water pump and belt replacement cost?

lawriejones1

You should have asked for a quote for the work if you didn't trust or know the mechanic. They would do this and can not go ahead without your say so.

Garages can't just make up prices. Running a garage is an expensive business and people will often take the p#ss when dealing with you.

Learn from it, move on and enjoy the summer.

maryhillgirl

Just my bad luck then. Hats off to the RAC guys, though. They were fantastic, well worth my subscription.

mgdavid

lawriejones1 wrote: »

......

Garages can't just make up prices. .......

yes they can (and do...)

Kirri

Retrogamer wrote: »

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.

^ Was going to say that ^ my car had to be fairly much stripped to get at mine - the OP's bill sounded cheap in comparison.. esp as I had belts done too as it was in bits anyway.

mattyprice4004

maryhillgirl wrote: »

Can garages simply charge whatever they want, marking-up prices as they wish?

Of course they can, do you think they have to have their prices set by some governing body?

OddballJamie

Kirri wrote: »

^ Was going to say that ^ my car had to be fairly much stripped to get at mine - the OP's bill sounded cheap in comparison.. esp as I had belts done too as it was in bits anyway.

What car do you have?
I had a water pump done on a KA recently, took an hour as it has a timing chain rather than a belt, so the aux belt runs it. Most of the time was taking the headlight and wheel arch/bumper off, cost £60 total.

Years ago I had the timing belt, pump and pulleys done on a Xsara with a full service cost about £350 at Citroen.

The way the pump is driven makes a big difference to price.

OddballJamie

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

Of course they can, do you think they have to have their prices set by some governing body?

I had the AA out to a knackered alternator a while back and the guy gave me a list of local garages and he rang them all for the best quote before we set off.

maryhillgirl

Quick update. Contacted pump manufacturer Blue Print for a suggested price, they said about £70. Emailed garage, copied in Blue Print's reply and politely queried my invoice.
Result- a waffling explanation of computer input error, a grovelling apology and an instant £62 refund.
So, it could have been a genuine mistake or they could have been trying to shamelessly con a stranded lone female ( I couldn't possibly comment!) but a positive outcome nevertheless. Hope this might encourage others to challenge any garage charges which seem too high, it's worth a go.

OddballJamie

Good result, have a whinge and get 20% back. Nice one.

Personally I don't think it was anything to do with your sex, more a case of you were stranded and desperate to get the car back on the road. So they took advantage of the 'convenience' factor.

Just be thankful when the pump went it didn't cause any more damage, like the head warping from overheating.

Retrogamer

I'm not sure why women always place the gender card when it comes to garage repairs. Garages have been known to fool gullible people. Both male and female.