Hi,
This is my first post on this forum. My 99 Corolla door handle broke on the driver side (from inside).
Went to a Toyota dealer to replace with a new one. Charges me $80 for parts+labor

next, he calls me saying the ROD that connects to the latch is broken and i'd have to replace the whole door latch assembly (cost $350). He said if i don't do it, there was no way for me to open the door from the inside (i'd have to roll the window down and open it from outside)

I agreed to get the new assembly but the part wasnt available - so he ordered it for me.

Later in the day when i picked the car - the door was opening from the inside. VOLA !!!

Did the service manager just try to cheat me with replacing a part that has no problem?

Please tell me, if someone says that the door latch assembly is broken and cannot be opened from inside - and the fact that it's fine on the car and opens - do i just get a refund for the charge on the parts

Thanks

- K K

Oohh! people make me so mad sometimes!
If you haven't already, I would definitely cancel getting that part and demand my money back if you already paid for it!
He'll probably try to talk you into still getting it....
I mean, if the door is working, why in the world would you want to 'fix' it?!

I'd take it one step further and file a report with both the company and the local better business bureau. Just to create a paper trail in case the guy decides to do it again!

SOunds kinda fishy to me. But the guy was probably right in telling you you'd need to replace the whole door. It's often the little, seemingly insignificant parts that require replacing big chuncks of the car. I'm thinking the guy's initial assessment of your problem was off and messing around with it shifted some things inside the door allowing you to open it. Either way, I'd call him on it. Ask for an explaination and if he can't pleasantly offer a reasonable one, find yourself a new mechanic.