Main headlamp is burned out. Owner's manual says to take it to a local dealer...which we do not have around. Regular repair shop quoted 1.8 hours to fix this and the lam itself is only $18!

It depends on the gasket , a valve cover gasket would be less then an oil pan gasket ! Both valve cover gaskets $150- $ 190 , Intake manifold gasket $ 547 - $698 , Head gaskets $1,000 - $ 1,200 oil pan gasket $ 211 - $ 269 These are just estimates , not all repair shops charge the same . Here in Pennsylvanian local shops like pep boys charge $115.00 per hour , AAMCO does general repairs too , an they charge $ 95.00 per hour . I found the local Chevy dealer to be one of the cheapest around at $86.00 per hour ! It just depends on where you live ! you have to check around , Do let them bully you either , Ask what they charge to do you particular gasket an if they give you the run around tell them you'll try someplace else ! They always say well we will need to check it out first ! good luck hope this helps an may god bless you !!!!!!

We don't know your level of expertise

I would say, never go to a dealer & only
to a repair shop, if you can't do ALL your
own work

I got this info. from automd.com,it says dealer and local shop take 1.3 hours and the do it yourself takes 1.7 hours, prices are 305.00 dealer,149.92 for local shop and 58.16 for the do it your self,these prices are quoted from my zip code.Yours may be different.

You can not buy just the covers. They come as complete assemblies as the dealer quoted you. What you can do is call around your area to find a shop that offer's headlamp restorations.

Basically they will sand all the degraded material off of the lenses, polish them, and then reseal them. I do them all the time with fantastic results.

I can give you some instruction on how to do this yourself if you are interested or you can check out my how to tip.

Headlamp restorations

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

Since labor rates and menu price items vary from state to state or town to town even, you best bet is to call three or four of you local repair shops for phone quotes. I would call for dealer quote, a national franchise quote (Goodyear / Firestone / etc.), and a couple of local independent shops. You should then have a good idea of the range of prices that are out there. I wouldn't necessarily go with the most expensive nor would I go with the least expensive but I would make sure they are all quoting you the same spark plugs (I'm pretty sure they are NGK plugs). If you do not have a regular shop ask the shops you call what they offer for warranties, and amenities (rental cars, pick up/drop off services, free coffee, clean waiting area, etc.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

This is what dealers do, they fix the one problem and knowingly leave the other for another profit. Had they fixed this at the time of the repair, they would have had to charge you less, for being there already. This is how a dealer makes their big profits. I would take my car to a dealer like you selected, then take that knowledge to my local auto repair shop, then see how much he would charge, I will bet my money, your local shop will charge you 2/3rds less.

2005 Mazda 3 comes with 2 styles of headlamps.

One is the standard halogen bulb, which is relatively easy to replace...just disconnect the socket from the back of the healamp assembly, pull the bulb out and disconnect the bulb from the wire connector - reverse order to install.

The other type is the discharge headlamp system. (Also called "Euro-style") This system requires removal of the bumper facia and bumper assembly so the headlamp assembly can be removed. Once the headlamp assembly is removed, then it can be disassembled to access the bulb. This system is also extremely high voltage and care must be taken to prevent electrical shock.

I doubt its a bad oil pump, have it diagnosed at a shop that does a lot of Ford repairs or the dealer. If it needs a pump, it needs more than a pump. 2 quarts is very low, dangerous low.

This can be accessed by removing transmission and flywheel. Just call a dealer or repair shop for a quote. Should be about 5 to 6 hours labor and 100.00 parts.

Sending unit for the fuel gauge is rarely available these days alone. Most require purchase as a unit (fuel pump and sending unit combo). It has become increasingly difficult to get around this.

To save the most money you can purchase the part yourself. You'll have to find a repair shop that allows you to supply your own parts. Some won't allow it as it cuts into the profit (usually claiming no gurantee of work if they don't supply the part). I know this being a technician in dealerships anda private shop owner for many years.

Compare prices between multiple part suppliers in your area (such as NAPA, Autozone, O'Rilley, Advance Auto, etc.). You can call around or check their prices online. Be sure to compare warranties.

Ask each prospective garage 1) shop hourly rate, and 2) flat rate for the job on your particular vehicle. Each and every job on a vehicle will be listed in the flat rate manual, broken into 1/10th hour increments with adjustemnts for special equipment, such as engine, power steering, air conditioning, etc. Multiply the shop rate x flat rate for your job. Compare this between shops. There will be a slight difference in the flat rate (time allowed) amount depending on if the shop uses a flat rate manual produced by Mitchell's, Motor's, or Chilton's (usually one of these three). Of course a lot of these have now gone to a computerized system rather than books, but the end result is the same - just faster & more convenient.

If your estimates vary quite a lot in time charged then something's wrong! While rates vary between these books it is very little.

This can all require a lot of work on your part. My suggestion is to find a local independent shop with reasonable rates that friends / co-workers recommend. Do NOT take it to a dealer. I worked for them too many years to recommend that!