In >,
micky said:

> I hate to bring up my blown engine again, but when I had my car towed
> into the shop last summer, he charged me about $90 for diagnosing the
> problem -- that's his standard rate -- even though I figure he knew what
> the problem was in 1 minute, just based on the sound.

1. All jobs have an *expected* flat rate time.
2. The flat rate time is published in a manual somewhere.
3. Every shop has access to that flat rate time manual (whether it's
Chiltons or Mitchells or All Data or the factory KSD).

Yes I am fully aware that some mechanics easily *beat* that flat rate time
and some mechanics take *longer* than that flat rate time - but the
mechanics still charge at the same flat rate time.

Yes. I am fully aware that to do a waterpump takes X flat rate time and to
do a timing belt takes Y flat rate time and do to them both does NOT take X
+ Y flat rate time.

Yes. I am fully aware that some shops still charge the X flat rate time
plus the Y flat rate time, while others charge X flat rate time plus
some-fraction-of Y flat rate time.

I'm fully aware of all this.
None of that is the question.

I wasn't aware that there is "dealer" flat rate time and "factory" flat
rate time, but that's just a complication that I can deal with depending on
what flat rate time I do find online.

What I don't know is WHERE to get the flat rate time online.
It might not exist online.

But that's why I ask.