What would you guys say is a fair price for the following work?...parts + labor.

1. Replace in-tank fuel sender (I'm not sure if they will be removing the bed or dropping the tank. I have a veggie fuel tank in the bed, so I assume they'll drop the diesel tank to get at the fuel sender)

2. Remove the lift pump....old style (my truck was not retrofitted with the in-tank pump)

3. Install the AirDog II fuel pump (under driver side door)

I know the pump itself is like $700 or so....but what would be a REASONABLE labor cost for the rest of the work? I'm not asking what a friend can do it for...just typical diesel shop cost.

Thanks for any input.

 

...I should also mention it is a 2004.5 Cummins HO

 

if you do not have a retrofit intake pump, there is no need to get into the tank, unless you are installing a draw straw, and they shouldnt mess with the sender at all, the pumps come in all different options, using stock filter, using their filters, or just a direct pump replacement like fass offers-----> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FASS-...item45f445d94b

 

Thanks for the reply. They do actually have to get to the tank to "undo" a mistake by another mechanic. At the first shop the guy dropped the tank and replaced the in-tank fuel sender with a sender/pump unit by Airtex. Since the sender wasnt the problem (the pump under the hood was), now the new shop has to drop the tank again to remove the Airtex and put back the original sender. The first guy did apologize for his error and refunded every dime I paid...so I guess I can't complain too much. Any idea what all this labor 'should' cost me?

 

if you use the ddirect replacement pumps.... should be about 15min of work, odr deffinatly less than an hour

 

They are installing an AirDog II 100 under the driver side door, not the FASS DDRP in the stock location. I really liked the idea of bypassing the stock fuel filter, so I went with the AirDog. I'm just trying to get an idea of the labor costs...not alternative solutions. Thanks again.

 

The shop in my area is getting $85 hr , more than I bill out so I am taking a crash course and getting educated on my truck, joined several forums reading all I can. Wont pay it.

 

How are they going to wire it in? Are they going to snag a fuel pump relay wire or just a key-on lead? Running all new fuel lines, mounting the unit, running the wires, and dropping the tank (try to send it in when low on fuel) I would think 3 hours shop time would be sufficient. Maybe less, but it's more than simply running a bolt and plugging in a hose.

 

Well, I got hit with a $920 labor bill! They did have the truck for over a week, but I highly doubt it was 11hrs+ worth of actual "work." Granted, they did a full system diagnostic and replaced the fuel level card in the tank as well, but since the tank was out anyways I doubt that took more than a couple minutes. Also, they said that it was more difficult since I have a separate vegetable oil system installed....not sure I buy that though since the two fuel delivery systems are completely separate up until the injector pump. I think what they meant to say was that they are the only diesel shop in the area so they can charge basically whatever they want. If only I had a lift in my garage

 

Was it worth $920 for you to not do it on your garage floor?

Our shop rate is $110/hr. $85/hr isn't all that bad - I know of places north of $150/hr.

R&R tank could reasonably take what, ~1 hour, add 30 minutes for swapping out the sender, did they use the oem fuel lines or run new hose?

Did it take the tech 11 hours to do it? Probably not, but maybe it took him 21 hours due to rusty nuts/bolts, incorrect parts, etc. etc. etc.

Speaking as a tech, ship happens. That odd boost problem is actually an improperly torqued knock sensor, and the 20+ hours spent driving/downloading/diagnosing/swapping parts turns into a couple of hours billed. Then again, that 12 hour 90k mile service goes flawlessly and only takes 4 hours. We win some and make money, we lose others and lose our shirts. Book time for procedures are a guideline, and a fair way to charge the customer so sometimes they get a screaming deal while other times we make up for lost time.

I got a $1600 bill from a tire shop about ten years ago for a 4-wheel brake job. That's when I decided I was going to learn how to do my own work. There are still jobs I'd rather pay someone else to do, but by and large I do nearly all of it myself.

When I had my Airdog/BlackMaxx/EGR delete/Turbo-back exhaust put on, I laid out about $5k in parts and labor. I hated giving someone else money to do work I could do myself, but I didn't have the time or inclination to do it myself.