Assorted costs
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: London
Assorted costs
Hi Everybody,
This is not actually my first post, but I had problems logging in again - too many email addresses ago, I suspect. Truth is that I tend to lurk and soak up the assorted wisdom, so haven't logged in for a while!
I've received a lot of helpful advice in the past and I'm hoping that this time will be no exception.
I've just had a pretty gruesome service on my 1990 Carrera 2 Tip. Bit of a litany of woe, but having taken the decision to get a variety of things sorted out, these inevitably multiplied once it came down to it.
My specific question relates to the appropriate cost for renewing the timing chest seals. I've been charged for £395 in labour (10 hours at the local Porsche specialist) to do the job, before tax. I'd be interested to know whether people think that that's about right, but more pertinantly, the garage ran out of time to finish everything and the car has to go back to have two seals replaced on the gearbox as this is apparently leaking.
I understand that this is an engine-out job so I I'm wincing in anticipation of the rest of the bill as I'm being told that it will take about 12 hours of workshop time. I have two questions. Firstly, is this really necessary or can it be safely ignored until something more major needs doing and the job can be combined? Apparently it is dripping, although I've never seen anything on my garage floor. That said, the undertray is still on the car.
Assuming that it is indeed something that needs to be addessed now, I'm wondering in an admittedly ill-informed way, as to whether the job of renewing the timing chest seals would have been much easier (and cheaper) had the engine been out at the time?
For the record, I also had the oil filter supply line replaced as well as a couple of minor oil lines (amongst other non-engine related things!) and so I wonder if these too would fall into the same category?
If all of this seems above board, is there anything else I should get them to do while the engine is out?
All advice very much appreciated.
Daniel
This is not actually my first post, but I had problems logging in again - too many email addresses ago, I suspect. Truth is that I tend to lurk and soak up the assorted wisdom, so haven't logged in for a while!
I've received a lot of helpful advice in the past and I'm hoping that this time will be no exception.
I've just had a pretty gruesome service on my 1990 Carrera 2 Tip. Bit of a litany of woe, but having taken the decision to get a variety of things sorted out, these inevitably multiplied once it came down to it.
My specific question relates to the appropriate cost for renewing the timing chest seals. I've been charged for £395 in labour (10 hours at the local Porsche specialist) to do the job, before tax. I'd be interested to know whether people think that that's about right, but more pertinantly, the garage ran out of time to finish everything and the car has to go back to have two seals replaced on the gearbox as this is apparently leaking.
I understand that this is an engine-out job so I I'm wincing in anticipation of the rest of the bill as I'm being told that it will take about 12 hours of workshop time. I have two questions. Firstly, is this really necessary or can it be safely ignored until something more major needs doing and the job can be combined? Apparently it is dripping, although I've never seen anything on my garage floor. That said, the undertray is still on the car.
Assuming that it is indeed something that needs to be addessed now, I'm wondering in an admittedly ill-informed way, as to whether the job of renewing the timing chest seals would have been much easier (and cheaper) had the engine been out at the time?
For the record, I also had the oil filter supply line replaced as well as a couple of minor oil lines (amongst other non-engine related things!) and so I wonder if these too would fall into the same category?
If all of this seems above board, is there anything else I should get them to do while the engine is out?
All advice very much appreciated.
Daniel
Racer
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: West London, UK
Hi Daniel,
Your per hour rate does not seem excessive. I am interested in your point on the garage ran out of time? I understand that the timing chain cover gaskets can be changed without dropping the engine, but prior to commencing any work, I would expect the garage to look and diagnose all leaks/work needed and choose the best approach. I would be very surprised if the gearbox suddenly started leaking, and therefore they should have spotted it, as well as the timing chain cover leak. If they had spotted it, then they should have dropped the engine and done both jobs and anything else at the same time. I would not be happy paying for 10hrs of labour, only to be told that they missed something and would have to do another 12 hours, when both jobs could be done within the original 10-12 hours.
Just my twopenneth worth(english term)
cheers Taj.
Your per hour rate does not seem excessive. I am interested in your point on the garage ran out of time? I understand that the timing chain cover gaskets can be changed without dropping the engine, but prior to commencing any work, I would expect the garage to look and diagnose all leaks/work needed and choose the best approach. I would be very surprised if the gearbox suddenly started leaking, and therefore they should have spotted it, as well as the timing chain cover leak. If they had spotted it, then they should have dropped the engine and done both jobs and anything else at the same time. I would not be happy paying for 10hrs of labour, only to be told that they missed something and would have to do another 12 hours, when both jobs could be done within the original 10-12 hours.
Just my twopenneth worth(english term)
cheers Taj.
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,746
Likes: 3
From: West Sussex, UK
I'd agree that the garage should have spotted the leak from the gearbox.
Not sure you should ignore an oil leak just cos it's not getting past the undertray, though, especially one from the transmission; you're less likely to keep this topped up as you would an engine.
Out of interest, who is doing the work?
Phil
Not sure you should ignore an oil leak just cos it's not getting past the undertray, though, especially one from the transmission; you're less likely to keep this topped up as you would an engine.
Out of interest, who is doing the work?
Phil
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 542
Likes: 1
From: Seattle WA USA
To change the timing cover seals and the crankcase to oil filter adaptor oil line (if that is the line you had replaced) is a 10 - 12 hour job. If the transmission is leaking and on a Tiptronic, I am just wondering where, which requires engine removal then that is an additional job and will take extra time.
The shop should have supplied you with an estimate of repairs with a report. You need to find out where the leak is coming from and what parts are required to complete the repair.
Regarding repairing the trans leaks and the engine oil leaks in the same time as it takes to
just seal the timing cover...that is not correct, they are two seperate jobs and there is not much duplication of labor time.
If and when the engine is out the power steering pump drive seal and o-ring should be changed.
The shop should have supplied you with an estimate of repairs with a report. You need to find out where the leak is coming from and what parts are required to complete the repair.
Regarding repairing the trans leaks and the engine oil leaks in the same time as it takes to
just seal the timing cover...that is not correct, they are two seperate jobs and there is not much duplication of labor time.
If and when the engine is out the power steering pump drive seal and o-ring should be changed.