Need Mechanic Help /Advice, I'm Out $800.00!?

Took my Chevy Astro in because battery light was coming on. Paid $300.00 for new alternator. Drove van home, battery light still on, gauges went to zero, van died in the driveway. Mechanic had it towed back to the shop. Says alternator shorted out and fried my computer. Wants me to pay $500.00 for new computer. If old alernator fried computer, how did we drive it to the shop and back. If new alternator fried computer, should I have to pay for the defective part or installation. Please advise!Need Mechanic Help /Advice, I'm Out $800.00!?
It sounds like the mechanic forgot to disconnect the battery before working on the alternator, and shorted it out himself, or forgot to reset a code and the computer shut down. Either way it's his responsibility once he starts work on it. He should have inspected and test drove it before turning it over to you, and ran a full diagnostic on it before letting it leave the shop, that is unless he thought it would last a few days longer, than he could blame the problems on you.Need Mechanic Help /Advice, I'm Out $800.00!?
Try to go to other shop and have them check on it cause i think the 1st mechanic you went to is trying to rip you off usually if the lights on you prolly need a battery fluid. If your alternator went out at 1st then you werent be able to go no where....so have another mechanic look at your car
Contact your local Better Business Bureau - number is in the phone book and file a complaint. Was your light on when you left the mechanic? If you paid that much - the part and labor should be under warranty and there fore would make it their goof.
The mechanic mis-diagnosed your problem, and I would definitely take it to another mechanic.





I highly doubt that your computer is fried. He's just looking to make money. I'd even question if he replaced your original alternator.





Look under the hood and see if the alternator looks new. If he replaced it it should.





I would definitely recommend learning some things about automobiles yourself.





However. I would say that the new alternator that he placed in the vehicle is definitely not working to recharge the system. Was the battery light on as soon as you left the mechanic? Or just as you got home?





I would try installing a new battery first to see if the car starts up before doing anything else. If the car starts up with a new battery, then it's not the computer.





There's a lot of things that could be wrong, but putting in a new computer should be one of the last things to attempt.





E-mail me (by clicking on my name to the left) if you want more detailed advice and how to trouble shoot the problem on your own.
Any time a fuel injected car's battery is disconnected, a voltage surge occurs. If your mechanic did not connect the battery properly or used a bad charger when restarting your car, the PCM could have suffered terminal damage. Yes it's your mechanics problem now. I hope you have a receipt for the initial work.
Threaten the mechanic by telling him you will contact The BBB, or the Labor department, or even the Local Law enforcement. The Mechanic might even give your $300 back. That Thief Mechanic.