TOYOTA engine STARTER motor , question ?

[Super_GREG]

my dad just paid, $600. (USA), for a new starter and a new timing belt, on his 2004 toyota camry. so, how bad was he ripped off.?
the $600 was for all parts and labor. in the usa. what should he have paid as a fair price for all of that ?

 

[gojuryu]

That would equate to around £400 in UK, which is what you would pay a dealership for a similar job over here.
A new belt will cost about £ 30/40 a new tensioner about £18 and a starter £45 to £90 depending on model. So that's an average of say £125 (`$175) for parts.
It's about 5 hours work for which I charge $60 an hour, bringing your total to $475 if I'd have done the job over here.
These jobs are not that hard to do so if you think your getting ripped off all the time, buy some tools and a manual and try it yourself.
I will make one point though. I fit very few starter motors these days most times all that's needed is to disconnect the connections, clean them all and after smearing on a little vaseline, re connecting them

 

[thebax2006]

As long as they replaced the pulleys with the timing belt that sounds like a good deal. You should start thinking how good a deal did he get, not how bad did the mechanic screw my old man. Thinking your way will make you paranoid every time you need your car worked on and people like that always pick the wrong person to work on their ride!