should I ask the mechanic if I can bring in my own parts?

[lafinfil]

"I don't want to mess with timing belt"

If you are replacing the timing belt on a Honda you might be wise to replace the water pump at the same time.
They are fairly inexpensive (even a rebuilt one) and the pump already has to be pulled when they do the belt - IIRC.

[N-OS X-tasy!]

lafinfil wrote:
"I don't want to mess with timing belt"

If you are replacing the timing belt on a Honda you might be wise to replace the water pump at the same time.
They are fairly inexpensive (even a rebuilt one) and the pump already has to be pulled when they do the belt - IIRC.

The WP isn't actually pulled when you replace the TB; the WP pulley is one of the pulleys the TB rides on, however. If you've removed the TB, you've already done most of the work required to replace the WP - might as well finish the job, given that you'd need to anyway, sooner or later. As 'fil mentioned, a new water pump is inexpensive - it would be dumb not to replace the WP when replacing the TB.

(I replaced the TB on my '87 Civic back in the day, so I know of which I speak. And, yes, I replaced the WP at the same time. I also replaced the exhaust manifold on the same car, without removing the radiator - those who know this car will be suitably impressed.)

BTW, look for your transaxles to go out soon. My experience with Hondas is that the CV joints don't last much more than 100K miles. My current Accord has 102K miles on it, and right on schedule one of my CV joints has started making noise.

[space-time]

lafinfil wrote:
"I don't want to mess with timing belt"

If you are replacing the timing belt on a Honda you might be wise to replace the water pump at the same time.
They are fairly inexpensive (even a rebuilt one) and the pump already has to be pulled when they do the belt - IIRC.

i know, that's why I listed WP in the OP. Thanks for reminder though

[lafinfil]

oops - misses it in the OP !

[ordphx]

I thought long and hard about this... Sure I would love to bring my own parts, and have the mechanic just charge the 60-125 dollar per hour rate. My mechanic used the "would you bring your own steak to a restaurant" argument, and at first I bought it.
Makes sense............. but then I realized that this argument is BS, and here's why.

When I go to a restaurant, they mark up the steak, so they can make a profit.
I can buy the same steak for 10 bucks, where a restaurant charges 25 bucks for a steak and a glass of water, bread, and some side items(potato, veggies). Ok that sounds about right, but does a restaurant ALSO CHARGE 75 DOLLARS per hour in addition to the markup for the product? I've yet to go to a restaurant that does.

The restaurant also has high overhead like ovens, stoves, pots, pans, kitchens, utilities, etc......... It isn't cheap to assemble a kitchen. I know that for a fact.

So if a restaurant doesnt DOUBLE CHARGE for labour and product markup, then why do mechanics? I know it's standard practice in the industry, but it makes no sense to me as a customer. Sure alot of you mechanics are going to be offended by this statement since it is your living, but I am offended that you double charge people... so there!

To say you cannot recoup your costs by charging 60 - 125 dollars per hour is absurd, and we don't buy it (family and friends). We've had discussions about this and don't accept the ripoffs anymore.

I am having some front end work done on my truck. The mechanic wants to charge me 168 dollars for the parts, whereas I can get the same PREMIUM grade part at a reputable parts store for only 50 bucks. They also are going to charge me 3 hours of labor.

This is BS, and defies logic. I will say this....... I can tolerate a 20 or 25% markup, but going from 50 bucks to 168 bucks is absurd.

Here's what customers need to do. Insist on buying your own parts, and call around to different mechanics until you find one that will allow you to bring your own parts ( or charge you a nominal markup). Politely refuse to do business with ones who insist on marking up their parts by 200%. I am doing this now, and it is working just fine.

You can't tell me that a shop making 75 bucks per hour is suffering.

As a matter of fact, this is in a smal town, where the cost of living is low.
It's the same in the big cities, but they charge 100+ bucks for labour.

I can stomach the labour costs, but not the inflated prices for parts.

Educate all your friends and families on the tactic suggested above.
If a mechanic is good, he will remain in business, and for all you other mechanics that don't like my suggestion...... oh well........ that's life............go find another profession.
Regardless of how irrate you get over this suggestion.... it's not going to change the way I am doing business with mechanics, and that includes all my friends and family.

I am pissed and we simply won't fall for your ripoffs anymore.