Daughter took her 2010 Honda Fit to the local ripem off shop and this is what they said about her car that went in for brake noise

[41mag]

I have been a mechanic for 30+ yrs and have NEVER found algae in brake fluid. Even if it has sat on a shelf for years and not in a car !!
That stuff is so damned corrosive I doubt algae could survive in brake fluid . It is damned amazing what some mechanics will tell folks. I just don’t get it. There is so much honest work out there for a decent mechanic that they never need to lie, cheat or steal anything from anyone to make it.

 

[jaxyaks]

I have been a mechanic for 30+ yrs and have NEVER found algae in brake fluid. Even if it has sat on a shelf for years and not in a car !!
That stuff is so damned corrosive I doubt algae could survive in brake fluid . It is damned amazing what some mechanics will tell folks. I just don’t get it. There is so much honest work out there for a decent mechanic that they never need to lie, cheat or steal anything from anyone to make it.

Have you seen green residue on brake fluid reservoir? I think the guy is full of it by saying the fluid is dark because of algae, but green residue in a reservoir is a thing. I have no idea the level of neglect it takes to get there though.

 

[fslc94]

I can see the price being that high, using all OEM components and add 3-4 hours labor at a dealership. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[basstracker89]

I have been a mechanic for 30+ yrs and have NEVER found algae in brake fluid. Even if it has sat on a shelf for years and not in a car !!
That stuff is so damned corrosive I doubt algae could survive in brake fluid . It is damned amazing what some mechanics will tell folks. I just don’t get it. There is so much honest work out there for a decent mechanic that they never need to lie, cheat or steal anything from anyone to make it.

Good to hear from a real professional

 

[basstracker89]

I can see the price being that high, using all OEM components and add 3-4 hours labor at a dealership. 🤷🏻‍♂️

These shade tree guys want to make what the dealerships make

 

[41mag]

Have you seen green residue on brake fluid reservoir? I think the guy is full of it by saying the fluid is dark because of algae, but green residue in a reservoir is a thing. I have no idea the level of neglect it takes to get there though.

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I haven’t run into that either.
I do know that I have been in this biz so long that almost anything is possible.
Some things are so far out there that there is just almost no real way to, mechanically or otherwise, to achieve.
As far as the green goo in the brake fluid ….. I have never seen such and can’t believe there is any way for it to occur without something being added to it to make it do that. But whatever.

 

[Bama999]

Sounds like they're trying to take advantage of her.

 

[jaxyaks]

I haven’t run into that either.
I do know that I have been in this biz so long that almost anything is possible.
Some things are so far out there that there is just almost no real way to, mechanically or otherwise, to achieve.
As far as the green goo in the brake fluid ….. I have never seen such and can’t believe there is any way for it to occur without something being added to it to make it do that. But whatever.

Could be, I did a little research on the green stuff, from my quick reading it looks like that may come from high copper levels. It did give me a little distraction to look up why is my brake fluid green though..lol. But considering the OPs daughter was told the reason it was so dark was algae, I rule as MFOC....(Mechanic Full Of Crap)

https://heyauto.com/blog/tips-&-tricks/green-brake-fluid

 

[jaxyaks]

Sounds like they're trying to take advantage of her.

The prices look a little off for sure.

 

[wildbill1973z28]

They quoted her $1700 to
Change front brake pads
Flush brake fluid
Change front rotors
Change 4 plugs

The guy told her the reason her brake fluid was so dark is because she had algae in the system from water. WTF!!

Why do shops always trey to rip off single women with their cars. Assholes!

Yeah, I say we should picked the place