Ouch

[Prospero]

Some days, you should just have stayed in bed. I had to take my car in to get the door latch worked on today, which shouldn't have been that big of a deal. They found the engine was about to crater from something to do with the timing chain. Of course my waranty ran out three weeks ago! Kiss $850 goodbye. Looks like no more toys for a while. Oh well.

[Wiz]

Did you get it double checked?? A chain of car shops in the detroit area were recently found guilty of scamming their customers.

[Biff]

I would'nt go for that, get a second opinion. Did you buy it new, If so you have a couple of options.
1) Complain to Service manager, especially if you got your maintenance work done there regulary.
2) Complain to the manufacturer.
3) Check to see if this a common problem for this vehicle.

If its used, somewhat different situation, I'd still complain to the dealer, and I'd go right to the salesman and complain.

One good rule of thumb, complain as loud as you can, I've seen people get repairs done at a reduced rate, if out of warantee.
Good luck. Biff

[Morpheus1964]

I would definitely check up on that. I've NEVER heard of an $850 timing chain job. $400-600, yeah, but not that much. Bring it to me, I've got an Automotive Technology degree <G> ....

[Prospero]

It had something to do with with a major oil leak, I'm not the best at cars. I bought it used so the waranty was through a third party insurance. It didn't leave and options past the expiration. If your curious, it's a 93 Altima and this is supposed to be one of there common problems. I just had the bad luck of poor timing.
Edit for clarification
The timing chain job was $650, $200 of that was the door latch and labor.

[This message has been edited by Prospero (edited 04-07-2000).]

[barry glisson]

what engine? parts should be no more than 150.00 without looking it up labor no more than 5 hrs. i think you were ripped.if you have more problems email me ill talk you through the repair. barry

[Eli]

Might I ask how exactly does working on a door latch wind up with them playing with the timing chain in the first place? And I think you would notice a major oil leak long before they do... (Oil on driveway, oil level constantly dropping, lights and buzzers on the dash, etc...)

[Biff]

Sounds to me like they want to ripp you off. It also sounds like its not mechanical (like the chain is noisey or jumped gears, you would notice driveability problems) more of a leak, unless the chain was so sloppy it wore grooves in case!
Perhaps while you were in the shop they checked it out, for work needed, or for work they want to do.
I would have to say you need to ask yourself "have I been putting in more oil lately"?

[Eli]

It sort of sounds like a made-up problem to me...

"Yeah, we had to replace your, uh, timing chain, because of the uh, major oil leak... Them cars have that problem ya know."

[Mntsnow]

Just FYI, The Nissan Altima's use a timing BELT on there overhead cam engines. It is recommended to have it replaced every 60,000 miles or you run a increasing risk of having the belt slip or fail thus having a piston kiss a valve and then you will be out much more than just 650.00! So in short if you have over 60,000 miles on the car and have never done the timing belt replacement I wouold chock it up to some overdue maintance! Also when ever doing internal engine repairs get the old parts as honest machanic's will be happy to provide you with those items. (btw I turned wrenches for 12 years prior to getting into the computer industry)

Mntsnow