2.5 hours for thermostat replacement even in service stance already?

[danbfree]

Mechanic says thermostat replacement is 2.5 hours of labor even with front clip off already for t-belt service, does this sound right? He says doing it with front clip off will save .5 labor over starting from scratch...

[Guig'z]

Nop! He is wrong!
It takes less than 2 hours to do a full thermostat job.

I'd say add 1 hour max to do the thermostat when doing t-belt and i'm generous.

[AudiTechS4]

19 55 19 17: 220 2 Thermostat housing remove+reinstall2.0 l turbo FSI
INCLUDES
10 82 19 Noise dampening pan removed+reinstalled
10 83 19 Cover removed+reinstalled
13 72 19 Ribbed belt removed+reinstalled
19 38 17 Coolant drained+filled
27 06 27 Battery flanged+unflanged
27 22 19 Generator removed+reinstalled
27 24 19 Generator bracket removed+reinstalled


just so you know warranty pays 2.2 hrs

[jbain2]

Double post

[jbain2]

There's a difference between book labor and street labor. There are standard labor rates for most jobs. The standards are taken from universal guidelines. It may or may not actually take that long but that's how it's estimated.

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[Low and Behold]

There's a difference between book labor and street labor. There are standard labor rates for most jobs. The standards are taken from universal guidelines. It may or may not actually take that long but that's how it's estimated.

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This. Everyone should know this, I hope.




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[danbfree]

19 55 19 17: 220 2 Thermostat housing remove+reinstall2.0 l turbo FSI
INCLUDES
10 82 19 Noise dampening pan removed+reinstalled
10 83 19 Cover removed+reinstalled
13 72 19 Ribbed belt removed+reinstalled
19 38 17 Coolant drained+filled
27 06 27 Battery flanged+unflanged
27 22 19 Generator removed+reinstalled
27 24 19 Generator bracket removed+reinstalled


just so you know warranty pays 2.2 hrs

So thats book price so he's not too far off then, but that's not even when already doing the timing belt, start from scratch, right?

[danbfree]

Nop! He is wrong!
It takes less than 2 hours to do a full thermostat job.

I'd say add 1 hour max to do the thermostat when doing t-belt and i'm generous.

See? This is exactly what I thought... When he said an extra 3.5 hours on top of the timing belt job for the thermostat and a DV I was shocked... hmmm, I may hold out on that part of it then if we're so apart on what we think is fair... I'll get a quote from my other guy just to see what the totals are.

[ballinb5]

I had a local audi mechanic do my thermostat and was charged 2 hours labor (@$50/hr). He accessed it by removing the accessory belt, removing the alternator without the service position.

[danbfree]

I had a local audi mechanic do my thermostat and was charged 2 hours labor (@$50/hr). He accessed it by removing the accessory belt, removing the alternator without the service position.

Gawd, I wish I could find $50/hr specialists... crappy full service places charge $60, Audi specialist $95-105 and dealer is like $135 or something...

But thanks for the input, we'll see how my 2nd quote comes out then...

[Theiceman]

okay firstly I can tell you this has NOTHING to do with service position . the only thing in common is you take the under tray off and take off accessory belt and the under tray I only do coz its easier for clean up. . They are completely independent jobs .
I am surprised Audi tech didn't pipe back in as the days of making a fortune off book rates have long disappeared. True retail rates differ from Warranty times offered by the car companies as they have really cut back. If all you did was warranty work all day you would have to really bust your hump to make good money and that's with short cuts.
But as far as this job is concerned ai don't think 2 hours or even 2.5 is bad.

its about an hour to replace the thing if you have done it before , so if you include initial drain and then refill , burping and test driving I don't think 2-2.5 is unreasonable.

That said though we are about the DIY here . There is a great youtube video in two parts that takes you from very beginning to very end. its not that tough to do and I would encourage anyone with any technical ability to have at it.

[Low and Behold]

That said though we are about the DIY here . There is a great youtube video in two parts that takes you from very beginning to very end. its not that tough to do and I would encourage anyone with any technical ability to have at it.

This too.

@danbfree - you KNOW theres a ton of us here in PDX that know how to do this, just ask (unless you prefer a shop). Not trying to take anything away from some of the great tuning shops we have here but I, for one, will gladly help as I've done all of this many times on many platforms.

You've priced out parts/kits already too, so you're already saving yourself a bit of cash. Maybe drop a line in the NW forum. Ive never seen a situation where guys and gals won't help someone, and you'll learn a ton. We love it. As long as you give us pizza/burritos/beer.

Stepping off my soap box now.

[danbfree]

This too.

@danbfree - you KNOW theres a ton of us here in PDX that know how to do this, just ask (unless you prefer a shop). Not trying to take anything away from some of the great tuning shops we have here but I, for one, will gladly help as I've done all of this many times on many platforms.

You've priced out parts/kits already too, so you're already saving yourself a bit of cash. Maybe drop a line in the NW forum. Ive never seen a situation where guys and gals won't help someone, and you'll learn a ton. We love it. As long as you give us pizza/burritos/beer.

Stepping off my soap box now.

Rip city, Baby! ;)

Thanks Casey, I don't have a problem getting together with others willing to help and buy beer/coffee or whatever to work on my car, that's for sure... I guess as a parent of an 8 year old that I just took full custody this year, I don't have a lot of spare time so it's almost like I HAVE to get it done while I'm working myself, at least for the big stuff... So THAT said, hell ya I'd love to get together with fellow Audi nutz around the PDX/5-Oh-Tree for some of the smaller stuff that can be knocked in half day or less on a weekend day... So thanks again, Casey, for the support, I'll hit up the PNW sub more on that!

[Theiceman]

Rip city, Baby! ;)

Thanks Casey, I don't have a problem getting together with others willing to help and buy beer/coffee or whatever to work on my car, that's for sure... I guess as a parent of an 8 year old that I just took full custody this year, I don't have a lot of spare time so it's almost like I HAVE to get it done while I'm working myself, at least for the big stuff... So THAT said, hell ya I'd love to get together with fellow Audi nutz around the PDX/5-Oh-Tree for some of the smaller stuff that can be knocked in half day or less on a weekend day... So thanks again, Casey, for the support, I'll hit up the PNW sub more on that!

kids ? that's why god invented the xbox.. youll be working on you car for three hours , come back and your son will think you were gone for 20 minutes.

[Hugh@EuropaParts]

kids ? that's why god invented the xbox.. youll be working on you car for three hours , come back and your son will think you were gone for 20 minutes.

that's if they even notice...

[Luccatavares]

Mechanic says thermostat replacement is 2.5 hours of labor even with front clip off already for t-belt service, does this sound right? He says doing it with front clip off will save .5 labor over starting from scratch...

Luck you! I can't find a mechanic charging for less then 3 plus hours job. Ridiculous

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[danbfree]

Luck you! I can't find a mechanic charging for less then 3 plus hours job. Ridiculous

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So, same as this, half hour less with front off already

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[Luccatavares]

So, same as this, half hour less with front off already

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Not sure about your rates but that cost $430.

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[danbfree]

Not sure about your rates but that cost $430.

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$285/3 hours

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[Luccatavares]

$285/3 hours

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Nice

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[danbfree]

Nice

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We have no sales tax in my state, not sure if services are taxed in most states or not.

[Luccatavares]

We have no sales tax in my state, not sure if services are taxed in most states or not.

Yep. 6.5%

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[danbfree]

Yep. 6.5%

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Like I was saying though, that's just a specialist, not a dealer... $430 is what dealer would be here.

[Luccatavares]

Like I was saying though, that's just a specialist, not a dealer... $430 is what dealer would be here.

They all charge almost the same. Almost worth more take to the dealer. Obs. I have the part already

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[cwill401]

What engine ? Pretty sure the thermostat housing is under the intake manifold on the 2.0t and has to be removed in order to access it


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[S4NIK8]

No need to pull the intake manifold. I did this today and can see 2-2.5 hours being reasonable from the time the car is pulled in until cleanup is finished. Less time for the physical swapping of the part but the finishing bits are part of the job too.

[cwill401]

No need to pull the intake manifold. I did this today and can see 2-2.5 hours being reasonable from the time the car is pulled in until cleanup is finished. Less time for the physical swapping of the part but the finishing bits are part of the job too.

Yeah but the recommended procedure requires the removal of the intake manifold that's why he is getting high quotes


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[S4NIK8]

I have no idea why it would recommend that, removing the alternator provides plenty of access.

[AudiTechS4]

okay firstly I can tell you this has NOTHING to do with service position . the only thing in common is you take the under tray off and take off accessory belt and the under tray I only do coz its easier for clean up. . They are completely independent jobs .
I am surprised Audi tech didn't pipe back in as the days of making a fortune off book rates have long disappeared. True retail rates differ from Warranty times offered by the car companies as they have really cut back. If all you did was warranty work all day you would have to really bust your hump to make good money and that's with short cuts.
But as far as this job is concerned ai don't think 2 hours or even 2.5 is bad.

its about an hour to replace the thing if you have done it before , so if you include initial drain and then refill , burping and test driving I don't think 2-2.5 is unreasonable.

That said though we are about the DIY here . There is a great youtube video in two parts that takes you from very beginning to very end. its not that tough to do and I would encourage anyone with any technical ability to have at it.

what i posted is audi warranty not On Demand or mitchell or alldata so i have no idea what your talking about. to do that job at the dealership under warranty i would get paid 2.2 hrs

[Sanjman]

$50/hour?????? Is this guy doing it in his backyard hoisted up on some cinder blocks?

[Theiceman]

what i posted is audi warranty not On Demand or mitchell or alldata so i have no idea what your talking about. to do that job at the dealership under warranty i would get paid 2.2 hrs

Just that people are under the illusion that techs are making a ton as quoted jobs are way over what they actually take and the reality is they are not a long way off. I think 2.2 is pretty accurate

[deusilan]

I have no idea why it would recommend that, removing the alternator provides plenty of access.

Its easier doing it this way because then you don't need new gaskets (intake manifold & PCV). The slight difficult part is finding the screws to loosen the hard coolant line over the oil cooler.

[billyhoyle]

I have no idea why it would recommend that, removing the alternator provides plenty of access.

Truth. When I did mine with the timing belt, I pinched the thermostat o-ring. To replace it, I pulled out the alternator and accessed the thermostat from there. Honestly it took half an hour...without removing the bumper.

[danbfree]

Truth. When I did mine with the timing belt, I pinched the thermostat o-ring. To replace it, I pulled out the alternator and accessed the thermostat from there. Honestly it took half an hour...without removing the bumper.

And THIS is my motivation to get my own tools and work space to do this myself

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