Roof Rack for 2003 Vue

[Doug Lumpkin]

Can this be installed by the end user? My local dealer wants about $350
total to install a $150 part. Not sure I understand the issue...
I've read a few items on the newsgroup but I don't see how this can be that
difficult. What exactly is the process and how long is this going to take
if I do it myself?
Any special tools I will need, and any other advice...

Thanks all!

 

[Kevin Miller]

That's overcharged... it takes a little over an hour and our store
charges $240 total...

 

[Ed Szymanski]

Can this be installed by the end user? My local dealer wants about $350
total to install a $150 part. Not sure I understand the issue...
I've read a few items on the newsgroup but I don't see how this can be that
difficult. What exactly is the process and how long is this going to take
if I do it myself?
Any special tools I will need, and any other advice...

Thanks all!

I installed the roof rack myself but in the process stripped the head
of one of the torx screws that needed to be removed. These torx screws
(T25, if I remember correctly) are set in the roof with Locktite and
do not come out easily. Once the head is stripped, it can be a major
project to get the screw out. If you are going to attempt it yourself,
get the best quality torx bit you can find and get on a step ladder so
you can work on it carefully. There are 10 screws that should be
removed according to the instructions. You really only need to remove
4, if you are sure where you want the cross bars to be installed. That
would lessen the chance of stripping them out. The dealer was good
enough to remove the screw I stripped under warrantee. Thank goodness
for Saturn's great customer service.

 

[Doug Lumpkin]

Ha! Was quite able to do this myself.
http://saturnaccessories.com/ for $130 and it came with clear instructions
and everything I needed to get the project done (minus basic tools and a
Torx bit).
Also at a very slow cautious pace I was able to complete the install in
under 45 minutes, so I still can't figure out how the dealer can charge $200
in labor. Assuming they can do it a bit faster than I can, that works out
to about $400 an hour. Them there is lawyer prices...

No problem with getting the screws removed at all either, just used a drill
with a torx bit, and a ladder to get a good angle on it.

Thanks all for the encouragement to do it myself!