I detailed my running problems in a thread titled "Ignition Problems?" from a couple weeks ago. My mechanic initially diagnosed my car with contaminated fuel and proceeded to remove and drain the gas tank, blow out the fuel lines and replace the fuel filter to the tune of around $850. I got the car back and found that NOTHING had been solved. He suggested that I bring it back in and after waiting (car-less) for about a week, I was told that I needed a new fuel pump, but he would not be able to replace it until the week of July 28th.

I asked how much the fuel pump would cost me and how involved the replacement would be and he told me that the pump was located in the far back of the engine compartment, necessitating the removal of all the componentry on top of the motor (perhaps including the plenum as well). He said that he was not able to estimate the cost at this time as he did not know whether the engine might have to come out, too. This seemed to be rather involved for a fuel pump replacement, hence all my questions to OPCs and on this board regarding fuel pump location. I now know that the pump is actually in the front of the car between the wheel wells. I would like to think that my mechanic is perhaps confusing the location of my pump with that of the dual pumps on the turbo cars (especially considering he was recently working on a 964 Turbo 3.3L the last time I dropped off my car), but even with the Turbos, I don't think pump replacement involves dropping the motor. Am I mistaken?

My question now is what should I do? It seems that it would at least behoove me to get a second opinion regarding my current problems. Even if his mistake re: pump location was honest, it does not lend itself to a great deal of proficiency with the cars. This is odd since he has reiterated lengthy experience on multiple occasions. Do I have any recourse as to the money I have already spent in his shop without the car having been fixed? Has anyone had any similar experiences? Please advise.

 

Get yourself another mechanic/opinion, $850 and the problem not resolved, I would ask for a refund.

Kevin

 

I agree with Kevin - $850 would be bad enough if the problem was fixed. As it's not fixed, and the mechanic could well have got the engine removed before realising that there was no fuel pump there...

 

Run forest, run! Get yourself a new mechanic. Suck up the $850 as a bad learning experince. My mechanics have in the past chased down ghosts and then apologized for charging me $250 in "snoop time" like half a day or more of poking around. FWIW they always find the bug.

 

Scrooge - I just had my mechanic change my fuel filter last week - parts plus labor came to $78. Even if we round that up to an even $100, it would appear that your guy charged you roughly $750 for diagnostics, draining the gas tank and clearing the fuel lines. At average Porsche mechanic rates, he charged you for 10 hours of work - did he think the gas tank was in back too? First I'd dispute the bill, then I'd find a new mechanic.

 

Scooge: Yes you were ripped off. Your mechanic (?) is an idiot. I would try to get a refund from him by asking nicely at first. If he does fine. If not you have recourse by going to small claims court. You could also write to the Better Business Bureau- make sure you cc it to his shop owner.

 

Scrooge,

Your current "mechanic" is a buffoon.

Please find another person to repair your car, even if it means driving to Richmond or Virginia Beach.

 

Scrooge:

I think I'd have to agree with the other posts. If he's confusing a C4 with a Turbo it tells me he has little experience with the cars.

 

Just to add - your mechanic may not be very Porsche-wise. I wouldn't march in there calling him a buffoon etc, but kindly suggest that you don't mind paying bills when problems are fixed, but you are not prepared to subsidise his tinkering.

He failed to diagnose the problem - he just went ahead and changed stuff on a 'hunch'. Kindly ask for some refund and RUN AWAY FAST!!

 

I'm debating the same exact problem. I took my car to "the" Porsche authority in Tulsa and he told me what my AC problem was. I had already had a local wrench tell me that he thought the CCU was bad, and I told Mr. Specialist this, but he said he would check it out. The other guy (really an auto-electric shop) didn't know much about Porsche and like I said, this is "THE" Porsche guy. I don't want to mention names, but I'll be some of you know him. Well, he told me it was a high pressure switch and he would replace it and convert my system to the new stuff for about $400. I said do it and when I went to pick the car up, he said he had to do some other stuff, so the total was $487 and by the way, you're CCU is bad so I installed a jumper so your compressor will run all the time and you will probably want to get that fixed. He can get the part for around $800 and it is a snap to install. Well his "jumper" was worth its weight in Sh*t and it lasted ever bit if 2 hours before it screwed up. I bought a CCU on ebay for $255 and my AC works now. Should I call this guy on his mistake? Seriously, he is supposedly the best Porsche (maybe in the country) and I think he is really good, but he just missed the call on this one. The AC conversion was worth it ($200) but I still spen $300 for a piece of wire that I had to remove before I even got the car home. I don't want to insult the guy, but I feel a little insulted, you know? What would you do?

 

Hi Scrooge,
Sorry to hear your bad luck. Running and maintaining a 964 is expensive without idiots mis-diagnosing things, and believe me I know all about that. I hope that some of the members can recommend a reputable knowledgable shop near you and I also hope you get your money back.
Dave.
'90 C2

 

Thanks so much for the replies from everyone. I had the car towed today to the nearest OPC in Virginia Beach. It's not exactly close, but my AAA membership allows a tow anywhere within 100 miles so it didn't cost me anything additional. They are going to run diagnostics tomorrow and hopefully I'll have an update soon thereafter. As for the other mechanic, he's on vacation (again) and I'll be contacting him regarding a refund as soon as he gets back into town.

 

Your check is how he was able to afford another vacation!!! ;-)