Today...Thrown Belt...Near Instant Service

[Kira]

The 2.5l in Mrs. K's 2019 Mazda CX-5 shredded its serpentine belt today at 11:30AM.
I was driving.
The owner of the garage 'down the hill' had apron room for a drop off at 2:00PM.
At 5:30 I was informed the car was ready. We walked down and fetched the car before 6.
Known good guys discovered no bad pulleys or rollers....just a belt which went kablewee.
They replaced it and the short v-belt for the water pump.
$269.32 Total
($111.35 belts, $135.00 1-hour labor, $4.00 hazmat, $2.50 supplies, $16.49 taxes)
Not bad!

This garage has been an oasis of truth and value since 1945.
Ideal Service...07661

 

[drtyler]

Not bad at all!

How many miles on the old belt?

 

[Elkins45]

It’s been a bad week for Mazda belts.

 

[Rand]

Thats a rare failure.. for a 2019

 

[dnewton3]

The labor rate seems reasonable and it sounds like they do good, quick work. That's nice to hear in today's marketplace.

I must say, though, $111 for two belts seems high. I don't know which model you have, but I doubt it matters much ... they are all some version of the 2.5L engine series ... so I just took a guess and got some estimated pricing:
* AutoZone shows that serp belt (Continental brand) at $11, though I don't see the stretch belt.
* AAP has both belts; $11 and $43 (Dayco brand).
* OR's has both belts; $23 and $25 (Gates brand).
Not sure where they get their supply, but it sure seems like they are making some serious mark-up on parts; more than double the retail price. And typically Indy shops use jobber parts and they often get a discount off retail from their supply house. So the $111 for two (probably average) belts seems outrageous to me.

 

[benjamming]

Did they use Mazda belts?

 

[Kira]

I don't know if Mazda belts were used.

Yes, the "parts price" seemed a tad high.

There are fewer that 32K on the car.
However, the vehicles history says the engine was replaced at 16.5K, 6 months before we got it.
Perhaps the original belts were reused and mishandled.

 

[Donald]

In my PSD I keep a spare serpentine belt and exhaust gas temp sensor in a bag. No tools just the parts. Worst case I can find a mechanic to replace either given I have the parts. Best case I can limp home and replace myself.

 

[tbm5690]

Wow, labor rates here for indy shops are still under $100. Nationally atypical it sounds like. Assuming those are aftermarket belts sounds quite high for parts.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

An interesting choice to have two separate belts on a modern car. Mazda must have wanted assurances against overheating if the serp belt failed.

 

[michaelluscher]

An interesting choice to have two separate belts on a modern car. Mazda must have wanted assurances against overheating if the serp belt failed.

Not an inherently bad idea IMO
You can temporarily roll on without AC/PS/Alternator
But loss of water pump is a walk home condition
This Mazda being a timing chain engine, although older timing belt driven water pumps gives similar flexibility

This post is timely, I've got a '17 Optima with a self destructing serpentine belt, only after inspection did I learn the W/P is the inner belt, with a stretch belt

Personally I find the parts markup a little high, but you got back on the road in a timely manner, these days that commands a premium

 

[Elkins45]

An interesting choice to have two separate belts on a modern car. Mazda must have wanted assurances against overheating if the serp belt failed.

When mine threw the serpentine belt last week I was glad the water pump runs on a separate belt, and that I have an almost new battery. I drove about 12 miles with no alternator or AC on just battery power. I’m planning on doing the same again next week when I take it to the garage, although only half the mileage.