Serpentine Belt
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Southeast FLA
Serpentine Belt
Honestly, this is an easier project.
You should consider that for close to the cost of having a garage install one, you could buy, and own, a nice long-handled ratchet & socket (the ones you'll use to do the job - though I think I did it with a long-handled wrench).
At least that's the way I look at things - the loss of money over the gaining of ability and tools to handle future jobs myself.
I do not know how much it would cost. In reality it should be a 15 minute job, so:
1/4 hour * garage's hourly rate = ?
.25 * $50 = less than $15.00 labor, plus the belt.
But I'd bet some garages would charge you more than 15 minutes worth of labor.
You should consider that for close to the cost of having a garage install one, you could buy, and own, a nice long-handled ratchet & socket (the ones you'll use to do the job - though I think I did it with a long-handled wrench).
At least that's the way I look at things - the loss of money over the gaining of ability and tools to handle future jobs myself.
I do not know how much it would cost. In reality it should be a 15 minute job, so:
1/4 hour * garage's hourly rate = ?
.25 * $50 = less than $15.00 labor, plus the belt.
But I'd bet some garages would charge you more than 15 minutes worth of labor.
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2001
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Serpentine Belt
Wow, I got ripped off then. I was charged almost $60 for them to do it... 
I guess I'm never going back there again!
I wanted to do it myself originally, but I always have some strange fear of replacing reciprocating parts thinking that I will misalign/misbalance something.
But anyways, I appreciate the info guys.
I guess I'm never going back there again!I wanted to do it myself originally, but I always have some strange fear of replacing reciprocating parts thinking that I will misalign/misbalance something.
But anyways, I appreciate the info guys.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,017
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From: Southeast FLA
Serpentine Belt
Did that price include a diagnostic check to find the belt was a problem, or did you drive it there and tell them specifically to change the belt?
I can see a garage having a minimum time charge, and they do charge a diagnostic fee if they are made to figure out a problem.
I can see a garage having a minimum time charge, and they do charge a diagnostic fee if they are made to figure out a problem.
Postmaster
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,241
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From: Broken Arrow, OK
Serpentine Belt
If you came into my shop and asked to have the belt replaced it would cost you $32 plus the belt. Most shops charge a half hour minimum because you really can't do anything of any usefulness in under half an hour. I can change a 4.9 serp belt in 5 minutes. However, by the time you record vehicle information, pull the vehicle into the shop, pull a part, do the job, fill out the paperwork, etc. you've easily got half an hour in it. If you bring the truck in and ask what the funny noise under the hood is we charge half an hour for diagnosis, which would bring the total to $64+belt. There are shops out there that claim they don't charge diagnostic fees, but 99% of the time they get you somewhere else and make up for it. We also check your fluids, hoses, tire pressures, etc. for free. $60 to get a belt chagned really isn't all that bad, but in the case of a 4.9 you could definitely do it your self very easily. All you need is a 5/8 box end wrench to pull the tensioner with.
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Serpentine Belt
I had a seperate diagnostic fee to do a comprehensive check-up for everything on the truck since I recently passed 100K miles. (100K miles check up) After learning that everything on the truck was in relatively good shape, I decided to have them change the serpentine belt since that was the only thing that was a bit worn and had a few cracks... I figure'd it wasn't worth testing my luck to see if it would break in this Arizona hot day-cold night weather for which I'm sure rubber belts expand more than usual. Anyways, the 100K check-up charge was about $80, then since the truck was already in the shop I told them to do an oil change, which I believe was another $20. The total bill was about $160, so thats how I came up with that $60 figure. I'm not sure what the parts-to-labor split was, but I'm sure the belt wasn't too much. I suppose it wasn't that bad of a deal... I can see how a half-hour labor charge is almost fruitless for a shop. Now you guys have me all turned around! Must be a conspiracy! ;-)
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Southeast FLA
Serpentine Belt
As I recall, the mark-up on serpentine belts is incredible. You're probably looking at $30 for the belt alone.
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Postmaster
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,241
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From: Broken Arrow, OK
Serpentine Belt
Mark up is about the same on almost all parts. Shops in general get parts from large distributor fairly cheaply. If we get a part from a distributor we double our cost for the part and it comes out about 15-20% more than you'd pay at a parts store. If we have to use a dealer to get a part the mark up is 44%, which usually puts the price right at dealer list. Everyone is usually quick to point out how mechanics are crooks, but we have families to feed and bills to pay just like everyone else. It costs more to eat at a restaurant than it does to cook the same thing at home, but nobody bitches about restaurant prices.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Southeast FLA
Serpentine Belt
$20 is a good deal.
I've seen belts that cost the suppliers $7, and the jobbers $13, go for over $30. I don't know why, but that's what was behind me saying the mark-up of belts seemed high.
Best,
I've seen belts that cost the suppliers $7, and the jobbers $13, go for over $30. I don't know why, but that's what was behind me saying the mark-up of belts seemed high.
Best,
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,021
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From: Florida
Serpentine Belt
not to push buttons but the belt was 30 bucks and I even did it in 5 minutes lol and didnt know what i was doing really. but had to cus it was sunday and i was away from home at a secluded beach and alternator went for second time in two years so thought belt might be slipping did it all in under and hour.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
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From: Memphis, TN
Serpentine Belt
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Nov-02 AT 11:54 PM (EST)]>I'm sure rubber belts expand more than usual.
"Rubber" belts (esp serpentines) have fiberglass cords inside them (like cheap tires), so they DON'T expand enough to measure from heat, wear, tension, or anything else they might encounter under normal operation.
"Rubber" belts (esp serpentines) have fiberglass cords inside them (like cheap tires), so they DON'T expand enough to measure from heat, wear, tension, or anything else they might encounter under normal operation.