What should this actually cost?

Price ranges pulled from published industry cost data, not vibes. Every number is sourced so you can check it yourself before you sign a quote.

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Head Gasket Replacement Cost: Shop Prices by Model

Head gasket replacement cost runs roughly $1,000 to $6,000 depending on the engine and how much damage the overheating already did. RepairPal puts the national average at $2,543 to $3,337, while Car Talk reports a wider real world span of $2,000 to $6,000. The gasket itself is cheap: almost the entire bill is labor and machine work.

Low
$1,000
Typical
$2,800
High
$6,000

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$122–$2,000
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Alternator Replacement Cost: What Drivers Actually Pay Alternator replacement costs $400 to $900 for most cars, including parts and labor. Trucks and luxury models can reach $1,500, and a remanufactured unit lowers the price.
$400–$1,500
Brake Job Cost: Pads, Rotors, and Full Axle Pricing Pads and rotors cost $250 to $900 per axle, or $500 to $1,800 for all four wheels. Pads only run $100 to $450 per axle, and an average mechanic job is $534 to $678 (Fixd).
$250–$1,800
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$500–$2,000
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$250–$2,600
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$500–$3,000
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$400–$2,200
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$500–$3,500
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$400–$1,700
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