Car Repair Estimate Checker

This skill helps users understand and evaluate mechanic repair quotes. It provides a consumer‑friendly analysis that highlights safety‑critical items, possible overpricing, bundled work, and useful “while‑you’re‑in‑there” recommendations.

How to Use

1. Collect Input
   Gather any of the following from the user:

   • Full text of the repair estimate or invoice
   • Vehicle year, make, model, and mileage
   • Reported symptoms or complaints
   • Diagnostic trouble codes (if available)
   • Recent repair history
   • Photos or notes from the inspection

2. Prompt the Skill
   Provide the collected information in a single prompt. Example:

   Vehicle: 2018 Honda Accord, 62,000 miles  
   Symptoms: Engine stalls at idle, check engine light flashing  
   Estimate: 
   1. Replace oxygen sensor – $250  
   2. Replace fuel pump – $650 (parts + labor)  
   3. Perform transmission flush – $180  
   4. Replace brake pads front – $300  
   Total quoted: $1,380
   

3. Interpret the Output
   The skill returns a structured response with the sections described below. Use it to decide what to approve, delay, or question.

Output Structure

1. Plain‑English Summary
   A concise paragraph describing the overall situation.

2. Repair Line‑Item Breakdown
   Each quoted item with a brief explanation of why it might be needed.

3. Urgency Ranking

   • Safety‑critical – Must be fixed before driving.
   • Soon – Should be addressed within weeks.
   • Monitor – Keep an eye on it; can wait a few months.
   • Optional – Purely preventive or cosmetic.

4. Possible Overpricing / Upsell Flags
   Highlights items that appear expensive compared to typical market rates or seem unrelated.

5. Fair Price Range Estimate
   Provides a low‑to‑high estimate for each item based on national averages and typical labor rates.

6. Combined‑Failure Probability Rating

   • Low / Medium / High – Likelihood that all listed problems stem from a common cause.
   • Explanation of the reasoning.
   • Recommendation on whether the shop may be bundling unrelated repairs.

7. Common Root Cause Analysis
   Potential underlying issues that could explain multiple symptoms.

8. Questions to Ask the Mechanic
   Targeted queries to clarify scope, parts, labor, and warranties.

9. What to Approve Now vs. Delay
   Clear guidance on which items should be authorized immediately and which can be postponed.

10. While‑You’re‑In‑There Recommendations
    Practical additional services (e.g., replace worn belts, flush coolant) with:

    • Reason for inclusion
    • Required vs. optional status
    • Estimated added cost
    • Risks of skipping

11. Final Recommendation
    A balanced consumer‑friendly verdict summarizing the best next steps.

Step‑by‑Step Guide for the Agent

1. Parse the Input

• Extract vehicle details, mileage, and symptoms.
• Identify each line‑item, its parts cost, labor cost, and total.
• Note any diagnostic codes or recent repairs that could be relevant.

2. Validate Diagnostic Logic

• Cross‑reference symptoms with typical causes (use a simple lookup table or reasoning).
• Flag any item that does not logically align with the reported problem.

3. Assess Pricing

• Compare each part price to average OEM/aftermarket costs (e.g., via a built‑in price table).
• Compare labor hours to typical shop rates (~$100‑$150/hr).
• Mark items >30% above average as potential overpricing.

4. Determine Urgency

• Safety‑critical: brakes, airbags, steering, major engine failures, emissions‑related failures that cause a “no‑start.”
• Soon: components that will likely fail soon (e.g., worn timing belt, failing fuel pump).
• Monitor: items that can be observed (e.g., minor coolant leak).
• Optional: purely preventive or cosmetic (e.g., interior cleaning).

5. Evaluate Bundling

• Look for unrelated systems in one quote (e.g., transmission flush + brake pads).
• If symptoms don’t support a repair, rate the bundling probability as high.

6. Generate Price Ranges

• Use formulas:
  low = parts_low + (labor_hours * low_rate)
high = parts_high + (labor_hours * high_rate)
• Provide a range like “$200‑$300”.

7. Draft the Output

• Follow the exact order of sections listed above.
• Use bullet points for clarity.
• Highlight safety‑critical items in bold.

8. Add Recommendations

• Suggest getting a second opinion for any item flagged as overpriced or unrelated.
• Recommend specific “while‑you’re‑in‑there” tasks only if they share the same disassembly (e.g., replace serpentine belt when accessing the water pump).

Example Output

**Plain‑English Summary**
Your car is stalling at idle and the check‑engine light is flashing. The shop suggests replacing the oxygen sensor, fuel pump, doing a transmission flush, and replacing front brake pads.

**Repair Line‑Item Breakdown**
1. Oxygen sensor – needed for fuel‑air mixture; typical cost $120‑$180.
2. Fuel pump – common cause of stalling; typical cost $400‑$600.
3. Transmission flush – usually performed every 60k‑100k miles; not directly linked to stalling.
4. Front brake pads – safety‑critical but unrelated to engine symptoms.

**Urgency Ranking**
- Safety‑critical: Front brake pads (must be fixed).
- Soon: Fuel pump (likely causing stalls).
- Monitor: Oxygen sensor (could be fine, but replacement is cheap).
- Optional: Transmission flush (no direct symptom link).

**Possible Overpricing / Upsell Flags**
- Transmission flush is $180, 40% above average for a 2018 Accord.
- Fuel pump quoted at $650, 30% above typical range.

**Fair Price Range Estimate**
- Oxygen sensor: $120‑$180
- Fuel pump: $400‑$600
- Transmission flush: $120‑$150
- Front brake pads: $250‑$300

**Combined‑Failure Probability Rating**
- **Medium** – Stalling can stem from both oxygen sensor and fuel pump, but the transmission flush is unrelated.

**Common Root Cause Analysis**
- Likely a failing fuel pump combined with a marginal oxygen sensor.

**Questions to Ask the Mechanic**
1. Can you show the diagnostic codes that point to the fuel pump?
2. Why is a transmission flush recommended for stalling?
3. Are there any warranty parts or labor discounts available?

**What to Approve Now vs. Delay**
- Approve now: Front brake pads, fuel pump.
- Delay/second‑opinion: Transmission flush,