Is 580.00 too much to pay?

Question

I just got a new alternator installed into my 2003 ford escape, from the Ford dealership.Is that too much to pay?

Answer 1

$580 for that job isn't too bad.

If you've got the 2 wheel drive, with the 4-cylinder engine, that's a $200 alternator (at the cheapest parts store) so you can be assured a dealer part would be more expensive. Plus the book time on that job is 2.5 hours - it's a very complicated process, and it's not an easy unit to get to.

so $580, for someone else to do the work (correctly) AND to give you a guarantee on that work - I'd say it's fair.

**edit**

Just a note here, all those who who said you can do this in your back yard in a half hour have obviously never worked on one of these vehicles - the alternator in the Escape is not a task easily done by the novice mechanic.

Answer 2

Wholy Cow! I'm betting the weasel Ford dealership will be martching to an auto parts store and insllaling a remanufactured alternator. They can't possibly stock alternators for every car and truck thet Ford makes.

If you're willing to pay that amount you are tossing $300.00 in the wind. If you have an autherized AC Delco dealer in your area you can pick up a lifetime warranty completely remanufatured alternator that's been done up by AC Delco not some off-shore rag tag company.

Your job is too simple to pass up. You should at least hire an independant mechanic to toss one on with a lifetime warranty and you'd still come out $ smelling like a rose $!

Answer 3

NO they did not. First of all, I totally disagree with the gentleman who said they charged you 300 dollars labor. I work for a auto shop, in order to stay in business, we, just like you people that go to Auto Zone, pay a certain amount for a part, but we mark-up that part an additional amount. Thats how a business stays in business, we can't buy parts at cost and sell them for cost. Plus- theres a huge difference in Factory parts than parts you buy from Auto Zone, etc. We stopped using aftermarket starters and alternators because the qualilty was terrible. You pay for what you get. Labor is charged according to what the labor guide says- its all priced from an online source . I agree, if you would have done it in your backyard, yeah, it would have been much cheaper, so that is your choice on what you decide to do. (example- do you think that burger you buy at Mcdonalds actually cost them 2.50, heck no, they probably pay around a dollar or less then mark it up to stay in business- if you want a cheap burger, cook it at home on your grill)

Answer 4

well if you had the tools or a friend with the tools. yes. anyone can do this task. and my local parts store. Advanced auto's
286.00 for an alternator for a v6 or 200 for the altenator for a L4 2.0liter engine. other than that you just need a rathcet the right size socket and a torque wrench. So yes they charged you about 300.00 dollars for 1/2 hr. labors. In the future never ever take your car to a dealership unless the general mantnaince shop cannot fix this. and i guarentee that any general maintnance shop will. Reason being generally dealerships charge about 2 times as much for raw parts. So unless your car is under warrenty or it is a recall. go to a general maintnaince shop.
Sorry for your misfortune. it makes me sad to be a tech. with so many places out their that *** you over.

Answer 5

That is a lot more than I paid to have a new alternator installed on my BMW (1989) three years ago. I think I paid about $350.00 parts and labor - and that was for a Beemer.

If your Escape is out of warranty find an independant garage with a good reputation.

Answer 6

Dealerships always charge you more. So what ever comments you get that thats a ripoff is talking about having it done at a regular shop. I'm guessing that your car is out of warranty. Next time you need something like that done i suggest you go to a local repair shop or even better a junk yard. I had a starter installed in a junk yard and all I paid was $50 and it came with warranty.

Answer 7

Hell yeah, you can do that yourself and you wont get that dirty. Just go to an autoparts store and purchase one, let them locate the alternator for you and alls you have to do is disconnect the battery and put everything back the way it was with the new one. You got tools i hope

Answer 8

i think it is. you can just buy one and install yourself. its not hard as long as you have the proper tools.

Answer 9

yup big rip off