$2000 for a water pump, on a Chrysler 300 with 40,000km on the clock - and no offer of assistance. (And they wonder why the brand is in trouble.)

Un-edited and unsolicited e-mail from the owner of this unfortunate car below.

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Hey John,

Great show btw, refreshing to see some legitimate intelligence with properly substantiated explanations. long may it continue.

Put my car in for a service check earlier this week, a service check because it has been a year and it needs to be done, not for the mileage.

Service company came back and reported a "noisy water pump". Well, the car is 5 years old, it is low mileage at 40k kilometers, but, I guess the time has come.

So please quote me. . . . ok, are we seated and comfortable, let the fun begin. Just over $2,000, installed.

It seemed a generous amount for what is a relatively simple pump. In reality, it will just be a worn bearing, but of course you cant replace that, you need to replace the whole assembly. I guess this is supposed to justify the price, because a couple of ball bearings would be a bit of a stretch at $2k.

Anyway, I will get the work done, but here's the grind. If I work with approximations (I don't have a detailed quote), then 4 hours labour should be enough to do the work, (half a day) at $150 an hour there goes $600, and I can work with that but that means the water pump must be approx. $1,400. This is a sticking point.

On that basis it reminded me of an earlier occasion, with a previous model of the same car, where the fuel pump became a problem. Parts only, for the fuel pump in Australia, $1257, tax paid, plus installation. On that occasion, I didn't get the work done, so no issue.

However, thinking that sounded like a lot for a fuel pump, went to the manufacturer spare parts site in USA, where that part could be purchased for $327 US, plus shipping. You would still be lumbered with installation, but its not that difficult for an auto workshop. Should be 2 hrs labour tops, the fuel pump lives under the rear seat.

Decided to run the same routine for the water pump, and, yes it is available, ex stock from the manufacturer site and it even has a special discount price applicable right now, $210, plus shipping, reduced from $237. The pump is complete, including gasket kit, bolts, studs, ready to install.

Now I understand companies cannot be benevolent societies, and even if I accept that dealers cant buy in their spare parts at their regular full discount prices, it is still a really big margin at the full list price, to get from US$210 (AU$280), to AU$1400 GST inc (AUD$1360 net). (looks like about 400% margin to me, at the net price), although shipping, and holding the shelf stock needs to be accounted for. I guess the Australian life style is a bit more plush than I had understood. Then again, their head office is in Melbourne, for which we will all pay dearly now, and for years ahead. FCA, Chrysler, 300.

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised. More surprising is the fact that the water pump failed at 40,000 kilometers (24,000 miles), and you cant just replace the bearings. Its the way of the world, the accountants rule.

Issues like these will surely become a future sticking point for service departments, when EVs eventually become a viable alternative. Managing that transition will be a truly exciting experience for support managers. Issues like these will surely hasten that transition.