Dealer cost for water pump replacement?

CHUCKDOLANJR

MEMBER
1990 CADILLAC DEVILLE
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
100,000 MILES

I replaced my original water pump and not the original serpentine belt. This was a pain in the butt to say the least. Plus, a very dirty job being that it was original water pump. Upon completion there was still a leak coming from somewhere and without being able to put it up in the air I decided to take it to the dealer to get diagnosed, they told me that the water pump bolts weren't completely tight to specs therefore it was leaking. Then they said it would be $450.00 to tighten them up and fill with antifreeze. $450.00 to tighten the bolts and some antifreeze sounds extremely ridiculous compared to the amount of work involved getting it to the bolts just needing to be tightened more. What would a dealer charge in Sacramento, CA. For the whole job if it's $450.00 just to tighten the bolts down to specs. Getting it out was the hardest part and cleaning everything and installing the new one! Tightening the bolts and nuts was nothing in the whole process of things. Can I get some opinions, thanks?

1 Reply

BRENDON S

MECHANIC
653 POSTS

Hi,

To be honest it is hard to tell because so many of these dealerships just over charge constantly. I live in Mass and have worked in dealerships in Mass., New Hampshire, and Rhode Island and this is pretty standard around here.

The book says it takes 2.3 hours. to remove and replace the pump.

Then topping of the coolant and bleeding any air from the system, another .5 hr.

The last dealer I worked at charged $110.00/hour.

I’m at a little over $300.00.

Plus, any fees or taxes, coolant etc.

They are from what it sounds like to me charging you to do the whole water pump job. I would buy a torque wrench and do it yourself. Then you will have that tool for the next project. I have included a tightening sequence with corresponding torque specs.

When you are shopping for a torque wrench get one around $100.00 or more. Get a good one to make sure it is accurate and will stay accurate. Also get a click type not the beam type. The picture I included is a click type torque wrench.

Here is a video about torque wrenches for your information:
https://youtu.be/juOClONIWeY

If I can be of any more help, please let me know.

Images (Click to make bigger)