"Clark" > wrote in message
.. .
> "Hairy" > wrote in :
>
> >
> > > wrote in message
> > ups.com...
> >> Was just hoping that someone might have an opinion as to whether my
> >> dealer might be trying to take advantage of me. Dropped my 99 Explorer
> >> XLT V-6 SOHC (69,000 miles) off at the dealer this morning for what I
> >> thought was a slipping serpentine belt. Calls me a few hours later and
> >> tells me that it was actually the pulley and arm (???) that controls
> >> the tension in the belt and that it would be about $375 to fix. OK, I
> >> think to myself, seems reasonable and I recall something similar on a
> >> car I owned previously.
> >
> > I don't know how much Ford gets for new tensioners, but NAPA has them
for
> > about $60.00. Assuming Ford gets $100 for them, the dealer is charging
$275
> > labor for a half an hour job. I'd go somewhere else.
> > H
> >
> >
> I'd second this. Tensioner and belt should be about $50 total at a
discount
> parts house. Labor should be 1/2 hour max (I can't imagine the book time
is
> more). Total cost <$100. Quite a premium for the dealer charging $375...

Belt, alone, for my wife's 01 was $47 at a quality local parts house. I'm
sure I could have found one cheaper, but it probably wouldn't have been a
Gates.
H