LScowboyLS

that's how it was on my 1996 - perhaps they just added that step with the PS pump into the manual in later years due to people unable to give birth adeptly!

sayow

You got jobbed... nice to know that stealerships are living up to their name.

Alternator should be less than 150 if you buy yourself and I would not pay more than 200 at a dealer realizing they need to make some profit.

Labor, 1.5 hours is the book time as i recall.

KA8

iTrader: (1)

Yes you got robbed. Going to dealer for any repair is bad on your wallet. You could'v probably spent $300-$400 for parts and labor at a local shop. Or if you're good with tools, get it done for under $200

Twista4004

He doesn't even have to be GOOD with tools.

PlotPoint

Oh my. Eight years ago, almost to the day, the alternator died on my first gen Lexus. The corner gas station (with a mechanics team well known in the neighborhood) had it remanned for $195 by a shop they said they had been using for years, with no complaints or returns. I keep thinking it will die at some point but it never does. And the output is fine (I had AAA check it just to be sure). My total cost, parts and labor, was $336.08. Make of that what you will. I would ask the Manager of that shop for an "adjustment' (..."there must have been some mistake..." is a good starting point) and if they do not budge keep going up the chain of command. Dealerships do not lilke to be reported to corporate. Do your homework first, so you know what the book is for labor and what the part sells for at some of the online shops, like Sewell and others mentioned in this forum.

dantampa

For what it's worth, I called a Lexus dealership (Lexus of Tampa Bay in Tampa, FL) and got a quote from them that was within $10 of this Toyota dealership's quote (Gatorland Toyota in Gainesville, FL). So, at least they're all in on the scam and it wasn't just an isolated incident that I fell victim to. With that said, I guess it kind of decreases my chances of retribution.

LScowboyLS

please have them break it out to parts and labor - that will help us uncover the ruse.

dengman

I removed my alternator and had it rebuilt has a warranty too..
I only removed my power steering pulley since it was blocking a bolt.

I would have never paid over $500 for an alternator job on a LS400.

dantampa

Here's the quote from Gatorland Toyota. I'll try and post the quote from Lexus of Tampa Bay later.

Remanufactured OEM alternator (minus $30 core) $442
Labor $332
"Shop supplies" $25
Total with tax $846

LScowboyLS

the labor is where the main scam is

1 hour is plenty of time for a pro to do that job, 3 hours is robbery!

you take the bottom plastic rock guard plastic cover off (about 1 minute with an air wrench), then loosen 1 pipe, then 2 bolts, 1 nut, and squeeze 1 connector and then gently pull the alternator out! (someone who has done a lot of them, like the dealer, could have it out in 15 minutes, while watching the game!)

also $442 is pretty ridiculous for a reman Denso alternator, since you can buy a reman Denso at most any other place for less than $200, some places for near $100

and shop supplies? - what supplies? - I can't think of a single shop supply of any type that is used in that job

this needs to go to the zone rep - especially on that labor bill

their sheer embarrassment alone should get half of the bill refunded to you! (which would be fair)

socalphili

Just pulled up the labor time per Motor - same guide toyota/lexus dealers use - quoted 1.2 hours to replace and.4 to diagnose. so total time on this job should be 1.6 hours of labor. 1.6 times $110.00 labor rate equals $176.00. That is what the labor charge should have been on this job. I would go talk with the management at this dealership. Make sure there was no other work done, like replace serpentine belt or anything else they charged you for. If it is just an alternator, you paid way too much.