Gideon Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 Hi all. THis is my first post here. Here is what happened to my 96 Legacy 2.2L. The last repair before my water pump went was to have the crankshaft pulley replaced in September. About two/three weeks ago I was driving in upstate NY and my waterpump went, the engine overheated, etc. I called AAA, the tow truck guy looked at the problem and said he wasn't comfortable working on it - that it would be better to take the car to a dealership. Dropped the car off on Friday night and heard back on Monday. They replaced the water pump, thermostat and associated parts for a total of $756.58. I thought this price was excessive but I was stranded. They told me, and this is reflected on the invoice, that the crank pulley was loose and this damaged the "woodruff" and that the "key crank sprocket" was jammed on the crank. I have tried in vain to search these parts and/or problems with no success. Are these guys playing me? Are these actual parts and is this an actual problem??? Did they over charge me? Wasit appropriate that the AAA guy tow me to the dealership? I am taking the car back to the mechanic who changed my crankshaft pulley to discuss this but I just don't who to trust. Looking to some folks on the board to help me determine if I was ripped off by the dealership. Thanks so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillip Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 You referred to 'associated parts'; What else was replaced? Generally speaking, my shop replaces the timing belt and frequently an idler and perhaps the cam & crank seals when replacing the water pump on this style engine. The labor to replace these other items in minor if you're replacing the pump. If nothing else, it's cheap insurance. Hi all. THis is my first post here. Here is what happened to my 96 Legacy 2.2L. The last repair before my water pump went was to have the crankshaft pulley replaced in September. About two/three weeks ago I was driving in upstate NY and my waterpump went, the engine overheated, etc. I called AAA, the tow truck guy looked at the problem and said he wasn't comfortable working on it - that it would be better to take the car to a dealership. Dropped the car off on Friday night and heard back on Monday. They replaced the water pump, thermostat and associated parts for a total of $756.58. I thought this price was excessive but I was stranded. They told me, and this is reflected on the invoice, that the crank pulley was loose and this damaged the "woodruff" and that the "key crank sprocket" was jammed on the crank. I have tried in vain to search these parts and/or problems with no success. Are these guys playing me? Are these actual parts and is this an actual problem??? Did they over charge me? Wasit appropriate that the AAA guy tow me to the dealership? I am taking the car back to the mechanic who changed my crankshaft pulley to discuss this but I just don't who to trust. Looking to some folks on the board to help me determine if I was ripped off by the dealership. Thanks so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnuman Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 Hi all. THis is my first post here. Here is what happened to my 96 Legacy 2.2L. The last repair before my water pump went was to have the crankshaft pulley replaced in September. About two/three weeks ago I was driving in upstate NY and my waterpump went, the engine overheated, etc. I called AAA, the tow truck guy looked at the problem and said he wasn't comfortable working on it - that it would be better to take the car to a dealership. Dropped the car off on Friday night and heard back on Monday. They replaced the water pump, thermostat and associated parts for a total of $756.58. I thought this price was excessive but I was stranded. They told me, and this is reflected on the invoice, that the crank pulley was loose and this damaged the "woodruff" and that the "key crank sprocket" was jammed on the crank. I have tried in vain to search these parts and/or problems with no success. Are these guys playing me? Are these actual parts and is this an actual problem??? Did they over charge me? Wasit appropriate that the AAA guy tow me to the dealership? I am taking the car back to the mechanic who changed my crankshaft pulley to discuss this but I just don't who to trust. Looking to some folks on the board to help me determine if I was ripped off by the dealership. Thanks so much. Often it is dificult to reasearch parts because different places /manufacturers/manuals have different names for the same part. A "Woodruff" or "Woodruff key" is the small bit of metal that lines up a sprocket (which may have been your crankshaft pulley, as it is toothed) with the correct position on the shaft it goes on. there will be a Journal on the shaft where this bit of metal slides in, and one on the sprocket/pulley. As the water pump is behind the timing belt, see if the dealership replaced this part as a matter of course. If they were being straight with you (you did get teh old parts back, right?), the slippage of the crankshaft pulley on the shaft may have damadged the timing belt (stretched it, or worn the teeth), and it should have been replaced. this should also have been reflected on the invoice, and makes the cost more reasonable. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon Posted December 19, 2004 Author Share Posted December 19, 2004 The timing belt was replaced. In fact, they said the timing stretching is part of what caused the problem. They replaced quite a number of parts but I did not get the old parts back. I didn't even think of that. What should I be asking of the mechanic I normally go to? I now understand what the key/woodruff thing is (thank you very much). Should I have them check to see if the other parts on the list were in fact replaced? The whole thing happened pretty fast and I just wasn't prepared to ask the proper questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnuman Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 The timing belt was replaced. In fact, they said the timing stretching is part of what caused the problem. They replaced quite a number of parts but I did not get the old parts back. I didn't even think of that. What should I be asking of the mechanic I normally go to? I now understand what the key/woodruff thing is (thank you very much). Should I have them check to see if the other parts on the list were in fact replaced? The whole thing happened pretty fast and I just wasn't prepared to ask the proper questions. It would happen fast if the crankshaft pulley was not touqued to spec. In that condition, every accel and decel of the engine puts torque on the pulley and shaft in different ammounts, which can shear the key. you got luckey that it broke down before that happened, or it could have been a lot worse. . . I would talk to the people at the dealership first, and see if they still have the old parts. if so, ask for them. then take the parts to your regular mechanic and have him look at them to see if he can diagnose what happened. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.