Replacing water pump this weekend

[1kestrel]

For those that have done this themselves, what was the approximate parts cost?

I just had mine done (pump, belt, flush&fill) and it cost $1038 at an indy shop.

[shadrach74]

Originally Posted by 1kestrel

For those that have done this themselves, what was the approximate parts cost?

I just had mine done (pump, belt, flush&fill) and it cost $1038 at an indy shop.

Hmmm... I bought a duralast pump (made in Spain) from aut zone that is claimed as OE quality for $153.00 and a Porsche OEM gaslit for $14.00. I bit the bullet and shelled out $94.00 for the coolant vacuum filler tool (no need to bleed the system if filled this way and it verifies the system is water tight). So I'm at $261 plus a Saturday morning...

Edit: I had 4 gallons of Motul antifreeze on hand, I don't remember the cost. Distiller water was about $4.00.

[Bryan topping]

Originally Posted by shadrach74

Hmmm... I bought a duralast pump (made in Spain) from aut zone that is claimed as OE quality for $153.00 and a Porsche OEM gaslit for $14.00. I bit the bullet and shelled out $94.00 for the coolant vacuum filler tool (no need to bleed the system if filled this way and it verifies the system is water tight). So I'm at $261 plus a Saturday morning...

Edit: I had 4 gallons of Motul antifreeze on hand, I don't remember the cost. Distiller water was about $4.00.

shadrach74,
does the pump have a composite or metal impeller?

[shadrach74]

Originally Posted by Bryan topping

shadrach74,
does the pump have a composite or metal impeller?

It's metal... I'm not trying to start a debate here, but I was actually happy that it was metal. I've been left stranded twice (not in Pcars) by plastic pump impellers that cracked into pie shapes. The worst that's happened with a metal pump is a minor leak. So I'm fine with trying one this time around. for what it's worth, this pump came with a limited lifetime warranty, which was better than any of the other pumps I looked at...

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by 1kestrel

For those that have done this themselves, what was the approximate parts cost?

I just had mine done (pump, belt, flush&fill) and it cost $1038 at an indy shop.

That's a fair price for an indy for all OEM parts & labor.

Pump is $250ish
Coolant is now $35/gallon (3)
Belt is about $36
2 Gaskets are about $14
Thermo is about $40

So, about $445 in parts.

$1,038 - $445 = $593 in labor at $125/hour = 4.75 hours.

I think that's very fair. You did fine. If they do quality work, and I assume they did.

[pothole]

Nearly five hours in labour to change the pump? Are you joking?

I've changed the pump on my car. It didn't take five hours doing it first time and taking it very, very slowly and carefully. An experienced specialist should be able to do it in a fraction of five hours.

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by pothole

Nearly five hours in labour to change the pump? Are you joking?

I've changed the pump on my car. It didn't take five hours doing it first time and taking it very, very slowly and carefully. An experienced specialist should be able to do it in a fraction of five hours.

Relax dude. Re-read the guys post. He clearly states; pump, belt and flush & fill. I'd bet he paid more in parts and less in labor than my estimate.

[pothole]

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

Relax dude. Re-read the guys post. He clearly states; pump, belt and flush & fill. I'd bet he paid more in parts and less in labor than my estimate.

Firstly, you have to remove and replace the belt to do the pump and you'll have the panel off anyway, so that adds no time at all. Same re the the fluid, really - you'll be draining most of it, anyway, taking the the pump off.

I was including pump, belt and flush in my consideration. They're pretty much all part of the pump-changing process. Five hours for an experienced professional with a lift and the correct tools is far too much. Being generous, I would say an hour to an hour and a half to remove and replace pump and then another hour and a half to flush, fill and bleed.

I suppose in reality you'd be lucky to charged less than four hours for the job. But that's why I try to avoid using shops. You rarely get charged for how long jobs really ought to take.

[1kestrel]

The breakdown of charges from the Indy shop:

Pump=$324 (ouch!)
Gasket=$16
Coolant=$60
Belt=$56
Shop supplies (water?)=$28
Labor: 5 hrs@$105/hr=$525
Tax=$29

I've done a lot of work on my other cars, but the pump failed at work so I flat bedded it to the nearest shop.

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by pothole

I suppose in reality you'd be lucky to charged less than four hours for the job. But that's why I try to avoid using shops. You rarely get charged for how long jobs really ought to take.

True dat. But, an indy, a good & fair one, will be much-much closer to actual time than some "book time". that the dealerships use. In my experience.

I have very little free time, even if I had the skills (which I don't) to do this DIY. I'd rather take a 4-5 hour drive through my favorite country roads (which I do).