Power Steering

Had service, dealer, garage repair whining serpentine belt, it was clicking and making noise at idle and would change under acceleration.

AT this time new belt and tension-er pulley and alternator installed.

Now I'm havinging sound again took it to another dealer garage and they said power steering pump was going. So I'm having that replaced, service contract is paying. They said that the pump and time were paid for via the service contract but they said that the pressure hose was showing age and should be replaced ( esp seeing how pump was all ready out and a significant amt of standard repair time was the removal of the pump ) that I should do it now while I can leverage the service contract paying for time on the pump.

My question is this.
1. I'm going to ask for all the parts .... hope like hell I can see what wear looks like on the hose.
2. What is the standard repair time to replace a broken power steering pressure line w/o changing pump. They're telling me 2 hours .... at 150 an hour .....


Regards and Thank You for stopping in to answer a question.
B


Oh yeah ... 2011 Chevrolet Equinox with 6cyl engine.

 

I had a leaking power steering return line and hose in my 2012 Lexus ES replaced in June 2022. Parts were $155.13 and $97.00 and fluid $14. Labor was $154.00 (1.4 hours). The metal line was leaking and as long as the work was being done he recommended replacing th rubber hose as well at eh same time.

I went to an independent shop that specializes in foreign and upscale vehicles. My local mechanic said it was too difficult to get at.

 

 

and here's why........ rip off

When they go to the book that quotes time to replace the hose, the book doesn't know the pump is already off. From the book to replace the hose, that 2 hrs is to remove the pump or whatever additional work its going to take to replace the hose as if it were the ONLY job at hand.

This is "cheating". They are getting paid twice to remove the pump etc to change the hose. The "service contract" is paying to remove & replace the pump.. then you're paying (per the book) to do whatever is necessary including removing the pump to replace the hose.
The hose simply screws on both ends. 15 minutes tops. Then as, Marq1 noted, there is another 15 - 30 minutes to bleed the system of air. But he has to do that anyway to replace the pump.
Additionally, he has to remove one end of the hose to replace the pump so he is getting half the labor of the remove/replacement of the hose paid twice.... plus time to bleed the system of air.
The price of the hose & 1/2 the cost of R&R should be all you pay. However, its the system & the world we live in today. If it was Jim Bob's Auto Repair, I'd try to dicker with him on the price. But a "stealer", that's another story. Pay the double costs or you won't get a new hose. End of story..... unless you know the owner of the dealership etc.

 

What he said.

 

Ok thanks all.

Is there some place where a lay person can see the standard repair times quoted for work?

I can always go to the multitude of sites for auto parts prices but it's that labor that I can't find some sort of handle for.

Again thank you all for stopping
Regards,
B

 

Not that I am aware of... at least for free. When I said "book", it used to be a "physical" time labor book. Now its a service you have to subscribe to on line in order to get that information. I pretty sure it ain't cheap. That keeps me & you from easily accessing the info. I'm pretty sure you'd have to provide your FID number in order to get access to the website/info.

As for labor costs, dealerships are usually going to be higher than "City Auto Repair" & certainly more than "Jim Bobs at home Auto Repair".
If you can find a good reputable shop with an owner op & a couple of other mechanics, in a nice building, that would save you some money on labor costs.
I mean Jim Bob can usually replace a PS pump & a hose, but just be kinda sure you know Jim Bob.
A dealer is going to be at least $110 to probably $140 per hour on labor charges depending on the brand dealership in my area.
A decent reputable repair shop is going to be $85 - $95 per hr in my southern rural area.
​​​​​​​Jim Bob maybe $60 - $75 per hour in my area.

 

The main reason they quoted that higher price is because they can soak the insurance for it. Kind of like the difference in pricing when your at the doctor and see price differences between anything billed through insurance and self-paid.