Vehicle Repairs - Sticker Shock

[xraytech]

The $1300 for a rebuild transmission is cheap, in February I had to get a new transmission in a 2001 DeVille with only 76,000 miles on it. I went to an independent transmission garage and I paid $3200 for a rebuild,If I went for a factory transmission it would have been over 5000 which is around what the car is worth.This is the second newer GM car that has cost me a lot, my 2002 Impala I had for two years blew the lower intake gasket 4 times and the head gasket twice,and the intake gasket cost about $450 each time. Only things from GM that I have had good luck with was Buick. I will from now probably stick with Ford and lincoln-Mercury products as both the crown Vic I had and now the Town Car have been absolutley trouble free.

 

[rexaircollector]

Toggles

My partner is a service manager for a Toyota dealership (we drive Hondas...LOL) and he says that the average for his shop is 12 hours of labor to do a clutch. The reason for that is because on a Toyota, the sub frame has to be removed to do the clutch and once the job is done, it requires a four wheel alignment. He says you came out well on your repair.

As far as your degunking question, excessive steam cleaning is unnecessary(according to my sources). It is a procedure that is pure profit to the dealer/mechanic. The question to ask is why is this being suggested so frequently. Are the valve covers leaking causing oil build up? If so, why isn't their recommendation to repair the source of the problem? Have you had the valve cover gasket resealed or replaced? I am being told that the reason for the hood on a car is to keep water out of the engine compartment for reasons previously stated on this thread. Hope this helps.

Robb

 

[toggleswitch2]

Thanks!

 

[ironrite]

$651.29

For a 1997 C280. This will be for a service for my 5 speed electronic automatic transmission. First year in 1997 for a sealed transmission. There is no dipstick to check the fluid. Mercedes thought there would be no need, however they later changed that to a service around 60K or so. Knock on wood the tranny shifts just fine now, but better to service than replace it. The big part of that cost is the fluid at $221.94! They will also be resealing the electrical connector and replacing a shift linkage bushing.