Thank you to everyone who gave advice with my camaro problem. Well, I ended up putting a new starter in first, then the computer said the vats was bad. I had several friends look at it and since I only had one key that is all I could try. I never saw the security light but I did try disconnecting the positive, and putting the key forward 3 times for 30 min. Welllllll, I ended up having my baby towed and the garage said I need a new ignition, plus part of my steering column is broke and at the minimum it will cost me 500 bucks. What???? They said it will take 2 hours to take it apart and 2 to put it back so that is 4 hours labor, the keys cost 30 a piece and the ignition is about 50. Please tell me I didn't get screwed. I have a feeling I did. Oh well, I will chalk it up to a blonde moment if I did. Well now that I have replaced most engine parts I guess I can start working on the body at least. She should run well, I hope. They have to call me back yet when its finished to let me know my total $$damage.

 

VATS keys aren't cheap either way you go. They are a little less expensive at the dealer, but that's due to shop markup. Your tab sounds about right after everything's tallied up. The repair shop where I used to work charged $60 an hour, and that was 3 years ago. Top that off with parts markup, and you're going to be close to the $500 range.

 

I took it to a dealer/shop. It's a chevy car dealer with service if thats what you mean. Well I guess I don't feel so bad then. I just thought 4 hours was a bit much.

 

Removal/installation of the column isn't that time consuming, but depending what's broken inside, that can be a bear as far as labor goes.

 

the good thing about where you took it is your getting Delco parts. they do cost more than the aftermarket parts. like the aftermarket lock cylinders, about $12.00 verses a Delco which i think is about $45.00, the aftermarket cylinders last about 6 months & you start having problems from them. also, i would get 2 keys from them.

you could have done it yourself for around half of what they are charging, but the price sounds about right for having it done at a shop plus you have a warranty.

 

Side note- I paid around $23 for a spare key when I first got my car bout a year and a half ago but that was at a key shop.

 

it would almost have to be something in the tilt bowl being broken to cost that much to fix. Also, if the VATS module goes away it's a beeatch to change too since it's back behind everything at the center of the dash. I still have all my tools to take down a GM column but shudder when I think of how many I did working for Chevrolet on theft recoveries up in Little Rock when my wife was stationed there.......aaarrrrgggg!!!

 

VATS keys were $14.50 at my local locksmith about a month ago, when I last had one cut.

 

A TGO member from CA just replaced his ignition switch. Cost him $18 and about an hour of his time. Sure doesn't justify a $500 bill. I'd say you've been taken badly. As always, when somebody takes a car to a shop.

I'd go back and ask them where it shows in their books that it takes 4 hours to replace an ignition switch. Even if it was the cylinder, it would be 2 hours tops.

What did they write on the invoice?

Lou

 

that $18.00 vats lock cylinder wasn't a Delco. i have put 2 of those cheap cylinders in, we later had to replace both with Delcos to solve intermittent no starts under warranty, i did the same job twice on each car, the second time on each was for free, we will never use them again.

im not ragging on anyone with this.
the labor rates are set on brand new cars, they do not take into account dirt, rust, frozen nuts & bolts or any other things that may have happened or been done to the vehicle. also the person they use to set the labor rate for a given item has done it many times.

i wonder how many people on this site, other than the professional mechanics have spent close to $100,000.00 (thats one hundred thousand dollars) on hand tools, & no, craftsman tools will not last on the job, it takes Mac tools at the minimum, but Snap on is preferred.
when the price gets lowered, it comes out of the mechanic's pay,.. how much of a pay cut will you take on your job?