Skip to content
Honest MileFix what is broken. Explain what is not.

Labour, diagnostic fees, and four complete estimates

The question customers actually ask is not “is it expensive”. It is “where did the money go”. This page answers that one.

Labour

฿400per hour

Labour is ฿400 an hour, half an hour minimum, then billed in quarter-hours.

Every estimate on this page shows 7% VAT as its own line.

Diagnostic fees

Published in advance, and each one says whether it is credited back if you have the repair done here.

CheckTimeFeeCredited?
Scan and reportAll modules read, freeze frame captured, live data watched, road test.1.5 h฿600Yes, same visit
Suspension noiseOn the lift, a pry bar on every joint, side-by-side comparison, road test.1.25 h฿500Yes, same visit
A/C performance testVent temperatures, high and low pressures, compressor clutch gap, fan current, UV leak dye.1.75 h฿700Yes, same visit
Battery, charging and parasitic drawRest voltage, a CCA load test with a printed result, alternator output at idle and 2,000 rpm, parasitic draw in milliamps.1.0 h฿400Yes, same visit
Electrical fault tracingIntermittent faults, wiring, connectors. Quoted and approved one hour at a time.—฿400per hNoNot credited, because finding an intermittent fault is the job — not a preliminary to it. The part at the end of it often costs ฿200.
Teardown inspectionSome faults are only visible with the part off the car. Always quoted before it starts.——Quoted firstStated case by case on that estimate.

The three parts tiers

We do not say which tier is best in general, because the answer depends on the part, how much safety rides on it, the age of the car, how long you plan to keep it, your budget, and that brand’s record in that specific part.

  • Genuine

    In the car manufacturer’s own box.

  • OEM / OE supplier

    Made by the factory’s own supplier — Denso, Aisin, NSK, 555, Akebono, Musashi — in that supplier’s box.

  • Quality aftermarket

    A reliable independent brand.

The one rule we do not ask about

Anything that can fail without warning and hurt somebody — brake friction, brake hydraulics, steering joints, suspension links, wheel bearings — is Genuine or OEM only. We will not fit a bargain brake pad and we will not argue about it.

Four worked estimates

These four are the structure of an estimate, not a price list. A real number moves with the model, the year, the parts tier you choose, how far the fault has gone, and how hard the part is to reach.

Scheduled service

Toyota Yaris 1.2 E · 2016112,400 km

The owner said
No symptom. It is what the sticker says.

Labour
Engine oil and filter change1.0 h × ฿400฿400
24-point inspection and tyre rotation0.5 h × ฿400฿200
Parts
Toyota genuine oil filter90915-YZZJ4฿185
Drain plug gasket฿25
Fluids
Idemitsu Zepro 5W-30 semi-synthetic3.4 L × ฿245฿833
Materials
Shop supplies, cleaner, waste-oil disposal฿60
Approved work, ex VAT฿1,703
VAT 7%฿119.21
Total฿1,822.21

Recommended, not required today

  • Plan itCabin filter, fitted19,000 km on the current one. Still working; change it by the next service.฿520
  • MonitorBrake fluid changeTested at 1.2% water. Low. Next year.฿1,200

Checked and not replaced

฿0
  • MonitorFront brake pads6.8 mm left of 10 mm new. Recheck in 20,000 km.
  • MonitorBattery12.62 V at rest, 512 CCA against 500 rated.
  • MonitorDrive beltNo cracking.
  • MonitorAir filterLight dust. Blown out and refitted. Replace next service.
Time 2.0 hSame-day collectionVAT 7%

Front brake pads

Honda City 1.5 V · 201596,400 km

The owner said
It squeals when I brake gently.

Labour
Remove and refit front pads, clean and lubricate slide pins, measure discs, road test2.0 h × ฿400฿800
Parts
Akebono front pad setOEM฿2,250
Materials
Brake cleaner, slide-pin grease, copper paste฿180
Approved work, ex VAT฿3,230
VAT 7%฿226.10
Total฿3,456.10

Why: the left pad measured 3.1 mm and the right 2.9 mm, against a 2.0 mm minimum.

Recommended, not required today

  • Plan itBrake fluid replacementTwo litres of Bendix DOT4 at ฿600 plus 1.5 h labour at ฿600. Three years since the last change.฿1,200

Checked and not replaced

฿0
  • MonitorFront discs23.4 mm and 23.3 mm against a 22.0 mm minimum. No lip, no runout. Machining not needed.
  • MonitorRear pads7.2 mm left.
  • MonitorCalipersPistons retract freely, boots intact.
Time 2.5 hSame-day collectionVAT 7%

Knock over speed bumps

Honda City 1.5 · 2016138,200 km

The owner said
There is a knock from the front over speed bumps. Worse first thing in the morning.

Diagnosis
Suspension noise diagnosis1.25 h × ฿400฿500
Credited against the approved repair−฿500
Labour
Replace LH front stabiliser link, road test1.0 h × ฿400฿400
Parts
555 / Sankei stabiliser link, leftOEM฿890
Materials
Penetrating fluid, thread locker฿80
Approved work, ex VAT฿1,370
VAT 7%฿95.90
Total฿1,465.90

Recommended, not required today

  • MonitorReplace the right-hand link at the same timePart ฿890 plus half an hour of labour at ฿200. The right link has no play today. This is convenience, not a repair.฿1,090

Checked and not replaced

฿0
  • MonitorRight stabiliser linkNo play.
  • Plan itFront lower arm bushesSurface crazing, not split. Recheck in 10,000 km.
  • MonitorFront strutsDry, no oil film.
  • MonitorLower ball jointsNo measurable play.
  • MonitorTie rod endsNo play.
Time 1.5 hSame-day collectionVAT 7%

Air conditioning not cold

Isuzu D-Max 2.5 · 2014209,800 km

The owner said
The air is cool but not cold, and worse in traffic. Another shop topped up the refrigerant twice last year.

Diagnosis
A/C performance test1.75 h × ฿400฿700
Credited against the approved repair−฿700
Labour
Recover refrigerant, replace O-rings and receiver/drier, evacuate 45 min, recharge by weight, retest2.75 h × ฿400฿1,100
Parts
O-ring and seal kitOEM฿260
Receiver/drierOEM฿780
Fluids
R134a refrigerant550 g฿660
PAG 46 compressor oil30 ml฿180
Materials
UV leak-trace dye฿150
Approved work, ex VAT฿3,130
VAT 7%฿219.10
Total฿3,349.10

Why the receiver/drier is not optional: once the system is opened the drier has absorbed atmospheric moisture and cannot be reused. Moisture plus refrigerant makes acid, and the acid eats the compressor. We charge for it, and this is the explanation.

Recommended, not required today

  • Plan itCabin filterHeavily loaded. It really does reduce airflow — but it is not why the air is not cold.฿590

Checked and not replaced

฿0
  • MonitorCompressorClutch gap 0.45 mm, within spec. No bearing noise.
  • MonitorCondenser fan6.2 A draw, within spec.
  • MonitorExpansion valveSuperheat normal after the recharge.
  • MonitorBlower motorAll speeds working.
Time 3.5 hSame-day collectionVAT 7%

Warranty

Our labour
Six months or 10,000 km, whichever comes first.
Parts we supply
That brand’s warranty, minimum six months. We handle the claim.
Parts you supply
Labour only. No parts warranty. That sentence is printed on your estimate.
Diagnosis
Same fault back within 30 days — we re-diagnose free.

The old parts

Every removed part is photographed, then put in a box with the job number and your name on it and kept for 14 days. Take it if you want it. If you do not, we dispose of it — but you will have seen it first.

A cardboard tray on a shelf holding removed parts, with a job number written on the side in marker