Hello everyone,

I signed up on this forum because I'm sick of not knowing anything about mechanical work on cars and I'm sick of feeling completely ripped off. As of recently, I had to have a fuel pump replaced because my blazer just stopped starting all of the sudden. Battery was fine and was turning over, but it was clear there wasn't any fuel getting into the engine so it wouldn't fire up. To make a long story short, I took it in for repair because I had to have the car fixed ASAP because I need it for my commute to work. I had it towed (limited to 3 miles) to Sullivan Tire in Boston, MA. If you're familiar with Boston or Comm. Ave, that's where they are located. They are a chain of several stores in the metro-boston area and man are they a rip off!! Due to the time constraint of getting my car back asap and the closet location, I had to go with them and have them do the work. Before I could do some research, I approved them to do the work.

I paid $950 for them to replace my fuel pump and the whole sending unit AND give me a minimal lube/oil/filter. They originally quoted me for $1450 to do an all out tune up and the fuel pump but I said hell no.

What I want is an honest opinion on two things:
1. How much does a 98 blazer fuel pump go for?
2. Was it necessary for them to replace the entire sending unit and fuel pump for "a car this old" (as they put it)?

The labor charge was $250, the fuel pump was priced at $650, and the rest was the cost of the tune up. I looked online and saw a fuel pump for $300.

I know I was ripped off and I'm furious but I did what I had to do with limited options so that I could get my car back on the road ASAP.

Please let me know honestly how much this should have costed me, and if anything, what I can do to redeem myself from these ******** (excuse my french).

Thanks,
Collin - the broke college grad who knows nothing about cars

 

Most of the genuine AC/Delco pumps I see online are going for ~$375. Some online sellers label their pumps as equivalent to the AC/Delco unit, but beware, they are rarely the same thing. Plus, no auto repair shop I ever heard of charges the customer the same price they had to pay for a part. They all have a markup, that's just good business sense, but $650 is too high in my opinion. $400-$450 would seem more reasonable. It seems they charged you about $250 for the tune-up, but I don't know what all they did for you.

 

The tune up was $30 (basic lube/oil/filter). The fuel pump was $650, and the labor was the remaining cost for everything. I don't have the invoice on me right now but it totalled out at $970...I really think the pump was marked up WAY too high.

 

Welcome to the forum.
Sounds like you should start reading and learn as much as you can. It's unfortunate that you were in a hurry and had to have the work done when and where you did.
Hopefully you have a warranty and a lot of trouble free miles for a while.

 

welcome!! deffinately get your questions into the tech section..and you will get a lot more replies!