Hey guys, Still trying to research into getting a c5 but have some more questions about costs.

I've got most the common stuff mapped out with much help from these forums, but I'm wondering what the deal might be with other Semi-common stuff that happens in all cars.

Parts and Labor on things like
Alternator
Starter
Plugs
radiator

I'm used to slightly older cars, and after hearing some horror stories with new car labor cost (not specific to vette) I wanna try and get a better idea of some of these things.
Crap like a starter being hidden between the engine and tranny costing 2400+ in labor to reach.
And just recently my moms new truck (has coilovers instead of normal spark plugs or something to that extend i wasnt 100% sure), but cost like 100bucks a pop per cylinder.

I basically Just wanna find out if theres any perhaps rare, but still, sleeping dragons waiting to attack my pocket book lol. I know in my truck i can replace alternators and starters and such like a peice of cake in 20m by myself, but stuff like my moms friend 2400 dollar starter horror story freaks me out a bit lol. Ive never had a year 2000+ kind car.

Would appreciate any insight!

 

people say it cost alot to own a (insert sports car)
but my 1998 has been in my faimly since it was new
and a daily driver for the last 5 or 6 years
and weve spent probably 3k(very high estamate) in repairs
but i htink it will all depend on how it has been driven, and how you plan on driving it

and if you are in anyway mechanicly inclined, you can probably get away with doing most repairs yourself

 

Let me start with the 2400 starter. If you are ever in NM and need a starter, i'll put one in for 200 bux including the cost of the part

Starter is about : 165
Alternator : 160
Radiator: 300
Spark Plugs : 20

this forum can help you change all those things yourself. I have to think if everyone one of the things went bad at the same time, they can be replaced with about 3 hours of work.

The are a pretty reliable car, but need up keep like any other. Very easy to work on.

 

I've gotten the impression that its a very reliable car. Im 19 now, and believe it or not reliability and gas mileage were 2 of the biggest factors for me opting for the vette, many of the other cars i looked at had nothing to due with being really fast. I was also looking at some Lexus, BMW 3 and 5 series, Mercedes E class..... With the market now, plus buying used you can pick all these cars up for so cheap now.... The Vettes just the only one right now i feel i can count on as a daily driver with everything i've read thus far.

I was really just looking for curve ***** here. Im slightly mechanically inclined, and work in construction so i know my way around tools and have done minor work on my truck.

The case with my moms friend and the 2400 dollar starter.... In order to physically reach and remove the starter either the transmission or engine had to be removed so thats why the steep price! Really crazy stuff like that it what i was looking for here.

 

The things you mention are not all that expensive to replace. The C5 is easy to work on so many things you can do yourself and save on labor.

 

Might find this post helpful.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=984927

There is a "corvette tax" on parts. Like others have said, if you can do your own work you can save lots of money, have confidence the work was done right, and derive a lot of satisfaction from doing your own work.

 

I'm curious. could we have more information on this?

 

Sure I'll ask her today and figure figure out exactly what the deal was.


Thx for the link too I'll look up after work!

 

He may be referring to the Ford Triton engine....The plugs in these trucks can be a B*TCH.....Each cylinder has it's own coilpack, and the spark plug sits in a "well" directly under each coilpack...So the coilpacks must be removed to gain access to the plugs....Difficult, but that's not the "real" hard part....The "real" hard part is this....The spark plugs (about $15 apiece) are a true 100K mile plug.....but in 100K miles they can become "frozen" in the aluminum head......When removing the plugs it easy to snap off half of the plug in the head.....This is such a problem Ford Motor Company has designed a special kit to remove these plugs...Cost of said kit??? $2200 ....But dont fret, there's a trick that (if luck is one your side) will allow you to remove the plugs without the kit....Once the coil packs are removed (and yes, it's a b*itch getting them off) back out each plug ONLY 1/8 a turn....(BTW, these plugs use a special 9/16 socket)......Then, spray an ounce or two of carb cleaner down into the spark plug well...WAIT 15 minutes before proceeding....The carb cleaner (NOT WD40) will seep down into the head and (hopefully) will disolve the carbon buildup that has the plug frozen in place.....The key is not to get in a hurry, you WILL break a plug off in the head if you do......

I recently changed the plugs in one of these trucks for a co-worker....... I was able to get 7 of the 8 plugs out using this method...But I had to allow an overnight "soak" of the plugs before they would come out....and even at that, one of the plugs was so "froze" it simply was NOT going to come out without breaking....Fortunately, I have a good frend at the local Ford garage that loaned me his kit to remove the plug....TWO hours later, I had the plug out...

Note:be CERTAIN to use anti-sieze on the threads of the new plugs!!!!..Also, once all the plugs are out crank the engine for 10 seconds to blow out any carb cleaner that has accumulated in the cylinders....If you dont, you can hydro-lock the engine!!!!!!

Also, according to my buddy at Ford....This special kit will work most of the time when it comes to getting the plugs out...but he said there have been instances in which the ENTIRE cylinder head had to be removed to get the plugs out....This engineering has GOT to be one of Ford's FINEST

 

Suggest checking out vendor sites for parts pricing and figure dealership labor rates to be around $80 an hour (you could call them up to verify).

 

I will never bitch about the plugs on the LS motors again!!!

My brother recently purchased a motor home with a triton V10, I wonder if he knows.........