$1250 for a timing belt job!!!!

Ehab · 08-03-2001, 03:43 PM

Hey Guys, I'm going through a major depression after paying my bill today for the timing belt job ... apparently, the balance shaft was leaking, and he had to replace the seals, gaskets, rollers, etc ... came out to about $570 in parts, and $665 for 7 hours of labor!!! *****king a man ... I'm broke now.

I would like to hear your opinions ... I dicided to take it to the dealer because of the tensioning tool (I have an 84NA) ... did I do the right thing???

Another thing, the cam now whines, of course, because they over-tension it to let it relax with time into the correct tension (I assume) ... is that okay?

I live in Boston, and car maint. here is outrageous ... keep that in mind.

Thanks.
E

ae1969 · 08-03-2001, 04:06 PM

I don't want to get to graphic....but I think you have been flipped over and done dry.....that hurts!!!!!

That is insane.....for $1000, a year ago...I had all the belts, rollers, seals, covers and waterpump changed....everything....redone..... that seems a little steep......to me...

The only reason I had to get some shop to do it was because I got stuck in another city and couldn't get the car back home.....so I was at the mercy of some mechanic.....who frankly...was a nice guy and quite reasonable....as I am starting to find out...

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86' 944
79' 924 (R.I.P)

Ehab · 08-03-2001, 04:09 PM

Being under their mercy is exactly how I felt .. But this price did inlclude the rollers, gaskets etc ... except for the water pump, which I assume he though was still good.

Where do you live? I think that makes a huge difference.

ae1969 · 08-03-2001, 04:19 PM

...its sad....when you are at their mercy....what may start as a simple job....can become....quite expensive.....

I live in Canada...it cost...1500 canadian...which is 1000 U.S. I was quoted about 600 U.S. to begin with.....just to get the items that needed to be done.....but go figure...they find one thing ...then another....so ....by that point its too late.....

Oh well.....now adays I just budget for $1000 a year on my toy (either on maintenance...or some new accesory for it).....it has been so good to me...that I don't feel too bad spending money on it......it has run incredibly well with regular maintenance...

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86' 944
79' 924 (R.I.P)

mideastmafia · 08-03-2001, 04:21 PM

i got ALL that done PLUS the water pump for $300. hehe, sorry man. sometimes you get ****ED over. go gambling

SHAUN

kingjp914 · 08-03-2001, 04:34 PM

Just got mine back from the same maintanance two weeks ago. It all started 5 hours after I paid off my MasterCard balance that has lingered since college graduation 3 years ago. My starter bit it, my water pump began leaking two days prior. So, I decided to have the water pump and starter replaced, cam belt, balance shaft belt, rollers for both shafts and the tensioner and a new theromostat. They also fixed a couple oil leaks for me. All said and done it was $1347.22. Pretty bad but I expected it as I've been waiting to do this maintance since I bought the car. I can't find any documentation that the belts were ever changed and I am about to turn 80K! On top of that, I failed smog check a week later at a CA Test Only Center (No free Retests). It was just a bad 02 sensor, but it still cost me almost 120 bucks after two tests to get my damn smog cert. I love my car and hate Wilmington Deleware.

roy944s · roy944s's Garage

Find another mechanic, man. This guys is ripping you off..

MDESMOND · 08-03-2001, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ehab:
Hey Guys, I'm going through a major depression after paying my bill today for the timing belt job ... apparently, the balance shaft was leaking, and he had to replace the seals, gaskets, rollers, etc ... came out to about $570 in parts, and $665 for 7 hours of labor!!! *****king a man ... I'm broke now.

I would like to hear your opinions ... I dicided to take it to the dealer because of the tensioning tool (I have an 84NA) ... did I do the right thing???

Another thing, the cam now whines, of course, because they over-tension it to let it relax with time into the correct tension (I assume) ... is that okay?

I live in Boston, and car maint. here is outrageous ... keep that in mind.

Thanks.
E

I think that is too high. I had the same job done on my 1986 951 last year for $800.00. My bill was 500 for labor and 300 for parts.

I live in the Boston area as well so pricing should be roughly the same. My guess is that the shop may have inflated the parts pricing to make some extra profit.

Mike

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

I got the same bill ONE time for that job! Big time learing experience for me. Second time I borrowed a belt tensioner from another PCA member and did it myself for $300. Find a new mechanic or learn to do it yourself. A set of service manuals is only $250. Get some! Sorry to hear that guy took you for a ride.

Ven · 08-04-2001, 03:37 AM

Just how hard is it to do the timing belt? I have only done it once but my motor was on a stand not in the car. And yeah I spent the 400 on a P9201. Is it that dificult to do while in the car?

ch944 · 08-04-2001, 05:17 AM

Wow, I plan on doing mine this winter. Need to buy the tensioner first. Ehab, what part of Boston do u live? I'm 50 miles south in New Bedford.

ch

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

It's really not that bad, most common mistake that I see is that people put the balance shafts back incorrectly. But if yous pull the covers and set everything to TDC and mark all the pulleys your set!

Ehab · 08-05-2001, 06:51 AM

ch944, I live in Somerville, 15 minutes away from Harvard Square.

I thank you all for sharing your experiences/opinions, I think I'm over it now, especially that I hope it was done right.

I usually do all the work myself, but I didn't have the tensioning tool and wouldn't trust my trial and error methods with the timing belt ....

Ehab

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Lock Stock '84 944 and two smokin' tires ...