I think Audi of SM bent me over

[Can_I_Haz?]

Just had a map sensor replaced and TB cleaning (recommended by them)and they billed me 120 parts (reasonable since I can source it for ~30 less plus dealer markup) and 550 labor. Car was in for a day. Dropped it off late and picked it up after work.
The receipts don't show rates. Just a big fat 550 labor

Did I just get bent over on labor?

[infinkc]

Yea map sensors are 2 bolts each, super simple to replace. Maybe 10minute job.

What is this tb cleaning? Was it like some BG injection cleaning?

550 is way too much for labor.

[Mr.Tan]

yeah, you got charged a lot. But you have to remember, dealerships bill by the hours listed in the "books" . Something might take 10 minute to do, but because the book says its a 2 hour job; they bill for it. Its how they make their money

[Tangerined]

I got that TB cleaning done at the dealership before, they charged me $200 something for it.

[chaos2984]

well what is your labor rate out there? Im going to guess in the low to mid 100's What did you go in for? You can't just say i had this and this replaced without the whole story. The TB cleaning was probably 1 hour worth of labor. but as far for the map sensors I would say just to replace with with no diag or anything about .8 hours.

[SwankP3RF3ct10n]

Don't forget they probably also spent some time looking at everything else on their bs checklist of junk to check on the car at the same time. Some dealers do this and pretend it's required so that they have the checklist done and if you were to come back after and said something was broken or whatever, they'd give you the checklist stating that everything was fine or whatever when they looked at it for safety reasons. In actuality, it's so they can charge you some more time to look at stuff that you didn't tell them to check. lol

Throttle body is 4 bolts, then spray spray and wipe and put it back on. The intake hose has to be taken off and if done right, just the hose from the box to the tb needs to be taken off and this can usually be done without having to take the front radiator shroud off to get the front scoop off. Depends on how they did it. Either way, with just that hose between box and tb off, it's 30 min tops. An hour is you play hot potato with the tb as you're taking it off the car. lol

[bberg22]

Don't forget they probably also spent some time looking at everything else on their bs checklist of junk to check on the car at the same time. Some dealers do this and pretend it's required so that they have the checklist done and if you were to come back after and said something was broken or whatever, they'd give you the checklist stating that everything was fine or whatever when they looked at it for safety reasons. In actuality, it's so they can charge you some more time to look at stuff that you didn't tell them to check. lol

That is if they actually check. I'm not sure there is much incentive for the tech to actually check. I have caught techs at multiple dealers across different brands faking the check sheet, its usually pretty obvious when they tell you the tires and brakes are at a different depth than you measured, and saying you need things that you just replaced, etc. Not confidence inspiring.

[Thurston]

what is a TB cleaning? throttle body? is this like the new carbon cleaning for our cars?

[scottycs]

TB cleaning is spraying some carb cleaner on a rag and wiping it for 30 seconds.

[esimp2k]

Don't forget they probably also spent some time looking at everything else on their bs checklist of junk to check on the car at the same time. Some dealers do this and pretend it's required so that they have the checklist done and if you were to come back after and said something was broken or whatever, they'd give you the checklist stating that everything was fine or whatever when they looked at it for safety reasons. In actuality, it's so they can charge you some more time to look at stuff that you didn't tell them to check. lol

Throttle body is 4 bolts, then spray spray and wipe and put it back on. The intake hose has to be taken off and if done right, just the hose from the box to the tb needs to be taken off and this can usually be done without having to take the front radiator shroud off to get the front scoop off. Depends on how they did it. Either way, with just that hose between box and tb off, it's 30 min tops. An hour is you play hot potato with the tb as you're taking it off the car. lol

Hold your horses! Is this swank reincarnated??!!


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[KnewJack]

what is a TB cleaning? throttle body? is this like the new carbon cleaning for our cars?

It's a money maker.

If you wait for the car they generally have in done in about 20 min then do the little safety checks, then let the car sit back there for a while cause if they bring it up too fast people would complain about the labor. I used to have to do it all the time at a shop I worked at. It was a job that was sold because it's easy money. Took all of 10 minute but you can charge an hour+. I never do dealers unless it's warranty or something very specialized. It's right up there with power steering flush, suck out and refill, then charge an hour.

[Can_I_Haz?]

Thanks everyone. I'm sure being in Santa Monica helped drive up the price. FYI the labor rate was flat 550 for everything including TB and map replacement and not itemized as well as the 200 I forgot to mention for diag that is put towards the repair if I choose to do it. Lesson learned. i will never go back.

P.S. I bought one of these so I can do my own diagnostics

https://www.ecstuning.com/ES2996394/

[ShopVac]

If it helps any...I had to take a trip to Mexico and had my wife take my Jeep in for an oil change at 10K (as a requirement for a lifetime warranty) Came out with a power steering flush for $150. I probably would have felt better of they just called it 'Blinker light fluid'. I hate dealerships.