SureTrack Users General Discussion

[liljoe]

Ya know Greasy, it looks as though you could just put the clamps on to start with and not unbolt the tensioner. I have ran into this type of tensioner on a Toyota or Nissan and sure could have used this idea. Why didn't you think of this a couple years ago? hehehe

[Witsend]

I just verified that the 2016 Tesla does in fact have an OBD II connector however it is a dummy plug in order to satisfy federal laws. In Alaska, Tesla sends a tech up a couple times a year to address minor stuff but if any major repairs are needed we need to ship the car to Seattle for work.
Reply With Quote

A Tesla in Alaska ? Is it still cold enough up there that you have Tesla-cles hanging off them?

[Crossland Auto]

Another Cadillac "F" job in the labor dept.

Hard to believe there were no questions or tips transferred from the old system to the new about this.

'03 CTS 3.2L Water pump pays 3.0 hours. Seems legitimate for what you have to do to remove Timing Cover, remove 3 bolts. Then put back together. No need to touch timing belt. Timing Belt labor pays 2.4 hours with the option of replacing Water Pump addition of .6. Total of 3.1 hours. So, you get .1 hours to remove, perform preliminary set up procedure, adjustment procedure, and final tensioning procedure.

I did not see it until after the old man quoted the job.

Sorry, NO lube applied for this one.

X

[Crusty]

Open Source documents-Southern Illinois

This site has many excellent PDF's available for download using "Open-Source" distribution.

Many times simply understanding systems leads to correct diagnosis instead of "hand holding" blindly following "factory" diagnostics, which, many times leads us into a repeating loop of inconclusiveness.

http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/auto_pres/

University of Southern Illinois at Carbondale.
THANK YOU Southern Illinois-!!!

[Nick_Taylor]

Hard to believe there were no questions or tips transferred from the old system to the new about this.

'03 CTS 3.2L Water pump pays 3.0 hours. Seems legitimate for what you have to do to remove Timing Cover, remove 3 bolts. Then put back together. No need to touch timing belt. Timing Belt labor pays 2.4 hours with the option of replacing Water Pump addition of .6. Total of 3.1 hours. So, you get .1 hours to remove, perform preliminary set up procedure, adjustment procedure, and final tensioning procedure.

I did not see it until after the old man quoted the job.

Sorry, NO lube applied for this one.

X

All tips and questions posted in the old product are in the new one. They are attached to the data elements from the old style articles so they will show up in ProDemand or ShopKey Pro attached to the same data elements. There are some issues when users referenced figure numbers or we linked to other content as these data elements may not be in the same order.

[Witsend]

I did not see it until after the old man quoted the job.

Sorry, NO lube applied for this one.

I had done a T belt and water pump on a 3.2L 03 CTS and one on a 99 Catera. From what I remember, it's a Sucky set up and they have more than one tension er and requires some BS GM special tool kit , and I just paid a local GM Cadillac tech $50 each time for a half hour it took for him to set the t belt tension er pulleys correctly with the special tools. That CTS 3.2 is a SAAB engine and was also used in Saturn Vue. I bought new plastic valve covers w gaskets and a crankcase breather part from a Saturn dealer for a friend's CTS because Saturn was closing it's doors and saved a lot of money versus going through Cadillac.
If you don't have the special tool, that you will likely never use again if you bought it , then you basically would be SAABataging an otherwise nice day

[Crossland Auto]

All tips and questions posted in the old product are in the new one. They are attached to the data elements from the old style articles so they will show up in ProDemand or ShopKey Pro attached to the same data elements. There are some issues when users referenced figure numbers or we linked to other content as these data elements may not be in the same order.

Just thought someone would have posted a question about the B.S. labor times when the old system was still around. It is a legitimate issue. I know how it works: can only list factory data, etc. Just was upset at the time due to the feeling of being raped to this extent.

X

[Crossland Auto]

I had done a T belt and water pump on a 3.2L 03 CTS and one on a 99 Catera. From what I remember, it's a Sucky set up and they have more than one tensioner and requires some BS GM special tool kit , and I just paid a local GM Cadillac tech $50 each time for a half hour it took for him to set the t belt tensioner pulleys correctly. That CTS 3.2 is a SAAB engine and was also used in Saturn Vue. I bought new plastic valve covers w gaskets and a crankcase breather part from a Saturn dealer for a friend's CTS because Saturn was closing it's doors and saved a lot of money versus going through Cadillac.
If you don't have the special tool, that you will likely never use again if you bought it , then you basically would be SAABataging an otherwise nice day

I have the kit. (Believe it or not) Was something like $88.00 at O'Reilly for Obsolete Tool Company #6687. Used it 4 or 5 times. Just had been a while. Now it is $140.00.

The Labor times for Saturn L300 have been legit. Easy work. This Caddy .2 version can only piss off a Mechanic. Took me 3 hours to remove timing cover. The Serpentine belt tensioner alone with the inverted Torx heads within 1/4 inch of space between the lower radiator hose tube left me with only using an open end wrench. 1 tick at a time.

Yes, it is Saab. Obsolete Tool lists this kit to work for '02-'03 3.2L CTS. ('02 is not an option in Mitchell.) '97-'01 3.0L Caterra. '01-'07 3.0L L300 and LW300. '96-'03 Saab 9.5.

Gotta love how it works. Initial removal and set up of belt requires 4 pieces of tool kit. Remove said pieces, roll the Engine over. Lock the crank to water pump with one piece. Use piece number 5 to check timing. If out, use piece 6 to adjust repeatedly while removing Crank timing tool and rolling over and adjusting the eccentrics. Until everything is correct.

Sorry if I was a bit upset that the car came in with a leaking Water Pump with 96K on the odo. Timing Belt is recommended at 100K. The up sale cost me a bit for the .1 hours that is listed.

X

[Nick_Taylor]

Just thought someone would have posted a question about the B.S. labor times when the old system was still around. It is a legitimate issue. I know how it works: can only list factory data, etc. Just was upset at the time due to the feeling of being raped to this extent.

X

What BS labor times are you talking about? The labor times are developed based on the OEM procedures. If you have a problem with a labor time, you should let us know. In the ProDemand or ShopKey Pro program there is a feedback button in the lower right of the screen where you can submit it.

The labor times are the same in all of our products.

[Glide]

When I had Cadillac training on the Caterra we were told that this is a Opel engine,although Saab did use it as well.On the two day course,we spent the first day on introduction and completely disassembling and reassembling the engines.The second day was completely spent on timing them,correct order for tightening the pulleys and what happens if you screw it up.
Timing these is definitely a SOB of a job,and labour times as in many other jobs does not reflect reality.

[Crusty]

Labour time GUIDES are guides, not gods.
If anyone can forsee the future to know which bolt or fitting will require further attention due to seizing, dirty or rusted threads, then I suggest they go work on the stock market.
Factory times are pie-in-the-sky minimums created by bean counters to control warranty expenses. Even working in dealerships on one carline where one becomes familiar with which wrench to grab for which fastener, it isn't often people can hit those trimmed warranty times.
I understand why they state to use a plastic scraper but in the real world, a plastic scraper only works on an engine that has been assembled, then not run for more than 5 minutes, then disassembled before the gaskets have time to get hard and stuck.
Also ALL the "special tools" and ALL the necessary parts and sealers and thread lockers are immediately at hand, not more than 4 steps away. NEW fasteners, even those which are not TTY, which do not require cleaning are also laid out on the bench. Factory procedures rarely state that a tap or thread chaser should be run down the holes to clear out the previously properly used thread lockers. Unless they're cleaned out, the proper fastener torque is pretty hard to ensure.
There is a difference between an "estimate" and a "quote".
If someone wants an "estimate" I'll shoot a wee bit high, then if things go well and smoothly, I can wiggle down a bit and not charge the full 'GUestimated" price. If THEIR vehicle presents problems, then I can bill accordingly.
If someone wants a "QUOTE" then I build in all the possible variables, and it won't be a penny more. It also won't be a penny less either.
Labour time guides are guides only.

[Witsend]

Changing a crankshaft sensor on a 2004 Lincoln Navigator including component test , book time including component test pays .7, fine and dandy if the vehicle didn't need the serpentine belt removed and the compressor removed or pulled away from the block an inch or so , so you can actually pull the crank sensor out of the hole enough to get it out! Funny if it's not me , but unfortunately it was me getting burned by the book today

[Witsend]

Trapped crankshaft sensor .7 WTF

[greasybob]

Labor times do not and never will account for Midwest rust on 12 year old vehicle. Add accordingly. The crank sensor removal on shopkey does call for sliding the compressor down an inch. Working on a Ford is always like an episode of "Drunk Engineering".

[dodge90]

DRUNK???? more like STONNED. I always said " Take the guys that build these cars and put them in the real world to fix them and things would change fast." 1hr. labor to change out a head light?? Most labor times could be hit, bet, or at least come close but when working on a rusted out hunk of so called metal(rust) we do need to add that extra labor time