about how many hours should a shop charge to replace a timing chain

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: psteng19

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Chains need replacement after 90-100K miles i believe. 14hrs is bullpoop. Go out and buy a Chilton manual and do it yourself. You can't tell me your time is worth that much cash.

I believe you're wrong.
90-100k sounds more like a timing belt change interval (although some recommend 60-80k).
Otherwise, there'd be no benefit in a chain over a belt.
Chains should last the life of the engine.

I have 2 Sentra's, one with 105k, the other with 140k.
Having changed the timing chains on either of them, yet.


OP, how many miles do you have on the engine?

the chains do last forever. It's the sh!tty plastic guides that fall apart.

 

[dabuddha]

I got mine done at the dealer for $400 + a free rental car
1994 Honda Accord.

And this is up in Virginia where they like to resize you when it comes to auto work.

 

[Brutuskend]

Most shops use a flat rate manual for repairs.

They charge the number of hours the manual says the job SHOULD take.

I would ask them what the flat rate manual says about this particular job.

 

[Delleet]

Originally posted by: dabuddha
I got mine done at the dealer for $400 + a free rental car
1994 Honda Accord.

And this is up in Virginia where they like to resize you when it comes to auto work.

That's a belt, though, but typical for that year accord.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: armatron

Originally posted by: psteng19

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Chains need replacement after 90-100K miles i believe. 14hrs is bullpoop. Go out and buy a Chilton manual and do it yourself. You can't tell me your time is worth that much cash.

I believe you're wrong.
90-100k sounds more like a timing belt change interval (although some recommend 60-80k).
Otherwise, there'd be no benefit in a chain over a belt.
Chains should last the life of the engine.

I have 2 Sentra's, one with 105k, the other with 140k.
Having changed the timing chains on either of them, yet.


OP, how many miles do you have on the engine?

the chains do last forever. It's the sh!tty plastic guides that fall apart.

dammit, then wtf is the use of a chain...

 

[bernse]

Originally posted by: armatron
the chains do last forever. It's the sh!tty plastic guides that fall apart.

If you've never seen a worn timing chain, you simply haven't seen enough. They most certainly can and regularly do wear out.

They stretch and the rollers wear and get sloppy. They need to get replaced as regular maintence just like a belt. Now do they last *longer* than a belt? A gross overgeneralization is yes, but they absolutely still need to get replaced.

 

[OffTopic1]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
Most shops use a flat rate manual for repairs.

They charge the number of hours the manual says the job SHOULD take.

I would ask them what the flat rate manual says about this particular job.

Most shops do charge by the flat rate manual and they can be just as sh!tty as any other shop that charge by the actual time that take to do the job. It sound like you have done some calling, but it might be a good idea to give your local cab/towtruck companies and ask which shop they get their service from for a better & reliable job.

I recently took my car in for repair at a shop that were comended by a tow truck driver & a cab driver. The do just as good a job as any other mechanics that I have had my cars & trucks service at about 2/3 of the price of what other charge, because they don't base their price on the flat rate manual. (They would quote out of a flat rate manual, then do the work and charge on the time that were spent on my car not what the book said should be)

 

[SupaDupaCheez]

Will they be replacing JUST the chain or is there more parts involved? Did your chain break while the engine was running? If so, then there is a very good chance that more parts were mashed (valves especially). If that was the case, then 14 hours labor sounds about right. That is what they quoted my friend who did the same thing to his honda civic and it cost him about 1500 through a local shop. If nothing else was broken then I would have to guess that that quote is out of line.

SDC

PS: Timing chains definitely wear out and should be replaced. If you wait for a chain (or timing belt for that matter) to break, you will lose a lot more than the cost of a belt or chain.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
Most shops use a flat rate manual for repairs.

They charge the number of hours the manual says the job SHOULD take.

I would ask them what the flat rate manual says about this particular job.

I have access to one of those that is used in a national tires\service store and the BASE hours for the job your asking about is 11 hours, for 'both' chains. You apparently have more than one. A/C interferes and is another 0.6 hour charge. If you need additional parts that have to be stripped off there's additional hours for those as well....

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Call a couple local repair shops (or other nissan dealerships) and see what they say. All car places will give you an approximate estimate over the phone.

The exact time it should take is actually specified by the manufacturer.

 

[djheater]

Here's a screencap of what a Service station would see if they looked it up.

Timing chain

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: djheater
Here's a screencap of what a Service station would see if they looked it up.

Timing chain

SWEET that is exactly what I'm looking for.


okay... so <$800 with parts from the dealer IS a good deal.




Long story short, I had bought a warranty... and the dealer assured me the warranty co. would pay for the repair... but they denied the claim (saying that it's a normal wear item... which it isn't according to the warranty paperwork) so the dealer is charging me $40 an hour rather than $85

 

[djheater]

If Oger would consent to give an opinion, I'd listen to whatever he says.