Hi RomeFadem. Welcome to the forum. This is kind of like asking how much a doctor visit should cost. There's just too many variables. Most cars don't require a new thermostat housing unless they are corroded or cracked. If they are corroded, a reputable mechanic will replace it rather than risk his reputation with a potential future leak. That housing could cost $15.00 or $50.00. What is the shop's hourly labor charge? The lowest cost shops often present larger repair bills because their mechanics are less experienced and might take longer on a certain job. More expensive shops typically invest more in specialty tools and on-going training. Which hose was replaced? A water pump bypass hose could cost as little as ten bucks but a special radiator hose that is molded to fit your specific application would cost a lot more. The test they would have performed is a cooling system pressure test. That would typically be a part of any cooling system service to insure the integrity of the repair. Most shops don't have a separate charge for this test because the equipment isn't terribly expensive, but they do deserve to be paid for the extra time it takes. If no leaks are found, the test only takes a few minutes. There's no way to tell how long an elusive leak can take to find.
I know repair bills seem to be going out of sight, but it's no wonder with all the complicated, unnecessary technology that mechanics have to keep up with. Doctors have to learn one product, two models, and three sizes for their entire career. Only the cures change over time. Mechanics have to learn dozens of new models, systems, and circuits every few months. They are constantly trying to keep up with the silly changes. Around my town, the typical shop labor rate is $100.00 per hour, and I'm constantly amazed at how they manage to stay in business charging so little.
Caradiodoc
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Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 AT 3:37 PM
