Additonally one can plumb his own vaccum vents into a 92-94 opti. Just buy the vac lines, install two brass fittings and plug three holes with RTV.

Or

Buy an MSD for the early years and their retro fit kit.

 

Yes, it would be vented; however, I believe the 2nd gen is more robust and its CHEAPER....

 

Yikes...tough call. Ya see there are several valid opinions from both camps. I tend to lead toward the 'While it's opened up and you're in there' opinion. Hell yeah it's expensive, but 9 bills for the opti is highway robbery. If you check around, there are several vendors that sell OEM parts for way less. I priced an opti for my '95 this afternoon and it was $470 something. NO tax, piddly shipping. That's an original GM part. The pump was $276ish. Same deal. PM me if you want the name and toll free number of the vendor. I've bought parts from him before.
Mike

 

Sounds like you have your car at Joe Bob's garage and they obviously don't know anything about LT1 Vettes (and are trying to screw you). I'd have it towed to someone who knows what they're doing before your car becomes a "training ground" for the incompetent (and they tear something up).

 

Yikes! Talk about hoping for the best and expecting the worst!

Water pump is already on order to the tune of $435 and labor at $388, so I guess that's not so bad(?) So, I'm really thinking I should just go ahead and let them do the WP changeout but then take her back home! I'm inspired to get under the hood now and see all the other things that could be done ourselves as well.

 

I have a related question... It has been my experience that you usually notice a WP going bad when your temp gauge skyrockets and/or engine overheats. We had none of that prior to taking it in the shop. No sign either of water/coolant on the ground.

My question is this: Is it possible to have a WP leak without causing the above conditions? And if so, say it's just a bad gasket, etc... Does that automatically mean the whole pump is then bad and needs to be replaced? Seems like it could leak and still be good?... In my job, I deal with fire pumps and jockey pumps, and yes, sometimes they leak and when they do, you take em apart, check the impellers, shafts, etc... and then put em back together with new gaskets and you're back in business.

All of this makes me feel really stupid for not questioning it in the first place!

 

Typical WP failure presents as an intermittent slow leak out the weep hole on the bottom of the pump. Then the leak progresses from only leaking while the engine is turning the pump to one that leaks all the time.

 

Please don't let them take advantage of you.

first they lied to you..either because they are dismally ignorant of your vehicle or they are plain dishonest.

second, a new GM opti from Summit runs $360 to $409 NOT $900.

third, a new GM water pump from Summit runs $200 to $209 NOT $435.

I don't know what dealer you are dealing with, but I live in the same general area and one of the most discouraging dealings I ever had was with the largest Chevy dealer in the area (they know who they are). Twice I had my vehicle (not a corvette) in for other service, twice I got the "free" brake inspection; both times I got an incredibly high pressure rush to have my rear brakes replaced ("they're so dangerous...if you don't want us to do it...we'll have it towed to the shop of your choice...we're that concerned for your safety"). I got this twice. Eventually I pulled the rear brakes apart, expecting to find the worst. What I found was that there was NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING wrong with my brakes.

Any of this sound familiar ?

there are several reputable private shops in your area. Looking through some old receipts from the previous owner of my 96, I see that MIDAS replaced the rotor, rotor cap, and plug wires for $397 labor (owner supplied the parts; a cap and rotor kit is $100 to $150; plug wires are $50 to $150). He didn't replace the water pump, but the intallation of a new water pump would not have increased the labor bill, it would have only added the cost of a new water pump ($200).

so lets see, new water pump ($200), new opti ($400), new plug wires ($150), labor to install ($400) or approximately $1,200 total and the dealer man wants $900 just for the opti ?


Do the math. I hope you have AAA towing. If not pay to have it towed out of the dealers and you'll still be money (way) ahead.

Good luck. Don't back down, the dealer is trying to take advantage of you (that's as nice as I can put it). And that's the shame of it all.

 

AAA will not tow a vehicle OUT of a service facility.

 

in that case, push it out to the curb

 

As most above have indicated the dealer is ripping you off or stupid. Either way you wouldn't want them under the hood of your car.

Again, as posted above, as far as doing the opti while the WP is off that's what I would suggest you do if at all financially feasible. You might get lucky and it runs another 40K+ miles or it might die in a couple hundred. You decide whether to roll the dice on that.

BUT GET IT OUT OF THAT SHOP ASAP!!!

 

Yeah, after reading the prices you are getting charged, I'd leave that mechanic. Makes me really glad I can do my own stuff. I think you'd be surprised about how easy it is to do yourself if you tried. It's not that big of a deal. Just takes some time.
I wonder if you bought the parts and just got them to install them. (Although my trust level isn't high with them at this time.) Too bad you are not closer. My kid and I would run over and do it for you.

 

If paying others to work on the car, it would be stupid to not replace optispark at the same time as wp.

However, as mentioned, you're getting raped even compared to normal dealer prices. The parts prices they are charging you are egregious - I would call around for prices on WP+opti replacement and then have it towed somewhere else.

Wait. What did you take the car in for in the first place?

You didn't have any WP/cooling problems and they turned it into a quote for $1800 in WP+opti replacement?

Can't say I'm surprised. Typical Chevy dealer.

 

Find a good private shop.

 

OK, here is my .02 I had a WP leak on my 96 vert about 2 years ago. No other problem just a weeping WP. I changed out the WP but did not change out the Opti. I have had 0 problems since the WP change and the car runs great. 46,000 miles. IMHO no need to change it if it is not a problem.

Now on the other hand if the dealer let the WP **** all over the Opti when they took the WP off, than shame on them. If you car runs like crap when you get it back I would be willing to bet they let the WP **** all over the Opti when they took it off.

When I did my WP I was very careful to make sure no water got on the Opti. But than again I am more **** than most.

 

You might want to think about joining a Corvette club in your area. Some of those who have been around a lot can either help you with a repair, or steer you to a reputable local source for repairs.

As I continue to read this thread, I think I am going to join the majority of folks here and say that you should do the minimum you have to in order to get out of there, and look around for a reputible repair person for anything else that comes up, or do it yourself. There are complete diagrams for changing all of that stuff, and people around here that can talk you through it. I'd even be willing to send you guys my phone number so you can call me if you run into a snag. I just did mine not too long ago so it is fresh on my mind. Runs great now too.

 

$900 for the part!

Buy it from these guys and give it to the shop to install:

www.oehq.com

Warren

 

I'll bet you would run into a "We only install parts purchased through us" policy.

 

Just came back from the weekend and see all the great remarks from everyone... this has been a great help. We took her in initially to look into some leaking that appeared to be ATF and to look at the antennae that only retracts about 90%. (I've now determined that I will be doing that replacement myself!) What we are being told (through the dealer) is that at some point in time this car has been "bottomed out" and the support rods have been pushed up into the transmission causing the vibration and in turn the leaking problem. Then there is also the debris in the radiator along with the failed water pump and you know the rest... Hubby bought the car about a 1˝ year ago and had no idea of the problems (if they do exist). Man, too bad he's not a Mr. Goodwrench!! Oh well...

My main concern at this time is of course fix the WP and figure out the rest later. I definitely will get a second opinion before I let anyone else touch our car.

 

I bought my C4 convert this year from an owner that went thru repair shop hell with it. They had an overheating issue at 117k miles and replaced the water pump and alternator. before the car hit 118k, they returned it to the same shop for more overheating issues. They then replaced head gaskets, 4 wheel brake job, plugs, wires, battery, etc. They spent 4789.00 in that 1000 miles, and still the car ran hot and the battery still was discharging.

They got disgusted and non-op'd the car.

When I road tested the car to purchase, the battery was not charging, the idle was irratic, the exhaust manifolds were leaking, and the there was smoke eminating from under the hood.

Amazing what kind of work they had done for almost $5k.

Once I bought the car, I inspected the "repairs". Cracked pcv hoses, broken alternator connector, loose terminal post on the alternator, very worn serpentine idler pulleys, and cracked exhaust manifolds were present. You think the guy working on the car could have told that those were wrong when he had the motor half dissasembled?

All the problems that this poor car when I bought it were a result of shoddy workmanship.

I do have to thank the shop tho... without their crap service, i bought myself a nice 'vette for a song. Those bastards.

Rob