Front End Problems and Alignment
10-12-2004, 07:16 AM
#1
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ
Posts: 387
Front End Problems and Alignment
My Limo (91 GXE with about 260k miles/417k kms) has been plagued with alingment problems for the past two months. An independent garage worked on it in August, but it is still a problem.
I took it to a Nissan dealer this morning, and here is the diagnosis:
1. 3 lug nuts and studs broken on LF wheel = 1.0 hrs = $95
2. Front struts worn ($96 each) = 3.0hrs = $432
3. Rear Shocks/struts worn ($96 each) = 5.0hrs = $610
4. CV. Boots / two inner tire rod boots torn ($20 each) - 3.0hrs = $280
5. Control Arms bushing worn ($200 each) = 2.0hrs = $570.00
6. Transmission slippage...needs to be checked further.
7. Needs timing belt/water pump change
So, is the $3,000 being quoted for this reasonable..i have a migrane !!
thanks - Noela
I took it to a Nissan dealer this morning, and here is the diagnosis:
1. 3 lug nuts and studs broken on LF wheel = 1.0 hrs = $95
2. Front struts worn ($96 each) = 3.0hrs = $432
3. Rear Shocks/struts worn ($96 each) = 5.0hrs = $610
4. CV. Boots / two inner tire rod boots torn ($20 each) - 3.0hrs = $280
5. Control Arms bushing worn ($200 each) = 2.0hrs = $570.00
6. Transmission slippage...needs to be checked further.
7. Needs timing belt/water pump change
So, is the $3,000 being quoted for this reasonable..i have a migrane !!
thanks - Noela
10-12-2004, 07:20 AM
#2
you neglected your car...now you have a huge pile of repairs and you're POed about the cost?
prices seems to be inflated...go back to you ind garage for service..tell them you want those items to be fixed/repaired.
prices seems to be inflated...go back to you ind garage for service..tell them you want those items to be fixed/repaired.
10-12-2004, 07:27 AM
#3
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ
Posts: 387
hmm - i was surprised at the diagnosis since i have often done what was required -- it just passed a maryland state inspection in December 2003, with no required repairs - but since then, i may have put about 4k miles on it with 3 trips to Toronto Canada..
well, well, i will cross check with an independent garage..but the transmission slippage thing worries, me as the mechanic indicated that it usually is an indication of an imminent transmission failure...
thanks - Noela
well, well, i will cross check with an independent garage..but the transmission slippage thing worries, me as the mechanic indicated that it usually is an indication of an imminent transmission failure...
thanks - Noela
10-12-2004, 08:10 AM
#4
Originally Posted by Noela
hmm - i was surprised at the diagnosis since i have often done what was required -- it just passed a maryland state inspection in December 2003, with no required repairs - but since then, i may have put about 4k miles on it with 3 trips to Toronto Canada..
well, well, i will cross check with an independent garage..but the transmission slippage thing worries, me as the mechanic indicated that it usually is an indication of an imminent transmission failure...
thanks - Noela
well, well, i will cross check with an independent garage..but the transmission slippage thing worries, me as the mechanic indicated that it usually is an indication of an imminent transmission failure...
thanks - Noela
figure out how much you "like" the car. because it would be bad for you to put all that $ into the current repairs and then the tranny go out on you.
never hurt to get a second opinon.
10-12-2004, 09:18 AM
#5
much of that can be done by fellow .org members for much cheaper, if there is one close to you.
1. do the wheel studs while doing the CV joints. takes an extra 15 minutes. parts cost, $10 for three studs and lugnuts.
2 & 3. struts are about $300 for a set of KYB GR2s with new dust boots, and it takes 3 hours to install them..
4. CV joints and tie rod boots- CV joints are $60 each for reman units, takes about two hours.. Add another hour for tie rod boots..
labor, 3 hrs, parts $120.
5. Control arms: I charge $135 + shipping (+ $100 core charge) for a set of rebuilt control arms w/ new bushing that can be installed by a shop or yourself if you have the tools. then send me your old ones for the $100 core charge back. you can also buy new aftermarket control arms from me or Brian (internetautomart.com) for about $90 each. takes approx 2 hours to install.
6. tranny- let a shop deal with that. flushing it will probably help, but it sounds like it's time for a rebuild.
7. timing belt and water pump, $280 in parts, 8 hours labor.
Putting the tranny issue aside, you have about $880 in parts for everything else, and 16 hours of work. You'll need a 4 wheel alignment afterwards as well. I charge $40/hour for work here, so you're looking at $650 in labor, plus $75 for a 4 wheel alignment by a shop. that's $1595 for parts and labor on everything but the tranny.
1. do the wheel studs while doing the CV joints. takes an extra 15 minutes. parts cost, $10 for three studs and lugnuts.
2 & 3. struts are about $300 for a set of KYB GR2s with new dust boots, and it takes 3 hours to install them..
4. CV joints and tie rod boots- CV joints are $60 each for reman units, takes about two hours.. Add another hour for tie rod boots..
labor, 3 hrs, parts $120.
5. Control arms: I charge $135 + shipping (+ $100 core charge) for a set of rebuilt control arms w/ new bushing that can be installed by a shop or yourself if you have the tools. then send me your old ones for the $100 core charge back. you can also buy new aftermarket control arms from me or Brian (internetautomart.com) for about $90 each. takes approx 2 hours to install.
6. tranny- let a shop deal with that. flushing it will probably help, but it sounds like it's time for a rebuild.
7. timing belt and water pump, $280 in parts, 8 hours labor.
Putting the tranny issue aside, you have about $880 in parts for everything else, and 16 hours of work. You'll need a 4 wheel alignment afterwards as well. I charge $40/hour for work here, so you're looking at $650 in labor, plus $75 for a 4 wheel alignment by a shop. that's $1595 for parts and labor on everything but the tranny.
10-12-2004, 09:20 AM
#6
oh.. FYI.. I do travel. 
plane tickets each way cost another $250 or so for both, plus put me in a hotel or whatever for two days (plan three, just in case), and I'll fly up there and do all the work and it will STILL be cheaper than the dealer.
plane tickets each way cost another $250 or so for both, plus put me in a hotel or whatever for two days (plan three, just in case), and I'll fly up there and do all the work and it will STILL be cheaper than the dealer.
10-12-2004, 10:09 AM
#7
Originally Posted by Matt93SE
oh.. FYI.. I do travel.
plane tickets each way cost another $250 or so for both, plus put me in a hotel or whatever for two days (plan three, just in case), and I'll fly up there and do all the work and it will STILL be cheaper than the dealer.
plane tickets each way cost another $250 or so for both, plus put me in a hotel or whatever for two days (plan three, just in case), and I'll fly up there and do all the work and it will STILL be cheaper than the dealer.
have wrench...will travel.
10-12-2004, 10:26 AM
#8
So far, I've gone to LA, Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and a couple other places to work on cars. I've had customers come in from Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Tennesee, Oklahoma, and Texas... not to mention all the places that I've shipped parts..
10-12-2004, 02:58 PM
#9
Originally Posted by Matt93SE
oh.. FYI.. I do travel.
plane tickets each way cost another $250 or so for both, plus put me in a hotel or whatever for two days (plan three, just in case), and I'll fly up there and do all the work and it will STILL be cheaper than the dealer.
plane tickets each way cost another $250 or so for both, plus put me in a hotel or whatever for two days (plan three, just in case), and I'll fly up there and do all the work and it will STILL be cheaper than the dealer.
10-13-2004, 05:59 PM
#12
91 gxe worth about 2-3k(not to mention mileage deductions)
take the $1500 that matt quoted you and another 1500 for a tranny rebuild and you have the cost of the car invested. hate to bring you down even more but 260k on an engine is pretty high, another 2-3k when it decides to go and you now have 6k to invest into another car.
like danny said, figure out how much you "like" the car and see it it's worth fixing or moving on to bigger and better.....................
take the $1500 that matt quoted you and another 1500 for a tranny rebuild and you have the cost of the car invested. hate to bring you down even more but 260k on an engine is pretty high, another 2-3k when it decides to go and you now have 6k to invest into another car.
like danny said, figure out how much you "like" the car and see it it's worth fixing or moving on to bigger and better.....................
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