This might seem kinda stupid but it's been a long time since I really took at a look at what car repairs cost and what they SHOULD cost. Kinda giving everyone an idea what they SHOULD pay for repairs. This was spurred on by a repair the dealership wanted to do for my dad. They wanted $400 to replace the oil pan on his car. The part cost $150.

While I know some repairs can range because of engine design, difficulty getting to etc, I'm mainly focusing on the common repairs/maintanance we have.

Lets talk the basics

Oil Change:
Tire Rotation(per tire):
Alignment:
AC Service:
Fluid Check and Fill (Break fluid, radiator coolant, etc):
Break Job (Breaks and other):

Add your own and toss in your opinion. Feel free to flame my ignorant ass.

4/4/2007 9:41:59 AM

to break something should be free

4/4/2007 9:48:23 AM

Oil Change: $24.95
Tire Rotation(per tire): $5
Alignment: $59.95
AC Service: $65.95
Fluid Check and Fill (Break fluid, radiator coolant, etc): $Free with oil change
Break Job (Breaks and other): $Varies per car. 1 hour labor for fronts, 1 hour labor for rear. $200 minimum

4/4/2007 10:00:11 AM

it's "brake" nor "break", although you can break your brakes.

4/4/2007 10:07:42 AM

helped a buddy change a battery and alternator on his 88 Acura Legend. It cost about $170 in parts from Advance. The dealer wanted $120 for the battery, $275 for the alternator, and two hours of labour (~$195)--so around $600. It took a little less than two hours in the parking lot to get it done.

4/4/2007 10:52:37 AM

Quote :

"to break something should be free"

lol, gg.

Quote :

"They wanted $400 to replace the oil pan on his car. The part cost $150. "

do you consider that to be out of line? i don't know what kind of car your dad has, but it's probably not a bad price at all, especially from a dealer. a large majority of vehicles require dropping the subframe and/or pulling the motor up to get the pan off.

the idea behind dealer prices being higher is that your paying for a well experienced/trained specialist specific to your brand to be working on the vehicle vs. any old idiot at the local quick lube. generally speaking, this is the case. sometimes it's not. on average, a dealer tech will have been exposed to your particular vehicle and its problems alot more than anywhere else.

the automotive repair industry is just like anything else. who are you to tell them what they SHOULD charge? alot of what you're paying for is their experience and expertise, not just the parts and their time.

running a shop isn't cheap. some places are more exspensive that others. i haven't heard of anywhere that's completely out of line though.

i assume all of you want to be payed as much as possible for what you do in your career? why should shops/mechanics be any different? until you get out there and earn a living with your hands, stfu.

btw, this isn't directed at anyone... just ranting.

[Edited on April 4, 2007 at 2:09 PM. Reason : .]

4/4/2007 1:59:49 PM

actually, gowers down on south saunders does alignments for $40 and they do a damn good job, they have the laser system and people that know what they are doing, a rare find these days

4/4/2007 2:37:03 PM

^ $45.00 but close enough and they do do a good job

4/4/2007 5:11:40 PM

This will quickly turn into "you're an idiot, my buddy and I replaced that ourselves in my driveway with two cinderblocks, an old monkey wrench, and a half can of vegetable oil for 62 cents"

4/4/2007 6:20:38 PM

^lol, yep.

4/4/2007 6:39:55 PM

you really get raped on OEM parts, at least when it's generic shit like my alternator example.

4/4/2007 10:59:59 PM

Also remember that everything is negotiable within a reasonable amount.

One case, discount tire and wheel. You ask for a quote for 4 tires, they say maybe $330. You can ask if they will do all 4 for $300 OTD and they probably will.

4/5/2007 9:12:08 AM

anybody know what a conuter valve would cost to replace?

4/5/2007 10:34:44 AM

Quote :

"Tire Rotation(per tire): "

How the hell do you rotate only one tire?

4/5/2007 11:23:19 AM

Dodge wants $1800 to replace the differential in a buddy's dakota.

4/5/2007 11:25:37 AM

^^ haha that's what on the "price board" I've seen. Yes I know it sounds ridiculous.

I also need to get my wheels balanced. I got an appt tuesday at Happy Japs for my AC. I half expected a Japanese guy to answer but it makes sense now.

I take it the guys (gowers?) on south saunders would be the place to go for wheel balancing and alignment?

4/5/2007 12:07:51 PM

Quote :

"How the hell do you rotate only one tire?"

where at? i want to go there and ask em to rotate just one and see what they say

4/5/2007 3:15:59 PM

I'm gonna buy a boat here in the next couple of weeks, so im prob just gonna be safe a get new pads on the front.
What should it cost for new pads, and to turn my rotors? Labor, parts, etc.

4/5/2007 3:19:12 PM

Quote :

"How the hell do you rotate only one tire?"

Jack up one corner of the car and turn the wheel by hand? One tire will be, in fact, rotating.

4/6/2007 12:31:50 AM

BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4/6/2007 12:33:34 PM

take the rotors down to loop rd. auto parts, $10

pads $30-40 from the zone

4/6/2007 12:36:45 PM