Ouch! First Repair Bill

[btsave]

Well, it finally happened, I had to bring my "new" '83 944 in to a mechanic to address some vibrations... $500 to repair/adjust timing/balancer belt, $800 to replace the engine/tranny mounts... plus he wanted $650 to repair the oil sender leak and then $700 for a "major tune-up" (plugs, fluids filters, etc.) I'm having him do the first 2, holding off on the oil sender unit leak (which is minor) and doing the "major tune up" myself. Were these prices in line or were I taken advantage of?

[arnebret]

Well, i don't know what sort of mech he is (official porsche?) but this is pretty heavy. I have a local, ex-porsche mech with lots of experience in the maintainance (and racing) 944's (and of course 911's). He is great at his work and i once had him put in a new clutch, torque tube and several 'tune-ups' for the price of $2200. He really had a bad time getting it all done (exhaust nuts, a broken top bearing of the old driveshaft, new clutch etc etc). I reckon this would be a $5000 job at my porsche dealer. Keep in mind, cars are VERY expensive in europe (extra taxes on parts/oil/labour etc).

Still: try to get another estimate from another mech, or you might even try your dealer and see what they come up with.

[btsave]

not a dealer. just a "euro" specialist

[MAS]

Much of this sounds high to me... especially the $800 to replace the motor mounts. I don't recall the motor mount replacement being anything like that much, although I'm sure some others will chime in here too. Also, the so-called tune up sounds way high to me, unless he's going to replace a whole lot of stuff.

-MAS

[rudidelange]

oops sound pricey, for those amounts I would be able to fly from South Africa, do the work and cover all my costs

[AFJuvat]

seems a little high

AFJuvat

[Lawrence Coppari]

Too high.

[mambodave]

Take it from me...the repair king.

You can do MUCH better. Motor mounts should be around $500. Belts should be in the $500 range.
The "Major Tune Up" is crap. No way it should be $700. Theres nothing to "Tune" on these. Just replace fluids, plugs and filters. Not sure on the Oil Leak. Sounds a bit uch though.

It doesnt sound like he's a Porshe guy.


Good luck!

[mike944]

$500 sounds about right for REPLACEMENT of timing / balance belts, not adjustment. Adjusting should be 1 hour labor.

$500 is a reasonable price for just motor mounts, if he's using factory mounts. I've heard the aftermarket ones are no good. Now you did say he's replacing the transmission mounts as well for the $800. That's probably reasonable for engine AND trans. mounts, although i've never heard of the trans mounts going bad.

$650 for the oil sender leak is ridiculous. Even if he's re-sealing the oil cooler, that's still way too high.

$700 for the "major" tuneup is also very high. "major" tuneup should be plugs, rotor, cap & wires. Around $200 in parts, and less than 1 hour labor. Now if he's replacing the O2 sensor, that costs another $60, and 15-30 minutes. Not sure what else he is planning on doing. I suppose if he's draining and refilling power steering, changing the brake fluid, oil change with synthetic, fuel filter, air filter, i suppose that could add up to $700, but for that price, he should be doing everything i have listed, plus some.

Let us know what this "major" tuneup includes.

Sounds like you did the right thing, the belts, and the motor / transmission mounts. He should check the water pump while he's in there. They should be replaced every other belt change.

Good luck

Mike
'84 944
'92 968
'01 VW Jetta TDi

[TCMdocs944]

That guy is killing you.

Where in florida are you located?


You should go to AFJ's shop if on the east coast.

If on the west coast you might be able to get a little help from your friends...Detail my 83 and I will change out your balance belt (yes it is about that easy)

Put your city in your profile.

[Blackfoot]

Seems low compared to where I take it. I paid $500 last time and they didn't fix the item I brought it in for.

____________________
Cars

[btsave]

Well, the $500 was for replacement of belts...

I decided to have them do that as well as replace both the motor and tranny mounts for $800. Oil leak issue can wait & tune up I'll do myself.

BUT... just got a call from the mechanic who says that he found a wrong tensioner on the belt which is driving it into the cover.. needs new tensioner and a bunch of seals, as well as a new water pump (my suggestion) and a few hoses... plus oil within the distributor cap... (possibly thrown off from oil sending unit dripping back down ?)

I guess I am being hosed.. but what can I do now that they're into it for this much labour? The parts would be all I'll save at this point.

Any of you in So.Florida know Capone's Foreign Auto Parts & Service?

[btsave]

West Palm Beach, Florida, East Coast... who'e AFJ?

[TCMdocs944]

AFJuvat - further up on this post. Viera Beach.

Local 944 Jedi Master

Private message him and see if they can fit you in.



Your oil sender leak is probably coming from one of your front seals (balance shaft etc.)

$500 is about the right price for all of your belts to be done.....don't really understand about the tensioner thing.


Good luck

[AFJuvat]

Timing belt adjustment - 1.2 hrs labor - $111 @ $74\hr

Replacement runs about $350 unless you need other parts (like tensioners and rollers)

Engine mounts about $400 - tranny mount $400 - tranny mounts rarely go bad - you definately hear them when they do

Oil pressure sender: $75 .about 1 hour to change - figure $150 - 175

Major tune up (which includes belt replacement) - plugs, cap, rotor, oil, air, and fuel filter - about $700

AFJuvat

[btsave]

how far r u from west palm beach?

[AFJuvat]

About 1.5 hours north

Melbourne Florida - just south of Kennedy Space Center

AFJuvat

[Don 944 LA]

How much r they chargin for sock replacement and/or tensioning ??

[btsave]

i believe that's included in the $500 for belt replacements ...

now, about replacing the blinker light fluids.....

[btsave]

Well, I spent some time yesterday with the mechanic and had him show me what had to be done ... why.
$500 to replace belts, plastic cover, align and put the "balance sprockets (I forgot what he called them)" back correctly; seems that the PO reversed the pieces that hold the balance rod belts in and this caused the belt to deteriorate as it hit up against the plastic cover... which was literally cut asunder.
$880 to replace the motor & tranny mounts, which I could see for myself now that the rubber was seperating from the metal.
$420 to repair leak under valve cover gasket, remove and refit the oil cooler assembly to repair the leak there. Clean up the distributor cap which received pooled oil, etc.
Additional charges to replace the front suspension bushings, change the oil, etc.

Few other areas as well, which I cannot recall at this point.... total looks to be $2700....

oh well, I just keep hearing this sucking sound everytime the shop calls....

BUT, I bet the 944 wil drive VERY SWEETLY when done....