Rusted out exhaust
#16
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Mill
#17
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Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
Wholesale cost of a quality O2 sensor is about $38-50 w/o tax. Retail is about $75-80 or so.
We in the service business have to make a profit on parts and labor in order to pay our bills and taxes. We can't sell stuff for our cost and work for half price and stay in business.
Which by the way everything costs a lot more for commercial stuff than your private bills. And we have those, too.
I don't appreciate private individuals griping about the cost of labor. You don't want to pay, do it yourself. There is no screwing going on at $70-80 per hour.
Another thing. If you bring your own parts in for the tech to install, thinking you are saving a dollar or two, don't expect him to do the labor again for free if your part ends up being bad. Even one new in the box. If he supplies the part, then the redo is on him.
We in the service business have to make a profit on parts and labor in order to pay our bills and taxes. We can't sell stuff for our cost and work for half price and stay in business.
Which by the way everything costs a lot more for commercial stuff than your private bills. And we have those, too.
I don't appreciate private individuals griping about the cost of labor. You don't want to pay, do it yourself. There is no screwing going on at $70-80 per hour.
Another thing. If you bring your own parts in for the tech to install, thinking you are saving a dollar or two, don't expect him to do the labor again for free if your part ends up being bad. Even one new in the box. If he supplies the part, then the redo is on him.
Last edited by Firestorm500; 10-03-2014 at 02:57 PM.
#18
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Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 renix
I understand completely, and people working on their own vehicles, sourcing parts for themselves is killing your business the same as when a person fixes their own toilet instead of calling a plumber.
I get it, but when you're perfectly capable of doing something yourself, and save yourself 50-80% the cost in the process...
That's kinda what this entire forum is all about.
I could just tell everyone here just to go to a shop and have them do it.
If I had done that with my trucks, I'd literally, without exaggeration, be at around $10,000-12,000 (each) worth of repairs+original cost of the trucks by now. Instead, I'm at $4200 each, including purchase price.
Today's market/economy (again, at least where I live) does NOT want you to save money on your own vehicle, that you own completely. It's a frikkin racket, and you're simply expected to make car payments on a car you do not own, OR, make up that cost anyway by paying insane rates at a garage.
I get it, but when you're perfectly capable of doing something yourself, and save yourself 50-80% the cost in the process...
That's kinda what this entire forum is all about.
I could just tell everyone here just to go to a shop and have them do it.
If I had done that with my trucks, I'd literally, without exaggeration, be at around $10,000-12,000 (each) worth of repairs+original cost of the trucks by now. Instead, I'm at $4200 each, including purchase price.
Today's market/economy (again, at least where I live) does NOT want you to save money on your own vehicle, that you own completely. It's a frikkin racket, and you're simply expected to make car payments on a car you do not own, OR, make up that cost anyway by paying insane rates at a garage.
#19
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Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
You sure use the word "insane" a lot.
No, more power to the people who want to do it themselves. Some do it because they want to. Some do it out of economic necessity.
But it's not fair to complain about service prices when someone is doing you a service. At your request.
No, more power to the people who want to do it themselves. Some do it because they want to. Some do it out of economic necessity.
But it's not fair to complain about service prices when someone is doing you a service. At your request.
#20
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Location: Eagle River, Alaska
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
I had mine replaced at a shop from the Cat back for $91 out the door. The nice part everything was bent to keep it high and tight like a factory setup "Should have been" with new mounts also. Price was too cheap to fool with myself as are many jobs to have done at a shop, like the headliner.
BTW Welcome to the Forum arty:
BTW Welcome to the Forum arty:
#21
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
I have had the intermediate pipe, muffler, and tailpipe estimated for my truck at $500 (parts and labor) at a shop during an inspection, and ive had my xj's muffler+tailpipe estimated at $400 from 2 different shops during an inspection and during an alignment before that (I wasn't asking them) and these were actually good shops.
There's a reason I'm not going to go to a shop around here at $80+ and hour for anything other than inspections and alignments, which are flat prices.
If its any less than $200 for the exhaust work, it's for sure worth it. I just wanted to explain how to do it for anyone that's thinking about it and doesn't know how.
There's a reason I'm not going to go to a shop around here at $80+ and hour for anything other than inspections and alignments, which are flat prices.
If its any less than $200 for the exhaust work, it's for sure worth it. I just wanted to explain how to do it for anyone that's thinking about it and doesn't know how.
#22
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
I understand completely, and people working on their own vehicles, sourcing parts for themselves is killing your business the same as when a person fixes their own toilet instead of calling a plumber.
I get it, but when you're perfectly capable of doing something yourself, and save yourself 50-80% the cost in the process...
That's kinda what this entire forum is all about.
I could just tell everyone here just to go to a shop and have them do it.
If I had done that with my trucks, I'd literally, without exaggeration, be at around $10,000-12,000 (each) worth of repairs+original cost of the trucks by now. Instead, I'm at $4200 each, including purchase price.
Today's market/economy (again, at least where I live) does NOT want you to save money on your own vehicle, that you own completely. It's a frikkin racket, and you're simply expected to make car payments on a car you do not own, OR, make up that cost anyway by paying insane rates at a garage.
I get it, but when you're perfectly capable of doing something yourself, and save yourself 50-80% the cost in the process...
That's kinda what this entire forum is all about.
I could just tell everyone here just to go to a shop and have them do it.
If I had done that with my trucks, I'd literally, without exaggeration, be at around $10,000-12,000 (each) worth of repairs+original cost of the trucks by now. Instead, I'm at $4200 each, including purchase price.
Today's market/economy (again, at least where I live) does NOT want you to save money on your own vehicle, that you own completely. It's a frikkin racket, and you're simply expected to make car payments on a car you do not own, OR, make up that cost anyway by paying insane rates at a garage.
I'm a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force and do maintenance on multi million dollar jets everyday, so I certainly feel capable of swapping out the exhaust myself. But if someone will do it for me for around the price that it would cost me just to buy the parts I would let them because its a 22-year-old Jeep and I'm sure everything down there is going to be a rusty PITA to take apart.
#23
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Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 renix
I was a maintainer on the flightline AF as well, lol. 2A553B. Just got out a few years ago. I was on heavies though.
And yes, there is certainly a lot more rust under my 89 than there was on the brand new C130J's.
As much as I hated those things...at least there wasn't any rust.
At least you got the hobby shop on base if you need a lift or power tools.... I miss that.
And yes, there is certainly a lot more rust under my 89 than there was on the brand new C130J's.
As much as I hated those things...at least there wasn't any rust.
At least you got the hobby shop on base if you need a lift or power tools.... I miss that.
Last edited by Stabsthedrama; 10-03-2014 at 03:49 PM.
#24
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
I was a maintainer on the flightline AF as well, lol. 2A553B. Just got out a few years ago. I was on heavies though.
And yes, there is certainly a lot more rust under my 89 than there was on the brand new C130J's.
As much as I hated those things...at least there wasn't any rust.
At least you got the hobby shop on base if you need a lift or power tools.... I miss that.
And yes, there is certainly a lot more rust under my 89 than there was on the brand new C130J's.
As much as I hated those things...at least there wasn't any rust.
At least you got the hobby shop on base if you need a lift or power tools.... I miss that.
#25
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: South Jersey
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Wholesale cost of a quality O2 sensor is about $38-50 w/o tax. Retail is about $75-80 or so.
We in the service business have to make a profit on parts and labor in order to pay our bills and taxes. We can't sell stuff for our cost and work for half price and stay in business.
Which by the way everything costs a lot more for commercial stuff than your private bills. And we have those, too.
I don't appreciate private individuals griping about the cost of labor. You don't want to pay, do it yourself. There is no screwing going on at $70-80 per hour.
Another thing. If you bring your own parts in for the tech to install, thinking you are saving a dollar or two, don't expect him to do the labor again for free if your part ends up being bad. Even one new in the box. If he supplies the part, then the redo is on him.
We in the service business have to make a profit on parts and labor in order to pay our bills and taxes. We can't sell stuff for our cost and work for half price and stay in business.
Which by the way everything costs a lot more for commercial stuff than your private bills. And we have those, too.
I don't appreciate private individuals griping about the cost of labor. You don't want to pay, do it yourself. There is no screwing going on at $70-80 per hour.
Another thing. If you bring your own parts in for the tech to install, thinking you are saving a dollar or two, don't expect him to do the labor again for free if your part ends up being bad. Even one new in the box. If he supplies the part, then the redo is on him.
Mill
#26
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Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Now, if they gave you an aftermarket piece of junk for $80, then you got ripped off.
If they installed an OEM, it's a fair price.
#27
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Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
A lot of people see that number, and do some quick math, and think, "Man! That guy is getting rich off of me!"
They have no clue about the overhead that's covered in that number. It's not $70-80 per hour going straight into the mechanic's pocket.
And sometimes, going to a good shop is actually cheaper than DIY. That's why you have to shop around.
I just priced an exhaust system for my truck. A local shop quoted me slightly less than buying the parts myself. Why beat myself up with that job when I can get it done better and cheaper and easier?
On the other hand, I just saved many hundreds by replacing my fuel rail, injectors, and O2 sensor.
You have to shop and compare. If you aren't, you are doing stupid.
They have no clue about the overhead that's covered in that number. It's not $70-80 per hour going straight into the mechanic's pocket.
And sometimes, going to a good shop is actually cheaper than DIY. That's why you have to shop around.
I just priced an exhaust system for my truck. A local shop quoted me slightly less than buying the parts myself. Why beat myself up with that job when I can get it done better and cheaper and easier?
On the other hand, I just saved many hundreds by replacing my fuel rail, injectors, and O2 sensor.
You have to shop and compare. If you aren't, you are doing stupid.
#29
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Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 4.0L
The XJ's exhaust from the header back can be repaired or replaced using one wrench.
Normally to do this all the exhaust parts need to be oe or direct fit.
I've done a XJ in under an hour, the exhaust works fine and has never leaked, caused problems, etc.
Used heavy duty exhaust clamps to make the connections.
When replacing OE exhaust remember OE is usually higher quality stainless and non crimped, same or similar to mandrel bent.
Normally to do this all the exhaust parts need to be oe or direct fit.
I've done a XJ in under an hour, the exhaust works fine and has never leaked, caused problems, etc.
Used heavy duty exhaust clamps to make the connections.
When replacing OE exhaust remember OE is usually higher quality stainless and non crimped, same or similar to mandrel bent.
Last edited by Muddz; 10-05-2014 at 01:32 AM.
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