[i_play_bass]

So I'm asking a general question for an acquaintance. This person has a Polaris Fusion 600 that broke down one night. He went to a mechanic (not dealer, just a home based shop) and the guy said the engine needed a full top end. Ended up costing him 1800 bucks cdn or so.

Gets it back, second trip on it, the sled starts smoking from inside the engine bay. They got it smothered with snow and put out then trailered home and back to the mechanic. Mechanic charges him another 1100 bucks apparently to "fix" it again.

So keep in mind he's now into nearly 3k cdn on a $3500, 15 year old sled.

Gets it back and again it doesn't seem right, sputtering, just not running well. He starts into it himself and one of the power valve guillotines is snapped right in half. So he's ordering that and hoping it finally runs properly.

Personally I think he was crazy to pay the guy the second time, and now after spending 3k and it not being fixed still, I'd be going after the mechanic for my money back, but it might be tough to prove that he did anything wrong.

How would you guys approach this given how deep he is already into the situation? ....It's a little too late to say bring it to someone with a better reputation or do it yourself for cheaper.

 

[TheBearAk]

I'd wonder what was smoking after the first repair. "smothered it" to put it out, sounds like it actually caught fire and just idling, there really is only a few reasons it would do that. Excessive fuel leaked during the repair (mechanics fault) or bad/loose connection on a fuel line (mechanics fault). If it was a bad/loose connection, I'd definitely go after him for the $1100. Be good to know what the $1100 was for.

If your friend has already gone to social media against the mechanic, it might be to late to get anything done except filing suit.

I always warn people about posting "Don't use XYZ service, they screwed me" on social media before they give XYZ a chance to make things right. After the post, XYZ will button up and be very clammed up about giving you any information.

 

[TheBearAk]

ps - At those prices, he might as well taken it to a dealer. $1800 seems like a lot to me for a 600. Even replacing both Jugs and pistons you're still under $800 in parts. Even a slow mechanic could get this done in about 6 hours.

Then $1100 for what? Replace everything that had rubber/plastic under the hood?

 

[i_play_bass]

No he didnt go to social media....
I'm thinking he got fleeced on every bit of this... On the sled he bought with problems, and on the mechanic twice, three times if you count that it's still not fixed...

 

[kccats]

For Canada that doesn't seem out of line, But I agree 'What was smoking' and why?

 

[kccats]

And again this is just one example of why this site is SO GREAT
Learn to do it yourself!
Otherwise have deep pockets!