Help me understand - GMC fuel pump price

[anthracitedub]

My fuel pump went out on my GMC. I usually do all my own work, but I don't really have desire to drop the tank. So I called a local shop who is trusted in our area, just to see what the prices would be. I understand that parts get marked up when you go through a shop, but when he quoted me I was a bit floored…..over $900 dollars to drop the tank and replace the unit.

The fuel pump/sending unit was marked up from 261 all the way to 612!
I'm certain they would have just went down to flaps and purchased the same one available to the public. I just cant understand how someone could mark something up double the cost…is this the norm?

Well, I don't have that kinda money, nor would I spend that kinda money..so for $ 261, I dropped the tank myself…on my back, in the gravel, on a hill, and replaced it in 2 hours…it sucked and the gravel was very uncomfortable…but felt much better than taking it in the wallet for 900.

I guess I just never thought to much about mark ups on prices and hyped up labor prices/hours…but this place was set to get me…I used to recommend them to others..but I think they may be lower on my list after this experience.

[Paul Windisch]

Even at the dealer, our GM pump is less money than that. Yes there is a substantial parts mark up, but yikes! If you really do trust that shop, perhaps you can ask them WTF! That's over a 100% markup.The labor should have been around 2-3.5 hours. So 3.5 x whatever their labor rate is (ours is $99 per hour), plus the part plus tax. By the way, what kind of GMC is it? A lot of times, on pick-up trucks you can unbolt the bed on one side and lift it up giving you access to the top of the tank and it will take MUCH less time.
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1984 Mexican Beetle
-1914cc
-L3 Heads 35x32 valves 52cc chambers
-0.040" deck for about 9.1:1 Compression
-Engle W110 cam
-CB Super Stock 1.1:1 Rockers
-Stock Heat Exchangers w/ Tri-Mil Muffler
-Dual Weber IDF 40s w/ 26mm venturis
-034 SVDA Distributor

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[Foxx]

[The Sage]

Ever think they don't really want to do the job? That's what my mechanic does sometimes.
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[KTPhil]

Parts markup at VW dealers was typically 100%. I used to read upside down as the parts guy thumbed through his price list at the parts counter back in the '70s. Shop-to-shop costs had about half that markup.

It's not all profit. Out of that markup comes space rent for inventory, the parts guy's salary, and a few other incidentals, and of course, profit.

I can't speak to your truck specifically, but with all the plumbing on modern car tanks for emissions, and the cramped working spaces, it can be a real pain to do the work. They charge accordingly.

[drscope]

[anthracitedub]

Its a GMC Jimmy 4X4…I'm thinking they probably didn't want to do the job. I had always wanted to get the fuelpump/unit changed because the gas gauge didn't work…just never felt like yanking the tank…but really it wasn't bad…the worst part about it was pulling the fuel lines. I bought the cheap 8$ line tool that didn't work the best so it took a little cussing to get the lines, but other than that…it was really easy….I had the tank out in 30 minutes.

[johnnypan]

For 900 he shoulda told you smoking and cuddling were thrown in after he was done...

We got a job in the other day...parts in a box,and the customer didnt tell us the issue,just 'reseal the valve'...so we did as told,8 hours labor plus parts,went to run the function and it was obvious the valve failed internally...called customer who said 'yeah i forgot to tell you that...'well, we didnt forget to tell him it will cost over double what it should to get his tractor back..

[gt1953]

I have hopes that you did use a GM pump it will last..how many miles on the truck. Keep the gas tank more then a 1/4 full, helps keep the pump cool.
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[ussrrider]

I second that on the G.M. pump, I work as a fleet mech for a beverage company and have a bunch of G.M. vans and we have had bad luck with the aftermarket pumps maybe lasted a year or two at the most. Went back to O.E.M. pumps and have not had any problems. We pay a bit more but save on extra tow bills. Just wish the driver's would not always run the fuel down to almost empty ya think they were paying for the fuel themself.
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[Jeckler]

Some shops try to take advantage.
As part of a tuneup on my wife's Expedition yesterday (there's no way you're getting me to change those plugs), the local Firestone wanted $114 to change the fuel filter; $54 for the filter and $60 in labor.
I bought the filter for $20 and changed it in in less than 5 minutes in the driveway this morning, no tools required except a screwdriver to get the cover off.
What I hate is no discount for doing something in the same area. For instance, the coils have to be removed to change the spark plugs, but you can't get a labor discount to change the coil boots. I should've had them put it back together after the plugs, then take it apart again to do the boots, just to get my money's worth.
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Andy
'63 Bug rebuild here.
Did you know that sellers can't charge a fee to accept PayPal?

[anthracitedub]

Yeah, I think I killed the pump by running it low. I ran out of gas last week and only put a little back in it….so the pump probably did get hot. I'll make sure I keep gas in it this time…cause for the first time with this truck I have a working gas gauge! The truck only has 89,000 miles on it and its a 2000..bought it off an old man who used it as a sunday driver.

[drnewman]

You can get the oem gm pump almost anywhere, ask for the Delphi unit- that's who makes them for gm.

[Paul Windisch]

The inaccurate fuel gauge was a bit of a problem with those. Let me guess, it would run out of gas when it showed a 1/4 tank? The new tank unit will take care of it permanently.

As far as the part mark-up, I'm still baffled. I'm going to check cost vs. list price on that pump when I get to work tomorrow out of curiosity. I think the list price is $475-$525, for a GM pump at a GM dealer with a 12 mo. 12,000 mile warranty, which if installed at a GM dealer, covers parts AND labor.
_________________
*ASE Recertified Master Automotive Tech*

1984 Mexican Beetle
-1914cc
-L3 Heads 35x32 valves 52cc chambers
-0.040" deck for about 9.1:1 Compression
-Engle W110 cam
-CB Super Stock 1.1:1 Rockers
-Stock Heat Exchangers w/ Tri-Mil Muffler
-Dual Weber IDF 40s w/ 26mm venturis
-034 SVDA Distributor

2013 Chevrolet Volt DD
2005 Pontiac Montana SV6

MAHLE Service Solutions
Applications Engineer

[Cusser]

A garage was fixed some oil leaks in a 1988 Frontier for my daughter on a Saturday (staying late to fix it), including labor for replacing the oil sender for $44 ($18 for the part). Unfortunately, a day later (a Sunday), she brought it to me as the oil sender was leaking. It wasn't loose, so I installed an $8 one from O'Reillys.

The shop did refund the parts cost, but would not refund the labor, said they would've replaced it for no charge themselves. She told them that if I hadn't replaced it, they'd be fighting over the cost of an engine replacement instead !!! The sender replacement of course took 5 minutes, and then 10 minutes watching to make sure there was no leak. I think the shop saw no oil on the ground, figured it was OK. But it was leaking onto the engine protection bottom cover.

Bottom line - as many of us know here - you can do a better job yourself most times, because you have vested interest and care.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[anthracitedub]

The pump I got had some Delphi logos on some of the electrics…I hope it lasts for a while. While inspecting the old pump I could clearly see why the fuel gauges fail on these trucks.

The float arm connects to a pivot point which has two small spring steel contacts (similar to what you would find on the bottom of a HO slot car) these contacts rub on a board where the signal is transferred…the contact area of these shoes are segmented…and over time they wear through and break off…then they never contact the resistance board…sometimes the remnants of the shoes will contact the board…so occasionally the gauge will work, but not accurately.

Unfortunately the new unit is made exactly the same way, no improvements in the failure area…so I expect the gauge to quit working one of these days, probably the day after the warranty goes….

To bad they wouldn't sell, just the contacts…they are clearly replaceable..I can pop them right out with a screw driver.

[ToolBox]

If you are in the Detroit area and need GM parts give Coach and Motor a call next time. We use them for all our GM OE and AC Delco OE and aftermarket parts. The money you save will be big.

[anthracitedub]

Thanks, will do…if anyone drives a GMC Jimmy…they need all the help they can get.