My truck has had this annoying tendency to drink coolant. I believe I took care of it by replacing the thermostat gasket. Not so, it drinks about a quart every 50 miles - so quite a bit really.

Finally bit the bullet and took it to the dealer so that they could figure out where the coolant was going.

Answer I got back was - timing cover gasket, water pump, lower radiator hose.

The water pump appears to be good, its just the gasket that's bad. So my question is - how significant is the timing chain cover leak? Poking around online it appears to be reasonably common, but sounds very expensive. The dealer indicated it would be 2 days work minimum.

Is this a fixable problem, or an indication of something far more serious. I ask because I'm on the cusp of trading it in - but I don't have so much money that I can just casually take on a new car payment.

 

its fixable. I thought I had a blown head gasket, r7r the head gaskets and still had leak. Turns out it was the timing chain water manifold gasket that was leaking. you gotta pull the radiator and then all the accessories to do. I bought the gasket took to local shop and they installed faster than I could working part time. Getting so its easier to have someone else do the work anymore. Yes go ahead and repair it, R&R the water pump while there. I also R&R'd the timing chain and crank gasket/seal while they had it all apart. Think it cost around $300 for all the work and like I said it ws back the next day.

 

Sounds pretty cheap considering everything!

phoskins

 

300 I would assume is just for the parts.

The dealer quoted 1600 - which sounds about what all the other anecdotes I've read say. 2 days work wouldn't be a measly 300 bucks.

 

It shouldn't BE two days work!!! W.T.F. its only a timing cover! Three hours max!

You need to find a different mechanic/shop, they be rippin' you off!

 

I work on a fleet of rangers and 2 days does sound like a rip off. I can change an engine in less time than they are estimating. The worse part of the job is the Harmonic balancer removal and install. Rent the tool from the parts store of your choice. The timing cover gasket is a job that can be done in the driveway in a day if you are handy with a wrench and a couple of days if not. Just remember the bracket that holds on the power steering pump has 2 bolts in the side of it and 3 bolts in the front, you do not have to remove the pump from the bracket just set it to the side. Could almost do it in my sleep it is such a common problem. Added a couple of pics of the challenges I get to keep busy with.

 

I buy the parts and they take apart and install so the $300-350 was labor. The gasket kit was about $30 as I recall, the water pump was lifetime from autozone so no new cost there. I forget how much the timing chain was but it was not real expensive. Independent shops are willing to work for less and as a result STAY busy. This shop does not have a lot of junkers to work on, all are fairly new vehicles. They have a good reputation so like I said its easier to pay them and have it done in a day or so rather than me and it takes a week or so part time working.

 

I'll hash it out with them today. I've been to this dealer before, and they've been fair in the past. I see no reason why they'd go out of their way to rip me off.

I assume their quote is doing it 'by the book', and the 2 days may have simply been how long the truck needed to be kept there. In any case they still need to justify their bill. If it is a rip off, then I'll make sure to let all my friends know about it. Struggling dealerships can't afford to pull stunts like that - which is why I don't think they are pulling any stunts.

I have never had good luck with independent mechanics.

 

eigenvector, look for ones with lots of car traffic in the lot. Look for a couple of days and if there is good turnover probably means a fair to middlin shop. Then ask around. Thats how I found the one I use, plus its close to the house. Ask folks who drive trucks and in particular off road guys as they should know who is good, bad indifferent.

 

For what it's worth I got the truck back today.

Timing cover seal, water pump seal, and crankshaft oil seal. It was danged expensive, but I don't feel like they fleeced me. It would have taken me weeks to get it done - assuming I could have done so properly. That's highly unlikely considering that today is the first day it isn't either pouring rain, gusty winds at hurricane force, or both.

Mechanics must get paid a lot of money at 130 bucks an hour. (That's a joke, I know how much my company bills my labor at - and I sure as heck don't make that much)