Omg! 900 bucks for a battery and cable!

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[Post New]11/09/2023 23:48
quote
Anonymous
Batteries cost $300-$400 at the dealer anyway.

The battery cable has various other connections and taps and components, and is probably $250-$350 itself.

Labor rate is typically $150/hr, for a 2 hour job.



What’s so hard to understand? Things cost what they cost. A lot of you are probably lawyers or doctors or MBA’s or some other type of professional. What do YOU tell people when they balk at your $350/hr billing for legal services?

[Post New]11/10/2023 09:05
quote
RhymeTime
Member Offline
Anonymous wrote:We have a Ford Flex we have really liked under extended warranty.

On a 20 minute trip where I dropped off my kid, I turned the car off because it looked like it was going to be a wait. It would not turned back on. Completely dead. We called and the dealership told us to have it towed in.

They call back and say the battery is bad for sure and will run diagnostics on the rest.

They call back and say there is also a bad cable, and to replace it all it is almost $900! $600 is labor of 2.5 hours.

Car dealers? You SUCK!


How old is the car? We had battery issues in a 2 year old Acura mdx and the mechanic told us it was because the fob was too close to the car and was constantly draining the battery. It was parked in a city garage most of the time. Just mentioning in case it helps anyone.
[Post New]11/10/2023 09:15
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Anonymous
You cannot have an American car, or European, and then complain about it. They have so many problems and are going out of business soon. The dealerships are also going in the way of dinosaurs. They are trying to milk people who don't know it yet and then get out.
[Post New]11/10/2023 09:36
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:You cannot have an American car, or European, and then complain about it. They have so many problems and are going out of business soon. The dealerships are also going in the way of dinosaurs. They are trying to milk people who don't know it yet and then get out.


This makes no sense. Ford has the best-selling vehicle in the country.
[Post New]11/10/2023 09:38
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Batteries cost $300-$400 at the dealer anyway.

The battery cable has various other connections and taps and components, and is probably $250-$350 itself.

Labor rate is typically $150/hr, for a 2 hour job.



What’s so hard to understand? Things cost what they cost. A lot of you are probably lawyers or doctors or MBA’s or some other type of professional. What do YOU tell people when they balk at your $350/hr billing for legal services?



Op here and I appreciate this feedback. It is also what the dealer said.

BTW, I only make $45,000 a year, so this is a lot of money to us.
[Post New]11/10/2023 09:41
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Batteries cost $300-$400 at the dealer anyway.

The battery cable has various other connections and taps and components, and is probably $250-$350 itself.

Labor rate is typically $150/hr, for a 2 hour job.



What’s so hard to understand? Things cost what they cost. A lot of you are probably lawyers or doctors or MBA’s or some other type of professional. What do YOU tell people when they balk at your $350/hr billing for legal services?



Op here and I appreciate this feedback. It is also what the dealer said.

BTW, I only make $45,000 a year, so this is a lot of money to us.


Wasting money won't improve your financial situation OP.
[Post New]11/10/2023 09:48
quote
Anonymous
I have driven a lot of different cars over the years (45 years of driving) but I have never had to change battery cables. Not even once. Did they tell you why they think your cables gone bad?
[Post New]11/10/2023 09:49
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Anonymous
You just got ripped off.
[Post New]11/10/2023 09:55
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Anonymous
you can easily find a good independent service place near you by googling it. Or use Checkbooks to find one near you. Don't be so gullible OP.
[Post New]11/14/2023 00:57
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I have driven a lot of different cars over the years (45 years of driving) but I have never had to change battery cables. Not even once. Did they tell you why they think your cables gone bad?


Corrosion from a dirty connection can literally dissolve the wiring or the connector. I used to fix bad ground cables every week when I worked in a shop.
[Post New]11/14/2023 06:37
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Batteries cost $300-$400 at the dealer anyway.

The battery cable has various other connections and taps and components, and is probably $250-$350 itself.

Labor rate is typically $150/hr, for a 2 hour job.



What’s so hard to understand? Things cost what they cost. A lot of you are probably lawyers or doctors or MBA’s or some other type of professional. What do YOU tell people when they balk at your $350/hr billing for legal services?



If it were just the battery, it would be easy to watch a youtube video and change it yourself, and some autoparts stores install them for free if it’s not too complicated (varies by car model).

It sounds like this cable is something called a “B” cable, very expensive and unique to each car model. A lot of times, changing out the B cable involves difficult routing underhood, removing/replacing underhood components. A job rated for 2+ hours.
[Post New]11/14/2023 06:58
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Batteries cost $300-$400 at the dealer anyway.

The battery cable has various other connections and taps and components, and is probably $250-$350 itself.

Labor rate is typically $150/hr, for a 2 hour job.



What’s so hard to understand? Things cost what they cost. A lot of you are probably lawyers or doctors or MBA’s or some other type of professional. What do YOU tell people when they balk at your $350/hr billing for legal services?



If it were just the battery, it would be easy to watch a youtube video and change it yourself, and some autoparts stores install them for free if it’s not too complicated (varies by car model).

It sounds like this cable is something called a “B” cable, very expensive and unique to each car model. A lot of times, changing out the B cable involves difficult routing underhood, removing/replacing underhood components. A job rated for 2+ hours.


If job is really 2+ hour work the dealer would’ve charged 4+ hours. Don’t you think?
[Post New]11/14/2023 16:43
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Anonymous
Test your battery/alternator a few times a year. Check that terminal connections are snug and clean. You can purchase a digital monitor that plugs into a 12v power outlet.

Costco (Interstate) cannot be beaten for auto batteries. It’s hard to second guess a battery cable but many dealer service departments will charge a diagnostic fee and err on the side of an unnecessary part replacement. The service advisor of tech should be able to explain the nature of the fault.
[Post New]11/14/2023 17:34
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Anonymous
One Ford dealer in Maryland has a terrible reputation for ripping off customers--both for new car sales and for the service dept. Just check the online reviews.
[Post New]11/14/2023 17:43
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Anonymous
You can take the car to Advanced Auto buy the battery and they will put it in for you no charge. Just did this with my son's 2017 Nissan. Was like $250.
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