So, we head to the market, and when I shut my door, we hear a loud CLANG! from the rear of the car. I found a 4" disc (mega washer?) and the head of a bolt. Seemed as if the bolt had rusted clean through. Took it to the dealer (we have an Ultra-Super-Duper Extended Warranty on it), and after waiting on the warranty company to deliberate for 6 hours over whether or not they will cover an $8 bolt (I believe it was for the left rear shock), they go with "No." They claim the bolt if part of the frame, not the component. I'm still wondering how the FRAME isn't covered, and I'm doing some research today...
At any rate, they have to drop the entire rear suspension to remove the old bolt and replace it.
$740. 6.5 hours of labor. At least they gave me a car off the lot for her to drive for a few days. Could've added another $200 in rental fees if not for that. $940 for a damned $8 bolt.
I'm at the stage of angry where you are no longer jumping out of your skin and at a unnerving state of calmness.
That's why it's called nuts and bolts. Replacing some bolts in these cars is just nuts ! Not that it's any consolation but my mechanic claims although Porsche is the biggest "offender" in this category, BMW and Mercedes are not far behind in "engineering" those inexpensive parts to require hours upon hours of labor to replace them.
Wait, did you just put the word 'warranty' in a sentence referring to a 968? :-)
I certainly hope it wasn't a rear shock mounting bolt - those can be changed in about 90 seconds!
Oh wow... that's weird. Somehow the whole first couple of lines didn't make the post.
This happened in my wife's Jag.
Hmmm, I posted a response also expressing my shock over an extended warrantee on a 968, but the post is mysteriously missing. And the emoticons aren't working...
I thought tne extended warranty remark was just a bit of sarcasm... So a Jag, eh ? I suppose nothing should surprise us anymore when it comes to a lot of cars repairs, and in that light the 968 at 20+ years of age is starting to look better and better.
Agreed. Overall, I'd say the 968 isn't too bad of a car to work on. There are some exceptions, of course, like removing the oil pan or changing the engine mounts, but for the most part, it isn't too bad. Our 2003 X5 is a lot worse - changing the valve cover gaskets took me the better part of several days, and the dern fuel filter replacement is a several-hour job.
Wow, several hours to replace a fuel filter? That's just insane!
My friend's BMW 645i headlamp replacement : 4 hrs of labor. I think the fender had to come off, or the bumper assembly, or both..
As soon as the newer cars run out of warranty, or the extended warranty ( buying an extended coverage seems to be a no-brainer decision nowadays ).. watch out ! Everything seems to be "integrated" so if you need to change just a resistor or a bulb or any number of individual components which twenty years ago would have been both cheap and a cinch to replace, you may get a really unpleasant surprise when the dealer tells you that the entire system into which that component is integrated has to be replaced.
Drain plug ? Sorry, that's no longer sold separately from the transmission in our new 2015 Toyota Expensiva model - <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.png" class="smilie" alt="" />
The Renault Mégane II procedure to remove headlight bulb:
-put car on jack
-remove wheel
-search for and remove lid that covers hole in wheel arch somewhere
-reach in with your arm and search for the right bulb blindly
-remove bulb
-reach in again and put new bulb in, whilst trying not to loose your patience when getting the socket in the slot
-make sure it works before putting everything back together
-put the wheel back on and remove jack
-throw away your sweater wich has one ruined sleeve
-sell or give the car away to somebody you dislike
Elapsed time: 45' (if done before)
Same job on VW Golf: 4' (for 12 year-old)