Parts/labor cost for serpentine belt and tensioner pulley?

[maxfischer]

Does for $230 for replacing a serpentine belt and tensioner pulley seem high on a 2005 MDX? Seems a bit high given those two parts are probably $50-60 and I've read it's about half an hour of labor, maybe a full hour with both the pulley and belt. This independent shop already spent half an hour diagnosing the issue, which I've described in the following posts elsewhere:

Chirping sound at idle on cold days, increasing with RPMs - serpentine belt?

Serpentine belt screeching

Also thinking about the overall service he's provided to us - he spent an hour and a half fixing for free the rattling heat shields on both my and my wife's cars. He's also quoted me $240 for a two axle brake pad job, or $350 including 4 new rotors, which it sounds like he's not completely soaking me for.

Thoughts?

[jaygrooms]

I think you are underestimating the prices on the belt and pulley. Round here those parts are about 50-60 each.

I don't think it sounds too high. But if you can wrench on your own car, this is an easy fix.

[mijdirtyjeep]

I agree, the belt from NAPA around here is about $33, but the Tensioner is just over $75.

Are you capable of doing the work your self?

If so I would put a new belt on and see if it is still squeaking. If it is then i would put the tensioner on it.

If I had to pay for it to be done I would just do them both at the same time, it will save on labor cost.

[maxfischer]

Thanks for the replies. I guess on the price of the tensioner I was getting confused about just the wheel (which looks like an $18 part) and the tensioner mechanism which does look to be $75.

For the $150 in labor they seem to want to charge, will probably have them do it, but I think I'll see if I can take the belt off one cold morning to see if there is no noise.

[mijdirtyjeep]

Originally Posted by maxfischer

I'll see if I can take the belt off one cold morning to see if there is no noise.

With the belt off, there should not be any noises. The problem with that is you do not narrow anything down to a particular part being bad (Tensioner does not move when belt is off). So it could still be any one of the two that are bad.

If you can pull the belt, might as well just throw another one on anyways. You are going to be reinstalling a belt "old or new".

[tom34diy]

FWIW, on our 2003, the two pulleys were only about $25 for both. I did not replace the entire tensioner assembly, but just replaced the two pulleys. Problem was the old pulleys seemed fine, and I still have the noise. The belt looked fine too, even after about 130,000 miles. I did not read your prior posts, but did you try belt dressing?