Another Trip to The Mechanic

jrw1550 wrote:
I had to take my TV, a 2000 Chevy Express 1500 out to my mechanic. It had a very loud noise coming from the front of the engine and the ride was not very good. I stopped on the way home after work today to see what it was going to cost me. Well the loud noise is a bad alternator, high output of course, around 450 bucks, the idler pulley is bad as well that is about 140 bucks. The bad ride is the tires on the front are coming apart and the 2 on the back have very little tread left. Mechanic recommended going to a load range C which will have better sidewalls, cost around 600 bucks. So I am looking at about 1200 bucks total. When this happen I really wonder why I camp then I remember the campfires,the places we have gone, the time with family and how that is worth way more then any dollar amount.

The parts are easy to install and you could do it yourself for less that $200. The tire prices are about right if you are getting good ones.

You're talking about a 13 year old vehicle. I notice that you neglected to post the vehicles mileage. Depending on what the milage is, I might think twice befor puting $1200 into it. It might be better spent on a replacement vehicle.

2000 Chevy is just broken in.....

But it does sound like he's a little high on the alternator and pulley.

If it makes you feel any better I lost the bottom end of an 02 3500 express with a 350 yesterday. 1200$ would feel like pocket change compared to what this van is about to get spent on it.

Was traveling with friends and we had the van towed home and called a rental van to finish the trip.

$1200 is two or less monthly payments on today's truck. If your truck lasts two more months after fixing it, you have paid for the repairs. Fix it and enjoy the use it gives you. Let someone else buy your future truck today, and make all the payments and take the depreciation hit for you.:)

GMT830 wrote:
2000 Chevy is just broken in.....

But it does sound like he's a little high on the alternator and pulley.

Not if the parts are OEM replacements and not Auto Zone, Advanced, O'Reilly, etc. rebuilds or Chinese parts............

I won't even touch on the tires but O'Reilly Automotive's online site shows a 140 amp alternator for $144.99 with a limited lifetime warranty. Most expensive idler pulley on their site is about $22.00. I think I'd be looking at doing the repairs myself as an alternator replacement is not a difficult job.

Randy

Not only does the cost of 4 "C" range tires seem very high and even a lot higher than the 4 new Michelins "C's" quote as installed that are going on my wife's Trailblazer in about a week, the HO alternator and idler pulley cost numbers are insanely high. The book says a total of .7 hours time for both done individaully. Should be less time if done at the same time.

OP, you're being ripped off! Get more quotes and do the alternator/pulley work yourself if you can and the cost will be under $200 including fuel to go get to parts and bring the old alternator back for the core charge credit. Work should take less than a hour of your time and save you over $400. $400/hr is wonderful pay and no income taxes etc to pay out of it. You can do a lot better on the tire costs if you want to. You'll likely save $500+ doing the needed repairs and 4 "C" tires if you desire to.

mitw44 wrote:
$1200 is two or less monthly payments on today's truck. If your truck lasts two more months after fixing it, you have paid for the repairs. Fix it and enjoy the use it gives you. Let someone else buy your future truck today, and make all the payments and take the depreciation hit for you.:)

+1

You need a new mechanic.