[QUOTE]Originally posted by HI SPEEDR
"Clutch Buzz" xviper?

 

I just stopped by Criswell Honda and he said that they would know something by today. Apparently the tech has logged in 2 hours on my car already. I asked him about all of the suggestions with the codes, sensors, etc. and he said that he expects a problem with the wiring/electrical harness to the engine. After that they will check for compression. I also asked about the rather high $95/hour rate and his response was that this is Montgomery County, MD and real estate is higher than most places.

 

What does real estate have to do with the automotive industry?

 

Higher rent = higher prices on goods and services?

 

I guess. I used to live in a high rent area (hell I still do island life isnt' cheap), but $95/hour seems way too high. I could see it at the Mercedes or the BMW shop but not at the Honda shop.

The median household income is $62k and median house value is $140k as of y2k in Germantown. That's not exactly high. It's not shabby but it's not what I would consider "high rent".

I guess it's a supply and demand thing, if they can charge it and people pay it, they will do it.

I'd still like to know the code for the CEL you reported...

 

Germantown is far from being an exclusive area but I do know that it is expensive to live in this county.

I talked to my uncle tonight about the whole thing and he said that a Honda dealership in Howard County, MD charged him $83/hour to look at his Accord.

The service guy never called me today (like he said he would!) but I will try to find out the CEL code that was reported.

 

From my experience, the service rate is negotiable. I think you have a bargaining chip with his no call back to reduce the hourly costs. I'd say to at least $83/hour like your uncle got.