WOW! Glad things worked out great for you!

I have very little love for the average mechanic. I have had so many bad experiences over the years for them trying to snow me into more unnesesary repairs.

It might be the "look a female, easy target" syndrome but for other problems it's been just plain greed or simple ignorance of Isuzu's.

I have simply learn that for my truck I take it to the dealer for anything I can't solve myself. I let them diagnose it then if possible I do what repairs myself and let them do the rest.

I've even had repeated problems of a shop not being able to install my oil filter correctly, yet the same shop has no trouble on my Mustang. they have been unable to correctly replace an EGR tube costing me hundreds to repair their mistake. I've had mechs intentionally misset my valves, kink the excelerator cable, and other stupid stuff. It's simple things like this that forced me for the first time in vehicle ownership to just take it to the "experts" at the Isuzu dealer /sigh

Sorry you've had to have such a horrble greedy experience yourself. This is by far the most blatant, expensive and malicious con I've yet to have a person I'm familar with experience. Sooo glad you knew from the beginning something sounded fishy.

At the least I would definately report them to the BBB and speak with the shop owner (if that mech isn't the owner that is).