Well, I am pissed!
I was referred by a few people around here to a local shop to do some exhaust work. I already did the OBX header and had bought a used Ractive Axle-back off of another forum member.
The nuts & bolts on the stocker were completely rusted together. Fused.
Since I wanted to replace the midpipe and put in a high-flow cat, I figured let the shop grind off the stocker and relocate my second O2 sensor to get rid of the CEL.
The told me $200 to $300 for the whole job. I figured that sounded OK.
Well.....
I show up to pick up the car and they start this story.
They say the O2 sensor was cross-threaded and couldn't be re-used. They ordered one and were waiting for it to arrive. Then they show me a bill for $394!!! I sed "WTF"?
So they charged 3 hours at $75 and $160 in parts!
I was so angry I wanted to choke the guy!
On top of this, the tip is not centered and the can is on a wierd angle. (see attached pics)
I ask what the deal is with that and he tells me he tried to bend the hangers to get it centered but that was the best he could do.
I'm boiling mad and my wife is waiting for me, telling me to stay calm.
I go to start it and it is ridiculously LOUD.
I've already been pulled over 5 times since I got the car in 9/04, no tickets, only warnings for speed. Now I KNOW the cops will pull me over with this level of volume every chance they get!
But, I am on my lunch and have to get back to work, so I pay and tell the guy I am not happy and will talk with him about this later.
Driving back to work I can barely hear the radio. It drones through the whole powerband. The pedal is now a volume pedal. My shifter, steering wheel and even my seat vibrate! (I guess you could say that it is now a "massage" seat)
When I left off the gas, I can hear that metal on metal RATTLE.
I then get a call to tell me that the O2 sensor is in and costs $225!!
I was like you gotta be kidding me! I went online and found it for $69, but then also found other ones that were $140 and up.
I haven't been able to tell what the difference is yet.
Anyway, so I ordered a silencer from Ebay because NO ONE had the Ractive.
I even talked to Toucan Industries in Florida and Canada. I know that it is a MT2000 for a 3-1/2" tip. But nobody has it anywhere.
So I am supposed to go back to the shop to look at what was done and talk about these issues. Now I have to ask how much they will **** me for putting in a resonator too.
I have Kartboy hangers, but they aren't installed because when I got to the shop to drop it off, I couldn't find them in my trunk. Turned out they were at home. I also have yet to install my AWR motor mounts. I figure both these will help with the vibrations at least.
I haven't been able to get under the car yet to see the work, but the one weld I can see does not look so great. The bends do not appear to be bad, but I don't think they are mandrel bent.
So, now I have to go back and b**** and moan. I think that once I can see underneath I might be in for more surprises. Ugh.
I will give an update when that happens.
Learn from my mistake...get a written quote for all work!
I was referred by a few people around here to a local shop to do some exhaust work. I already did the OBX header and had bought a used Ractive Axle-back off of another forum member.
The nuts & bolts on the stocker were completely rusted together. Fused.
Since I wanted to replace the midpipe and put in a high-flow cat, I figured let the shop grind off the stocker and relocate my second O2 sensor to get rid of the CEL.
The told me $200 to $300 for the whole job. I figured that sounded OK.
Well.....
I show up to pick up the car and they start this story.
They say the O2 sensor was cross-threaded and couldn't be re-used. They ordered one and were waiting for it to arrive. Then they show me a bill for $394!!! I sed "WTF"?
So they charged 3 hours at $75 and $160 in parts!
I was so angry I wanted to choke the guy!
On top of this, the tip is not centered and the can is on a wierd angle. (see attached pics)
I ask what the deal is with that and he tells me he tried to bend the hangers to get it centered but that was the best he could do.
I'm boiling mad and my wife is waiting for me, telling me to stay calm.
I go to start it and it is ridiculously LOUD.
I've already been pulled over 5 times since I got the car in 9/04, no tickets, only warnings for speed. Now I KNOW the cops will pull me over with this level of volume every chance they get!
But, I am on my lunch and have to get back to work, so I pay and tell the guy I am not happy and will talk with him about this later.
Driving back to work I can barely hear the radio. It drones through the whole powerband. The pedal is now a volume pedal. My shifter, steering wheel and even my seat vibrate! (I guess you could say that it is now a "massage" seat)
When I left off the gas, I can hear that metal on metal RATTLE.
I then get a call to tell me that the O2 sensor is in and costs $225!!
I was like you gotta be kidding me! I went online and found it for $69, but then also found other ones that were $140 and up.
I haven't been able to tell what the difference is yet.
Anyway, so I ordered a silencer from Ebay because NO ONE had the Ractive.
I even talked to Toucan Industries in Florida and Canada. I know that it is a MT2000 for a 3-1/2" tip. But nobody has it anywhere.
So I am supposed to go back to the shop to look at what was done and talk about these issues. Now I have to ask how much they will **** me for putting in a resonator too.
I have Kartboy hangers, but they aren't installed because when I got to the shop to drop it off, I couldn't find them in my trunk. Turned out they were at home. I also have yet to install my AWR motor mounts. I figure both these will help with the vibrations at least.
I haven't been able to get under the car yet to see the work, but the one weld I can see does not look so great. The bends do not appear to be bad, but I don't think they are mandrel bent.
So, now I have to go back and b**** and moan. I think that once I can see underneath I might be in for more surprises. Ugh.
I will give an update when that happens.
Learn from my mistake...get a written quote for all work!
