$4,200 a fair price for timing chain cover leak repair (CA)?

[wstanton25]

Hi all - looking to get some perspectives on an issue with my 2018 CX-5 with 57k miles on it. I’m based in California.

I recently took it in to the dealer for a service and was told that there is a timing chain cover leak. From what I’ve gathered, this is a known issue for CX-5s.

While I’m under the 60k mile warranty, the car is older than 5 years. The dealer reached out to Mazda corporate but corporate is unwilling to help with the issue.

I’m being quoted ~$4,200 total for the repair (~$3,400 to replace the timing chain cover seal and another $800 for the belts and tensioner). And this price is with some discounting already being applied to the price.

Am I being taken for a ride here? The cost seems absurd for a car that is worth $17-18k.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Jmaz]

It is absurd and is a total ripoff .First off all, have you seen this leak for yourself and if it is a leak rather than a "seep", how bad is it. How much oil is being lost? Is it dripping on the ground. Next are some telling words like "dealer" and "told me". Dealers are notorious for recommending fixing oil "leaks" that are seepage and may never get much worse at least for quite a while. So an unsuspecting person can spend hundreds/thousands to fix something that can be wiped or washed off periodically.
The belt and tensioner price quote is over the top if you priced out those parts from Mazda and would have to be removed and reinstalled as part of the timing cover job anyway so it's a case of double charging (actually overcharging ) for labor. ---Run away from that dealer ---- have someone else look at it like an independent shop or somebody automotive savvy.

 

[Mazdiod2]

The belts aren't due for a while and the leak isn't a problem unless you noticed it and mentioned it to the dealer. Even then it might only mean you need to add a little oil occasionally.

 

[madar]

That's more than a set of tires! It's almost the cost of a new engine. If you're really concerned, I'd shop around for a reputable independent shop. Get another opinion.

 

[madar]

It is absurd and is a total ripoff .First off all, have you seen this leak for yourself and if it is a leak rather than a "seep", how bad is it. How much oil is being lost? Is it dripping on the ground. Next are some telling words like "dealer" and "told me". Dealers are notorious for recommending fixing oil "leaks" that are seepage and may never get much worse at least for quite a while. So an unsuspecting person can spend hundreds/thousands to fix something that can be wiped or washed off periodically.
The belt and tensioner price quote is over the top if you priced out those parts from Mazda and would have to be removed and reinstalled as part of the timing cover job anyway so it's a case of double charging (actually overcharging ) for labor. ---Run away from that dealer ---- have someone else look at it like an independent shop or somebody automotive savvy.

Kind of funny how the seeping probably wouldn't be considered a leak under warranty.

 

[Jmaz]

Kind of funny how the seeping probably wouldn't be considered a leak under warranty.

Yea, it has to be past warranty and then you get to pay for it.

 

[Buzzman12]

Yea, it has to be past warranty and then you get to pay for it.

Haha. I was just going to say the same thing.
If it was still under warranty, there's no way the dealer would even mention this "oil leak", let alone recommend fixing it for free.

 

[dunhillmc]

contact Mazda yourself. they might be more likely to help than if the dealer contacts them. also, find out if it's leaking or seeping. you can live with seeping. the dealer should have send you a video (most Mazda dealers do that now)

 

[HyFlyer]

If it wasn't leaking bad enough to leave drips on ground for me to notice or burning / oil smell and it's just the "dealer" bringing it to my attention, my response would be to have them take me out to the car and PHYSICALLY SHOW the leak to me, clean everything up real nice to check it again next service (or earlier) to get a better sense of the leakage.

Also, I think you'll find that the timing cover leak repair is pretty tricky to get it right. Many reports of still leaking after a repair so you may be no better off.

As others have said, $4200 would be taking advantage of you. This should tell you that the dealer has their own interests (making money) in mind, not what's best for you.

 

[paris1]

As others have said, $4200 would be taking advantage of you. This should tell you that the dealer has their own interests (making money) in mind, not what's best for you.

That may or may not be true, but you offer nothing by way of substantiating your assertion.

 

[ceric]

To OP: I am in SF Bay Area.
I was quoted $1700 for the timing chain cover seepage. (before Covid. Now, probably >$2500 considering the inflation) To be fair, he needs to lift the engine, etc. Not an easy job.

As HyFlyer said, if you don't see oil on the floor, let it be. I did. After 2 yrs, I see no oil spot on the floor.

For tensioner and belt, it was about $400-500. Had it done to my '16 Mazda6.
I was told my '17 CX5 also shows oil leak from the tensioner.... (not done yet)
Seems to be '16-'18 models have bad tensioners. Mazda changed suppliers.
My '14 Mazda3 doesn't suffer from this.
It took about 1-2 yrs for my Mazda6 to squeak when accelerating after they told me about the leak.
Yes, it squeaks when you rpm up.

In short, shop around for low tensioner cost if you have to do it ASAP.
For cover seepage... keep an eye on the floor.

 

[Lazy2.5]

No.

 

[HyFlyer]

That may or may not be true, but you offer nothing by way of substantiating your assertion.

Hi paris1,

My opinion is formed from the (limited) details of the OP's narrative. I did not take the time in my short/quick response to list the reasons for my opinion such as ...

I recently took it in to the dealer for a service and was told that there is a timing chain cover leak.

This leads me to believe that the "leak" isn't enough that the OP was aware of it implying that it's not dripping on the ground or burning or oil odors so I'm thinking it's not substantial. More likely "wet" around the cover. I've not personally experienced a leaking Mazda timing chain cover but the reports I've seen are from folks wanting the repair done under warranty because they don't want their new car leaking anything.

I’m being quoted ~$4,200 total for the repair (~$3,400 to replace the timing chain cover seal and another $800 for the belts and tensioner).

When I see a repair shop "stacking" individual jobs that are related (i.e. charging $800 for belts/tensioner when their R&R is included in the timing chain cover job anyway. One could argue that they may as well put new belts on instead of the old ones (even though they only have 57k miles) but then you're talking about less than $100 of parts, not $800). Also, at 57k miles the tensioner would likely be okay.

So, what I see here (from 2,000+ miles away sitting in my recliner looking through the internet) is a dealership service dept trying to cash in to the tune of $4200 for something that can likely be handled with a spritz of engine degreaser and a rag during each oil change and monitored.

Of course, people need to ask questions ... How much is it leaking? What problems will the leak cause? What things happen if I don't fix the leak? Then the owner would be in a better position to make a decision.

 

[200955]

Hi all - looking to get some perspectives on an issue with my 2018 CX-5 with 57k miles on it. I’m based in California.

I recently took it in to the dealer for a service and was told that there is a timing chain cover leak. From what I’ve gathered, this is a known issue for CX-5s.

While I’m under the 60k mile warranty, the car is older than 5 years. The dealer reached out to Mazda corporate but corporate is unwilling to help with the issue.

I’m being quoted ~$4,200 total for the repair (~$3,400 to replace the timing chain cover seal and another $800 for the belts and tensioner). And this price is with some discounting already being applied to the price.

Am I being taken for a ride here? The cost seems absurd for a car that is worth $17-18k.

Thanks for the help!

Man, are you being strung along! $800 for belts and tensioner? Listen up: Rock Auto complete Gates set of belts and tensioner kit $106.79 Cnd and 30% less in USD. This is every belt on your engine and tensioner as well All parts are top quality. And no, leaking timing cover is not a known issue but perhaps your front crank seal is leaking slightly.

Go to rockauto.com then in search type: GATES 90K39390