Mr. Camo. Hopefully that relationship will last a long time. Mine turns 19 next week and we still enjoy time together. Attended a car show Sat. together and worked on fabricating some parts for his Imapala last night. Trying to make the most of it before he flies on his own in a year or two.
I called the local dealer yesterday just to get an objective viewpoint. Here is what I got.
Ring up the dealer and ask for the service manager. Service manger comes on and I am surprised to here a female voice. No big deal, I am sure she is just as capable as any man but surprised me. I told her I had a 2016 colorado diesel, needed to get the 150k mi service performed, and would like to get an estimate. She asked me for the last 8 digits of the VIN and then put me on hold for a few minutes. When she returned, she said the only thing she saw in the 150K service interval was Xfer case fluid, differential and radiator flush. I told her I thought the timing belt was supposed to be done as well. She puts me on hold again. When she returns she says yes, the timing belt is due at 150k and they would be happy to do it. Cost to change the timing belt would be approx. $450.00. Wow, I think, thats a bargain so I press a little further to see if that includes installing a new Timng belt tensioner and water pump. She replies no, and asks why I would want to change those. Now I'm starting to feel a little uneasy. I explain that the tensioner likely needs to be replaced to ensure the new belt runs true and lasts another 150k mi and the water pump is easily accessible and all the fluids will be drained and repalced so it is ideal time to change it out. She says she can quote me the cost of book labor to add those to the work order and get them done but I will need to talk to their parts person to get pricing on the additional parts. I say that will be fine. She transfers me to the parts department. The parts person also has a freindly female voice. I explain to her the situation ans ask her for pricing on the timing belt, tensioner, water pump, and cam shaft access plug. She promptly prices the belt. 66.00. Then she pauses and says the tensioner is not in stock and availability is not promising. She sees only one or two in the system at other dealers and they may not sell them. If they do, I would need to pay shipping costs. They are 95.00 pluss shipping. Same goes for the water pump which is 255.00 plus shipping and they may not be able to get it. As for the camshaft end cap, she doesn't think they have one, but she will check with the diesel mechanic. She puts me on hold. She comes back and tells me he isn't familiar with replacing the cam shaft end cap on a timing belt change but he is going to check the service guide to confirm. It will take a minute. While waiting, I probe a little deeper. I ask her if they do many Colorado diesels. She openly admits that they don't see many and she can only recall them ordering parts for one timing belt change they performed. The mechanic then tells her yes, the cam cap may need to be changed according to service guide, but he thinks they usuallly are re-usable. I ask her to transfer me back to the service manager. She does so and I ask the service manager if would be ok If I supply my own parts if they have problems with parts availability. She says that is no problem but they can only warranty the labor on customer provided parts. I politely thank her and say goodbye.
If this were your dealership, would you have them perform the service?
If I can rent the tools for 99.00, and have a service guide to follow as well as better parts availability, it seems like I might be in a better position to perform the work as I can take my time, clean everything thorougly, and am not expected to complete the job on a time clock. I am not saying I am more qualified, or there is anything wrong with the mechanics qualifications or work ethic, I am just being objective. There is also a significant savings I can achive, not just on the labor, but by not paying the dealer markup and shipping costs on the parts they apparently can't get but are available outside approved dealer channels, still buying OEM AC Delco parts.
Speaking of parts, looking online, it looks like the timing belt and tensioner is sourced from Gates. The part number is identical for both the Gates part and the AC Delco Gold/Pro are identical, and the OEM tensioner actually appears to be stamped Gates on the back. Looks like maybe the OEM part has a slightly different spec than the gates or econoline AC Delco branded that have the same part numbers.
I believe Gates is also the timing belt manufacturer for AC Delco branded belts. I am willing to pay more for the ACDelco belt, just to be sure it is right in this critical application but I am curious if there is any serviceable difference as the gates belt has the same part number T349, vs AC Delco TB349. The Gates is $21.79 AC Delco Pro/Gold is 27.99 and it doesn't look like the OEM is available, even through ACDelco parts direct.