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Replace battery and starter price

Tiny
ANNEBRADBURY
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 76,000 MILES
I have a 99 Toyota Camry, V6 with only 76K miles. The Toyota dealership wants $750 to replace the battery and the starter. I have no idea if this is even a reasonable price. Any thoughts?
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 AT 2:05 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
If you do it yourself, expect to spend around 250.00 for parts. So, that is a little high.
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Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 AT 2:06 AM
Tiny
ANNEBRADBURY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Even if parts are $300, why is labor so high? Are starters difficult to replace?
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Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 AT 2:10 AM
Tiny
ANNEBRADBURY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Also, thank you so much for your expertise!
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Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 AT 2:12 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
No, they aren't hard to replace. Disconnect the battery, remove the wiring from them, and then two bolts hold them in place.
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Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 AT 2:24 AM
Tiny
ANNEBRADBURY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I got the $750 quote at 5:15 last night and was told that the work would be done by tomorrow afternoon. The service shop closes at 6 p.M. And the mechanic to do my car would be in at 9 a.M. At 7:15 p.M. I left the service dept a voice mail that I wanted to review the estimate before the work was done. I called back at 7:45 a.M. And spoke to the service department and repeated the same. I got a call at 9 a.M. That the mechanic stayed late and finished my car. Attached is the bill. Any comments about the bill and should I insist on a lower labor cost? Thank you in advance for your advice.
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Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 AT 9:03 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
I see the cost of labor and parts but nothing for the number of hours to install the part. In general, the cost seems high to me, but it may be due to where I live.
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Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 AT 9:16 PM
Tiny
ANNEBRADBURY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I was told 1 hour to check wiring, 1.5 hours to install the starter, and.6 hours to install the battery.
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Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 AT 9:32 PM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
I would say that what you have had done should only take around 1.5 HRS. Often dealerships over inflate costs and labour to help off set their huge over heads, private work shops can do the same work with quality parts at a far more reasonable price.
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Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 AT 7:37 AM
Tiny
ANNEBRADBURY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thank you for the help! They reduced the bill to $572. The service manager admitted to me that the hours are already set based on the work being performed and NOT on the actual time of the mechanic. It should be called a flat fee and not hours!
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Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 AT 10:16 AM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
That sounds more like it! You never know if you don't ask.
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Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 AT 10:29 AM

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