water pump and belt replacement cost?

maryhillgirl

I've just had the water pump and belt replaced on my 2009 Subaru justy at an RAC approved garage after breaking down and being towed there by the RAC. The repair bill was 307 pounds which was more than I was expecting. 124 for pump 100 for labour plus belt and vat. Same 1000 cc engine as C1, Aygo etc. Just wondering if those charges are reasonable.

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motorguy

maryhillgirl wrote: »

I've just had the water pump and belt replaced on my 2009 Subaru justy at an RAC approved garage after breaking down and being towed there by the RAC. The repair bill was 307 pounds which was more than I was expecting. 124 for pump 100 for labour plus belt and vat. Same 1000 cc engine as C1, Aygo etc. Just wondering if those charges are reasonable.

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Hardly matters now - your car had broken down and the RAC had towed you to their door.

The pump looks pricey but it may have been a dealer only part.

You could probably have got it done cheaper elsewhere if you had had the opportunity to shop around, but i'd imagine you didnt want to push your car too far.

InsideInsurance

The RAC garages wont be the cheapest in the world and may well have a kickback to pay to RAC. Emergency rates are often not as competitive as scheduled jobs

daveyjp

Definately OTT, but you had no choice. A friend just paid £140 for a new water pump on a 107.

The waterpump is about £65. The belt is only an auxiliary belt for alternator and water pump (this engine doesn't have a cambelt, hence the high costs for VW) and costs a few quid.

forgotmyname

Phone a few garages up and see what they say. But its too late now. You cannot haggle after the works done.

You needed to shop around before they did the work. Its not extortionate.

You didnt pay £300 for a £10 job.

OddballJamie

Parts on carparts4less come to approx £50 for that car. Maybe 1-1 1/2 hours labour on top should've done it.
Maybe an extra £10 for coolant.

TadleyBaggie

Had to have a water pump and belt replaced on a C1 a couple of years ago, cost just over £200.

Retrogamer

It will vary on each car.
Some cars the water pump is run by the timing belt and you have to strip away half the front of the car just to get access to it. I've seen these jobs come to eye watering prices before (£600+) due to the extensive labour.

If the water pump goes, and the new one is fitted then the coolant would have to be topped back up, system re-bled to remove airlocks and ensure all is working ok with the car at normal temp.

Price isn't cheap, but it's not expensive either.

27col

You sound surprised that the bill was "more than you expected". I think you will find that all garage bills are always more than you expect. At least, that has been my experience. Even with a mechanic that I trust implicitly.
In any case, it is likely that, as a person without much idea of car repairing, you really had no idea of what to expect.

maryhillgirl

I was "surprised" as I had been advised by the RAC that the pump would be around £60, £30 for belt and coolant and would take around an hour to fit. The RAC mechanic had done a few identical repairs, but it was too late for him to be able to source the necessary parts. Job was done as a daytime repair at the garage, not outside normal business hours. My only concern is that I seem to have been charged over the odds for an easily obtained part. Can garages simply charge whatever they want, marking-up prices as they wish?

daveyjp

Yes garages can charge what they like. Main dealers do it every day.