I know some of you guys are technicians. I respect your job and understand that you guys have overheads on running your shops.

The main word in my question is REASONABLE. If it really a 3-hour-job by the book so be it. Why not just state that in your posting?
It is not a problem that you have to diagnose that you can't determine until you see the car. It is just a routine maintenance that I thought you guys that working in the auto repair field should know know the answer instantly.

I thought that's what this forum is all about. To HELP each other.
I guess I'm wrong.