Shop wants $475 to replace 2 plastic tees in heater hoses.

[frawstme]

they have the cooling system drained and replacing the water pump and timing belt, I have replaced lots of cooling system connectors and hoses in the past and just trying to figure out why this is so high when the cooling system is already drained. I assume it must be way more complicated than I imagine?

I can relate to your frustrations

I went to Toyota for a quoted $180 brake flush. Brought 4 OEM brake lines to replace the old ones since they were being drained at each wheel anyways. Figured it was like 8 extra bolts and they might charge me another hour of labor since the drain already overlapped.

Ended up taking them about an hour longer than quoted for the brake flush so i figured my guess was right. Went up to check out and the bill was ~$1150 with brake flush + 5h labor. Argued with them for like 45 minutes and they never backed off the price

 

[2001LC]

Just replacing 2 Tees, 1 hours. Plus .25 hour to R&R hose #1. No need to drain coolant.

A proper coolant service with heater Tees:
Inspect for coolant coolant
Wash radiators fins.
Drain block & radiator.
Blow out block & heater cores while tees out.
R&R thermostat & rad cap.
Clean reservoir & test its cap & hoses
R&R Tees and #1 hose. Extra R&R and swollen hoses.
Fill system with Toyota coolant.
Burp air from system.

Extra if chemical flush needed.

 

[sacman]

Should I replace the hoses attached to these Ts at the same time as preventive measure? If yes, what are the part numbers?

 

[frawstme]

Should I replace the hoses attached to these Ts at the same time as preventive measure? If yes, what are the part numbers?

i don't have the time to find it right now but my build thread has info on the hoses I used with brass heater tees. You can just get it from AutoZone

 

[2001LC]

I use OEM Tees, for perfect fitment.

Most times. I cut hose away from rear water bypass joint pipe. Then replace that hose. Because if DS Tee falls apart, which it often does if dealing with old factory installed. Its, plastic falls into engine side if hose still attached.

The other 5 hoses. I only replaced if swollen or damaged.

 

[BullElk]

As mentioned above.....no need to replace hoses unless obvious issues. Also, no need to drain fluid and better if you don't so that if broken pipe pieces fall into hose entering engine, you can squeeze upper radiator hose to flush coolant and pipe pieces back out.

 

[Aracobuilt]

It's getting to the point where you can't go anywhere to get anything done, $475 is beyond excessive. That is why this website and everyone that contributes is so valuable. I have saved thousands on DIY repairs.

On my last two timing belt replacements, I have given the mechanic the heater tees to replace and both times I have not been charged any additional money to install them. It doesn't take more than 15 minutes to replace and the coolant lost is nothing to even mention.

 

[OGBeno]

Am I crazy to think that is an outrageous price?
They are doing the timing belt and water pump and I asked about those tee connections. They said they use OEM ones and total is $475 to replace the two of them.

I can’t understand how the labor could be so high.

What am I missing?

Man, we would have had that done in 20 mins at our shop just one hour south of you in Sonoita.

 

[Super77]

I assume the OP sees the verdict on this: the $475 quote seems to be independent of the TB/WP job rather than stacked. But I'd generously assume an hour of shop time, plus parts - call it $200 if doing the TB/WP. It's also an easy DIY job, especially if you invest $16 in the correct clamp remover tool (it will rock your world). The tees are ~$30/pair from Uncle T. Some people like the aftermarket metal ones, I say, "why?" The OEM ones last 20+ years. Buy a second set now if you're worried.

Tip: don't use the similar-looking-but-not-the-same standard plumbing tees from the hardware store. The tubes are the wrong size!

 

[andrewderrick]

As a shop I would have quoted an additional .5 hr + parts (we are 225/hr) or 1 hr if completed without timing belt job.

 

[Tareq]

They’re ripping you off!!!!!!!!!!
Try to DIY it, it is easy!
I ordered the OEM 2 tees and 6 hoses + the 12 or so clamps from AMAYAMA japan, maybe $140 CAD, about $100 USD shipped to my door maybe 2 years ago, took me an hour to do myself, you will lose a cup or so of coolant, no problem.

 

[Kofoed]

I changed mine in like 30 minutes, no need to drain but a little bit of coolant.

 

[mustardfj40]

Nowaday almost everything is more expensive, if you want to save $$$ DIY. I know my Tacoma EVAP valve costs about $80 from my Serria Toyota but I thought let check out the local Toyota part dept, I was shock to see see it costs $180 and would take 1 hour at the shop to replace ... so total cost estimste to be $500 …

 

[mustardfj40]

Nowaday almost everything is more expensive, if you want to save $$$ DIY. I know my Tacoma EVAP valve costs about $80 from my Serria Toyota but I thought let check out the local Toyota part dept, I was shock to see see it costs $180 and would take 1 hour at the shop to replace ... so total cost estimste to be $500 …

They’re ripping you off!!!!!!!!!!
Try to DIY it, it is easy!
I ordered the OEM 2 tees and 6 hoses + the 12 or so clamps from AMAYAMA japan, maybe $140 CAD, about $100 USD shipped to my door maybe 2 years ago, took me an hour to do myself, you will lose a cup or so of coolant, no problem.

Do still have Toyota part no for the 6 hoses?

 

[bj70bc]

Why are we discussing this.... if you take it to a dealership/shop they are ripping you off 90% of the time period.
This is common knowledge hence the appropriate name stealership, they use book time per job, not taking into account efficiencies of multiple jobs, this is how they make money. We all know this, do everything yo'self maman, or eat the bill

 

[Tareq]

Do still have Toyota part no for the 6 hoses?

6 hoses:
87245-6A180
87245-6A190
99556-20155
87245-6A220
87245-6A210
87245-6A800

Hose clamp (8x) 96134-42100
Clip (4x): 90467-19022
OEM heater tees (2x): 87248-60460

 

[adventurezoutside]

bought stainless tees on amazon and hoses at the dealer

 

[Jack90210]

Yep, removing and replacing hose/tee/clamp assemblies is the way. Pull the two old assemblies, use them to model the assembly positioning of the new parts, and install.

I'm wary of any steel or brass tees unless they are Toyota parts; I want them to work with the OEM constant-tension hose clamps, and SAE-sized "hardware store" tees often won't.

 

[frawstme]

6 hoses:
87245-6A180
87245-6A190
99556-20155
87245-6A220
87245-6A210
87245-6A800

Hose clamp (8x) 96134-42100
Clip (4x): 90467-19022
OEM heater tees (2x): 87248-60460

I fully understand everyone's want to stick with OEM

but that's gotta be like $150 of hoses vs going to autozone and getting the same size coolant hoses to cut and boil to shape for $30 lol

 

[hoser]

They don’t sell metric hoses at my Autozone.