How much does it cost to have an auxiliary belt replaced on a car?

Question

I've just taken my Nissan Micra in to have the belt replaced but they couldn't tell me how much it was going to be. I know nothing about cars so any help would be good - thanks!

Answer 1

If u want to be spot on ring a halfords branch or any car parts supplier and ask how much a belt is then ring the garage and inquire how much they charge per hour for labour,they should inform you as its good policy for customer service but failing that just ring ATS theyll tell u over the phone no problem

Answer 2

A service people should give you a quote on how much it is going to cost to replace it. If they cannot tell you, then go to another repair (service) shop and ask them.

On my 97 Honda Civic, part cost about less than $50. Labor of $110 an hour at the Honda Dealer Service Department. It is an estimate.

Usually the timing belt, power steering belt, alternator belt, condenser (air conditioner) belt; all of them are replaced at the same time on my car. The reason behind it, all are in used when the engine is running. I ask them to replace all of them, even one doesn't show signs of wear at it cost me $500 at least.

Now they used only one belt called a drive belt. My mom's 2003 Toyota Corolla has only one belt, the drive belt. I brought to the Toyota Dealer at it cost almost $500. 2003 Toyota Corolla has a timing chain, not a timing belt.

If I'm in your shoes, I will go somewhere else. It is a red flag and a big question mark for me.

Answer 3

I'm surprised they couldn't/wouldn't tell you. They ought to know how long the job should take and with their hourly charges how much the labour is going to be. And the belt is normally only a few quid, though don't hold me to that if it's a special item. Doubt it though. I've just done one on the better half's Peugeot, the belt cost £7-50 from the dealer (it was an emergency), much less elsewhere.

Personally, I'd expect 1/2hour work at the outside, though I don't know the peculiarities of your car.

Do I detect an attempted rip-off coming here? Sorry to be sexis/ageist or any other "ist", but do you have anyone (brother, father, uncle, friend, neighbour or whatever who could come with you when they try to hand you the bill who would spot a try-on?

Answer 4

Replacing belts on a Micra is easy enough. I wouldn't pay more than £20-£30 for the work plus the cost of the belt. You can do it yourself quite easily too.

Answer 5

Then DONT authorize the service.
They should have given you a range of costs for the belt and a specific cost for the labor.
There is a book we use to determine the standard hours (&fraction). That value is multiplied times the shop's labor rate.
Belt costs vary from parts shop to shop and model to model. You can look up the cost of the belt for your car online.
My experience with datsun/nissans is that they are pretty dang easy. Actual time is about 10 to 20 minutes and billing time is 1 fifth to 1/2 hour.

Your charge should be between $15 and $45.

Carparts dot com shows the serpentine for a maxima is $11 to $19. But they don't show specifically the Micra. Niether does autozone dot com. You should go to a nearby autozone shop to get their price. We get most of our parts from there or Oriley's.

But if they try to get you to sign their little contract and have not given you a fair range of costs, they are setting you up for a shearing.

Answer 6

first of all it depends on what belt it has there are two typs
1. toothed belt relatively cheap.
2. multy v belt can be expensive?
but beeing nissan dealer they should know and should tell you befor you say yes or no!

Answer 7

Replacing belts are pretty cheap Should not cost more than an
hours wages plus the cost of the belt.