David - I've spayed dogs which had  prolonged/erratic heat cycles and,
before the surgery, explained to the owners that it most likely was due
to cystic ovaries.  Then, after the surgery, I have been perfectly
willing to show the owners the removed uterus, along with the cystic
ovaries, BUT do they have any idea of what they are looking at?  I doubt
it.

The "proof" is in the "pudding".  Should your clutch/shifting give you
anymore problems in the near future, you might be correct in suspecting
your mechanic of skinning you.  Otherwise, I'd say that unless you are
prepared to enter such mechanical repairs yourself, leave it to the
"experts".

R.A. Alexander, D.V.M.
'85GL - "Bourgeois"