In alt.home.repair, on Mon, 11 Dec 2017 23:25:56 +1300, Frank S
wrote:

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.

Did you google flat rate manual ?

this is the 5th hit for me:
http://www.autorepairmanuals.biz/page/134522

As little as $55 if your car was made in 1977 or earlier

$112 for 2005.

Though I do wonder about this, 2005 Child Labor Guide CD-ROM
http://www.autorepairmanuals.biz/product/1401878180

In the 60's, all there was was the book, and I had no idea where to get
that, or how to pay the equivalent of $880