A clunk, a squeal and $447 for the Civic
Sway bar links and rear brakes on Garrett's car. Which part I did in the garage, which part the shop did, and how we split the bill.
All posts in Repairs & Shop Bills
Three extended warranty quotes for our truck
$2,870 for 36 months with a $100 deductible. What the contracts left out, and why we put $80 a month into a repair fund instead.
A dead starter 40 miles from home: $312 and a tow
The van clicked and quit at a gas station in Cameron. The tow, the shop that took us in and what the day cost before supper.
Transmission shudder in the Silverado: a $289 fix
A shake at 45 mph that felt like rumble strips. Why the shop tried a fluid exchange first and what we'll watch for next.
A shop bill line by line: $918 for the Civic's struts
Garrett's car bounced like a boat. Parts, labor hours, shop supplies and the alignment: reading a repair estimate as a non-mechanic.
The ice storm and a $386 four-wheel-drive repair
When I needed 4WD in the January ice, the truck wouldn't engage it. The actuator, the diagnosis fee and why it waited until February.
We hit a deer on Highway 36: $3,860 in damage
A week into our new policy, a doe came out of the ditch at 6:10 a.m. The bumper, grille and headlight, and the claim so far.
DIY or shop? The three questions I ask first
Do I have the tools, can the car sit for a weekend, and what happens if I'm wrong. How I decide, with five recent jobs as examples.
Silverado water pump at 137,000 miles: $612 at a shop
A sweet smell, a drip under the front and a temperature gauge that moved. Why I let a shop do it and what the bill broke down to.
The Sienna's AC quit in June: $1,140 for a compressor
93 degrees, Missouri humidity and warm air out of the vents. Why we paid a shop for this one and didn't try it in the driveway.
A check engine light, a free code read and a $19 gas cap
The van's light came on the morning after a fill-up. How a free scan at the parts store and a new gas cap saved a $150 diagnostic.