Local garage says I need a new water pump. They quoted me $200 (part only) for a 1997 Mercury Sable pump. These seems excessive to me. I checked on AutoZone's website and I can get a pump there for under $50. Am I missing something here?
$200 water pump?
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Originally Posted By: Burt
The garage has to stay in business somehow. They make a markup on parts and labor.
A 300% markup?!?!.......Good point, DrDusty86. I hope this is simply a miscommunication. If not, I'll buy the part myself and bring it to them.
The garage has to stay in business somehow. They make a markup on parts and labor.
A 300% markup?!?!.......Good point, DrDusty86. I hope this is simply a miscommunication. If not, I'll buy the part myself and bring it to them.
Might be a dealer pump? Most shops will not use AutoZone because they actually have to stand by their work.
You could always bring in your own replacement pump and have them install it.
I doubt they'll warranty it, though!
Still, $200 is high. How come you did not get a price except for the part? That seems odd to me. I never had to do that.
Who only quotes a part price without labor for a job?
I doubt they'll warranty it, though!
Still, $200 is high. How come you did not get a price except for the part? That seems odd to me. I never had to do that.
Who only quotes a part price without labor for a job?
Originally Posted By: outoforder
If not, I'll buy the part myself and bring it to them.
I've never seen a shop allow customers to do this. If they do, they certainly won't warranty any of the work; probably not even the labor, to cover their back ends.
Get an out the door price estimate! Shops charge by book time and their labor rate. Then call a few other shops and get an estimate to see how they compare.
If not, I'll buy the part myself and bring it to them.
I've never seen a shop allow customers to do this. If they do, they certainly won't warranty any of the work; probably not even the labor, to cover their back ends.
Get an out the door price estimate! Shops charge by book time and their labor rate. Then call a few other shops and get an estimate to see how they compare.
Sounds to me like the difference between a new FoMoCo water pump and a rebuilt water pump.
Drew,
Many independent shops allow you to bring in parts still in the box and will charge labor/shop fees to install your part.
Cause they know if the don't another shop down the road will be more than happy to do it.
Many independent shops allow you to bring in parts still in the box and will charge labor/shop fees to install your part.
Cause they know if the don't another shop down the road will be more than happy to do it.
We wont install anything we can't stand behind. When it comes to starter, waterpumps, Alts, and ignition parts we use nothing but Dealer parts. If a customer brings their own parts no parts or labor warranty is carried by me.
200.00 is dealer markup price for that pump. If you decide to go aftermarket. Airtex has been pretty dang good. Make sure they flush the cooling system really good. A clean cooling system can more then double the life of a water pump. All of my personal vehicles have coolant filters on them
200.00 is dealer markup price for that pump. If you decide to go aftermarket. Airtex has been pretty dang good. Make sure they flush the cooling system really good. A clean cooling system can more then double the life of a water pump. All of my personal vehicles have coolant filters on them
Originally Posted By: Burt
The garage has to stay in business somehow. They make a markup on parts and labor.
I agree. Profit is not a dirty word.
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: outoforder
If not, I'll buy the part myself and bring it to them.
I've never seen a shop allow customers to do this. If they do, they certainly won't warranty any of the work; probably not even the labor, to cover their back ends.
Get an out the door price estimate! Shops charge by book time and their labor rate. Then call a few other shops and get an estimate to see how they compare.
I agree.
Bringing vehicle parts to a service garage and asking them to do the job with our own parts would be like going to the grocery store, buying ground beef, going to McDonald's, ordering hamburgers, passing our bag of ground beef over the counter, and asking them to make the hamburgers with our own ground beef that we bought at the grocery store.
Hey why not just install the water pump yourself...?
The garage has to stay in business somehow. They make a markup on parts and labor.
I agree. Profit is not a dirty word.
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: outoforder
If not, I'll buy the part myself and bring it to them.
I've never seen a shop allow customers to do this. If they do, they certainly won't warranty any of the work; probably not even the labor, to cover their back ends.
Get an out the door price estimate! Shops charge by book time and their labor rate. Then call a few other shops and get an estimate to see how they compare.
I agree.
Bringing vehicle parts to a service garage and asking them to do the job with our own parts would be like going to the grocery store, buying ground beef, going to McDonald's, ordering hamburgers, passing our bag of ground beef over the counter, and asking them to make the hamburgers with our own ground beef that we bought at the grocery store.
Hey why not just install the water pump yourself...?
Quote:
Hey why not just install the water pump yourself...?
Cause the guy probably doesn't have the necessary tools and skill to replace the water pump... and if he did he doesn't want to skin his knuckles doing the job. Any shop will do the job but will not warranty any of the work or the labor. I bought 4 new Monroe SensaTrac shocks (buy 4 get 1 free rebate) for my wife's Accord and the shop was more than happy to do the labor and alignment.
The owner said as long as it a quality part, he has no problem installing customer supplied parts. I saved $200 by not going to TireKingdom , Firestone or SEARS tire center.
Hey why not just install the water pump yourself...?
Cause the guy probably doesn't have the necessary tools and skill to replace the water pump... and if he did he doesn't want to skin his knuckles doing the job. Any shop will do the job but will not warranty any of the work or the labor. I bought 4 new Monroe SensaTrac shocks (buy 4 get 1 free rebate) for my wife's Accord and the shop was more than happy to do the labor and alignment.
The owner said as long as it a quality part, he has no problem installing customer supplied parts. I saved $200 by not going to TireKingdom , Firestone or SEARS tire center.
if my mech cant price his parts right i WILL bring MY parts. i dont mind him making a reasonable profit. but 150% or more is totaly out of line. when i did mech work i increased the part by 50%, unless that seamed to high. all be it was in the 60s
150% markup is an inaccurate figure. I arrived at that by comparing the autozone water pump to the dealer pump. Obviously not apples to apples. After a little research, $200 seems about right for a dealer part. If the garage is willing to put on a less expensive part without providing a warranty of any type, I am ok with that. My car is not worth much at present (two dented rear doors, dented front quarter panel, damage to rear bumper from fender bender), but the engine only has 110,000 miles. Just need to invest enough to stop the leak. If this was a 2007 Sable, I would probably splurge for the dealer part.
my o my. guess thats why i dont go to dealers. i have seen where a after market part was in factory plastic warping. sorry i all ready said that.
At wheelworks our policy states clearly that if a part needs replacing it will be replaced with the BEST part available. However, a cheaper part will be installed if the customer so desires.
So, I'm sure this is the same situation.
So, I'm sure this is the same situation.
Just out of curiousity, Vulcan or DOHC?
97 Sable? If it's the Vulcan that is a VERY easy job to do yourself.
Remove the serpentine belt
Take off the alternator
Drain the coolant
Take off the coolant reservoir
Take out the bolts holding the pump in place
Undo the coolant hose leading into the pump
Mallot to the pump and the old gasket/rtv lets go
Reverse process for new!
Literally a 2-3 hour job if you have a set of wrenches/ratchet/sockets and a pair of pliers.
Remove the serpentine belt
Take off the alternator
Drain the coolant
Take off the coolant reservoir
Take out the bolts holding the pump in place
Undo the coolant hose leading into the pump
Mallot to the pump and the old gasket/rtv lets go
Reverse process for new!
Literally a 2-3 hour job if you have a set of wrenches/ratchet/sockets and a pair of pliers.
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