crooked mechanic--250 quadrunner

[Biscuit]

Hello all,

I took my atv to a local mechanic to have him look it over (it's been sitting up for a while) I only wanted him to look it over and replace the battery. 2 days later I go by to check on it and he has TAKEN THE ENGINE OFF!! he says that he was cleaning the fuel tank and had to take the engine off to do that. Now this is a gravity fed tank, I'm not a mechanic but I think he's full of it. Plus he says he won't put it back together or continue to work on it and wants $200 just to give it back to me! Your thoughts??

[oxidized_black]

if he gives it back and running decent, then it could be 200 well spent ... JMO ...

i can understand what you are saying about the look over too ... that would kinda grab my goat ...

[quadnut20]

Hello all,

I took my atv to a local mechanic to have him look it over (it's been sitting up for a while) I only wanted him to look it over and replace the battery. 2 days later I go by to check on it and he has TAKEN THE ENGINE OFF!! he says that he was cleaning the fuel tank and had to take the engine off to do that. Now this is a gravity fed tank, I'm not a mechanic but I think he's full of it. Plus he says he won't put it back together or continue to work on it and wants $200 just to give it back to me! Your thoughts??

Sounds shady to me !!:yes:not knowing his shop rates 200 isnt to bad ! glad i try to do my own work !

[ScootersScooters]

What exactly were you having problems with? You said it had been "sitting up for awhile"? If all that you needed was a quick look over and a new battery, there shouldn't really be a reason for the mechanic to keep it at the shop. Does the mechanic work for a local small business, or is it a dealership repair shop that you are having issues with? Regardless, I think I would ask to speak to a manager before paying anything.

[quadsRfun]

I own a 89 quadrunner 4x4 and even if you have to remove the tank, I don't think it has anything to do with the the position of the engine. unless the tank would need to be dropped straight down to be removed, in that case the carb and head would be directly in the way

[XWrench3]

well, with shop rates upward of $60.00 per hour, it does not take long at all to eat up $200.00. but,IF removing the fuel tank REQUIRED removing the engine, they certainly should have notified you. most states have regulations on what a MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIR center can, and can not do. if i were you, i would check into them. at least in my state, a motorcycle/atv/snowmobile/ etc. repair center MUST be licensed, AND they have to follow the guidelines. if they do not, they can only charge you a certain set amount ($20.00 here), and they HAVE to give you the machine back in the condition it was in when it was brought in. obviously without being privy to all the specifics, and the laws in your state, i really can not say for certain if they are trying to pull a fast one on you or not. but, it certainly sounds to me like they are NOT playing by the rules. a quick phone call to your automotive licensing bureau would spread some light on the subject.

[marioweldinginc]

I agree with xwrench. There should of been a work order created when you dropped off you quad. On that work order should of been what you wanted done no more no less. I had an engine that was taken apart by a previous "Famous race shop" I found a second honest race shop. At the second shop, every time I had work done, a work order was created and signed by me. Even if i wanted to change my mind during the build a new work order was created to reflect those changes. Also on that work order was my price. If the builder ran into a problem and needed to charge me more or less guess what it was on the work order with my signature.