Mechanic told me i need distributor-cap-rotor, sending unit & water pump. Also there is a leaky hose from the radiator causing coolant leak. Supposedly this is why i've been having the stumbling/miss in my car.

They are charging an arm and a leg to fix all this, like 1500 - 1600.

I can get the parts much cheaper im sure from a friend who works at an auto parts store, basically get them at cost. Is this stuff somewhat easy to replace yourself. Im not great mechanically but i have a guy who can help me.

Is this stuff easy to fix yourself or is it really complicated and hard to do?

Any tips as far as saving myself time and money would be really appreciated. Also, which brands should i get for the parts.

Its a 94 firebird formula with 130k miles.

 

If your planning on keeping this car then get a manual for it. The factory service manual is the best. You need to read up on it and then ask questions when you don't understand. It's not rocket science but can get expensive if you don't follow directions.

 

A lot of the time it's not just knowing how to do it, it's having the right tools. If you've got a lot of tools and your friend is knowledgeable, there's nothing you can't do.


The search button and http://shbox.com/page/index.html are your friends.

 

Thanks, Im gonna do that. I just was hoping someone could help me since i have to get these parts in the next day or 2.

 

Nice link, i'll have fun taking a look over there. Thanks

 

First thing you need to do is determine just what the problem is----
If you destroyed you OPTI because of water--either from your leak or a bad water pump, then you probably need an opti.

First, fix the radiator hose leak (go to sh.box.com) to look at hoses and perhaps get some part numbers to help out. Is your water pump leak hole showing signs of leakage---take a look at the weep hole which often gives evidence of bad pump.

Just replacing the distributor cover may not solve your problem---perhaps your running probems are due to a bad opti.

There are plenty of threads regarding bad optis, etc. Do a Search.
Check Sh.box.com for some good info on "how to" projects and there are several on this site who can help you out. Manuals are OK, but you are better off getting information from the guys who actually have done these things.

I suggest, however, that you need a second and perhaps a third opinion from mechanics who know the Lt1s and perhaps a radiator repair shop who can tell you something about your pump.

Once you determine what needs to be done, then you can assess whether you want someone to do the work or whether you belive with some advice you can do the work yourself which may provide some satisfaction, knowledge and money savings. You biggest concerns with having someone do the work are labor costs 50-80 an hour plus parts, etc., however I believe that you stand to save quite a bit if you tackle it yourself.

Good luck.

 

All good advice. Its funny, the shop just called me back and told me to keep the loaner because they are looking for used parts to save on the cost. I told them i only wanted to pay around 600.00 all i could afford. They said they would do what they could. They were charging 1500+ originally. see what happens i guess.

 

There is a difference between "used" parts and "rebuilt parts". There is no guarantee with used parts, so if they go bad you are right back where you started.

It is rare that a mechanic would offer such a service, i.e. searching for used, as in "bone-yard" parts just to save you money. I would advise that you do not skimp on the quality of the parts. You need quality parts and quality workmanship along with guarantees. You can check with a GM dealer and see what the recommended hourly rate is for the job and compare with what a good, knowledgable mechanic charges which should put you in the ball park as far as labor costs.

But, again, I would stay away from "used parts". JMHO

 

Used parts are a poor choice for WP and opti, and used parts will only reduce the $1500 a couple hundred at most anyway since most of that charge is for labor.

What part of the country are you in and what kind of mechanic is it at? $1500-1600 is about normal if the work is being done by a GM dealer in a big city.

The parts and tools to do it yourself will run around $500-600. You can do it in a day if you have all the parts and tools ready to go.

 

Im in south florida. They told me not to pick the car up tomorrow because they were gonna try and find some used parts. I didnt wanna do that so i was like, " i really only could afford about 5-600.00" I figured they would be like no prob, come get your car. But he's like, "let me see what i can do" If he comes back with a price around 7-800 i might do it just because if there is a problem, i have a warranty or if it doesnt fix the problem, i have grounds to complain.

We'll see i guess. But yea, trust me, i dont really want used parts either.

 

You won't have a warranty if they're gonna use used parts.

 

Hate to say this, but there may have been somethign simple wrong with it...a minor hose leaking, an ignition wire not seated properly, etc...and they figure $5-600 for no work is better than nothing. I would be very, very sceptical. Go buy a waterpump and opti and fix it yourself; you can do that for less than you were quoted for questionable used parts anyway.

 

I know, and i most likely will. Im just happy to have their loaner car over the next few days or so because i need to drive alot in the next 4 days so i'd rather pu tthe miles on the loaner. No chance im shelling out 1500 bucks. Highest i'll go is like 800 bucks and has to include a new dist.

 

Too bad you're in south FL...I'd do the whole install with new parts for less than that. It only takes a couple hours when you have done it as many times as I have (3 4th gen LT1s, over 300k miles total...I have pretty much done it all when it comes to LT1s).

 

Looks to me like you are kinda screwed. If you back out, they will likely charge you for the loaner----and bare in mind that they can put a lien on your car and keep it until you pay. For that matter, they can claim that they did some diagnostic work while in their hands (how else could they determine the problems that they are claiming---which they can also bill you for.)

Your best option, if you don't or can't pay the big bucks it would cost you for new parts and their labor, is to flat out tell them that you can't afford to do it at all---you will still wind up paying some money though.

Or....you can just try and get the best deal from them, including new parts, and hope that they know what they are doing. Believe me when I say that bitching about a botched job or cost overrun will do you no good. When the shop has your car, you are pretty much in their ball park.

Again, do an estimate of the labor costs based on GM dealer quidelines ---ask the dealer. And get the costs for the parts. Add it up and see if they are close. Then determine if they know what they are doing and will stand behind their work----of course you need to determine if their "guaranteed costs" are within your budget ---if it isn't, then you need to bite the bullet and pay what they require for the loaner, storage, diagnosis, etc. And do as suggested---get another opinion from a reliable shop, including a dealer, then do it yourself. If you can save a grand over what they are charging, it may well be worth it.

Don't dismiss the possibility that they will find something else wrong with your car while they are working on it and the price will continue to escalate.

Having said this about that, you are going to learn something from this experience which may save your A$$ in the future.

And....I'm not saying that these guys are actually screwing you, for they may will be legitimate. Just offering food for thought based on my own experiences with mechanics, including dealers. It's just the way it is in many an instances. Again---don't threaten them or pi$$ them off or it will cost you in the long ---maybe the short---run. JMHO