Got my car back..., along with a bendover bill Options

[william1764]

prolly broke the 1/r gears that hang off the back kinda not supported at all

??

[seebobgo]

You were ripped off. It wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. Dry up those tears and move the F**K on. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)

[william1764]

You were ripped off. It wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. Dry up those tears and move the F**K on. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)

thanks for your advice

[carr914]

You were ripped off. It wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. Dry up those tears and move the F**K on. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)

Dude, the poor guy just wants to get his car running right. WTF is up your arse

[charliew]

I would think that you are getting trash in the carbs probably from the tank. If it's got a in-line filter you could take it off and tap it on a paper towel and see what comes out.

[Gint]

You've got a plugged idle jet or two or three. No big deal. It's pretty common to have to clean them out a few times after a carb rebuild. Find a/some local teener(s) and get some help. Food and beer will usually get 'er done. You simply don't have to spend thousands to get a 914 running decent so you can drive and enjoy the car. Forget about the stupid arrogant ass "mechanic" IMHO. You learned a lesson. Time to get some help and move on.

[VaccaRabite]

If you want to make it to ECC, PM me and we will plan a work afternoon. We WILL get your functional. I have the exhaust gaskets you need, you can have them free. Just let me know what your schedule is and we will be able to make this work.

I started working on these cars knowing nothing. I learned by doing, getting help, and asking a ton of questions. So will you. But, I was a poor grad student, so shops were not an option - I had to learn it.

Zach

[william1764]

You've got a plugged idle jet or two or three. No big deal. It's pretty common to have to clean them out a few times after a carb rebuild. Find a/some local teener(s) and get some help. Food and beer will usually get 'er done. You simply don't have to spend thousands to get a 914 running decent so you can drive and enjoy the car. Forget about the stupid arrogant ass "mechanic" IMHO. You learned a lesson. Time to get some help and move on.

Gint - all makes sense and i'll also pull the in-line filter as suggested by charlie...that I should be capable of. The tank was pulled to replace the fuel pump - possibly stirred up some trash? Will definatley get some help with the carbs with the intent of learning how to handle myself in the future.

[william1764]

If you want to make it to ECC, PM me and we will plan a work afternoon. We WILL get your functional. I have the exhaust gaskets you need, you can have them free. Just let me know what your schedule is and we will be able to make this work.

I started working on these cars knowing nothing. I learned by doing, getting help, and asking a ton of questions. So will you. But, I was a poor grad student, so shops were not an option - I had to learn it.

Zach

that’s extremely generous zach - thank you much. i don't want you to jump thru hoops given that ecc is a couple weeks away and i'm not even sure i can attend yet. given how poorly she ran tonight I'm hoping the local 914'r that emailed me today will be able to help with carbs so she'll at least be drivable...not sure she'd make it to PA in current condition.

as far as the gaskets go, I have all gaskets including brass nuts which I just received from AA. however, that isn't a necessity for me to make ecc like the carbs are. i'll pm you tomorrow after i find out what if any help i have local. again, i really appreciate the offer and the overall support of this site - i'd be really lost without it.

[type47]

norustscott lives in Sykesville and is a very knowledgible mechanic type. I can't volunteer his time but he probably could be contacted and maybe help out. He has a classic bug besides his 914. He works on his brothers 944 too.

[william1764]

norustscott lives in Sykesville and is a very knowledgible mechanic type. I can't volunteer his time but he probably could be contacted and maybe help out. He has a classic bug besides his 914. He works on his brothers 944 too.

type47. Thats funny - he's the local I was referring too. He reached out to me on his own yesterday. I hope we're able to get together. tx

[Mark Henry]

Not making light of your problem, but you either have to turn your own wrenches or have deep pockets to afford a classic car habit these days.

[ChrisFoley]

Bill,
I just have to add this little teaser:
You probably could have driven the 914 up here, rented a car and a room on the shoreline for a few days while we took care of your service list, then picked up the 914 and driven it home for about what you spent at BEHE. Not 3 weeks and not a $3K bill.
We stock Weber rebuild kits. We stock 914 caliper rebuild kits. We stock Carter fuel pumps. Etc.
However, I wouldn't have give you a written estimate either - too many unknowns with a 36 year old car - and we inspected it for you.

Its a shame your first shop experience with your 914 turned out badly but I don't think you'll get any satisfaction pursuing them for a refund or retribution. I'm sure they tried in good faith to accomplish what you asked them to do. The owner chose to bill you for 100% of his tech's posted time even though it's excessive by experienced teeners' standards. He doesn't particularly care about retaining you as a customer and if you do go back he'll certainly do it again.
Its just a fact that very few people in the auto repair business are familiar enough with 914s to work on them effectively and efficiently. These cars really need to be worked on by people specifically familiar with them or such overcharges (and incomplete or incorrect service) will occur.

[Steve]

Interesting... I have taken my car to Otto's and Hergesheimer's here in Southern Cal and they always give me estimates. They also have my cell phone number and have always called with the unexpected horror story's and asked what I want to do. I thought this was standard practice. I know there not the cheapest, but they know our cars and I trust there work. They both have also given me a break on labor at times, because I wasn't in a hurry to get it back.

[yeahmag]

I use to work for Best Foreign Car in Severna Park. While Joe and I had our differences he's pretty fair. I think the shop moved, but someone here might know where he is now. There is also Peek Performance.

I do think it's something simple like an idle jet though...

[PeeGreen 914]

Interesting... I have taken my car to Otto's and Hergesheimer's here in Southern Cal and they always give me estimates. They also have my cell phone number and have always called with the unexpected horror story's and asked what I want to do. I thought this was standard practice. I know there not the cheapest, but they know our cars and I trust there work. They both have also given me a break on labor at times, because I wasn't in a hurry to get it back.

Otto has been working on 914 since they came out. I would venture to say you could drive up to his shop and he could tell you what is wrong. Easy to give a written quote with those factors working for you.

[william1764]

Bill,
I just have to add this little teaser:
You probably could have driven the 914 up here, rented a car and a room on the shoreline for a few days while we took care of your service list, then picked up the 914 and driven it home for about what you spent at BEHE. Not 3 weeks and not a $3K bill.
We stock Weber rebuild kits. We stock 914 caliper rebuild kits. We stock Carter fuel pumps. Etc.
However, I wouldn't have give you a written estimate either - too many unknowns with a 36 year old car - and we inspected it for you.

Its a shame your first shop experience with your 914 turned out badly but I don't think you'll get any satisfaction pursuing them for a refund or retribution. I'm sure they tried in good faith to accomplish what you asked them to do. The owner chose to bill you for 100% of his tech's posted time even though it's excessive by experienced teeners' standards. He doesn't particularly care about retaining you as a customer and if you do go back he'll certainly do it again.
Its just a fact that very few people in the auto repair business are familiar enough with 914s to work on them effectively and efficiently. These cars really need to be worked on by people specifically familiar with them or such overcharges (and incomplete or incorrect service) will occur.

Hi Chris - Had the seller been willing to keep the car at your place after the PPI this is what I wanted to do...have you take care of these issues. It became too much of a challenge given I had to pick the car up in Newport. Man I wish things had worked out differently.

I agree with your assesment regarding the shop. Not criminal or anything...just bad business. He's clearly not interested in me as a customer or he wouldn't feel comfortable charging me double his verbal quote without so much as a phone call...he chalks it up as poor communication on his part. Anyway - lesson learned...not going to pay someone to learn on my car ever again!

[crash914]

Hey, let me know if you go over to Sykesville...it is only a couple of miles from me...

I have at least one car worth of spare parts in the garage also...gaskets, fuel pump, etc.....

hell, have Zach meet you here at my place....I am not really up on carbs, but can handle all of the fuel injection stuff....

We can get you running in a very short time...hours i would guess.

You might want to do some video tape of the before and after runability if you do have to go to court.....

[william1764]

Hey, let me know if you go over to Sykesville...it is only a couple of miles from me...

I have at least one car worth of spare parts in the garage also...gaskets, fuel pump, etc.....

hell, have Zach meet you here at my place....I am not really up on carbs, but can handle all of the fuel injection stuff....

We can get you running in a very short time...hours i would guess.

You might want to do some video tape of the before and after runability if you do have to go to court.....

appreciate it crash. we may be getting together monday in sykesville...will let you know.

[JTarver]

William, I agree you should try to get your car fixed asap, however...you should take video evidence of the problems prior to doing any real work to show in court if it goes that far..otherwise, it might backfire (no pun intended) on you. With video documentation, multiple estimates from qualified shops for the same work done, and also diagnoses of current and the unfixed problems that shouldve been handled at the time of work.

Get your car fixed by all means, but not before you arm yourself for a battle, if you really want to try and be compensated. Or chalk it up to experience and move on. That's just usually not my way if there's 3 grand in the crapper over it. He should've called you when a certain money mark was hit, or if he knew ( and he had to have known before he "fixed" it) it was gonna hit the thousands mark.
Just my two cents.
Joe