I have a 98 Ford Contour. I've had it to the dealer a couple years ago because of the check engine light, after paying a fortune (smoke test) they told me my gas cap wasn't on tight. Now they say it will cost over $400 to fix the idle control valve, it stalls out when I put car in gear. Are they trying to rip me off - or does it really cost that much?How much should it cost to change the idle air control valve?Stop going to the dealer if the car is out of warranty - they charge double or more for labor compared to a good local mechanic.
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I don't know how much time it will take, but the part itself will usually cost around $75-200, depending on where you get it. The local dealer will charge $75-100 per hour in labor, so the cost could easily be $400. A good local mechanic, on the other hand, will only charge $30-50 per hour, so your cost could be closer to $250-300, assuming you get the $200 valve.
A local mechanic will usually not try to upsell you things you a) don't need or b) can do yourself, which is a big plus versus going to the dealer.How much should it cost to change the idle air control valve?Yeah, it costs that much...............at a dealer!
RockAuto.com lists the part for $54.89. Autozone is about the same.
This is bolted onto the throttle body with two small bolts, and has one wire connector to it. Takes about 5 minutes to change. You could do this one yourself.
Dealers are much higher on repairs than independent shops. They claim the service is better and they use factory trained (thus highly paid) technicians. That just isn't so. They are higher because of the overhead. In a dealer shop, when you pay for a repair, you pay for a technician to do the repair, you also pay for a service writer, dispatcher, parts counterman, service manager, assistant service manager, lot driver, janitor, and such that are not used in an independent shop. Every one of those guys are gonna get a piece of the pie. There are not that many involved at %26quot;Bill's Auto Repiar%26quot;, just honest old Bill and Fred, who are probably factory trained guys that want to do the job right, make a living, yet not rip you off!
How much should it cost to change the idle air control valve?The part from Napa is about 120 dollars. It may take a special wrench to take out two bolts. I did my SHO valve in 30 minutes.
Now I know dealers get top dollar for %26quot;original parts%26quot; and charge top dollar for shop work, but even if you double the price for the part (to 240 dollars), that means they are charging 160 dollars for labor.
Seems steep to me. But that was why I did my own (the B.S. of the SHO having a special valve that had to be special ordered did not help the case).
In short, find another shop/mechanic!How much should it cost to change the idle air control valve?dealers are always rip offs, they change ya for anything and everything., goto your local auto repair shop and get a estimate.
