ohwait

I have a Lexus 2008 es350 that suddenly lost all power while I was driving. The tow truck driver towed my car to his shop to have his mechanic look at it. The code he pulled was an immobility code (can’t remember the number exactly like. 279 or 297 something or other) any way I had to towed to the local dealership. They came back with the alternator is saturated in oil as is the serpentine belt. That I need my valve cover gasket replaced, alternator replaced and the serpentine belt replaced. At first glance I thought the estimate was decent until the majority of the cost was for the alternator repair. I asked them what it would cost to just do the valve cover gasket and serpentine belt replacement and the estimate changed to more than the original estimate. They told me that to do the valve cover gasket repair they have to take the drive belt off and would have to add that into the cost of the repair as that item was not added in the first estimate. So the original estimate went from 647.00 and change for the valve cover gasket and 70.00 for the serpentine belt repair to 2100.00. Everything I read and looked at says nothing about having to take the drive belt off for a valve cover gasket repair? Only reason I didn’t have the work done immediately was because I did not want to pay 1200.00 for an alternator repair, especially when I have replaced my alternator before and it is not that difficult. Took me maybe an hour. Is what they are saying is true about having to take the drive belt off to do the valve cover gasket? Would you take that off as well for the serpentine belt replacement? I know I need the valve cover gasket done and I honestly don’t want to do the serpentine belt myself, did that before and it is a pain in the butt to get to and do. I just feel like they are not telling the truth. I really don’t want to have it towed somewhere else if I can help it as it does not drive at all. They also told me that the code was just an old code and had nothing to do with the issue (I know that to be false as the code was brand new and when cleared throws again)

thanks for any guidance

ESh

Get the remanufactured alternator, a new belt and replace them by yourself. The front valve cover gasket is also very easy to replace.

Gerf

elfpcf

As usual to go to the stealership is the last resort. As ESh says the alternator, belt and casket are not that difficult so another shop can handle it ok. Ask your friends for help. The cost may be a good bottle of wine.
Ed

tolian21

Always get OEM alternator, after market alternators are mostly junk and last 1-2 years.

spaceballs

Depends, Denso's (who also make the OEM) reman alternators just reuse the casing, everything else internally is new.

tolian21

Perhaps, but you never know what independent mechanic will install unless you start requesting specific parts. Case and point, my father went through 2 after market alternators for Toyota avalon, each lasted about 1.5 years. The original alternator lasted 12 years. He now has OEM alternator. He wanted to save money, but turns out to be more wasteful.

spaceballs

Totally agree, I like mechanics that give yiou an option upfront and let you decide instead of assuming that you always want aftermarket parts to "keep costs down".
+1 for OEM for anything that is safety/driveability related, aftermarket for the non-essential stuff is OK.