Top of the Afternoon to you all!

Took my truck in to get the driver's side window repaired. The switch had been funky for a couple of years, only working if you pressed it hard at a certain angle, until it broke completely 4 months ago (with the window up, thank goodness). Also wanted them to repair the tailgate latch. I'd been happy with this shop in the past, and gave them authorization to go to $700 based on the estimate of the likely problems when I left the truck overnight, so they wouldn't have to track me down in the morning before starting the repairs. Just get it done.

When they called me in the afternoon to come get the truck, they told me that the tailgate didn't need any of the parts that we'd figured, that part of the repair was $90. They spent the rest of the almost $700 on the window, saying that the switch tested out OK but that the window motor needed replacement. OK. Then they said that as they tested it after replacing the motor, that the switch was only working intermittently (the problem it had had for years...) and they then had to replace the switch. Did the motor need to be replaced, or is it their testing equipment that needs replacing? Whatever. Paid up and went home. When I get home I found that the door locks didn't work. Damn. Called and told them. Service writer said bring it back in the morning and he'd have them fix it in a few minutes, likely a wire had not been reconnected.

A couple of hours into the quick fix and they said there was nothing wrong with the door lock switch, it was the actuators that were bad, and needed to be replaced. We went a few rounds on that the locks had worked when I gave it to them, and didn't work after they disassembled the door. Said it wasn't their fault.

"So the door locks would have broken yesterday even if you'd not touched the door?"

"Things break on cars on any given day at any given time. Customers often complain that the car comes back with a new problem even though it had nothing to do with the repair that we did".

OK, Yes, but, this new problem is on a part/system that you DID work on. The door lock switch being 1/2 inch from the window switch in the same armrest control panel. Had to be disconnected to remove the door panel for the window motor repair, and switch replacement. The actuator is only a few inches from the window motor. They "spilled" something in the work they did. And how did the lock and switch on the Passenger door stop working at the same time. The switches are interconnected to unlock both doors from either switch. Had to be something in the system that got "irritated" when they did the door repair. They said that it wasn't the switches or the "system" but that the lock actuators had become too weak to function, it's a 17yo truck.

Both sides, at the same time? The window motor and switch on the passenger door had not failed at the same time as the driver's door... Have you ever blown two balding tires at the same time? Unless there was some outside force, nail, road condition, whatever, to damage them at the same time. How on earth did both door lock actuators fail at the same time without some encouragement from outside action?

They'd have to replace both door's actuators to get the locking system to function again. I said I didn't mind paying for the parts: I'd have the benefit of new parts... but that they should cut me a break on the labor, as it was an issue that arose from they work they had done on the truck door. Nope, charged me full "book" price, minus they did deign to give me a 15% fleet discount. $385. Almost $1,000 to repair a broken power window...

So, am I out of line thinking I've been taken to the cleaners?

I'm trying to figure out what excuse there might be that they didn't screw me. I agree that cars just break whenever. I know a battery will start the car on the way to the supermarket and be totally dead when you come out. Good on that concept. What I want to know is: did they somehow damage the locking system in testing the electrical for the window? Power surge of some sort? Same for disconnecting the door panel. Too much, too little, just different current in the action of unplugging and reconnection the electrical connector in the door panel? That, and how did parts PAST the switch both get damaged or fail at the same time from an electrical happenstance. Somehow not a likely suspect, I'm guessing.

Did they somehow bump or damage the actuator in the driver's door while replacing the window motor? Makes sense that this could happen. To me, the likely cause of the situation. Passenger door actuator now becomes a problem as the system needs to be balanced to function properly? If you replace one damaged actuator, both have to be done?

Am I wrong in only wanting to pay for the parts (even the $170 for the pair they charged, when the parts store has them for $100) and not the labor and Resort Fees, whoops, I mean $10 "Shop Supplies" charge? I thought "book" labor was set up to include that on some jobs *stuff* happens that requires extra time to repair. That's why you get charged 3 hours labor for some given repair, when the car was only physically in the shop for 2 hours. It all averages out over time.

Please, someone who knows the car repair business, talk me off the ceiling. Tell me why my feelings are out of whack with reality. I had really liked this shop, and don't want to go searching for another mechanic again.

Steve