The dealership is telling me that replacing the EGR Valve on our '95 Z28 is a 3 hour job, and going to be $357 in labor. Does that sound right to you?

I'm under the (false?) impression that the old valve just gets taken off, the new goes on, and it's fixed. A 30 minute job at most. Am I wrong?

 

I'd say 15 minutes.

 

it's a vacume line that pulls off, and two nuts to remove - sure you have to hug the intake manifold to do it but it's fairly simple. 3 hours? Sure if there's a 2 1/2 hour lunch break in between....

 

Yea, I wouldn't go back to them. I just replaced mine on my 95 Z, took me 20 minutes, and 10 of that was finding the right size socket. Sorry Man.

 

I thought I smelled BS. Thanks guys, you saved me from getting ripped off.

 

Use an inspection mirror and a flashlight and take a look.

 

Tell them the nuts are 1/2" and save them some more time.

 

On the outside chance it takes an hour. Labor rates here at stealerships are $125 an hour. A far cry from $350.00. Even better, pay their estimate fee and bring it home and do it yourself.

 

Did that price include vaseline or premium lube?

 

I'd like to know if I can do this myself since I have limited tools. I have basically every possible ratchet, socket, driver, and wrench I could possibly need but essentially nothing else but some screw drivers. I found a post by Injuneer from another topic:
Can someone explain to me the proper way to remove the old gasket? What do I use to scrape it off without damaging the manifold?

 

It is really easy, all you have to do is remove the two 1/2" nuts and the vacuum line; the gasket is fairly strong and should pull right off in one piece. Just install the new gasket onto the studs, put the new egr back on, install the the two nuts, and put the vacuum line back on. You will be shocked how easy it is; no where near $357 in labor.

 

You can use a gasket scraper or a razor blade.

 

Thanks guys. Sounds like I can do this job myself thanks to your help.

Am I correct in assuming that the EGR valve is what occasionally sounds like a squirrel scratching around in front of the dash? Just curious. I hear a scratchy, rattling sound occasionally around where the EGR valve is located when I'm coasting in the 1000 to 2000 RPM range.

 

My old mechanic just called me and left a message. He said that he looked the labor for that job up and it is 1.2 hours and that includes cleaning the intake out, so he doesn't know what kind of game the dealership is trying to play by trying to charge me 3 hours. He said that as a shortcut I could take the EGR valve off, drive it a bit, and then put the new one on later. That way the carbon will be blown out of the intake manifold.

He's not a Camaro expert; just does good work, especially on transmissions.

Should I do what he suggested as a shortcut? Unhook the old EGR valve, start the car, drive it around (gently OR aggressively?), and then put the new one on...?

Any advice would be appreciated...

 

You can not run without the EGR valve in place. You will have a huge vacuum leak.