Misslmperfect 0 #1 March 3, 2004 ok, so i have a VW, and it stopped running like 2 weeks ago. we towed it in, and this is what the mechanics are saying: my timing belt 'jumped timing'. it has zero clearance between pistons and valve head, so valve head bent. cost: 1800.00 upper portion (im assuming this means 'of engine') 1805.60 cylinder head 61.00 head gasket 10.08 head bolts (x10) 210.59 timing belt and tensioner(sp?) 35.00 VC Gas 892.00 10.5 hours of labor my husband is out of town and i cant reach him, i just talked to this guy. are they screwing me here? do these costs sound right? i have to give this guy the go-ahead by tomorrow or i get charged MORE, and since i cant get my husband to answer the phone, i wanna know if these VW folks are tryin to fuck me. so anyone here that knows cars - HELP! Oh Canada, merci pour la livraison! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 March 3, 2004 Quote do these costs sound right? Are we talking a classic VW bug or something more up-to-date? If it's a classic VW bug, then -I- think the prices are -way- out of line. Of course, I think a classic VW bug engine is only slightly more complex than a Cox 0.42. BTW, where's the head light fluid replacement in that quote?quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #3 March 3, 2004 Sounds about right. Bad timing belt is one of the most expensive things that can go wrong. How old is the car, how many miles? Did you replace the timing belt at the required interval? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot90 0 #4 March 3, 2004 can you give me a year and body stle and engine size. If your husband is mechanical you prolly can get a rebuilt head for about 400 and do the job for about $6-700 parts. ypu can prolly get a better price at a independent shop. Just make sure it's a good one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darius11 12 #5 March 3, 2004 Ok If your timing belt jumped the costs sounds right. But how old is the car? When was the last time you changed your timing belt? Your timing belt keeps all the internal engine parts working in pace so if it did jump it will fuck every thing up. I am not a mechanic I just spent a lot of time in my friends shop and work on cars as a hobby. I have never heard of a timing belt jump I have heard of a timing belt braking and what they described to you is usually the result from that. Sorry to say that the price sound about right if that happened.I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misslmperfect 0 #6 March 3, 2004 1998 VW Passat, around 75,000 miles..cant remember exactly the guy said this is VERY rare, that my timing belt should NOT have gone out like that until around 105,000. he said he called VW to see if they'd cover it, and they wont. i had 2 grand set aside for repair costs. but now im looking almost an extra thousand! so hes bein legit with me i guess? this freaking SUCKS! oh and im not quite gullible enough to go for the headlight fluid thing...close, but not quite Oh Canada, merci pour la livraison! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misslmperfect 0 #7 March 3, 2004 as far as i know the timing belt has never been changed. i would surely think not, since it only had like 15,000 miles when i bought it Oh Canada, merci pour la livraison! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darius11 12 #8 March 3, 2004 No but don't feel bad. Thats weird that it went on a VW at 75000 thats getting close to the time to change it but i think most people do it at 100000. when they do a full tune up. Don't feel bad it can always be worse. I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cvfd1399 0 #9 March 3, 2004 Is that in american dollars? It is high. Mechanics suck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #10 March 3, 2004 in 1998 VW made two Passat models: one with a smaller turbo 4 cylinder engine and the other with a larger V6. Both are fairly complex. How much is it just to drop in an entirely rebuilt/new engine?quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #11 March 3, 2004 What model Passat? The TDi is supposed to have the belt and tensioner replaced at 60k miles. All models should have it checked frequently before that. Here's the maintenance schedule: http://www.bentleypublishers.com/tech/vw/vw.1998.maintenance.sched.pdf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misslmperfect 0 #12 March 3, 2004 i have the 4 cylinder turbo. sorry if this is a stupid question, but would putting in a totally new engine fix everything??? or would there be other repairs as well? would the new engine already have ALL these parts im supposed to be buying separately? my husband has looked up costs for a totally built engine and they are less than this by almost a 1000. of course thats excluding labor...i dont think he knows enough about the engine in my car to do something like that. would that be a possible solution? why wouldnt the VW guys have given me that option?Oh Canada, merci pour la livraison! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dove 0 #13 March 3, 2004 I know nothing about VWs or how to fix a car but I wouldn't trust someone who pressured me to do it now or pay more tomorrow. Sounds to me he's scared you'll get a 2nd opinion or at least start shopping around for a better estimate. I just got my car fixed and I got estimates from $360 to $850 for the same job. I would hold off if I was you. Or at least get up early and start calling around to other places to get estimates on the exact same repair. That way, if you're really getting a good deal you can still give him the go-ahead tomorrow. Good luck. Finding a good, honest mechanic is tough. Fall in dove. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #14 March 3, 2004 Quote why wouldnt the VW guys have given me that option? Because they have mouths to feed at home? Anyway, ask them (and another repair shop) what the costs would be for a new engine.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misslmperfect 0 #15 March 3, 2004 that is a really good idea. the only thing is, my car is sitting at VW now. i think the charges are for having it taking up space in their shop when its not being worked on. we just got one of those car dolly/trailor things and took it across the street to the VW dealer..i guess we could go get it again to take it somewhere else. maybe if we got a better estimate somewhere else VW would match it? ughhh im in tears right now. this is KILLING any plans for AFP i may have had in the near future....i know i know, transportation is more important than skydiving..or is it?! uuugghh...this really really really really sucks!Oh Canada, merci pour la livraison! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeNReN 0 #16 March 3, 2004 With the proper info I could check all the prices....(year/model/engine)...$1800 for a head sounds wrong...but you never know with VW...(TDI desiel??)...(have them price a used head if its really needed)....the rest of the pricing sounds normal When a timing belt breaks or jumps a tooth on a interferance engine....mr piston "can" introduce himself to ms valve.......they DONT get along!!!! Has the shop determined that internal damage has occured...or are they just speculating?.....sometimes you can get lucky and the 2 will not meet.(desiel engines usually bend/break valves and can also damage the piston and or connecting rods....gas engines "can" be more forgiving) PM me if you like...I will help if possible. BTW..I hold a class A Interprovincial Journeyman's Lic. and I am a ASE Master Mechanic/ASE Advanced Engine Performance certified Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ifall 0 #17 March 3, 2004 From what I've heard it is pretty rare at that mileage. I am assuming it is a four cylinder is that correct? I thought most passats only came with VR6's but I found out just recenlty they have the four cylinder option. If it is a vr6 then that is even more rare since they have timing chains on them instead of belts. I am not a mechanic but I used to have a corrado with a vr6 and did all the work on it myself. Seems like the labor cost is a little high on it though, $85 an hour? Maybe it's gone up since I last dealt with a mechanic though. Parts prices seem right though. edit: sorry, man all those posts just while I was typing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dove 0 #18 March 3, 2004 How badly do you want THAT van? You could get a nice used car or van for less than that. I know someone who got a great deal on a NICE Caravan for less than $1500. Just giving you another option. And I know waiting sucks, but the sky will always be there waiting for you. Fall in dove. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot90 0 #19 March 3, 2004 Because it's a dealer they are going to use new not rebuilt parts. My guess if she moved it to a a shop other than the dealer she'll save 30% Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ifall 0 #20 March 3, 2004 A friend of mine bought an engine from a rolled jetta at a junk yard for less than the total cost in her situation. Pretty low mileage too. Granted he dropped it in his car himself. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misslmperfect 0 #21 March 3, 2004 ok so i guess ill call around. i didnt realize that used parts were an option! i have no idea about what it takes to put an engine in a car...my husband always worked on his vehicles himself..but he doesnt know shit about my car. he had a classic bug, but thats a lot different. if he could do it himself that would rock...but i dont want to put faith in that. thanks for the help guys..at least i know im not getting totally screwed here. if anyone in the chicago area knows any good mechanics please lemme know! thanks againOh Canada, merci pour la livraison! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeNReN 0 #22 March 3, 2004 Dude....a well informed moderator such as yourself...should know that a classic bug is a push rod engine....and if someone sold you a timing belt for one...maybe headlight fluid replacement would be a good idea Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ifall 0 #23 March 3, 2004 Good luck, car troubles can be crippling, even if you can do all the labor yourself. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slug 1 #24 March 3, 2004 Hi First take a deep breath relax and smile Time is your friend. >>i think the charges are for having it taking up space in their shop when its not being worked on. >> QuoteIMO Incorect, Hi pressure sales B.S. We recently had a full size van that blew out the tranny. Limped to the tranny shop, Got the estimate To bad so sad told the tranny guy's van not worth it. We asked if we could leave it i their lot for a couple days so a wholesale buyer could look at it. No Problemo they pushed the van out the door. After a week the wholesaler never showed up we kept in touch and had the Van towed (insurance) prearranged to the chevy dealer where we had bought a car a year earlier and asked them to wholesale it for us. (tranny no workee, 105k miles) The van sat in the dealers back lot for a month no problem no charge picked up a check for twice what a wholesaler offered us over the phone. VW doesn't have to match anyones price this isn't home depot, with their attitude of their 24 hr deadline the VW place is what it is. I suggest you get references and do some math and compare warranties and options of new car. A "new engine" usually doesn't include stuff like starter, distibuter, etc. Also 75k miles Brakes, tires, this stuff can turn into a money pit. Got any place you can stash the car until you figure this out? BTW befor the van we drove a car until it had 185k on it, when its time to go it's time some just sooner than others. Good luck, Your in control not the car or the VW dealer. R.I.P. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Nutz 0 #25 March 3, 2004 If you take the car to the dealer it will usually cost about twice as much. There should be a reputable vw shop in town. Look in the phone book and then call the bbb and ask about complaints. (You should be able to do that online as well.) The clearances on that engine are very tight and having a timing belt jump is not that rare. I have had it happen on a Honda because the belt was old but fortunately, the clearances were not as tight on that engine. Good luck! "Don't! Get! Eliminated!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
Nutz 0 #25 March 3, 2004 If you take the car to the dealer it will usually cost about twice as much. There should be a reputable vw shop in town. Look in the phone book and then call the bbb and ask about complaints. (You should be able to do that online as well.) The clearances on that engine are very tight and having a timing belt jump is not that rare. I have had it happen on a Honda because the belt was old but fortunately, the clearances were not as tight on that engine. Good luck! "Don't! Get! Eliminated!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
