EDIT: so anyone else with the same problem can find it on the net
This is for a 2005 Hyundai ATOS 1.1 GLS Prime Idle problem (Not Actuator)

My idle is low and the mechanic is telling me that the actuator needs to be replaced @ R2500 + labour, I think im being ripped off. its an Atoz Prime GLS with a fuel injected motor. as far as i know the actuator has nothing to do with idle but then again i am a software engineer so what do i know about cars.

Who has some insight

Ok im not too sure on this but normaly changing your idle is a everyday thing that any tom **winkie** or harry can do i have never heard of an actuator being the cuase of low idle's but ill google it now

This is gonna be long winded but its important to understand the conspiracy of the auto-mechanic.

I might have mentioned this somewhere before but on Monday (2 days ago) I tell them that R2500 is way too much for me to spend right now, so they say they will source me a second hand part. Yesterday i call them to check the progress and they say they still havn't found something and they will call me as soon as they do. so i wait some more.

Today I decide to go pick up my car cause i want a second opinion and they taking too long. The guy behind the counter says they waiting Merbeda to tell them if they have the part. I drive 100m (100 FRIGIN meters) down the road to Merbeda and the guy says he has the part (was that so damn difficult that they couldnt have done so on Monday).

Any way the guy asks if he can have a look cause he knows hyundai are a bunch of money making twats, ok he didnt say twats but he should of. Like within 10 seconds he notices that the spark plug is misfiring and there's sparks flying out of the plug cable jacket against an earthing plate.

So it turns out all i need is new plug cables and he offered to clean out the actuator as a bonus.

What would have happened if i had fallen for hyundai.

Twat: We need to replace your actuator. It has nothing to do with the low idle, but it is expensive and timely to change and we wanna rip you off.
Me: sounds great. as long as my car works. go ahead.

later...

Twat: we discovered that your plug cables need replacing too. we knew this from the beginning, but we just wanted you to spend unessasary money on a part you didn't need cause we want to rip you off.
Me: sounds great. as long as my car works. go ahead.


TWATS

Hahaha! Now I can't help but laugh...not in a bad way, but more just based on the way you told the story, simulated the conversation and busted their asses!

Ugh...that's the problem with dealers though these days, always a rip-off...and why you might ask...well purely because their biggest income generator is on after-sales i.e. spares.

Glad you got a second opinion before they actually got to rip you off! So, if you don't mind my asking what did/will it end up costing you as a comparison to what you would've been ripped off on?

still have to buy the plug cables. midas in Quigney was out of stok so i'm gonna check the one in Vincent after work. I'll have an answer on that one tomorow.

Cool! Can't see it costing you a lot at all! Cables aren't that expensive. (I think).

scourge claims they are but will see

Yeah....just check and see...I don't know for sure what they cost, but I am sure it will cost you less than what you initially would've paid at Hyundai!

Well i only needed to buy one plug cable which cost R36 somthing, for arguments sake lets say R37. I Dropped the car off yesterday morning. Yesterday afternoon i go pick it up, he said the cleaned out the actuator and the idle sensor, replaced the faulty plug cable and set the idle higher.

The car is working, and the best part is he charged me Noughty Nought Rand and Noughty nought cents. Thats Right R00.00 so what hyundai was gonna charge me, close to R3500 with labour, cost me R37.

That's slightly (fractionaly ) more than 1%.

Holy crap! That is fantastic!

Jeez....you almost got ripped off sooooo big time with Hyundai! That's why I hate car dealers, but you can't do sh1t...at least not till the end of your service plan!

Awesome dude!!! I'm happy for you and can only imagine your delight!

Dude thats awesome that he didn't charge you

7

I've recently replaced the valvetronic actuator on my car.

it controls the VVT, so if that is out or slow to respond it can have that effect of a low idle, but most likely isn't.

if it was the actuator, a low idle would be the least of your worries