Cambelt & Water Pump change quote from local Fiat garage today.

[Phill D]

had mine done yesterday, by local independent who did it last time:-

X250 2.3ltr 2012. genuine fiat kit ( belt, tensioners and water pump, 2x seals etc) plus Aux belt, Air con belt,
coolant change.

£806.52
not a bad result.

 

[bigwood]

Gone are the days of fitting cam belts at the roadside as a result of a breakdown. The easiest were the Ford Pinto. No special tools and mostly no damage done when the belt broke.

 

[BusyBuilder]

He removed and took the guts out of my gearbox, tig'd a hair line crack in the case, rebuilt and refitted the box in one afternoon/evening and charged a pittance
He is VERY busy all the time but just works longer hours to get stuff done
Really good mechanic with a really good work ethic

He won't be in business very long like that. I have a mate, a wood carver, he's very very busy, so much so he has no life outside of work. I suggested he ups his rates by 30%, ha argued he could afford to lose business.
My argument is, he is very good at his job, so if he lost 30% of his business he wwould be earning roughly the same, but not working as hard. He upped his rates by 20%, made no difference, he still has no life.

 

[wp1234]

Couple of points on the various comments.
It does seem expensive, however these are main agents working to the Fiat approved schedule and using Fiat genuine parts at their listed price, they will (or at least should) carry out the work to the approved schedule i.e. do the job as per the Fiat manual, that will ensure the job is done thoroughly and correctly using the correct tools.
Perhaps a good idea if those that decry the charges familiarised themselves with exactly that that entails, they may be surprised.
The job can be carried out more quickly / cheaply by omitting some of the recommended steps and using pattern parts (yes I'm aware of the "who makes Fiat parts" argument) I'd guess most of the very low costs some continue to report will be doing exactly that.
There is every possibility that a cheapo job will work out OK but there is just as much a possibility that it won't, I've seen questions and references to vans running poorly after belt changes, which I would bet are caused by making short cuts to the procedures that Fiat recommend.
If you want to save money get the job done by a company / someone that you can trust from previous knowledge or recommendation, that will be able to charge a more reasonable hourly rate than the £100 an hour of the main agent.

The cam belt does drive the water pump as well as the high pressure fuel pump, which has to be removed to change the water pump.

Might be better if some that reply had actual knowledge of what is entailed, rather than relying on hearsay and keyboard mechanics.

So what is a fair price for the work in your opinion …?

 

[Jaws]

He won't be in business very long like that.

He upped his rates by 20%, made no difference, he still has no life

Welll, 15 years so far .. employs two other mechanics and 3 years ago moved in to a much larger premises
Has a lovely car and house ( and wife I might add ) and is constantly busy
Not every one is the same..
I would never charge for a repair if it was not fixed.. A lot of garages charge to fit parts and if the problem is not fixed still charge
Until I retired 5 years ago I charged £40 per hour ( except when called upon by Honda dealers in a consultancy capacity .. then it was £80 an hour )
My customers were happy, I was happy.. and the bank was very happy

Your chum has raised his prices .. his customers are less chuffed and he still lives the same
WHO has benefited from the rise ?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[BusyBuilder]

The woodcarver has obviously benefitted from raising his prices and getting less work. He has a bit of spare time now, and he rarely gets repeat work. He has done work for various museums, the Dalai Llama centre and gets house name boards all the time. he was working flat out, and no life, at least he has some spare time for himself now.

 

[TOT]

One of the worst periods of my past life, was some years ago on a transverse Ford where failed water pump which in turn messed the cam belt lead to a holed piston, seized engine needing a whole set of new valves..........
.............. The other one was when the son moved back in...

 

[Propshaft]

Had mine changed about two months ago before we went to Spain £450 v pleased with work I would recommend them I am not a relative and have never used them before the garage is in nottinghamshire if you require there address get in touch with me

 

[Dave Scadding]

I am sure that if you asked for an explanation as to the high cost, the word 'Covid' would be in there somewhere.

Geoff

And BREXIT

 

[Phill D]

Had mine changed about two months ago before we went to Spain £450 v pleased with work I would recommend them I am not a relative and have never used them before the garage is in nottinghamshire if you require there address get in touch with me

If that was on an x250 2.3ltr including water pump that would be an exceptional price as the parts, even after market come to that.
Cambelt, water pump, seals, aux belts, coolant.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Propshaft]

Yes the quote included the full kit the parts did not come to that and the kit was from a quality leading manufacturer. My van is a 2009 Hymer with the 2.3 engine

 

[Propshaft]

By the way my van previous to the cam belt change had done about 90000 miles I have had the van from new . I inspected the belt when it was taken off and it looked as though it had just come out of the box with no cracks in it , I am later led to believe that the belts have a steel stranded core and these are sometimes stretched and broken which is not visible from the outside

 

[tribalbrit]

By the way my van previous to the cam belt change had done about 90000 miles I have had the van from new . I inspected the belt when it was taken off and it looked as though it had just come out of the box with no cracks in it , I am later led to believe that the belts have a steel stranded core and these are sometimes stretched and broken which is not visible from the outside

PM sent

 

[Coltnavy]

Had my Adria Twin done yesterday at local Fiat Professional Garage. Belt and water pump £740. Additional cost for bottom crankshaft pulley £134 as they found hairline cracks.

 

[Redken]

Pit stop garage, Ardwick, Manchester will be less than £400

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[richard burkinshaw]

Why does anyone even waste time getting a quote from Fiat Professional? They are always twice the price of other competent alternatives. I use PSN in West Yorkshire. They have 2 ex Fiat Professional fitters, who know Fiat vans inside out, tell the truth and charge less than half (£45/HR + VAT). You choose. I already did.

 

[Silver-Fox]

By the way my van previous to the cam belt change had done about 90000 miles I have had the van from new . I inspected the belt when it was taken off and it looked as though it had just come out of the box with no cracks in it , I am later led to believe that the belts have a steel stranded core and these are sometimes stretched and broken which is not visible from the outside

Ducati back years ago had problems with belts snapping.
A big old V twin puts a fair amount of stress through the belt.

They then started fitting belts with Kevlar in them I was told.

 

[Silver-Fox]

Why does anyone even waste time getting a quote from Fiat Professional? They are always twice the price of other competent alternatives. I use PSN in West Yorkshire. They have 2 ex Fiat Professional fitters, who know Fiat vans inside out, tell the truth and charge less than half (£45/HR + VAT). You choose. I already did.

Some people like the feeling of using a main stealer.
I’m not one of them but each to their own

 

[Phill D]

Why does anyone even waste time getting a quote from Fiat Professional? They are always twice the price of other competent alternatives. I use PSN in West Yorkshire. They have 2 ex Fiat Professional fitters, who know Fiat vans inside out, tell the truth and charge less than half (£45/HR + VAT). You choose. I already did.

£45 + vat an hour is extremely low these days and very good if you know their standards.
The decent corner garages around here are at least £60 most £70 + vat.

 

[madroy]

2011 2.3 l Fiat X 250. Wait for it............ £1,450.00

Same price In France

2011 2.3 l Fiat X 250. Wait for it............ £1,450.00

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Hymerboy]

I think you'll find your 3ltr is chain driven timing, not belt?

Correct, i've just been told that mine is.

 

[Sapper520]

Why does anyone even waste time getting a quote from Fiat Professional? They are always twice the price of other competent alternatives. I use PSN in West Yorkshire. They have 2 ex Fiat Professional fitters, who know Fiat vans inside out, tell the truth and charge less than half (£45/HR + VAT). You choose. I already did.

Fine if you can find a half decent Independent…..I can’t.

 

[Nirvanauk]

Why does anyone even waste time getting a quote from Fiat Professional? They are always twice the price of other competent alternatives. I use PSN in West Yorkshire. They have 2 ex Fiat Professional fitters, who know Fiat vans inside out, tell the truth and charge less than half (£45/HR + VAT). You choose. I already did.

Can I ask were abouts in Yorkshire they are as I can’t get my local fiat dealer to even check my tyre pressures correctly.

 

[Peregrinator]

I hope you didn't ask them to do the waterpump?
On most, unless there is an obvious problem, it's unnecessary and most do not do it but will do if specifically asked and its no small job on a X250.

Reason to change water pump, you have the belt off, so might as well change what you can, I would get a Water pump and timing belt kit, that's belt, pump, Guide pulley, Tensioner pulley and Drive belt tensioner, can't go wrong, then your have another 30,000 plus miles worry free motoring.

 

[Peregrinator]

Thats seems low just the parts if they used genuine Fiat are £480.

Gates: £149.00 for full kit.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Silver-Fox]

Reason to change water pump, you have the belt off, so might as well change what you can, I would get a Water pump and timing belt kit, that's belt, pump, Guide pulley, Tensioner pulley and Drive belt tensioner, can't go wrong, then your have another 30,000 plus miles worry free motoring.

I normally do auxiliary belts as well

Makes for a more contented life

 

[Lenny HB]

Gates: £149.00 for full kit.

No thanks those are the ones there have been problems with.

 

[L' Hobo]

Reason to change water pump, you have the belt off, so might as well change what you can, I would get a Water pump and timing belt kit, that's belt, pump, Guide pulley, Tensioner pulley and Drive belt tensioner, can't go wrong, then your have another 30,000 plus miles worry free motoring.

You have gone back to post #15 to get that quote so I hope you have read the rest of the post's and know why I gave that advice?

Fiat states that the water-pump will last the life of the engine if both are well maintained.

On the X250, it's not a simple job and if it's not leaking, by changing and disturbing it, it might?

You, of course, do what you want, my van has done 67,000mls and the pump has never been changed and will not be UNLESS it shows evidence of something untoward.
It's your money, you make the decision! (I'm only an Old Heavy Diesel Engineer, what do I know?)

 

[Phill D]

Gates: £149.00 for full kit.

Be interested in a link for that price ease as all the gates kits I found were closer to the £280 mark.

 

[MichaelT]

You have gone back to post #15 to get that quote so I hope you have read the rest of the post's and know why I gave that advice?

Fiat states that the water-pump will last the life of the engine if both are well maintained.

On the X250, it's not a simple job and if it's not leaking, by changing and disturbing it, it might?

You, of course, do what you want, my van has done 67,000mls and the pump has never been changed and will not be UNLESS it shows evidence of something untoward.
It's your money, you make the decision! (I'm only an Old Heavy Diesel Engineer, what do I know?)

Our local Fiat garage told us not to bother with water pump too, not needed on the latest engines.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}