You know how when a shop says it takes 2.5 hours to do a repair on a car or some such timeframe? Is there somewhere online to find that info for different cars or is it just you have to take their word on it? I’ve had 1 mechanic tell me 1.25 hours to change the same part on same car that another mechanic tells me is 2.4 hours, so is there somewhere to look this up to see if they are padding time or maybe cutting me a break and shaving it off? The most current thing I need done is a timing belt replaced on a 91 nissan maxima sohc. 6 cyl
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Talk to a mechanic who charges flag rate for repairs. It is not always the actual time it will take, but an average time it should take. Unexpected things can happen to cause any repair job to take longer and some mechanics work faster so do the job quicker. Most places that charge flag rate will charge that amount no matter how long the job takes.
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Try Mitchells on Demand or All Data not sure of web sites but yahoo it . They should be listed. We use the All Data at work for time and labor rates ,my employer subscribes and they also have trouble shooting tips as well as all repairs on any vehicle. Good Luck.
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changing a timing belt can be quite fun, one mechanic says so much another a different amount, however what is the shop rate? if one charges 2.5 hours at 35 an hour or does it in 1.5 at 65 an hour you see what I am saying? also different mechanics do different things some may charge you more but do s much better job, like look at parts that may need changing as well while he is there, where one might just replace the belt even if the water pump is going out he does not say nothing because you didn’t tell him to look at it, so you get a tow bill a possible blown engine for a cheep price. As well some mechanics don’t rush and know how long it takes while others don’t. but if you want to find out it will cost you $20.00 to do so, go to alldatadiy.com and put your money down and look it up. If ya tick off your mechanics you may find yourself doing it. By the way one mechanic may have saw something the other didn’t and knows he needs more time to do something else. Regardless the special tools they have to buy to do a job sometimes is more than the job itself is worth, would you work for free?
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Most all shops who charge flat rate use a Chilton labor time standard manual. You can look up your car to see what it actually pays.
There are differant flat rate times for the same job, manufacturers flat rate is the time the dealer and the technician get paid when doing warranty work. That time is based on the average time several technicians skilled at that particular job with the proper tools and equipment will take. Then there are the jobber flat rate manuals that are used by independent shops. They allow more time based on the manufacturers time plus a percentage. Some manuals quote both.