Fiat Bravo - dealers and cam belts! Arghhh! Help

[Freddie2010]

Hi
I have a fiat bravo 150T-Jet which is due a cam belt change. I thought I should use a fiat dealership as a lot of private mechanics say special tools required for it and they basically say it will be too expense ( for me) to problem I have is the varied prices and what needs to be done. In summary

Fiat Bishops Guildford £354.00 inc. cam belt and water pump... Water pump needs to be changed.

Fiat Walton on Thames - £220.00 cam belt only, water pump doesn't require changing

Fiat Basingstoke - £180.00 cam belt only.

So my question is which dealership is correct and why a variation in labour costs...my audi maintenance has a. standard price no matter what dealership and why can't I get a proper answer...it's really frustrating.

 

[fingers99]

The difference is because FIAT dealers can set their own prices.

It's probably wise to change the water pump at the same time.

I'm unsure of what the proceedure is on a Bravo/a. 1.4 16v certainly requires the "special" tools (about £70 from Shop4Parts) -- is that your engine?

So, if I wasn't DIYing, Basingstoke and get them to change the water pump while they're at it.

 

[RobW]

Hi
I have a fiat bravo 150T-Jet which is due a cam belt change. I thought I should use a fiat dealership as a lot of private mechanics say special tools required for it and they basically say it will be too expense ( for me) to problem I have is the varied prices and what needs to be done. In summary

Fiat Bishops Guildford £354.00 inc. cam belt and water pump... Water pump needs to be changed.

Fiat Walton on Thames - £220.00 cam belt only, water pump doesn't require changing

Fiat Basingstoke - £180.00 cam belt only.

So my question is which dealership is correct and why a variation in labour costs...my audi maintenance has a. standard price no matter what dealership and why can't I get a proper answer...it's really frustrating.

i went through an identical search last year and ended up gettng AlfaAid in Maidenhead to do it - they are a Alfa and Fiat Specialist so had the tools

the pump was checked for end float and deemed ok so not changed.

 

[dragonwagon]

Considering the additional cost of a water pump and timing belt I'd rather replace it as a matter of course just for peace of mind. If the pump fails....exit engine.

 

[RobW]

Considering the additional cost of a water pump and timing belt I'd rather replace it as a matter of course just for peace of mind. If the pump fails....exit engine.

but you might be changing a perfectly good one for one that might fail prematurely..

difficult decision really

 

[dragonwagon]

Possibly. However the odds are stacked against the original if it has already done 60k miles.
I would not advocate the use of an el cheapo unbranded ebay jobbie for obvious reasons. If a genuine Fiat part or OEM equivalent failed early you would have some recourse - especially with a dealer fitted part.

 

[fingers99]

:yeahthat:

I'm not even sure that there are any published end float figures for the water pump. If not, it puts a lot of weight on the technician's experience.

 

[RobW]

:yeahthat:

I'm not even sure that there are any published end float figures for the water pump. If not, it puts a lot of weight on the technician's experience.

said specialist has 2 resident Dealer Expert Technicians, i trust their judgement

 

[fingers99]

Your call. I'd sooner trust a new OE pump!

 

[udtrev]

I paid £300 at PDH last year, that included a new pump, NO way was I going to risk not changing it !