Am i being ripped off?

Question

6 spark plugs $70.38
6plugtubes $88.20
2valvecovers $29.03/ea
1cable/IGN $92.25
distributorcap $79.88
distributor rotor $20.70
belt $129.95
sprocket-tensioner $41.96
guide timing belt tensioner $155.76
pulleytensioner $50.40
beltpowersteering $19.24
beltaccesorydrive $33.76
3brakecleaner $16.29
radiatorcap $19.46
thermostat $57.60
coolant $19.91
Tube water inlet $90.34
2thermostat gasket $15.68
2o-ring water pipe $15.12
distrubtor $700
cooling system flush $139.95
Front brake rotors and pads $487.04

With labor at $110/hr this work will cost me around $4500 on a 96 chrysler sebring i am unsure if i am being ripped off
i know it's a lot of money to put into a 96 sebring

Answer 1

yes i would say you are getting ripped off u need second opinion that's outrageous

Answer 2

Spark plugs=If they are high performance, then $70 is about right
Wires=$88-thats pretty good for oem.
Belt=$129 yes if it is a serpentine belt, no if its a timing belt.
Thermostat=$57 WAY to high. it shouldnt cost more then $15.
Tube water inlet=$90 im assuming you mean radiator hose.. yes, it shouldnt cost more then $20.
radiator cap=$19.46 (only if it is a high pressure performance cap)
Distributer=$700 yes, for an oem it should be under $250. (and since im assuming it doesnt have an ignitor or cap, because you listed those previously), it should be under $125.
Front brakes pads and rotors should cost over $200 if the are oem. You can get performance pads and rotors for under $300.
If i were you, iwould goto a junk yard for the tentioners, distributer (you may still need to replace the cap and rotor), main ignition wire.
Other then that, the prices listed are pretty reasonable.
maintenance $110 an hour? dont take it to the dealer, they will always charge you more. A good mechanic should cost around 60-80 an hour.
If you have a place to work on it, you could install damn near everything very easily. I mean you may been to take it in for the timing issues, because these are a little more advanced work, but everything else should be a peice of cake.
For a bill of $4500, it would make sense to go buy a chiltons manual and do all the repairs yourself. You may be able to cut that bill down to $500 or less.
Now, if you live in a big city, look for car clubs. You may be able to get everything replaced for the cost of a pony keg.

Also, look here for people parting out their cars, you may even be able to get parts for pennies on the dollar:
http://www.asog.net/

Answer 3

If i did my calculation right, you're paying for about 20 hours of labor. and if im correct you are getting a timing belt replaced, tune-up, distributor replaced, valve cover gaskets replaced, water pump and thermostat put in and front brakes. The timing belt should be done at 60K miles (usually) some go as high as 90k. Sparks plugs every 30k and spark plug wires every 60k. The valve cover gaskets only need to be replaced if they are leaking oil. the Water pump will also drip coolant when it needs to be replaced. Some rare cases the pump impeller falls apart internally and the vehicle overheats. Its good practice to replace the thermostat every time the water pump is replaced. I don't know why they want to replaced the distributor if the car is running... or is it? Now with that said, In professional opinion. The information you listed puts up red flags.

Answer 4

I'm assuming that prices are with labour included, and that sounds about right, my shop chargers about the same prices, remember you're also paying for warranty aswell. I know on thoes cars, that the parts arn't the cheapest either. With $110/h i'm assuming you're at a dealer, and if you want to bring the cost down a little, bring it to a smaller garage that has a good reputation. My shop rate is about $92/h, plus shop fees what are about 9% of the total bill. The price seems about right, if all new parts are being used and no remanufactured (just as good as new) are being used, if remanufactured parts are being used the price should drop a little, but just stay away from rebuilt parts, they are junk. Talk to the person in charge of pricing, if you feel you are being taken and have them explain each cost to you, if they refuse to do that, or don't want to answer the questions you may have, then you are most likly getting ripped off, if they can explain everything in full, and why the price is waht it is, then the prices are reasonable. Also, be carful with buying your own parts, all the shops in my area will not install parts brought by the customer, as to warranty issues and quality of parts, and if they are infact, the right part, if they arn't then they have to deal with you and you have return them and get the right one, ect. and all the time its tying up one of thier hoists, is a big pain.

Answer 5

hi Jessie, all automobile manufacturers actual attempt to destruction many samples of the autos that they produce. the reason that manufacturers set limits is to take as much as account placed on and tear and additionally getting older besides. Cambelts are quite staggering in thats they dont smash extra many times than they do, i personnally when I owend a vaxuhall replaced my cambelt each 30,000 miles or 2 years as there would desire to be oil an infection on the belt that would desire to scale lower back the existence of the belt and would desire to reason untimely faliure, the vauxhall engine if its an ecotec engine is an interferance engne meaning that if the belt does snap while the engine is working ability that the indoors components would hit one yet another and at ultimate bend vlaves meaning the pinnacle would would desire to come off and at worse an entire engine rebuild so i strongly reccomend which you persevere with the manufacturers reccomendations

Answer 6

they are ripping you off, Big time
I scoped out auto zone real quick www.autozone.com

example
front pad lifetime war $20.99
dura last rotors 2 yr war $21.99 ea
distributor cardone lifetime $218.99 but I never seen one go bad yet.all integral parts are changeable.
thermostat $12.99 fail-safe $32.99
spark plugs $1.49 - $12.99 each depending on what you wish to use but generally cost around $12.00
water outlet $6.99
belt $8.99 - $17.99
idler pulley(belt tensioner) $26.99
Thermostat Gasket
Inlet $6.99
Outlet $6.99
Case to head $2.49
distributor cap $45.99
rotor $8.99
plug wires $45.99
battery cables
neg $7.99
pos $10.99


I would certainly get other opinions.I think they are trying to take you for a ride.

Answer 7

Absolutely!!! Check with at least 3 other repair shops for a comparison. It may depend on where you live...but in my area, that is a ridiculous price list! The repairs would cost you more than the blue book value of the car! If it needs this much work done and is 11 years old...you should consider putting your $4500 into another car

Answer 8

You are SO getting ripped off.

That is nuts. You are paying 10x the price you'd find the same stuff at an autoparts store for.

The labor is double, almost triple of what is reasonable per hour.

Get your car away from that place. Tow it out if you have to.

Answer 9

Buy your own parts, most shops double or sometimes even triple the cost of parts(if they bought it for $20 they sell it to you for $60) and try to find the cheapest labor you can. I don't know where you live but here in the Merced area of Central California the going labor rate is about $70/hour.

Answer 10

You just got a (outside) rebuild. Someone found out that you had (or have good credit) to afford all this when you could have put a good down payment on a NEW car. My GOD did you not look at the estimate before you committed?

Answer 11

yes, you are being ripped off. for all this with labor you should pay at least half the price you are being quoted. you should take all this to your local alley mechanic and i bet he will charge you a 12pack and 50bucks for this labor you buy the parts.