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Is this reasonable... $238 for a new tensioner and fuel filter

  • Thread starter Thread starter turbointhailand
  • Start date Start date Jun 10, 2010
T

turbointhailand

New Member
Jun 10, 2010
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1
Eastern Oregon
Jun 10, 2010
#1
  • Jun 10, 2010
  • #1
So first of all I should mention that I do trust my mechanic, just wanted to get your opinion on if I am being overcharged...

I had my tensioner & pulley replaced at my local mechanic when I bought my 93 Mustang 2.3L 2 years ago ($100) since the pulley was getting warn down, and last year the replacement part went bad- it was from carquest and ours went out of business this month...

It has been shredding Serpentine belts like crazy (5/year last one only lasted 8 days ) because apparently the tensioner is bent...

I wanted him to have him replace it again and he said that since the company was out of business he wouldn't be able to use the warranty... so I said ok since I needed to get it done so he said it would run about $60-$70 for the part... (reasonable) and then I asked him change the fuel filter while he had it.

So I called today and asked if it was done and what the bill was on it... he said $238 does that seem reasonable to you? (thats about 80 more than I had figured)

If you know 2.3L mustangs then you know that the engine is very small for the amount of space under the hood and it makes it a lot easier to work on. You can have the serpentine and the ac belt off in less than 30 seconds... so I would imagine it would help cut down on the labor cost.

This definitely makes me regret not just taking a couple hours and doing it myself
 

79'293stang

Active Member
Jan 5, 2003
505
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41
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Jun 10, 2010
#2
  • Jun 10, 2010
  • #2
Sounds kind of like a rip off. He may have charged you automatically one hours labor per job, I know the local shops around here charge around $80 per hour labor. 2 hrs labor = 160 + 65(tensioner) + 13(How much I payed for my last fuel filter) = $238...
 
T

turbointhailand

New Member
Jun 10, 2010
10
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1
Eastern Oregon
Jun 10, 2010
#3
  • Jun 10, 2010
  • #3
Thanks -- Yeah thats kinda what I was thinking is that he was rounding up hours... It sucks because I like my mechanic and I'm not sure how I should approach it...
 

79'293stang

Active Member
Jan 5, 2003
505
11
29
41
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Jun 10, 2010
#4
  • Jun 10, 2010
  • #4
There may be nothing you can do. What I do if I absolutely have to take my car to a mechanic is negotiate a price before any work is done. On my fuel leak, I knew what I wanted done to my car. So I talked to the dealership and got a straight answer on what I wanted and no extras no matter what, with out them calling me and telling me specifically why. Dont be afraid to call the bs card.
 

glowstang93

20+ Year Stangneter
Feb 9, 2003
853
8
39
55
Illinois
www.cardomain.com
Jun 10, 2010
#5
  • Jun 10, 2010
  • #5
overpriced if your mechanically inclined at all.. Those are two things I know how to do with just regular tools, wish you would have asked us, I know we could have walked you through it. Keep us in mind in the future, glad to help next time
 
T

turbointhailand

New Member
Jun 10, 2010
10
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1
Eastern Oregon
Jun 10, 2010
#6
  • Jun 10, 2010
  • #6
Thanks guys... yeah I actually was seriously considering doing both myself... I dont think the tensioner wouldn't have been very difficult at all... I wasnt looking forward to the fuel filter since its so low to the ground lol.

Talked to and paid the mechanic today... here is the breakdown...

Belt Tensioner & Pulley -- $98.95
Serpentine Belt -- $44.95
Fuel Filter -- $19.95
Labor Total -- $75.00
--------------------------------
Total --$238.85

So I asked him why he bought such expensive parts (particular the serp belt)... and he said its because he only uses OEM parts, because the fail rate is much lower and that overall they are just better quality...

So I understand... but I have a tendency to go for middle value/cost parts... if I can spend less and the quality doesn't suffer much then I tend to go that route.

Thanks for the offers for walking me through...

Now for the rest of my to do list... replacing my door lock actuators, fixing/replacing my interior drivers side door handle, and my climate control (only defrost works lol so I am going to check all the vacuum lines)
 

glowstang93

20+ Year Stangneter
Feb 9, 2003
853
8
39
55
Illinois
www.cardomain.com
Jun 10, 2010
#7
  • Jun 10, 2010
  • #7
For door lock actuators you want to follow JRichker's writeup Mustang Door Lock Actuator Retrofit

Here is the link I posted of my pics when I did it to my Stang

http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/753946-door-lock-actuator-retrofit-bomb.html

No reason to ever put back in a $60 actuator, this really works!!!!
 
T

turbointhailand

New Member
Jun 10, 2010
10
0
1
Eastern Oregon
Jun 11, 2010
#8
  • Jun 11, 2010
  • #8
lol funny thats how I found stangnet... was through a link on allfordmustangs to your thread praising his workup
 

glowstang93

20+ Year Stangneter
Feb 9, 2003
853
8
39
55
Illinois
www.cardomain.com
Jun 11, 2010
#9
  • Jun 11, 2010
  • #9
wow, thats cool.... I haven't posted too much on here lately since I have a newer daily driver and park the stang most days, but way cool how a post can reach out there when your doing a search
 
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