Civic Brake/Fuel Line Replacement Cost

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Robbie - 06 Oct 2005 00:28 GMT

My wife's 99 Civic sedan blew a brake line and was spewing brake fluid
all over the drive way. Towed to the dealer, they got back to us and
said the brake line needed replacement (doh!), the fuel line was
corroded to the point of near failure and all the brakes needed
servicing as well (car has ~100K km - 60K miles). Repair cost estimate
CDN$1700 - car will not be ready until next Wednesday.

The price has my rip-off antennae twitching and the week to fix it makes
me think they don't really want my business but if I really need them I
am going to pay in time and money. Am I wrong here?

Thanks for any advice.

Robbie

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Michael Pardee - 06 Oct 2005 02:47 GMT

> My wife's 99 Civic sedan blew a brake line and was spewing brake fluid all
> over the drive way. Towed to the dealer, they got back to us and said the
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Robbie

I'm no expert on the Civic, but although I don't doubt the work they call
for is necessary (Canada, right?) the price seems mighty high and the time
line seems long to me, too. Time to phone some other shops!

Mike

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TeGGeR® - 06 Oct 2005 02:58 GMT

> My wife's 99 Civic sedan blew a brake line and was spewing brake fluid
> all over the drive way. Towed to the dealer, they got back to us and
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> me think they don't really want my business but if I really need them I
> am going to pay in time and money. Am I wrong here?

You brought it to the dealer? Bad, bad place to bring a repair like that.

Most brake line corrosion is very localized (usually at the mount brackets)
and is easily repaired with patches. The dealer will not usually be willing
to patch, but will want to install complete replacements. It is not easy to
remove and install some of these lines on account of the way they snake in
and out of the body, which is how they got their cost estimate.

Part of the cost estimate may also be a "scare-you-off" factor, designed to
make you take an unpleasant repair job somewhere else.

Most independents will have a brake flaring tool, and stock brake line is
cheap in the extreme. Take it to an independent garage. I'll bet your
corrosion can be fixed for less than $100.

As for the brake servicing, since you live in Canada, I can just imagine
the damage rust and neglect have wrought. An independent will be about 30%-
50% cheaper in that area as well, even using OEM parts.

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TeGGeR®

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