Expensive "throttle body" cleaning?

XxKathyxX

Hi I have a golf tdi, 2010. Last week, the engine stopped. I wasnt sure why and i dont know anything about cars so i brought it to the nearest garage. The man said to leave it with him for an hour. I came back and he said he solved the problem, by cleaning the "throttle body". I have no idea what that is but it cost me €200. I have the receipt saying thats all that was done too. He said if it happens again i might have a crack in the carberator(whatever that is).

Yestersday the car konked out again. I told a friend and he said i got ripped off with the cleaning. And that the first mechanic didnt do it properly and he'd do it again but only charge me €100. Is there anyway i can get money back from the first mechanic?

What is the normal rate for that job on a car like mine?

Anan1

Are you sure he said carburettor? Because your car doesn't have one.

Renegade Mechanic

Id take a guess and say, being a diesel, it doesnt have a throttle body (flap, at least) either? Carburettor? Is that genuinely what he said?

XxKathyxX

Yes I have a receipt for "throttle body cleaning". And written is "possible Carberator crack". He said to ring if it happens agian and hell order a new one in.

corkgsxr

Mm id say he cleaned ya out alright.

The issue is probably your fusion reactor acting up. Drop it up and ill fix it for 450

dmc17

corkgsxr wrote: »

Mm id say he cleaned ya out alright.

The issue is probably your fusion reactor acting up. Drop it up and ill fix it for 450

450? That's crazy. Drop it to me and I'll do it for 550.

corkgsxr

:rolleyes:

dmc17 wrote: »

450? That's crazy. Drop it to me and I'll do it for 550.

Im cheap as chips. Ill even throw in a left falangy service.

dmc17

XxKathyxX wrote: »

Hi I have a golf tdi, 2010. Last week, the engine stopped. I wasnt sure why and i dont know anything about cars so i brought it to the nearest garage. The man said to leave it with him for an hour. I came back and he said he solved the problem, by cleaning the "throttle body". I have no idea what that is but it cost me €200. I have the receipt saying thats all that was done too. He said if it happens again i might have a crack in the carberator(whatever that is).

Yestersday the car konked out again. I told a friend and he said i got ripped off with the cleaning. And that the first mechanic didnt do it properly and he'd do it again but only charge me €100. Is there anyway i can get money back from the first mechanic?

What is the normal rate for that job on a car like mine?

Probably not the best idea to bring it to the "nearest garage". Are there any reputable mechanics near you that you could use. Find out the actual problem and get your money back from the other cowboy.

Renegade Mechanic

Both of you are talking sh*te! :mad: for 550 Ill do all that AND grease the exhaust bearings!

dmc17

corkgsxr wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Im cheap as chips. Ill even throw in a left falangy service.

I won't ask what that involves :pac:

corkgsxr

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Both of you are talking sh*te! :mad: for 550 Ill do all that AND grease the exhaust bearings!

Cowboy there a sealed bearing. Replace is the proper way

Renegade Mechanic

XxKathyxX wrote: »

Yes I have a receipt for "throttle body cleaning". And written is "possible Carberator crack". He said to ring if it happens agian and hell order a new one in.

Ok Ill sober up for this one
Youre being had. Not only would a carburettor never ever work on a diesel, they went obsolete on petrol cars twenty years ago. Get someone car savvy and confident and put that chancer in his place. Arse holes like him are what give the rest of us terrible names! :mad:

Renegade Mechanic

corkgsxr wrote: »

Cowboy there a sealed bearing. Replace is the proper way

Theyre only sealed on the cars fitted with particle filled exhausts to stop the steam from damaging the grease.

XxKathyxX

So what are ye saying? He didnt clean it right? What will i ask the next mechanic to do?

Celly Smunt

XxKathyxX wrote: »

So what are ye saying? He didnt clean it right? What will i ask the next mechanic to do?

In not so kind words tell him to go fuck himself and bring your car elsewhere.He is a chancer and I would go far enough to say cowboy as well.

dieselbug

If you're telling this accurately and not p**staking, the first mechanic screwed you and the second is planning to at half price.

Renegade Mechanic

Agreed with Celly. Bring someone back to him with that reciept too and get your money back. Carburettor.... Anyway 2010? Wouldnt that be in warranty still?

dmc17

XxKathyxX wrote: »

So what are ye saying? He didnt clean it right? What will i ask the next mechanic to do?

He didn't clean it and made up stuff that doesn't exist and then charged you for it. Ask your next mechanic to diagnose the problem and get a quote for fixing it before it is done. Do you know anyone who is knowledgeable with cars?

ml100

Kathy, if you don't know cars take it to a VW main dealer, less chance of being ripped off, I don't know where you are located, I use Sheehy's they are in Naas and Carlow, I find them good.

XxKathyxX

dmc17 wrote: »

He didn't clean it and made up stuff that doesn't exist and then charged you for it. Ask your next mechanic to diagnose the problem and get a quote for fixing it before it is done. Do you know anyone who is knowledgeable with cars?

:eek: What the hell. How could someone do that!

dmc17

XxKathyxX wrote: »

:eek: What the hell. How could someone do that!

Sometimes these things happen in the real world. Does he even exist?

biko

A throttle body clean will take maybe 10/20 mins when still on engine, a bit longer if removed first. No way it would cost 200, more like 30/50ish.
You need a better mechanic, and you need to go back with a friend that knows cars and ask wtf he was at.

Voodoomelon

This is the most shocking piece of rip-off work that's been posted on here in years. Woeful stuff to say and charge.

ford jedi

just to clear something up,, is your car petrol or diesel? and what year is it ,?
because there,s not a hope in hell could ye pull 200 lids out of someone for cleaning a throttle body and not
ending up on crime line, just in case u may have picked him up wrong and ur car is actually ancient.

ford jedi

sometimes we would be lucky to get the price of the can of carb cleaner from a customer for doin that job:eek:

eringobragh

XxKathyxX wrote: »

Yes I have a receipt for "throttle body cleaning". And written is "possible Carberator crack". He said to ring if it happens agian and hell order a new one in.

Shocking stuff - Post up a pic of that receipt please

mickdw

Im thinking the OP has an FSI golf.
Surely if a garage was bent enough to charge for throttle body clean on a diesel, they wouldnt be stupid enough to put it on a receipt.

Edit: after reading again, if they actually went on about possible carb crack, well, its an out and out scam

Ronnie Beck

Could it be they cleaned the anti-shudder valve and it may have a cracked actuator .

Celly Smunt

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

Could it be they cleaned the anti-shudder valve and it may have a cracked actuator .

It must take a really shit mechanic to misdiagnose 2 completely different parts on 2 completely different engines so.

Ronnie Beck

Celly Smunt wrote: »

It must take a really shit mechanic to misdiagnose 2 completely different parts on 2 completely different engines so.

The "throttle body" on a tdi is called an anti-shudder valve. The mechanic may have cleaned it and mentioned that it may have a cracked actuator, sounds and writes a bit like carburetor. I don't know why someone trying to con someone would bill them for parts that don't go on their car. The only misunderstanding I can think off.

An actuator is the motor that controls the valve.

ford jedi

i think id be goin with ronnie beck on this one ,

_Kaiser_

Ah give her (the OP) a break lads..

Most people don't know very much about cars in general, never mind mechanically or whether what they've been told/billed for is actually the case. Even more so cause you can't exactly stand there and watch them work on your car.

Not everyone knows or has access to a "trusted indie" either, nor do they have the skills (or money!) needed to properly service the rolling computers with proprietary parts that is the modern car.

All the jokes in the first half of this thread are a bit unfair to be honest.

_Kaiser_

ml100 wrote: »

Kathy, if you don't know cars take it to a VW main dealer, less chance of being ripped off, I don't know where you are located, I use Sheehy's they are in Naas and Carlow, I find them good.

This is probably your best bet OP.

I can already hear the cries of "Sucker!" from certain corners here but I'd refer those to my previous post.

Anan1

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Ah give her (the OP) a break lads..

Most people don't know very much about cars in general, never mind mechanically or whether what they've been told/billed for is actually the case. Even more so cause you can't exactly stand there and watch them work on your car.

Not everyone knows or has access to a "trusted indie" either, nor do they have the skills (or money!) needed to properly service the rolling computers with proprietary parts that is the modern car.

All the jokes in the first half of this thread are a bit unfair to be honest.

Have a read through the OP's other posts.

_Kaiser_

Anan1 wrote: »

Have a read through the OP's other posts.

Hmmm...