Need tips, new mazda mx3 GS

[Ryan]

shop labour is only $70/hr here....


I agree, sounds like a rip.

[Newfie_dan]

almost all shops I encountered in alberta are a rip lol. I personally went around and tested them by messing up my vehicle on purpose and got several out to lunch diagnosis before I hit an honest shop out of some 20 shops I tested. He got all my work that I could not do myself and other people who wanted an honest mechanic. If you live in calgary his name is Dwight and runs a place called "our mechanic" on edmonton trail. You won't go wrong with him.

[wytbishop]

Well a family friend not familiar with the car probably took more than a full day to do it. The fact that a family friend charged you that much would lead me to reduce my number of family friends by about 1.

If you need a hand or tips, I'm around. I'm pretty busy trying to get my own stuff done but if I can help I will. What part of Edmonton are you in?

[NateBaden]

yea thats what they said it would be around but it cost them 700 for the core, they showed us the receipt from them ordering it, so i think that the place they had to order it from way over charged them and it took 4 days for it to finally arrive

[Tollis]

That does seem like alot. Most things are easier than you think eBay a manual or something and do it yourself everyone on here is more than willing to help if you encounter a snag.

[Newfie_dan]

let me get this straight they charged you $700 for the heater core? Thats f**king nuts, its nowhere near that cost for the heater core unless they overnighted one from the middle of butt f**k nowhere.

[mikeinaus]

i just did a bit of googling and i found heatercores for the mx3 that go for around $100. getting them retail i can see costing upwards of $250 knowing the markup on other parts. $700 on the other hand sounds like a complete rip thow. its not like there made of gold or anything.

id highly suggest finding a cheaper mechanic. keep business and personal life separate. its never good to pay friends to do work for you unless there giving you a really good deal. its just better that way if something goes wrong.

[Newfie_dan]

I can get them locally for anywhere between 60 to 85 bucks and thats without my discount.

[wytbishop]

I looked into this as well and here's what I've found. There are reproduction heater cores out there for $60 and up, but...there are 2 heater cores for the MX-3. 4cyl cores have both fittings stright and the 6cyl heater core (the one he bought) has one tube bent to match the routing of the hose. I called my delaer and in fact the gs heater core is $638 from my mazda dealer. I have not yet seen an aftermarket core with the bent fitting and I've been looking.

So the moral of the story is...if you need a new heater core either buy a cheap one and modify the fitting or remove your old one andd have it repaired at a rad shop.

[NateBaden]

Well a family friend not familiar with the car probably took more than a full day to do it. The fact that a family friend charged you that much would lead me to reduce my number of family friends by about 1.

If you need a hand or tips, I'm around. I'm pretty busy trying to get my own stuff done but if I can help I will. What part of Edmonton are you in?

i am in north east, the clareview area

[SuperK]

nate if you need a chiltons manual I have one if you need one. check out my for sale thread in my signature.