How much should labor cost to install a new timing belt kit?

[RazorRamen]

I've got a 2006 Aveo and its about time to replace the timing belt, I bought the Gates TCKWP335 kit along with a water pump wrench so I'm just looking at the cost of labor. I originally asked a local mechanic for an estimate for parts and labor and he said "200 something" but he would need to look up the cost of the kit for my car, he never got back to me so I bought the Gates kit because it was cheaper than the ones they sell at the local parts shops, the mechanic now has estimated labor alone at $220, is this a fair price for labor?

[red04fourdoor]

you could probably do better. theres a local shop here that did mine for $150. I bought my own kit like you did and gave it to em for them to do.

[avguy]

Having done this job a few times, I'd say that a mechanic doing these only once in a while is going to be somewhere around 2 hours. So IMO, $150 is unusually low, and $220 is certainly fair. If you still have that POS plastic thermostat housing, definitely replace it with a metal one at the same time.

[thehunterooo]

I think I paid $300 in labor when I had mine done, some people have paid a lot more, I think anything under $250-300 from a GOOD mechanic is a great price.

[RazorRamen]

Having done this job a few times, I'd say that a mechanic doing these only once in a while is going to be somewhere around 2 hours. So IMO, $150 is unusually low, and $220 is certainly fair. If you still have that POS plastic thermostat housing, definitely replace it with a metal one at the same time.

Can you recommend a good replacement thermostat housing? How much do those typically cost and how much more labor would it involve? I've got 118,000 miles on the car and only plan on keeping it for another 12 months max.

[avguy]

Can you recommend a good replacement thermostat housing? How much do those typically cost and how much more labor would it involve? I've got 118,000 miles on the car and only plan on keeping it for another 12 months max.

I used Duralast (around $30) on 2 Aveos with no problems. But I think these parts are basically the same ones wherever you go. Just curious why you are planning on definitely getting rid of your Aveo within a year.