Nothing can hit your budget harder than an unexpected auto repair. When you’re struggling to make it to the next paycheck, the last thing you want to hear is that you need a new timing belt at a cost of $500.
And should a timing belt cost $500 or is the mechanic trying to take advantage of you?
Ask your Repair Pal. A new online service at www.repairpal.com will tell you how much a specific repair should cost for your particular car in your area. You can also get a free iPhone app.
Once you enter your car’s make, model and year, you are given a list of repairs from which to choose, including routine maintenance items such as oil changes. You can also get an explanation of each repair. The price quotes are generated by a complex database that draws on a number of sources.
For example, a new timing belt for my 1999 Honda CR-V should cost $285 to $368 in Miami, including parts and labor.
The service also lets you keep your maintenance records online, ask questions of other car owners and Repair Pal experts and get information about recalls. The site has begun a database of local repair jobs with customer reviews, but it’s incomplete.
There are a few similar services, though they don’t seem as easy to use. DriverSide, which is also free, says the timing belt replacement should cost $337.33. FairRepair charges $9.99 for an estimate once you enter your VIN number but refunds the cost if you use one of its participating mechanics, who have promised to honor the estimates.
If you’re considering buying a used car, you can enter its vital statistics and read owner reviews and discussions of common problems for that make and model.
Reading about the ’99 Honda CR-V, I’ve discovered that I may be a little late in replacing the timing belt even though it hasn’t caused any problems yet. I’d better start saving.
