Diagnostic fee

silver surfer · Apr 21, 2022

So I took my 1500 in for 4 tires and an oil change. I asked them to check for an exhaust leak as I hear a ticking on cold start and RAMs are known for exhaust manifold bolt issues. They wanted a $175 diagnostic fee! For what? To listen for a leak? I'll wait til it goes and then use my MaxCare warranty. I tried to be proactive.

retired · Apr 21, 2022

silver surfer said:
So I took my 1500 in for 4 tires and an oil change. I asked them to check for an exhaust leak as I hear a ticking on cold start and RAMs are known for exhaust manifold bolt issues. They wanted a $175 diagnostic fee! For what? To listen for a leak? I'll wait til it goes and then use my MaxCare warranty. I tried to be proactive.

I will only charge you $100 over the phone to listen for the leak and tell you how to proceed.....hmmm money to be made out there lol...

RDNKB34R · Apr 21, 2022

Over the phone mechanic work is a male version of Onlyfans.

MADDOG · Apr 21, 2022

A dealer will not do any diagnostic work for free. Tests for a failure that has occurred will be covered under warranty.

indept · Apr 21, 2022

MADDOG said:
A dealer will not do any diagnostic work for free. Tests for a failure that has occurred will be covered under warranty.

And the first diagnosis will be: "there's no CEL so it working as designed."

LoadedExpressRam · Apr 22, 2022

Chris fix on youtube had a pretty simple method of checking for exhaust leaks. A weak leaf blower and a spray bottle of soap water. Its helped me especially after adding an exhaust cutout. Good luck

Jeepwalker · Apr 22, 2022

I was told the same thing one time when the dealer was doing warranty work. Similar dollar-figure as I recall. Heck they were updating a new airbag module had the scan tool already hooked up to the truck! I know they have to make money to pay for their time, but the message I got was, "we really don't want to do it."

I have my own scanner now and can do what I need. Thank you Chrysler ..for pushing me over the edge to get a better scanner!!

PoMansRam · Apr 22, 2022

I get it that you can't expect a shop to work for free, but please..

Unless the truck is a total rot-box or has aftermarket exhaust manifolds, headers, etc.. All you have to do is see if the heat shields wiggle. If they do, there's broken manifold bolts. That's 30 seconds worth of diagnostics with no tools or equipment needed.

Shops used to "waive" the diag fee if work needed to be done. It basically gets rolled into the bill.

Today when a used Chevy Sonic costs you $23K, all costs go up.

Jeepwalker · Apr 22, 2022

In my case I was willing to pay extra for the software check I was asking about (and told that to the service advisor). Anyway, we just left it be.

silver surfer · Apr 22, 2022

Update: the tech heard the noise on startup and got the MaxCare approval to do the repair (both sides) without the diagnostic fee. A good dealership.

2020PW · Apr 22, 2022

silver surfer said:
So I took my 1500 in for 4 tires and an oil change. I asked them to check for an exhaust leak as I hear a ticking on cold start and RAMs are known for exhaust manifold bolt issues. They wanted a $175 diagnostic fee! For what? To listen for a leak? I'll wait til it goes and then use my MaxCare warranty. I tried to be proactive.

Skilled labor isn’t cheap, cheap labor isn’t skilled.

SitKneelBend · Apr 23, 2022

The diagnostic fee is typically only applied if you decline repair (at my dealer). My diagnostic fee went up from $149 to $179 at my last visit. Glad I bought an extended warranty (10 years/75,000 miles). Its one of the reasons I let things pile up before going, that way "something" will be fixed under warranty and I'm only out of pocket $100 for the deductible (and the diagnostic fee disappears).

MuleDawg · Apr 25, 2022

silver surfer said:
So I took my 1500 in for 4 tires and an oil change. I asked them to check for an exhaust leak as I hear a ticking on cold start and RAMs are known for exhaust manifold bolt issues. They wanted a $175 diagnostic fee! For what? To listen for a leak? I'll wait til it goes and then use my MaxCare warranty. I tried to be proactive.

Good for you brother!! I would have told them to also check underneath to see if the glow plugs were glowing…

cashman070 · Apr 25, 2022

Or better yet - your driver side power mirror motor fails won't move in / out - the mirror is covered under warranty however to diagnose it isn't covered - anybody looking at the mirror can see it wasn't working but they have to diagnose it to confirm and this diagnostic charge isn't covered

- so I said then just switch out the mirror but they can't do that without a diagnosis. So I said well if the diagnosis shows a faulty mirror motor then the diagnosis should be covered they said no it isn't -I said I understand if the diagnosis showed something that isn't covered by warranty but the diagnosis showed a warranty issue they said oh well that was the insurance company said - just a stupid way around charging a additional fee

Justin33 · Apr 25, 2022

I specifically asked them to check two different oil changes and they said no both times you watch them be broken and out of warranty.

indept · Apr 25, 2022

cashman070 said:
Or better yet - your driver side power mirror motor fails won't move in / out - the mirror is covered under warranty however to diagnose it isn't covered - anybody looking at the mirror can see it wasn't working but they have to diagnose it to confirm and this diagnostic charge isn't covered - so I said then just switch out the mirror but they can't do that without a diagnosis. So I said well if the diagnosis shows a faulty mirror motor then the diagnosis should be covered they said no it isn't -I said I understand if the diagnosis showed something that isn't covered by warranty but the diagnosis showed a warranty issue they said oh well that was the insurance company said - just a stupid way around charging a additional fee

What warranty are you referring to, 3/36 or an extended warranty?

SitKneelBend · Apr 25, 2022

cashman070 said:
Or better yet - your driver side power mirror motor fails won't move in / out - the mirror is covered under warranty however to diagnose it isn't covered - anybody looking at the mirror can see it wasn't working but they have to diagnose it to confirm and this diagnostic charge isn't covered - so I said then just switch out the mirror but they can't do that without a diagnosis. So I said well if the diagnosis shows a faulty mirror motor then the diagnosis should be covered they said no it isn't -I said I understand if the diagnosis showed something that isn't covered by warranty but the diagnosis showed a warranty issue they said oh well that was the insurance company said - just a stupid way around charging a additional fee

I'd find a different dealer. I've never had a diagnostic fee charged if they are also performing the fix.

DaveSharp · Apr 26, 2022

silver surfer said:
Update: the tech heard the noise on startup and got the MaxCare approval to do the repair (both sides) without the diagnostic fee. A good dealership.

Don't forget to bring him a coffee or what ever. He was a nice guy and did you a favour to save you some money.

njjeff201 · Apr 26, 2022

Jeepwalker said:
I was told the same thing one time when the dealer was doing warranty work. Similar dollar-figure as I recall. Heck they were updating a new airbag module had the scan tool already hooked up to the truck! I know they have to make money to pay for their time, but the message I got was, "we really don't want to do it."

I have my own scanner now and can do what I need. Thank you Chrysler ..for pushing me over the edge to get a better scanner!!

I was thinking of getting a scanner. Which do you recommend? TY

njjeff201 · Apr 26, 2022

Looking for an affordable scanner. Any recommendations? Thanx guys

Diagnostic fee

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