# Is this an average price for the work that has been done?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 26, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957 "2024-08-26T20:10:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Xdjperez93\_191100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/e79b87/32.png) [@Xdjperez93\_191100](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xdjperez93_191100)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/1 "2024-08-26T20:10:26Z")

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I have a 2016 jeep wrangler 2 door. The air was not blowing hot when i turned it to hot but it was blowing cold. I also needed some lug nuts replaced because they were in pretty bad shape over time. So i took it to my mechanic and this is what was done and the price. Would this be a reasonable price for everything that was done?

Air flap actuator OEM- $190  
16 lug nuts- $5 each- $80  
Labor - $230  
SubTotal- $500  
Sales tax- 33.13  
Total cost - 533.13

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**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/2 "2024-08-26T20:14:46Z")

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Where I live a $230 labor charge is barely an hour. Standard diagnostic fee for a heater/AC complaint is 1 hour. You got diagnosis, repair, and lug nuts replaced for an hour’s worth of time. Sounds like a bargain to me. I wouldn’t have done that work for that price.

Also sales tax where I live would have been over $50 for that ticket.

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/3 "2024-08-26T20:16:58Z")

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It looks pretty reasonable to me. The o nly thing I’d maybe question is the labor fee. I expect most of that is for replacing the air flap actuator (this directs the cold AC air from the AC evaporator to the correct outlet on the dash, and must work correctly to have good AC.) How long it takes to replace one depends on where it is located. Some air flap actuators are pretty easy to replace, others not so much. You are welcome to use forum search link to see what other Jeep owners have posted about that actuator. Sometimes it is called an “HVAC door actuator” too. Search link upper right this page.

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/4 "2024-08-26T20:26:36Z")

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> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#):
>
> You are welcome to use forum search link to see what other Jeep owners have posted about that actuator. Sometimes it is called an “HVAC door actuator” too. Search link upper right this pag

Why don’t you do the search and see if you can find anything worth while then post it for this person.

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**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/5 "2024-08-26T20:31:41Z")

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Yeah kiss your debit card. The guy worked pretty fast.

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/6 "2024-08-26T20:38:45Z")

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> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#):
>
> You are welcome to use forum search link to see what other Jeep owners have posted about that actuator.

I didn’t find anything useful, most search hits were from 2010 or earlier and not related to blend door actuators. What did you find?

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 8:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/7 "2024-08-26T20:47:27Z")

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> [@Nevada\_545](#):
>
> most search hits were from 2010 or earlier and not related to blend door actuators. What did you find?

I found 7 threads about Jeep HVAC actuators by entering “jeep hvac actuator”.

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 8:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/8 "2024-08-26T20:54:47Z")

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What was the remedy? How much did they pay for repairs?  
Nothing useful.

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/9 "2024-08-26T20:59:56Z")

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> [@Nevada\_545](#):
>
> Nothing useful.

A forum search is like a Google search, hit and miss. Might get lucky, might not. Pay your money and take your chances. In the way of lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness, OP would probably find your professional mechanic explanation describing all of the hvac door actuators in their Jeep. I expect that would be something helpful.

Maybe OP will describe whether or not their forum search was helpful.

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/10 "2024-08-26T21:03:25Z")

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> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#):
>
> The o nly thing I’d maybe question is the labor fee

You question the labor fee ? You have no idea where this person is and what the average rate for the area is . There can be a big difference in charges even in the same town depending on the type of shop .

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**Author:** ![Rainflurry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cab0a1/32.png) [@Rainflurry](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rainflurry)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/11 "2024-08-26T21:40:17Z")

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> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#):
>
> The only thing I’d maybe question is the labor fee

Why? A professional (@asemaster) just told the OP that it sounded like a bargain and that he wouldn’t have done the work for that price. If you’re a DIY’er, you should mention that so that the OP can tell the difference between a professional’s opinion and a DIY’er.

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/12 "2024-08-26T21:44:31Z")

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Good point. I hadn’t seen ASEM’s post before I posted mine of course. AS a diy’er I don’t have experience w/the going rate for hourly labor charges. OP, did your shop tell you how much time (in hours) the job took?

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**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/13 "2024-08-26T22:33:04Z")

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My new rule is to add $100 to what I think it will cost. My last work was flushing the brake fluid. I thought it would be. $100 but it was $220. About 9 months ago the dealer charged $100 for the other car. Not complaining either way but costs are way up. Either get your tool box out or suck it up.

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/14 "2024-08-26T22:41:23Z")

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I think there may be some minimum billing shops are starting to do. Even if it takes 15 minutes of actual work, you still get billed for the 2 hour minimum.

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**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 11:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/15 "2024-08-26T23:24:19Z")

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> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#):
>
> You are welcome to use forum search link to see what other Jeep owners have posted about that actuator.

WILL YOU PLEASE STOP REFERRING TO THAT FORUM SEARCH LINK

THE CAPITAL LETTERS ARE INTENTIONAL

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/16 "2024-08-26T23:33:40Z")

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OK , I put ( Jeep hvac actuator ) in that worthless search thing. I got 7 posts , 3 of them were made by George , none had anything to do with this thread question and they did not even help the perso who had the question .

So I second Mr. DB’s motion.

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/17 "2024-08-26T23:36:54Z")

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> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#):
>
> Even if it takes 15 minutes of actual work, you still get billed for the 2 hour minimum.

Any actual evidence of this? That’s a pretty wild claim.

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**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/18 "2024-08-27T00:04:56Z")

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You are scaring the kids. 😄

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**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 6:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/19 "2024-08-27T06:21:11Z")

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The blend door actuator not the mode door actuator as George mentioned, pays the tech 1.0 hour(s) labor, not counting the diagnostic time involved to find the issue as asemaster already mentioned…

We do not know the going hourly rate for the demographics of the OP, so no judgment on that part…

Call the dealer and ask them about the retail price of the OEM part and add about 15% mark up, could be a lot more, could be less…

I think you got out very cheap on the price of the lug nuts, plus did they just replace the damaged, that probably got stuck in there socket and had to be beat out, for free??

My sales tax would have been $46.25, that is 9.25% in TN…

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**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 6:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957/20 "2024-08-27T06:39:43Z")

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Evidentially George can not take a simple HINT… We just had a discussion about that worthless search link… And that is about all I can say about it or someone will FLAG it again… lol

I have tried looking up some of MY OWN stuff in that search link thing with NO luck…

So just like myself and others have already said many times before, George PLEASE STOP wasting peoples time by telling them to go there…  
And guess what EVERYONE knows what the little magnifying glass is used for, it’s NO secret, everybody just about has one, they are not new to the world…

> [@Rainflurry](#):
>
> If you’re a DIY’er, you should mention that so that the OP can tell the difference between a professional’s opinion and a DIY’er.

That is why I have said we need (well it would be nice anyway) some kind of badge or number of wrenches or something below our names that lets new members who are the pros and who are the DIY’ers…

[Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-an-average-price-for-the-work-that-has-been-done/195957.md?page=2)
