Automotive
How Long Does It Take to Detail a Car Exterior?
A professional exterior car detail takes 2–5 hours, depending on vehicle size, paint condition, and the level of service. A basic wash and wax takes about 2 hours, while a full paint correction can take 8+ hours.
How Long Does It Take to Fix a Flat Tire?
15–45 minutes depending on the method. Changing to a spare tire takes 15–30 minutes roadside, while a plug repair at a tire shop typically takes 30–45 minutes.
How Long Does It Take to Replace a Car Starter?
Replacing a car starter takes 1–4 hours. Easy-to-access starters on top of the engine take 1–2 hours, while starters buried under the intake manifold or other components can take 3–4 hours.
How Long Does It Take to Buff Out a Scratch?
15–60 minutes per panel for a DIY buff. Light clear coat scratches take 15–20 minutes, while deeper scratches requiring compound and polish take 45–60 minutes per panel.
How Long Does It Take to Fix a Dent?
30 minutes–3 days depending on severity and repair method. Small dents fixed with paintless dent repair (PDR) take 30–90 minutes. Larger dents requiring body work take 1–3 days.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Car Painted?
2–7 days for a full car paint job. A budget single-stage job takes 2–3 days, a mid-range base/clear coat takes 3–5 days, and a high-end show-quality paint job takes 1–3 weeks.
How Long Does a Car Inspection Take?
A standard state vehicle inspection takes 15–45 minutes. Emissions-only tests take 15–20 minutes, while comprehensive safety-plus-emissions inspections take 30–45 minutes.
How Long Does a Smog Check Take?
20–30 minutes at a certified testing station. The actual emissions test runs about 10–15 minutes, with the rest spent on paperwork and visual inspection.
How Long Does It Take to Fix a Head Gasket?
6–18 hours of labor depending on the engine type. Inline 4-cylinder engines take 6–10 hours, V6 and V8 engines take 10–18 hours. Most shops complete the job in 2–3 days.
How Long Does It Take to Rebuild an Engine?
15–40 hours of labor for a full engine rebuild. A 4-cylinder takes 15–20 hours, a V6 takes 20–30 hours, and a V8 takes 25–40 hours. Most shops complete the job in 1–3 weeks.
How Long Does It Take to Replace an Alternator?
1–3 hours at a mechanic shop. DIY takes 2–4 hours depending on the vehicle. Some cars with buried alternators can take 4–6 hours.
How Long Does It Take to Replace a Timing Belt?
3–8 hours of labor at a professional shop. Most 4-cylinder engines take 3–5 hours, V6 engines take 5–7 hours, and some transverse-mounted V6s or boxers can take up to 8 hours.
How Long Does It Take to Replace a Transmission?
3–5 days at a shop for a full replacement. A transmission rebuild takes 3–5 days as well. Straightforward swaps on common vehicles can sometimes be completed in 1–2 days.
How Long Does It Take to Replace Shocks and Struts?
2–4 hours to replace all four shocks and struts at a professional shop. A single axle (front or rear) takes 1–2 hours. DIY jobs take 3–6 hours total.
How Long Does It Take to Replace Spark Plugs?
30–60 minutes for most 4-cylinder cars. V6 and V8 engines take 1–3 hours due to harder-to-reach plugs, especially on transverse-mounted V6 engines.
How Long Does It Take to Tint Car Windows?
1–3 hours for professional installation. Curing takes 2–5 days (up to 2 weeks in cold weather).
How Long Does It Take to Fix a Bumper?
1–5 days for most bumper repairs. Minor scratches and scuffs take a few hours, dent repair with repainting takes 1–3 days, and full bumper replacement typically requires 3–5 days.
How Long Does It Take to Fix an AC Compressor?
3–6 hours for a car AC compressor replacement. Home AC compressor replacement takes 4–8 hours. A simple refrigerant recharge takes 30–60 minutes.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Salvage Title?
1–6 weeks depending on your state and whether you're obtaining a salvage or rebuilt title. The DMV inspection and paperwork typically take 1–2 weeks, while the full process from salvage to rebuilt title takes 3–6 weeks.
How Long Does It Take to Replace a Catalytic Converter?
1–3 hours for a direct-fit catalytic converter replacement at a shop. Universal converters requiring custom welding take 2–4 hours due to fabrication work.