Letterman52

My wife bought me an 01 jeep Cherokee sport while I was deployed. Yeah I know.... Anyways I took it to a local mechanic just to look it over. They call it a used car inspection. Here is what they recommend/ found with prices:


1. Read Diff service: 184

2. Front Diff service: 192

3. Transfer case re-seal: 701

4. Transmission full service: 536

5. Brake Flush: 123

6. Rear Main Seal: 475

7. Reseal Oil Pan: 527

8. Drive Belt replacement:123

So I am pretty decent with DIY's and have a very large amount of tools and time. What do I need to fix right now and what can be replaced with hand tools and torque wrenches? I've owned VW's for years and always did my own maintenance on them, but this jeep is a bit foreign. Show me the way.

warthog

#2 and #8 prices blow my mind, well actually they all do. Here's your DIY price on a lot of it

1. 15
2. 15
3. Idk but can't be over 30 I'd say
4. 50 over time (drain, run a while, repeat)
5. Idk but I would say the price of fluid 10-15
6. Price of a rear mail seal and oil pan seal
7. During #6 , oil pan seal
8. Roughly 20

Serp belt first, then depends on the condition of the fluids on the rest. I would change all fluids if you don't have any records. Then look hard at the leaks. Obviously If the leaks are bad where you don't want to drive it. Fix the leak prior to changing the fluid

Welcome back, from another service member

XJriot

Front and rear diff service? I'm assuming this is just fancy speak for a fluid change. That price is wayyyy over priced.

$700 to reseal a transfer case? Hopefully they are quoting you in pesos.

It goes on and on..find a new shop or do it yourself. Those prices are just ridiculously high and that shop is trying to rip you off.

odgreen

If they are charging you 2 different amounts for the rear main and then the oil pan you need to go else where. You have to remove the pan to change the rear main. 2-4 hour job max.
Dif fluid changes are 4 qts of gear oil and a tube of sealer. $50 max for both.

Brake fluid flush? Thats a joke.

Trans service. 4-5 qts of fluid. Drop the pan and replace filter. 1 hour max.

Serp belt. $35 and a half an hour.

As a mechanic in a shop I will even tell you that shop is ripping you off hardcore.

odgreen

Any why do you need to reseal the tcase? It leak a lot?

Radi

It's actually a good idea every few years, some manufacturers recommend it on a periodic schedule.
Brake fluid absorbs water, eventually can boil under hard braking causing you to lose your brakes. I've had it happen and it isn't fun, lol.

odgreen

I was talking the price

playbass

That drive belt must be made out of gold. These prices are ridiculous.

Radi

Ah. Sorry, I misunderstood. I agree that the price is absurd, as are all of them.

chipmaker

Damn! I need to become a mechanic! $700+ to "reseal" the transfer
case? You can buy a rebuilt case with a warranty for $600!


Just search the fourm, you will find all the info you need to do these repairs yourself for just a couple hundred bucks.

BTW get a new mechanic!

Radi

Yeah, I know lol. I left the dealership and changed careers late 70's because there was no money to be made in it. Never saw these sort of rates coming.

Letterman52

Thank you everyone for all the replies. I was a bit shocked as well when they were telling me the recommended services and prices. I just wanted a sanity check. I do get 3 or 4 drops of oil in the front over a day or so. Then 3-4 pinkish drops near the center back area. I'm not very familiar with the underbully of the jeep yet, but with all this leave coming up that will change. Now I just need to buy a manual and find some DIY's on here. Any links or manuals recommended?

Boost Happy

Odds are they are quoting him Alldata standard labor rates.

For example, I just quoted #8 according to my Dealerships rate of $97.50/hr.
The Serpentine belt job pays .60tu on top of that I have a OEM part quote or $59.00.

That totals to 117.5, Add tax and shop cost to that and your around $125.
Cost of labor and parts differ greatly from shop to shop and city/area also.

BTW A drive belt at MY COST, aftermarket brand(gates) hit me at $35. Long drive belts are very pricey

P.S. just because the Business charges $100/hr DOES NOT mean the Tech is making bank. Because WE are not. It ****ing sucks, I dont make enough money, I have an assload invested in tools, & now I seriously considering a career change. I dont not pay well enough in this economy to provide a decent cash flow for my home and family.

Letterman52

Here come the DIY write-ups. I'm going to keep adding so I have one reference point. Please add if you have anything with pictures that pertains:

XJ Front Pinion Seal Replacement:

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/xj...acement-43429/

Sweet Site:

http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoService.htm

jj1562

Seems to me, he seen a women and saw $$$$$$, find a new shop or DiY