She has about a 2012-13 GMC Terrain. They charged her $2,000 to replace "camshaft actuators and solenoids" her words as I haven't seen the invoice. I found a few videos online and this looks like a simple repair and the parts are not that expensive. She said it was stalling out dying while it was in motion.

I'll post the actual dealer write up once she sends it to me.

So here ya go. Sounds like maybe there was some additional damage done when it stalled if they're replacing the timing chain, sprockets, and other stuff. Maybe not the screwjob I thought it was.

so it was just stalling out while moving down the road? were there codes or anything?

i googled "gmc terrain stalls while driving" and a whole host of hits come up. seems to be very common but there appear to be a whole slew of possible reasons for it.

i suspect the dealer did some hosing here though.

Normal parts markup at a dealer is 100-200%, I cross-referenced the parts with gmpartsonline.net (a website that is a huge dirty word among GM Parts Departments) and am finding 100% markup and more. Can't comment on the labor charges but here's what I found on the parts:

12621505 - 92.24
12679100 - 32.90
12679099 - 32.90
12680750 - 108.98
12634319 - 15.81
12609291 - 19.05
(The battery part number has been discontinued)

On those parts alone it's a $571 difference, I'd go back to the dealer and ask what a reasonable parts markup is, they're way above list price on all these. Don't expect to get all of it back but who knows, I think asking the "I understand you gotta pay your guys here, but those guys are charging half of what you are, what's reasonable here" question would be appropriate.

That's a good price for a 4-wheel alignment and the labor (roughly $135/hr for everything but the battery if I'm reading everything right) is reasonable.

Which engine was this?


The LFX engine is a decent motor but they don't like extended oil change intervals and poor quality motor oils and filters, and will destroy short order.

If it is a 2.4L Ecotec, then its normal for that POS engine to puke its guts out even with good maintenance.

Not sure what engine it was. She's pretty anal about the maintenance though getting it done per schedule. Doesn't really matter now. They've done the work already.

I have to wonder if all of that work was necessary or even done.

You think there's some items there that shouldn't have been needed?

Sweet Kitten Feet said:

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You think there's some items there that shouldn't have been needed?

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Why would it need an alignment following a timing chain and cam actuator job?

Yep, last stop there many years ago they replaced a turn signal bulb without asking. I called them on it, "Well we didn't charge labor". Never went back.

Ronnie said:

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New battery costs $150 and took an hour to install.

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This sounds pretty reasonable. I think my truck batteries are pretty close to this in cost, and an hour of labor is charged because when the tech breaks any number of parts required to remove said battery, they are covering that liability.

I'm happy to do a job either way. I can charge the typical time, or I can charge the actual time. But if the 30 minute repair goes wrong and takes all day, you'll be eating that as well, you don't get it both ways.

Ronnie said:

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New battery costs $150 and took an hour to install.

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That's just flag time, like how almost every tech gets paid .4 hours for an oil change and .5 hours for a tire rotation. They get paid for hours flagged, not time worked, so there's an incentive for them to do an oil change and tire rotation in 15 minutes.

Tell her to call you BEFORE she authorizes any auto repairs > $250.

I had the same problem with my parents and the local Toyota dealership.

AgStuckinLBK said:

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Tumble Weed said:

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Not sure when the dealerships will learn that
"You can shear a sheep many times, but only skin it once".

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When they run out of sheep. Which the youngest generation is full of them.

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It always is.

AgStuckinLBK said:

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Tumble Weed said:

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Not sure when the dealerships will learn that
"You can shear a sheep many times, but only skin it once".

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When they run out of sheep. Which the youngest generation is full of them.

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OK Boomer