My '97 Trans Am (LT1) has been riding rough for at least a few months. I've got 76,000 miles on it, and it's never had a tune up.
So I took it to my usual garage for an estimate...They said it will cost between $600-700 for a tune up because they have to remove the water pump and something else.... I guess the spark plugs are difficult to get to.
Does this sound right, or are they trying to rip me off?
Unfortunately, I can't do the work myself.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Jamie

 

the only real expensive part is the Opti-spark at around $250. add in plugs/wires and labor and I could see it being at least $500

 

Rip off. Plugs aren't the easiest thing in the world but you dont need to remove the water pump. Do it yourself. Buy a spark plug socket for LT1's (not required, but makes things easier), and go at it. You should only have to remove the alternator. If the optispark IS the problem then the quote might be accurate.

 

Depending on where you live, labor costs will run from $75 to $100 per hour. The water pump and other things do need to come off to access the Optispark. Some of the plugs are difficult to reach. A Delco Optispark costs at least a couple hundred. AC plugs aren't necessarily cheap. Delco wires are fairly pricey.

Of course, you could specify parts from an alternative source but that's usually a case of "penny wise, pound foolish." The labor is the same no matter which parts you choose.

I wouldn't complain.

 

The shop is probably including the cap and rotor as part of the tune up. That's some labor cost right there.

But hey, he will get a coolant change too.

 

Yes thats what I think too. Clarify with the shop what they are changing out. IF they need to take out the WP they're including the opti and the price sounds fair. Also find out if it includes plug wires. Plugs on a stock car are NOT fun, $200 for just a plug change I thought was expensive until I tried it for the first time .

If its including plugs, wires, opti, half a coolant flush (since the WP is being removed) thats a decent price!

 

The shop I go to did the optispark, plugs and wires. Also They put in an A/C delete pulley my bill came out to $264 for labor.

 

First post I know i'm new to the LT1/opti setup personally but i have a lot of friends with them in my fbody club and in my experience, only replace the opti if you have to. Do the rest of the tuneup first and if you still have the problem..then bring it back but i've seen a few cases where it wasn't necessary. Unless your mechanic is experienced with LT1 cars I'd say hold off on the opti.

 

I once was quoted $400 to change the plugs from Firestone. It was hard to keep a straight face as I walked out the door.

 

its an 8 hour job and yeah $400 is about the right price from a shop. thats why you need to learn how to do it yourself.

 

if they're doing cap/rotor then yes it will cost 700. and bring them a new water pump too because they're already taking it off the car. you are also having the remove and replace the alternator. "i" dont have to do that because i have special tools. they may have to do that though, and if you look on all-data or on mitchel or any other program you'll see it's a 6 hour job.

 

I can't imagine "realistically" it's 8 hours - unless the mechanic has arms like tree trunks (I don't).

It took me about 4+. It was my first time and I did not remove the alternator (I will next time).

Do it yourself - and don't be afraid to lay your entire body on the motor. 5 were what I would call "easy". The one under the alternator becomes easier with the alternator out. The rear two are difficult - but not impossible.

They are all done by feel. Oh yea, and if you have a couple of extra joints on your arms it helps.

 

The main thing is to determine what is necessary to be done. Shops will try and get as much out of you as possible. When you say you want a "tune-up" they will throw everything in----but you had better get it in writing as to what they are actually going to do. And compare their price with that of a Dealer. At least Dealers can be held accountable if they screw something up whereas a shop may not back their work with any guarantees----and most of us have the propensity to get too friendly with shop owners and mechanics which puts you in a difficult position when they wind up screwing you.

Whereas you don't make friends with Dealers or their mechanics and there is no bonding, i.e, you can raise hell easier.

Your decision should be based on just how much difference in cost there is versus what the guarantee is worth. An example would be where a shop quotes you X $$ and winds up doing something raising the price and if you don't pay they keep the car. And you options are limited.

So bottom line is if you are getting performance mods go to a reputable performance outfit, but if you are getting rountine maintence have a dealer do it because their books thell them how much labor and they also know the cost of the parts up front. JMHO

 

Said before, but find out what they plan to do with this tune up. Tune ups mean different things to different places...some is just plugs/wires, some is air/fuel/spark. Removing waterpump sounds like they're going after the opti, but I wouldn't do that unless it's necessary.

Is your SES (service engine soon) light on?

Might want to find out what your car is driving badly before doing anything. It never hurts to change the plugs and wires though, but make sure you find out what $700 gets you.

 

My SES light has not gone on at all.

They did a road test and agreed with me that it doesn't run as smooth as it should. They believe the problem is internal. I'm guessing that they do suspect the Opti because they said even after they do what they do, they can't guarantee that it'll fix the problem.
I will ask them to give me a breakdown of the estimate. Thanks for the advice all!!