Vehicle Repair thread

[CowboyMcCoy]

I don't know if there is already one of these, but thought it would be a good idea. Yes, I know it's not an auto mechanic forum. But I was wondering if $325 was a fair price on replacing a water pump in a 1997 Nissan Altima?

I'd usually just buy the part and have my friend do it...but the reason I ask is bc this place quoted me $650, then I said I'd do it myself then they said ok $325... LOL.

I don't want to bother my friend and split hairs over 50 bucks, but anything more than that i'm tight with.


My other car is a Ferrari.

 

[tomson75]

95% of the prices auto repair shops quote average customers with are completely inflated. I've been building and rebuilding Jeeps and motorcycles since I was in high school, so I have a general idea of what I'm doing...at least concerning pre-2004 vehicles. Newer vehicles are a little more complex, even for relatively easy repairs like water pumps.

I remember one time I had borrowed my mother's Ford Exploder while I was installing a long arm kit on my jeep, and the rear brakes disintegrated on the Ford. I took the damn truck in because I didn't have time to work on two trucks, and I needed it done asap so I had transportation to work....and they quoted me like $800. I almost became violent. I explained to them how I had recently replaced the entire rear end on my jeep, including upgrading it to disc brakes, from the stock chrysler 8.25 to a Ford 8.8.......the EXACT same axle that was found on my mother's explorer.....and I did it for under $250. I asked them if they'd like to try again, and they said they'd do it for $200.

I like having my wife go in for repairs while I sit back and eavesdrop on her conversation with the shop's employee....then asking them to try again.

I've never paid anyone to replace a water pump....and would do everything I could to do the work myself if I had the time. 40-50 bucks an hour labor is a tough pill for me to swallow.

A general rule of thumb if you don't know how to do a repair is to find out the shop's hourly rate, then do a little research on the repair needed, i.e. the hours needed and parts cost....add them up, and see if they're legit.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

That seems like a pretty fair price to me. Im guessing 50-100 for the pump itself and the rest for labor.
On some of these newer import cars and even older theres a fair amount of labor involved getting to and getting the old pump off.
Good luck.......

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

That seems like a pretty fair price to me. Im guessing 50-100 for the pump itself and the rest for labor.
On some of these newer import cars and even older theres a fair amount of labor involved getting to and getting the old pump off.
Good luck.......

This one is pretty easy, I gathered. On the 6 cylinder model it is behind multiple timing belts, etc..But not here. Mine is 4 cylinder. I may search for a youtube of water pump replacement and see if i can get it done myself. If not, my friend can do it..

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

95% of the prices auto repair shops quote average customers with are completely inflated. I've been building and rebuilding Jeeps and motorcycles since I was in high school, so I have a general idea of what I'm doing...at least concerning pre-2004 vehicles. Newer vehicles are a little more complex, even for relatively easy repairs like water pumps.

I remember one time I had borrowed my mother's Ford Exploder while I was installing a long arm kit on my jeep, and the rear brakes disintegrated on the Ford. I took the damn truck in because I didn't have time to work on two trucks, and I needed it done asap so I had transportation to work....and they quoted me like $800. I almost became violent. I explained to them how I had recently replaced the entire rear end on my jeep, including upgrading it to disc brakes, from the stock chrysler 8.25 to a Ford 8.8.......the EXACT same axle that was found on my mother's explorer.....and I did it for under $250. I asked them if they'd like to try again, and they said they'd do it for $200.

I like having my wife go in for repairs while I sit back and eavesdrop on her conversation with the shop's employee....then asking them to try again.

I've never paid anyone to replace a water pump....and would do everything I could to do the work myself if I had the time. 40-50 bucks an hour labor is a tough pill for me to swallow.

A general rule of thumb if you don't know how to do a repair is to find out the shop's hourly rate, then do a little research on the repair needed, i.e. the hours needed and parts cost....add them up, and see if they're legit.

I learned a lot when I sold cars about a decade ago. Nowadays, the market has changed a lot. But the general rule of thumb of haggling with cars has NOT.

My wife said, "you're good. I would have thought I had to pay it."

I try telling her that the car is clean and with only 90k miles on it we are saving much more just by not having luxury items.

We were in the market, then I saw how inflated the used car market was. And I got right back out of it.

I'll stick to working on my own car for now. Thank you...

 

[DIAF]

For an import sedan like the Nissan Altima, there's usually a fairly sizeable tuner community out there on the internet, which means there's likely to be a few large forums with how-tos, DIYs, etc posted. One such place you should check is nicoclub - they have forums for all things Nissan. I learned a lot about cars from the nicoclub forum back when I drove a 240sx.

Ever since college, the internet has saved me probably 2-3 grand in auto repairs by showing me how to do it myself.

 

[trickblue]

For an import sedan like the Nissan Altima, there's usually a fairly sizeable tuner community out there on the internet, which means there's likely to be a few large forums with how-tos, DIYs, etc posted. One such place you should check is nicoclub - they have forums for all things Nissan. I learned a lot about cars from the nicoclub forum back when I drove a 240sx.

Ever since college, the internet has saved me probably 2-3 grand in auto repairs by showing me how to do it myself.

This...

I'm no mechanic, but I have joined excellent forums on the last two vehicles I have owned and was able to do many things on my own... or at least come in to the mechanic armed with knowledge...

 

[vta]

.but the reason I ask is bc this place quoted me $650, then I said I'd do it myself then they said ok $325... LOL.

This alone would make me go somewhere else. Typical repair shop nonsense and as soon as he his hands into your car, he's going to make up that difference by finding phantom problems with your car and saying you need to get them fixed. They do it all the time.

Is your friend a mechanic by profession? If he is, I wouldn't worry about bothering him, because that's exactly what you need, a friend working on your car. If not, give him the 325.00 and you won't have to feel bad about it.

 

[DIAF]

This...

I'm no mechanic, but I have joined excellent forums on the last two vehicles I have owned and was able to do many things on my own... or at least come in to the mechanic armed with knowledge...

It's amazing what you can do yourself (and how easy it is) if you have

1. drive up ramps
2. jackstands
3. ratchet set

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

This...

I'm no mechanic, but I have joined excellent forums on the last two vehicles I have owned and was able to do many things on my own... or at least come in to the mechanic armed with knowledge...

Which can lead them to believe you can do it on your own. I did this on a trip, when I was down at the coast and my radiator hose needed replacing. The guy at autozone was smart enough to find it. So I went to the mechanic and said, hey I got this hose and it goes right here. I was wondering if you'd put it on for me.

He said yes and I just gave him the tools I bought at autozone for the labor. Of course, he was just a nice guy--not a typical mechanic anyway.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

This alone would make me go somewhere else. Typical repair shop nonsense and as soon as he his hands into your car, he's going to make up that difference by finding phantom problems with your car and saying you need to get them fixed. They do it all the time.

Is your friend a mechanic by profession? If he is, I wouldn't worry about bothering him, because that's exactly what you need, a friend working on your car. If not, give him the 325.00 and you won't have to feel bad about it.

Yeah, i was going to do that when they quoted me. But this post prompted me to call my friend. I said, "would $300 be fair"? He said he'd give me a better quote than that...and would even pick up the part while he's doing other things.

Great to have these sorts of friends...So know I'm thinking under 300 and helping him cuz I know he needs it too.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

It's amazing what you can do yourself (and how easy it is) if you have

1. drive up ramps
2. jackstands
3. ratchet set

Watching this guy and others over the years at dealerships I worked at, I feel like I know my way mentally around cars. I just don't feel comfortable tweaking on them or anything. LOL

I'm pretty good at diagnosing it. I told my wife, "it's the water pump." But I didn't know where it was.

But yeah, I'm figuring my friend I met because he needed work at the time may still need it now, even though he has a job as a mechanic.

 

[CowboyDan]

I'll do it for $250, but you gotta bring it to my garage in Mansfield, TX.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I'll do it for $250, but you gotta bring it to my garage in Mansfield, TX.

Yeah, i figured I could do it for less than $100 really if I had the tools and everything. But living in an apartment means I don't actually have my own garage. So, I know I'm overspending some...but to me it's worth it and it's going to a good person, rather than someone who tried to rip my head off at first. LOL

 

[MetalHead]

Looking for after hours labor for a 99 explorer.
Spark plugs...not as easy as it sounds....

This infraction bar is uncalled for,really.

 

[vta]

This infraction bar is uncalled for,really.

I think only the user can see it.

 

[CowboyDan]

Looking for after hours labor for a 99 explorer.
Spark plugs...not as easy as it sounds....

This infraction bar is uncalled for,really.

I wish you were in North Texas. I'd have you fixed up in no time. Of course, we might get into a fist fight over Iron Maiden, but it would be worth it for you and me.

 

[CowboyDan]

Yeah, i figured I could do it for less than $100 really if I had the tools and everything. But living in an apartment means I don't actually have my own garage. So, I know I'm overspending some...but to me it's worth it and it's going to a good person, rather than someone who tried to rip my head off at first. LOL

Understandable. When you say tools, are you including the new parts? (ie. water pump and any gaskets, new anti-freeze, new belts if needed, etc)

 

[DIAF]

hahaha. I used to have a Mercury Mountaineer, and replacing the plugs in that was indeed a freakin' pain.

 

[MetalHead]

I wish you were in North Texas. I'd have you fixed up in no time. Of course, we might get into a fist fight over Iron Maiden, but it would be worth it for you and me.

Driving to Florida on saturday...long haul....again.