Is my Mechanic ripping me off, HELP!!!!

[thatsright]

Okay, just wanted to ask here in case anyone knows there Auto stuff. I had to get the car repaired today as it just won't start anymore. So I take it down to the mechanic and he says he needs to replace the Fuel Pump in the car. It's a 1986 Volvo DL Station wagon. The mechanic says he needs to replace the Two Fuel pumps and it will cost $500 for the parts, plus $150 for the labor.

Basically I'm wondering do fuel pumps for this vehicle cost $500 per pair??


Thanks

 

[Nebor]

Probably. I've had many Volvos in my lifetime, and parts tend to be more expensive than Volvo's german competitors, such as BMW and Mercedes. I just got used to paying a lot of money to the dealership. Great cars though.

 

[thatsright]

Anyone else have an idea?

 

[woowoo]

Sounds about right for a volvo.....

 

[episodic]

Call autozone and price the parts (or whatever your local parts store is). Then with that knowledge call other local mechanics and compare. . .. That is what I'd do.. .

 

[Ogg]

Hello roger? Mechanic extraordinaire......

Hello DurocShark? He owns a volvo

 

[pyonir]

my bad. i read fuel filter...not pump. too early for me.

 

[Mellman]

If they are electronic fuel pumps....sure that is about right, but why are there two? It was $600 with labor to replace the elec fuel pump on my 1990 Trooper (POS!!!)

i still dont get why there are two though, volvo parts are expensive, and the $150 on labor is a really good deal IMO, considering most of them you need remove the gas tank etc, which is a PITA. Is it diesel? maybe thats why it has two?

EDIT: by right i mean....yes its a ripoff, thats what most mechanics are anyways....if you know how to work on cars, you can fix it and do it yourself, just get a buddy to help...especially if the gas tanks full.

 

[Ornery]

NAPA Fuel Pumps Fuel Pump (OE Electric In-Line Type) $ 194.99

In Tank $35.00

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: Ornery
NAPA Fuel Pumps Fuel Pump (OE Electric In-Line Type) $ 194.99

Lnky, Not Worky....

BTW, its not a diesel. And it definitely doesn't help that I don't know a dam think about cars. Hell, the mechanic could say the car has 13 1/2 fuel pumps and I wouldn't know.

 

[Ness]

Originally posted by: episodic
Call autozone and price the parts (or whatever your local parts store is). Then with that knowledge call other local mechanics and compare. . .. That is what I'd do.. .

Winnar

If you can buy the parts cheaper than the mechanic says... then ask him to give you a written estimate, and althought it's a real jerk-like move, go buy the parts where you can find them cheaper, take them to the mechanic and say you quoted me this price on labor, I'd like it done for that. Hell, you might just want to ask him what he would charge for the labor if you can find the parts, too.

You also have to understand that sometimes when they say "parts" it's not just the primary parts that you are paying for, but some smaller things as well.

 

[Mandos]

Originally posted by: Ness

Originally posted by: episodic
Call autozone and price the parts (or whatever your local parts store is). Then with that knowledge call other local mechanics and compare. . .. That is what I'd do.. .

Winnar

If you can buy the parts cheaper than the mechanic says... then ask him to give you a written estimate, and althought it's a real jerk-like move, go buy the parts where you can find them cheaper, take them to the mechanic and say you quoted me this price on labor, I'd like it done for that. Hell, you might just want to ask him what he would charge for the labor if you can find the parts, too.

You also have to understand that sometimes when they say "parts" it's not just the primary parts that you are paying for, but some smaller things as well.

Do this, its your best bet. AutoZone would have it for way cheaper I'd imagine.

 

[Vette73]

It really depends on what parts he is using. If he gets master fuel pumps from Advance, Autozone, etc... then they should cost about $150 for the parts.

BUT if he is using Volvo parts or bosch, beck, etc... then the price sounds about right.


IF it was in my shop I would use the master parts. Much cheaper and I have never had a problem with them. Juts don't forget to replace the fuel filer.

 

[djheater]

Sounds a tiny bit high for the parts. It's not just the pump. There's apparently a screen and other stuff that needs to be replaced at the same time.

If he does good work it's probably worth it. If the car has no other serious issues.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
It really depends on what parts he is using. If he gets master fuel pumps from Advance, Autozone, etc... then they should cost about $150 for the parts.

BUT if he is using Volvo parts or bosch, beck, etc... then the price sounds about right.


IF it was in my shop I would use the master parts. Much cheaper and I have never had a problem with them. Juts don't forget to replace the fuel filer.

But a car like this is worth so damn little anyway, why not just go with the cheap parts? They won't have to run him another 18 years

 

[IamElectro]

This honestly sounds in line for the cost of parts for a volvo. Goto Advancce Autoparts website and look them up. Pumps range in price for that car from $40-$420 bucks. The cheapest being the intank pump the higher priced ones being the electronic ones.

I don't think hes ripping you off the guy just may be getting his parts from a dealer or a place like Napa.

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: djheater
Sounds a tiny bit high for the parts. It's not just the pump. There's apparently a screen and other stuff that needs to be replaced at the same time.

If he does good work it's probably worth it. If the car has no other serious issues.

generally the assembly comes with the screen and some of the mounting hardware, you will also need a new filter as mentioned above which you should also factor into the cost...personally with something like a fuel pump I try to either go OEM or with a very high quality aftermarket unit, I have used generic relays before in cars and have had major problems afterwards...depending on the location of the tank and the work to pull it down I would say that price is about right.

good luck.

 

[GRIFFIN1]

Autozone:
$35 for the internal pump
$85 for the external

The name brand parts are much more expensive.

But it might be a relay under the dash board that is causing your fuel pumps not to work. I saw a relay go bad on a 78 Volvo. Hopefully your mechanic knows for sure it's the pumps and not the relay.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
It really depends on what parts he is using. If he gets master fuel pumps from Advance, Autozone, etc... then they should cost about $150 for the parts.

BUT if he is using Volvo parts or bosch, beck, etc... then the price sounds about right.


IF it was in my shop I would use the master parts. Much cheaper and I have never had a problem with them. Juts don't forget to replace the fuel filer.

But a car like this is worth so damn little anyway, why not just go with the cheap parts? They won't have to run him another 18 years

Thats why I said I would use the master fuel pumps. The have a warrenty and like you said, its a old car.

In fact I put a Master fuel pump in my daily/beater car

 

[woowoo]

Originally posted by: Ness

Originally posted by: episodic
Call autozone and price the parts (or whatever your local parts store is). Then with that knowledge call other local mechanics and compare. . .. That is what I'd do.. .

Winnar

If you can buy the parts cheaper than the mechanic says... then ask him to give you a written estimate, and althought it's a real jerk-like move, go buy the parts where you can find them cheaper, take them to the mechanic and say you quoted me this price on labor, I'd like it done for that.

Parts markup is part of doing business.
He is putting his warranty on the job.
He gets to pick the parts.

Try your "I will supply the parts trick" with my wrench turner and he will ask where you want your car towed to.

 

[RgrPark]

Is your 86 volvo even worth $600?
U can get a decent beater at that price...Bought my 89 sentra for $700 and i've driven ober 20k miles on it with 0 problems...

 

[thatsright]

Well when I go on down I'll have to ask if the Fuel Pump is electric, or not and what type did he use. Of course this would help out a lot more if I had any sort of Mojo and sounded like I knew what the hell I am talking about.

BTW, a bit OT but this all reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where he had to decide over a hot girl and his honest mechanic. In the end it was a no-brainier, he Jerry said "you can't put a price on a good mechanic." So he dumped his girlfriend.

 

[GRIFFIN1]

Originally posted by: woowoo

Originally posted by: Ness

Originally posted by: episodic
Call autozone and price the parts (or whatever your local parts store is). Then with that knowledge call other local mechanics and compare. . .. That is what I'd do.. .

Winnar

If you can buy the parts cheaper than the mechanic says... then ask him to give you a written estimate, and althought it's a real jerk-like move, go buy the parts where you can find them cheaper, take them to the mechanic and say you quoted me this price on labor, I'd like it done for that.

Parts markup is part of doing business.
He is putting his warranty on the job.
He gets to pick the parts.

Try your "I will supply the parts trick" with my wrench turner and he will ask where you want your car towed to.

Tell him where you want your car towed and then kick him in the balls.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: woowoo

Originally posted by: Ness

Originally posted by: episodic
Call autozone and price the parts (or whatever your local parts store is). Then with that knowledge call other local mechanics and compare. . .. That is what I'd do.. .

Winnar

If you can buy the parts cheaper than the mechanic says... then ask him to give you a written estimate, and althought it's a real jerk-like move, go buy the parts where you can find them cheaper, take them to the mechanic and say you quoted me this price on labor, I'd like it done for that.

Parts markup is part of doing business.
He is putting his warranty on the job.
He gets to pick the parts.

Try your "I will supply the parts trick" with my wrench turner and he will ask where you want your car towed to.

I don't think it'd be super difficult to do it yourself. I helped replace one when I was a kid. I've never had to do it for my own vehicle, but I don't remember it being exactly rocket science.
Where's Roger?! He'd know if it was easy or not. (IIRC, getting the tank back ON was a PITA for some reason - getting it to line up where the fuel goes in just wasn't happening)

 

[Cashmoney995]

Fuel pumps = $$$ and not to mention its 18 years old so the parts are harder to find. Sound's right.