Water Pump

Hey guys, I just took my gpgt to a mechanic and told them to get my car to stop overheating. Told me i needed a new intake manifold since it had warped from previously overheating, new cat converter since it was no good, gave me a new radiator, flushed my car a couple times. Cost me 1400$. Now my car just overheated and they said i could get it flushed whenever. I get back from work and they call me saying they put a new water pump in and I owe them 500$ when i told them to flush it.

#1.) How much is a water pump replacement job?

#2.) What action can i take to not pay for this and avoid going to court? They did the work without any of my consent.

What engine year here? 3.1, pushrod 3.4's and 3.8 water pumps, vary between 1.0 to 2.2 hours, plus parts and maybe some coolant, $500.00 no way. Some states repair shop/dmv regs require a shop get written or definitive phone authorization to perform any repairs or add ons. Check with the proper state agencies, in NY this is the case. Just saw gtgp supercharged? Labor time if so is about another 1.0.

my mom just payed 350$ for the job, 3.8L engine, the guy told her 2.5hrs of labor, i'm pretty angry...

I could make a good living doing waterpumps and intake jobs. Sounds like the only thing they gave you was the shaft. All that is a good endorsement for being able to do some shadetree mechanic work. I figure I saved myself over a $1000 on my intake and tuneup job.

Do you have the repair order or an invoice itemizing the repairs and labor charges?

What did the shady mechanic charge you for the water pump?

On the high side but it depends on where you live as to what the rip off factor will be. Is the overheating problem resolved?

Phoenix, if I were you, I'd be contacting a lawyer, you got boned hard!! Whatever shop did that work should have their licence revoked. AS far as your mom's bill, that's not AS bad, but still high. The water pump costs less than $40, (that's for a new one, not reman) and even at a high labor rate of $80/hr, $300 seems high to me.

my mom just payed 350$ for the job, 3.8L engine, the guy told her 2.5hrs of labor, i'm pretty angry...
Some year 3800's require the p/s pump be removed or or gotten out of the way to access one pump bolt, this can wind up 2.5 in total, adding in a proper coolant flush and the parts could come to that, as Rich said here, labor rates vary widely around the country.

Some year 3800's require the p/s pump be removed or or gotten out of the way to access one pump bolt, this can wind up 2.5 in total, adding in a proper coolant flush and the parts could come to that, as Rich said here, labor rates vary widely around the country.

I learned the hard way about the power steering pump. It doesn't need to be removed, just one bolt removed and tilted and then you can access the waterpump bolt through a hole in the pulley. It is extremely difficult to get the ps pump back on.

The issue is not DIY but seeing if this guy and his mother got ripped off. The answer to that question is an absolute YES!

No general mechanic work commands $80/Hr and I do not care if the shop is gold plated or where it is located on the U.S.

Here is what places like Pep Boys (national chain) charges for a water pump replacement on a NA Series II 3800:

Water Pump: $35.99 - Lifetime Warranty
Labor: $112.50 - Labor warranty 4K miles
Misc Supplies: - $7.42
Coolant: $10.99

Total $171.37 including applicable state sales tax

BTW - This is out in West Texas which is in the middle of nowheres.

yeah they ripped you bad, i just changed the water pump in a 97 grand prix gt and only charged him $60 parts and labor included

My story,

I replaced the water pump on my sister-in-laws '95 GP 3.1 with 125,000 miles last July because it was spraying fluid out the weep hole onto the belt. It was the easiest water pump I have done (5 cars over the years). The hard part was removing the pulley cover which hides it from view--as you have to hold that from turning using the holes in the cover to immobilize it. I compared the old pump to new one---the cause for its failure also revealed that the vanes (or blades--or whatever you want to call them) had been eaten away to half their size---I think they were plastic or aluminum. If your GP has over 100,000 miles and has cooling problems, I would suspect a worn pump pronto for that reason alone. The cost of the pump stunned me I recall--it wasn't $25. Add a couple gallons of antifreeze and gasket set adhesive and I don't think I spent $40 for that job.

PS,

Because the water pump sits rather high in the system, You must bleed out the air in the system by opening the screw on the top of what I think is the thermostat housing. If you don't, the air will remain and the thermostat will not open and/or the pump will not function 100%. This has been the comment of many others before me on this forum.

true i've bleed that fuker like a bish on her rag... just don't quit

It is extremely difficult to get the ps pump back on.

indeed took me 95% of the complete time just to get the p/s pump back on

Wow thats way to much for the water pump ,

mine cost less than $30 and it took me about 1 hour total to install " though it was a 92 3.1L GP " That price is WAY to much , They cant Fix anything with out your aprovall.

I am on the "you got ripped off bandwagon" but am concerned with the action of recourse that can be taken.

First I would call them up and explain that you did not agree to this repair and request the money back. If they keep saying no, try to give a little by maybe paying for the cost of the water pump.

If you are still talking to the NO broken record, then call the Better Business Bureau. Sometimes that can force the other party to take action and make things equitable.

If there still isn't budging, then you need to consider legal action. Small claims stuff doesn't usually require a lawyer, although you may want to consult one so you know how to present things since this was a verbal contract and its your word over theirs over what was exactly authorized.

I am not a lawyer by any means, but that's how I think you should proceed.

For the City, $80/hr for labor isn't bad. I just did an unscientific Google search and $65/80 is the norm for Austin, Texas according to some Austin Business site for instance.

Did you pay for that pump repair with your credit card? You may be able to contact the card company and claim fraud.

For price comparison, I remember seeing the price list at my local GM dealership. Water pump replacement is listed for $350. MetroWest Boston is a high cost of living area...

My wife had had a water pump replaced for her 96 Chevy Cavalier at Texaco gas station around 2000-2001. She paid about $225.

So anything above $350 is highway robbery.