JL! WTH🙄

[Jaz Bennett]

This may be a really dumb question, regardless, when you take your vehicle into a shop, specifically, a certified jeep dealership, when they have to do a diagnostic test, is that paid upfront? Or is it paid once everything is done, and added along to the work that's done?
I feel a little dumb for not necessarily knowing that and having to ask, but I have trust issues with mechanics so I question everything.

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[GATORB8]

Standard for there to be a diagnostic fee, not sure I've paid it at drop-off, but maybe.

If under warranty the fee normally ends up getting waived as part of the claim.

 

[Jaz Bennett]

My biggest concern is at what point do you pay the fee? Because that fee doesn't go towards anything at all. Which is a ridiculous amount to just throw away and not even go towards work or labor. But the dealership I have to go to won't even do the diagnostic test untill I pay the $239 fee.

 

[NWJeepr]

My biggest concern is at what point do you pay the fee? Because that fee doesn't go towards anything at all. Which is a ridiculous amount to just throw away and not even go towards work or labor. But the dealership I have to go to won't even do the diagnostic test untill I pay the $239 fee.

It costs money for the dealer to spend time diagnosing a problem on your vehicle. If it's covered under warranty, anything you pay should be applied as a credit or returned to you. If it's not covered, you're on the hook. If the dealer is unsure if it's covered, they may collect up front. Your choice: Pay it, or go to a different dealer.

 

[Rogersocal]

Generally speaking that diagnostic fee gets put towards the work if you choose to do the work with them. It nothing is found OR you decide to go somewhere else it is lost.

 

[GATORB8]

My biggest concern is at what point do you pay the fee? Because that fee doesn't go towards anything at all. Which is a ridiculous amount to just throw away and not even go towards work or labor. But the dealership I have to go to won't even do the diagnostic test untill I pay the $239 fee.

Where in NC is this and what's wrong with your Jeep?

 

[AlgUSF]

I've always paid at pickup of the vehicle. Seldomly is any money changed upfront unless it is a fixed price (i.e. Tires or a battery).

 

[Jaz Bennett]

It costs money for the dealer to spend time diagnosing a problem on your vehicle. If it's covered under warranty, anything you pay should be applied as a credit or returned to you. If it's not covered, you're on the hook. If the dealer is unsure if it's covered, they may collect up front. Your choice: Pay it, or go to a different dealer.

So the question was, is it normal to have to pay it upfront or after when you pay for everything else. Not if I have to pay it.

 

[Jaz Bennett]

Where is this and what's wrong with your Jeep?

I'm in NC, Fort Bragg area, and it's Hendrix Chrysler jeep dodge of Fayetteville that I'm dealing with.
And it's about the recalls that are now needing to be replaced. So the bus can malfunction making my jeep go ballistic at random times, steering wheel locks up while driving, everything shuts off and/disconnects while driving, the transmission and clutch system blew up underneath my jeep while driving down the hwy. Brakes pull really bad when braking. Everything we're all facing with the JL's.

 

[dirkg]

I've owned a lot of brands and if the vehicle is out of warranty, then there's usually an upfront fee that is agreed upon. I have yet to "pay" that fee before the inspection. The reason being is if there is work to be done, that diagnostic fee usually gets absorbed into the labor costs of that actual service. If they're asking for physical payment up front, that is odd.

 

[NWJeepr]

So the question was, is it normal to have to pay it upfront or after when you pay for everything else. Not if I have to pay it.

Yes. Especially if you go in saying how they're not actually doing anything for the fee, it's a waste of money, and arguing with a service advisor about it because you've already told them what the problem is and what needs to be fixed.

I don't want to assume, but, did you?

 

[OminousSkitter]

I took mine in for what I hoped was warranty work. They had me authorize each diagnostic fee (2hr chunk of shop time). If it was covered by my warranty, I wouldn’t pay anything. If it wasn’t covered but I had them do the repairs, it would go to the cost of the repairs. If I picked it up without repairs, I would pay at pick up.

 

[Wabujitsu]

So the question was, is it normal to have to pay it upfront or after when you pay for everything else. Not if I have to pay it.

Jaz, both methods of payment are normal.

 

[GATORB8]

I'm in NC, Fort Bragg area, and it's Hendrix Chrysler jeep dodge of Fayetteville that I'm dealing with.
And it's about the recalls that are now needing to be replaced. So the bus can malfunction making my jeep go ballistic at random times, steering wheel locks up while driving, everything shuts off and/disconnects while driving, the transmission and clutch system blew up underneath my jeep while driving down the hwy. Brakes pull really bad when braking. Everything we're all facing with the JL's.

Recalls normally don't require diagnostic fees if your vehicle is included in the recall, they are performing the specific recall work regardless of the diagnosis. There are NHTSA requirements for Jeep to take care of all the costs.

Technical Service Bulletins you may see on here are not recalls, and would still result in full out of pocket costs if you are out of warranty. Occasionally there are customer service campaigns which extend warranties on specific items (like the door corrosion issues), like a standard warranty service, I'd expect the diagnostic to be waived upon warranty coverage confirmation.

I wouldn't think brake pull would be recall related, that would be standard maintenance. If you are on a budget, I wouldn't take it to a dealer for brakes.

 

[GATORB8]

Recalls normally don't require diagnostic fees if your vehicle is included in the recall, they are performing the specific recall work regardless of the diagnosis. There are NHTSA requirements for Jeep to take care of all the costs.

Technical Service Bulletins you may see on here are not recalls, and would still result in full out of pocket costs if you are out of warranty. Occasionally there are customer service campaigns which extend warranties on specific items (like the door corrosion issues), like a standard warranty service, I'd expect the diagnostic to be waived upon warranty coverage confirmation.

I wouldn't think brake pull would be recall related, that would be standard maintenance. If you are on a budget, I wouldn't take it to a dealer for brakes.

To help you find these. If you haven't yet, load your vehicle into your garage at mopar.com (I believe the app works as well).

On the my garage home page, there is a recall link, click view all:

The Recall page will have tab's for the different categories I mentioned:

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