itself is nothing more than sheer lazyness, and that is the crap that has given this industry such a poor image.





Just an FYI, if you still have the receipt from the initial repair, he may be required to cover the repeat problem under warranty being the repair is a month or so old. Depending on the state you live in you need to check with your local Bureau of Automotive Repair and find out what your rights are.





If your A/C system was not operational when you brought your vehicle in for the inital repair, there was already a leak present in the system. If he had done the procedure for A/C System Vacuum Testing correctly, he would have been able to tell you there was a leak and it needed to be repaired before charging the system with refrigerant.





Also depending on the year of your vehicle, they no longer use Freon, and as I understand it here in California, the R-12 Systems must now be converted to the R-134A Gas.





Anyhow, back on track here.





When any of our customers come into our shop, they are automatically informed their vehicle will need to be left for the day. If they come in late in the afternoon they are scheduled for the following morning.





The A/C System must hold a "0" vacuum for up to 4 hours to test the integrity of the seals and hoses in the system. This checks for leaks at the compressor, the hose seals, hose connectors, hoses, evaporator connectors, condensor connectors, accumulator connectors, and the valve stem fittings. All of this must be checked for leaks.





The reason is because the R-134A Gas Molecules are smaller in size than the old R-12 Gas. The new gas can find a leak anywhere, and when it does it tells all of its buddies "Hey Guys Follow Me!"





Now there are two routes you can go since Jiffy Jack's Lube Shack screwed up. Personally, I would take it to an alternate shop or your vehicles Dealership Service Department. Then through the Bureau of Automotive Repair file your claim with all of the first shop's paperwork, and the Dealership's paperwork, and let the Bureau handle getting your compensation. Let them do this DO NOT get involved in this process.





This is the best way to handle this situation. Personally I have worked in the private shops before working for Chevrolet. Let me say this, the private shops are good for Oil Changes, Tire Rotation, Tune-Up, Coolant System Services, Transmission Fluid Service, and most of the time Brakes. Anything more than that, and I would let the dealership service departments deal with it.





Just as a note, my own personal vehicles only get serviced by myself or my dealership. I no longer let the private shops work on my cars. Even after the warranty has expired. Basically, I am willing to pay more for piece of mind that my car is more than likely going to get fixed the first time properly.





I hope I was able to help you out. But you really need to know what your rights really are. Check it out! Good Luck!