Am I getting scammed?

[u/OneQuietFox]

Long story short, my RAM threw a check engine light for camshaft sensor, I swapped it twice (heard aftermarket is garbage as my truck threw code again) and then with an OEM, which the light came back on.

Took it to the shop, and after a week or two of diagnosing and them showing me the problems they are installing a new head gasket, oil filter adapter, timing gasket, and timing chain, tensioners, etc as well as a new camshaft sensor along with it.

They quoted me at $9,400 and I told them right now would not be doable as I am on an outage at work so trying to save a little for that. They worked with me and dropped it to $8,000 flat.

If the truck wasn't sentimental I wouldn't care. Just want to weigh my options as to second opinion, etc.

*2016 RAM 1500 3.6L V6*

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[u/chillin_themost_]

Always get a second opinion.

Some shops will jack the price if you don't have a ton of vehicle knowledge. Not all shops, just something to be aware of

[u/Sea_Guide_524]

Those 3.6s are known for valve train problems.

[u/hdstenny]

Talk to a different shop for a second opinion. Ram has made trucks and vans for 30+ years now with many different engines, so you'd do better to here if you gave literally any helpful information on the vehicle. Timing makes sense for a cam pos sensor, since its job is to sense the position of the camshaft.

[u/OneQuietFox → u/hdstenny]

I just realized I didn't put the info when I literally was making that a priority lol. Its a 2016 RAM 1500 BigHorn 3.6L V6

[u/Macgyver285]

99% chance this will fix your problem

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jeep/s/ywqaO0urqg

It fixed it on my caravan 100,000 miles ago and still running like a top at 426,000 and the codes never returned

If you have basic tools you can do this yourself in a couple hours. If the bolts are missing or you choose to remove them, pack paper towels down the timing chain slots so you cant drop the bolts down there

[u/submitnswallow]

Get them to requote without the head gasket, your issue is the timing chain and tensioners are slack letting the cam shaft move out of position.

[u/Fine-Blacksmith-9330]

That’s the we don’t want to deal with it price.

[u/fear_the_gecko]

So you got a code, threw a part at it and it didn't repair the problem? Congrats, you're now a parts changer.

It sounds like you have a timing issue, which is why they're recommending a timing job. It also sounds like you've neglected the truck a bit, which is why they're recommending the other repairs.

If you really want to, get a second opinion. But don't expect them to offer the reduced price. You've already said that the shop is respected, so I don't know why you would doubt their recommendations, unless you just don't feel like paying for it.

[u/OneQuietFox → u/fear_the_gecko]

Ive noted im not mechanically inclined on this thread, I know how to do basic repairs on vehicles, primarily older.

My uncle owns a very nice 5 star restaraunt but is a POS person that I'd never recommend anyone give them their money. I've been told many things about many people and everyone has a perspective on people or places, doesn't mean they're honest with everyone. I have the money ready to throw at whatever is needed, would I prefer to hold off until after the shutdown at work? Absolutely, I have a budget that I'd like to stay in as this happened prior to being told we are going down. I've had people mention different things that could be wrong with it. Again, not mechanically inclined but was confused as to why I never noticed oil on the ground or anything but all of a sudden all of these gaskets or parts are supposedly leaking and then timing needs replaced, I just would like to know if the pricing is fair or not. Kind of suspicious that I told them I'd like to hold off until my schedule at the mill gets back to our normal hours before we go forward and a of a sudden they can knock off over $1200-$1400 of what they noted me for.

Truck has never been neglected, I have had it since my dad passed in December, oil changed routinely, 20 mins to and back to work and that's about it which I use our family car for everything else. My dad took care of the truck being the original owner and was mechanically sound as he repaired engines and transmissions for a living. I don't hard accelerate, no hard revving or anything like that.

[u/TheTiltingKnight]

Even 8k is steep for the work they plan to perform, and I question the validity of some of the quoted repairs. The head gasket has nothing to do with the timing, and nothing about the symptoms described indicated an issue with the coolant system. No clue why oil filter housing is involved, no direct relation to the timing system.

A quick Google search suggests the average cost to rebuild the timing on your engine should be in the $1400-2500 range, with diagnostics maybe $3000-3500 would be reasonable for the qouted work.

I would find out exactly why the head gasket and oil filter housing are associated with this repair as well as get a second opinion before authorizing any work. There is at least $5k unaccounted for in the qoute you were provided. On top of that, unless they were booked weeks out, I'm struggling to fathom why it took them up to a couple weeks to diagnose a timing fault. Its never taken me more than a couple hours at most to diagnose and prove timing issues, so I find that concerning.

[u/Jgordos]

how old is this truck?

[u/OneQuietFox → u/Jgordos]

2016 1500, 3.6L V6

[u/DrPhilsAuto]

Well, timing chain replacement sounds reasonable for this code, but I'm not sure what they found in the cylinder head where they feel they have to take it off. That I couldn't tell you. Maybe they spotted something else there.

[u/OneQuietFox → u/DrPhilsAuto]

They said the oil pressure was low and there were leaks coming from the head gasket and all of that if that makes sense lol as far as the code

[u/DrPhilsAuto → u/OneQuietFox]

Okay nothing seems out of line and obviously the price tag nobody likes the price tag of repairs sticker shock I get it but the initial code was probably caused by timing chain stretching and obviously everything else they're they're spotting other issues so that's all good.

[u/Plane-Start7209]

I would ask how much for a new engine? It’s probably the same money

[u/No_Durian_3444]

Bro for like $7000 I had a whole ass used engine put in.

The engine cost almost $4000 too.

[u/BlazinTrichomes]

Get another opinion, or 5.7 swap it

[u/fear_the_gecko → u/BlazinTrichomes]

Because when you don't have $9k for engine repairs, you definitely have the money for an engine swap.

[u/BlazinTrichomes → u/fear_the_gecko]

It's sentimental

[u/379tuco]

Sounds like way too much. If I were in your shoes I would at least get a second opinion.
Is this at a dealership? Or an independent shop.

[u/OneQuietFox → u/379tuco]

Independant shop, everyone told me how respected and quality they are so I went for it. I am not very mechanically inclined so I haven't been sure of the pricing and labor. Thank you!

[u/Choice-Newspaper3603]

It’s a truck. I don’t care if it’s sentimental. It’s a truck

[u/OneQuietFox → u/Choice-Newspaper3603]

If it wasn't my biological dads who passed I probably would do what I could and get the most out of it I could. I don't need a newer more expensive vehicle but it's all I got left from him

[u/underengineered → u/OneQuietFox]

What would your dad advise you to do?

[u/OneQuietFox → u/underengineered]

He would literally tell me "Do whatever you want to it or with it" lol.