Am I getting hosed?

gopokes · Post by **gopokes** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 7:04 pm

Hi All - New to the forum and looking forward to learning a thing or two. I've got a 1984 sr5 wagon (173,000miles)that I love, but recently the gas mileage has crapped and the heater blows cold air, both related in degrees to a bad water pump/stuck-open thermostat and leaky fuel pump. To replace these two things and a timing belt, the guy at the shop quoted me $550 give or take. I looked up the parts and they totaled less than $80. Obviously these are aftermarket parts, which I assume are cheaper than factory direct parts. Is the mechanic jacking me or does this seem fair?
Thanks for the help!

Mickey_D · Post by **Mickey_D** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 7:25 pm

No way in hell is that fair. I was charged $550 for a timing belt and water pump on a 3.0L V-6 Dodge Caravan. At the dealer. On a Sunday. And I had no choice living in an apartment complex that freaked if you checked your oil in the parking lot. I needed the van to get to work the next day or else I would have done it myself.

And that engine requires A LOT more work to get to the timing belt than ours does. It requires removing ALL of the fan belt driven accessories, two engine mounts, the radiator, and most of the EFI intake system. On ours it basically requires removing the air filter, fan belts, valve cover, water pump, and timing belt cover. If it involves much more than that I'd be horrifically surprised.

If you've got a basic socket set, metric wrenches from 8mm to 19mm, a Vise-grip, standard and Phillips screwdriver, and a pair of needlenose pliers, you should be able to do it yourself in the car parts parking lot in about 2 hours (and that's for a beginner that's never done it before, an experienced person could do it in about an hour, including cleanup).

Post by **ARCHINSTL** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:24 am

A new fuel pump cost me $25 a year ago at Advance (or Autozone). It really is easy to install.
A good thermostat and gasket is about $15, and again, easy to install. I've never done a water pump (do a Search on this site for info), but it does not seem to be a chore. Do not forget the O-ring for the tube. Install new molded radiator hoses - cheap insurance.

The '85 FSM is available for download on our site.
Check this link to the Autozone site; it is to the Repair Guide section peculiar to our Tercels. This site can give more info than the FSM.
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroke ... epairGuide
Tom M.

gopokes · Post by **gopokes** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:37 pm

Thanks for the input folks - It seemed high to me too (those greedy bastards!). I might try to tackle the fuel pump, but from whatI understand the warter pump/timing belt is a tougher job. I think I could pull off the fuel pump - maybe

I'm thinking of having the compression checked to see where I'm at there before throwing down some cash or possibly setting myself/home/loved ones on fire. What are the typical compression readings for a car similar to mine that would indicate that there might be some life left in the engine? Thanks again!

takza · Post by **takza** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:17 pm

Might buy some tools...and a manual and download the FSM....and tackle the fuel pump? It's not very economical to drive one of these cars without knowing how to do your own repairs...or most of them.

If you have questions...just ask?

As for the timing belt...it's a non-interference engine...so if it goes...you just stop.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:30 pm

Its not hard to do anything on our cars. It can become a matter of whether you have the tools or not. To get the timing belt off, you'll need to borrow a pulley puller from Autozone, Advance, or the likes. Don't get intimidated by that, its not difficult. Just make sure the puller has a replace function as well, as its not fun to smack the pulley with a rubber mallet. Again, don't be too intimidated.

Download the FSM. As long as you read through the procedures BEFORE, maybe a few times, you should not have a big deal. We changed the water pump in my sis's Corolla-Tercel with a 3AC in the drive in maybe 50 minutes. Timing belt, if done, should be done at the same time. The biggest problem is getting access to the lower pulley.

Lollypop · Post by **Lollypop** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:02 pm

Takza and Tyrus you fellas said a mouthfull......I cant think of anything on our babies that isnt doable or really hard to do except maybe the damn Tranny

Hey Gopokes just get a FSM and get at it...then when you climb that pine tree you can know you made it possible.

Happy Wrenching

=====Justin=====

gopokes · Post by **gopokes** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:43 am

Thanks for the suggestions and help - I think I'll give the fuel pump a try, but maybe not the water pump/timing belt for now...
Is the chilton manual a good one - if not, might you recommend a good repair manual in addition to the FSM? Thanks again -

keith · Post by **keith** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:35 pm

Unlike many newer cars, the timing belt does not operate the water pump. It is not necessary to remove one to access the other. You can do the water pump and thermostat yourself and put the timing belt off to a pro if you want.

Getting the pulley bolt off is not that hard, just wedge a breaker bar in the frame and hit the starter for a fraction of a second.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:44 am

They don't interlace, they are just right next to each other and if you are getting at the timing belt, its the best time to do the pump. Though you can do the pump without doing the belt. You just need lots of paper towel to keep the coolant off the belt.