Alternator: Labour quote

01afraser4

Afternoon guys

I have a 62 plate Fiat Punto that died on me yesterday. After calling out the AA, they've informed me that the Alternator and battery need replaced (apparently the Alternator is not charging the battery and the battery is not holding a charge regardless).

Anyway, I'm looking to replace the alternator and battery which I can purchase myself, however I need some advice around the labour side of things.

I'm a complete novice when it comes to cars but the little knowledge I have means I can replace the battery fair enough, but the alternator is a different story. I got a quote online from a local garage to remove the old alternator and fit the new one only and they have quoted £230.

Is this reasonable? I specified in the quote that I'd purchase the alternator myself and I was really hoping the labour would be a lot cheaper than £230.

Can anyone give me an idea as to what a reasonable quote for this would be so I don't end up paying over the odds?

Thanks

AndyMc.....

Given you!!!8217;ve already purchased the party they obviously don!!!8217;t want the work. Others will probably take the same view.

alan_d

For less than £230 you could buy a decent set of tools and replace it yourself - then have the tools for future jobs.
There will be guides on youtube and forums of how to do it. On most cars it's under an hours work.

01afraser4

Thanks for the replies guys - unfortunately I'm not really in the position or skilled enough to take on the job myself and it's something I'd rather get fixed sooner rather than later and know it's been done correctly haha.

MovingForwards

Phone up a few local garages, not big name/fiat as max labour would be about 2 hours at £40 (max) per hour. This is based on worst case.

You could even get a mobile mechanic out for the above price.

parking_question_chap

£100 tops for that job.

01afraser4

MovingForwards wrote: »

Phone up a few local garages, not big name/fiat as max labour would be about 2 hours at £40 (max) per hour. This is based on worst case.

You could even get a mobile mechanic out for the above price.

Thank you for this. I am planning on calling some garages for a quote but I didn't know what was reasonable but now that you have given me a baseline then I can judge them better for myself.

The £230 I was quoted now seems extremely overpriced (unless they have included the cost of a new alternator in their figure).

Cheers

facade

Better off getting a quote for supply & fit. That way you will have some sort of guarantee.


The garage makes money on selling the alternator to you, and on the labour. If it doesn't work or breaks in short order, they sort out taking it back off and replacing it.



However, if you suply your own alternator and it doesn't work you get a car without a working alternator and tough luck. You would have to pay them again to remove it, take it for a swap, and then pay them again to fit it, in between they would have the car in their way. You would no doubt be awkward about all this if it happened, which is why they don't want to know.

wgl2014

+1 for considering a mobile mechanic.

01afraser4

facade wrote: »

Better off getting a quote for supply & fit. That way you will have some sort of guarantee.


The garage makes money on selling the alternator to you, and on the labour. If it doesn't work or breaks in short order, they sort out taking it back off and replacing it.



However, if you suply your own alternator and it doesn't work you get a car without a working alternator and tough luck. You would have to pay them again to remove it, take it for a swap, and then pay them again to fit it, in between they would have the car in their way. You would no doubt be awkward about all this if it happened, which is why they don't want to know.

Thanks for the advice.

I originally thought that I'd get the alternator myself as there is a local auto-parts shop which has come quite highly recommended in terms of price and guarantees that they offer - and I rightly or wrongly assumed that garage prices would be higher.

I will get quotes for supply and fit so that way I can see if there is much of a difference in the price to supply the alternator.

Cheers

01afraser4

Incidentally, I've just received a quote from a local garage for £233 supply and fit.

Considering the alternator I was looking at was £144 then this price seems quite reasonable given that I now have a ballpark figure for labour costs.