Mitchell 1 DIY Estimator Procedures:
Access the professional estimate information & calculate your auto repair cost.
Once you have selected a vehicle, choose the Estimator icon to begin estimating in Mitchell 1 DIY. To select a part or labor item, click on its checkbox with your mouse pointer. A check mark displays next to the item, indicated that it will be added to the worksheet. To deselect an item, click on its checkbox again.
Parts OEM Pricing & Labor Times
Once you have added parts and labor items, click the Add button to add all selected items to the worksheet. You are taken to the worksheet, where you can view worksheet totals.
View the Auto Parts Figures
Numbered Estimator Figures help you make part identification easier.
Factory Warranty Time / Mitchell 1 Labor Time
On domestic makes, for some labor items, displayed next to the Labor Time is the factory warranty time. The factory warranty time is the amount of time that the factory authorizes for performing this job under warranty.
Note that the Mitchell labor time is usually higher than the factory warranty time. This is because the factory warranty time assumes you are servicing clean parts and using specialized OEM tools and training. The Mitchell labor time is based on independent labor audits in real-world conditions. The Mitchell labor time is the time that is added to your worksheet.
Combination Time
For some labor items, a Combinations subheading appears in the labor panel. This indicates that the combination time is recommended for the labor item.
Combination time refers to the time possibly required for jobs performed with other operations. One example might be that while performing brake shoe replacement, you need to replace a leaking wheel cylinder as well. The Combination Time gives you the time required to replace the wheel cylinder with the shoes already removed.
You add combination items to your estimate the same way you add any other labor item; simply click on the item and it will be added to your Estimator Worksheet.
Skill Level Factory Warranty Time / Mitchell 1 Labor Time
Labor items display the mechanical skill level for the procedure in the far right column under the heading "SL." Skill levels are classified as follows:
- A = Highly Skilled
- B = Skilled
- C = Semi-Skilled
- D = Low Skilled
Additional Labor Time
For some labor items, an Additional Time subheading appears in the labor panel. This indicates that additional time is recommended for the labor item.
Additional time refers to labor time that should be added to your estimate to account for additional work that needs to be performed. Notice that the mechanic skill level is also indicated. Like the standard labor time titles, the factory warranty time (domestic vehicles only) is displayed along with the Mitchell labor time.
As an example of a situation where additional time should be charged, if other systems such as A/C, air pump, and power steering interfere when replacing an alternator, additional labor time should be charged.
The basic calculation is as follows:
Labor Time + Additional Labor Time + Combination Time = Total Labor Time Total Labor Time x Your Labor Rate = Labor Estimate.
You add additional items to your estimate the same way you add any other labor item; simply click on the item's checkbox and it will be added to your Estimator Worksheet.
