My 2000 WJ 4.0 started squealing under the hood last week. I knew it was a belt idler but because I'm fighting a gall stone at the time, I decided to get the dealer to fix it. I needed the truck NOW, not at my leisure, because it's needed for my business. The breakdown of charges goes like this:

$99.95 electrical diagnosis
$48.95 mechanical diagnosis
$57.05 stationary idler pulley
$88.43 accessory drive belt
Total with tax, $312.56

Parts from rockauto:

Idler $15.00
Belt $20.00

It just shows you how much you can save doing stuff yourself. Keep on Jeepin'

 

electrical diagnosis of what?

 

Sounds about right. An hour for diagnosis, half hour for the repair and then the price of parts. Dealer parts are going to be more expensive but better than the ones you priced online. You probably didn't need to wait for then to be shipped either.

 

Most parts from rockauto are on par or better than the stealers ! Gates or Goodyear premium belts about $20 ! So how is the dealer parts better ? I have ordered many parts from rockauto . Never a problem.

 

They told me the electrical diagnosis is something they do on ALL vehicles that come thru the shop, supposedly to eliminate that being a problem. I personally think it's ripoff for anyone who didn't buy from them, or so they can find something else to fix.

I've never had a problem with rockauto parts. The only reason I took it to the dealer was the time factor and my physical condition. I KNEW I was going to bite the bullet on this one. I went into it knowing this. I just wanted to share my pain with others.

 

I never take my vehicles to the dealer unless it is warranty work. I have found a very reliable, honest and reasonably priced local garage that does the work that I don't do myself.

 

$99.95 electrical diagnosis

This probably took them all of 5 mins to hook the scanner up and read for any codes. Something they do for free at the auto part store.

Ugh.... damn dealers.

 

I personally would have argued that. Nothing electrical about an idler pulley or belt.

 

Something they do to every car? You should be able to decline anything you would have to pay for. I assumed that was the diag fee for the pulley. That is not a dealer thing. That is just that shop and sounds like a scam.

 

sorry for your bad experience at the dealership. They are all not that bad and it really isn't fair for some to lump them all together as stealerships. BTW, in my shop we scan all vehicles coming into the shop (at no charge) to address current and possible future concerns (which in many cases saved us money from the people who say "my check engine light wasn't on before you touch it?" Two sides to every coin folks.

 

I can understand the reason for doing it, I don't understand the $99 charge though.

 

agreed, that's why we do it for free.

 

I wonder what Chrysler corporate would think about that $99 diagnosis they do on every vehicle.

 

I don't want to name fingers or point names, but this family owns dealerships for about 6 different brands in the Syracuse area. This particular dealership is in the high-rent East-side area and has been here since the late 40's. I trust the service quality but question their billing methods. This is a Chrysler-Jeep dealership and they seem to sell more Jeeps than Chryslers.

I agree with you, the scan should be free if it's intended purpose is to find hidden problems. This was also the dealership I took my 97 ZJ to with a rear axle whine and was told I shouldn't put any more money into it "because of the vehicles age and present condition." That time the diagnosis was free and I drove away without spending a dime. The funny part about that was they still had my name and the ZJ in their system.

Go figure.