Q&A

 Master

First, why would you take your car to a crappy shop? Do you choose the worst doctor if you need one? ; )
Second, the cost of the original water pump is $ 240. Can you imagine the quality of the part they want to sell you for $85?
Third, there is a special tool involved to remove the pump, otherwise they need to re-time the balancer shaft.
Here is the note from the repair manual: Important: The water pump holding tool supports the sprocket and chain during water pump service. The tool must be used or the balance shaft must be re-timed.
Do you think a crappy shop will have the tool and/or knows how to retime the balancer shaft?
Fourth, The labor time to replace the pump is 2.5 Hrs. If your Saturn dealership charges $80/hour that's $ 200 for labor, plus $240 for the pump, plus $ 20 for the DexCool coolant your total is around $460. So you can have a professional, dealership level service with ORIGINAL PART, with their warranty for about $35 more than what a crappy shop was going to charge you.
So what's the deal??
Don't forget: You get what you pay for! Even in the automotive repair business...

Zee