dmr

No additional labor for the timing belt and tensioner, only for the main seal and separator cover. The original 3 hour quote was reduced to 0.5 hrs (but actually billed at 1.5 hrs at the reduced rate). Re: the head gasket warranty - 100k warranty with the add stop leak recall. I've had a small external leak since 20k after the recall, I was waiting for it to get bad enough for the dealship to fix it. I brought it in with a small leak they claimed they couldn't find it (obvious leak on the driverside rear, visible from above and below). For the other parts, I paid list. The timing belt was covered under the headgasket warranty work, I was charge 0.5 hrs for the tensioner. The main issue was the 3 hr quote for replacing the main seal and resealing the oil separator cover on an engine that was sitting on a stand. I don't mind at all paying a reasonable price for addtional work.

Update - I picked up the car after hours and noticed that the tech had charged 1.5 hrs, but I was only billed $45/hr for the work. Still more than the quote, but not by much so I didn't say anything. No noticable leaks after a tank or two. However, driveside inner boot is now slinging grease. It was fine before entering the dealership shop, but it is the original and it could have gone on it's own (I replaced the passenger inner long ago). I can't help to think that the tech "helped" it fail for me calling BS on his 3 hour main seal/separator cover quote. I smelled the boot grease on the manifold the day I picked it up, but thought it was just burnoff from the engine R&R.

Thanks for the replies all. I spoke in person to the service manager this morning. Conveniently, my car was in the first bay, so I was able to show him what the proposed three hours of work entailed. I politely voiced my concerns, to which he said he'd double check the listed estimated work time. The tech that quoted the work was not there. Appartently, an estimated time for the rear main and oil separator as an add-on to a clutch job, etc was not listed. We agreed that 0.5hr was a fair estimate to perform the work. Also, the "seep" was very minor. The rear main was moist with seepage that did not extend down to the bottom of the housing. Same for the separator. If the tech gets reprimanded, I hope he doesn't take it out on the new seals. Thanks again...

My '01 Forester (98k) is in the shop for warranty head gasket replacement. I'm also having the timing belt and tensioner replaced. The rear main and oil separator are "seeping" and new seal and cover were recommended. It seems to be a no brainer given the mileage and the fact the engine is out of the car. However, the dealer quoted 1.5 hours labor for each. A total of three hours to pop in a new rear main and reseal the new separator cover on an engine that was/will be removed/reinstalled under warranty labor. This seems unreasonable, but they seem to have me since the engine is already out of the car. How much of the stink should I raise with the service manager? I'm already pretty irritated since they've had the car for 11 days for 8-9 hours of work. Thanks for your opinions. Derek