Alright. So here's the situation.

I'm stuck in Colorado with a torn azz boot on my '97 Subaru Impreza, 2.2, AT. I need to leave tomorrow at some point to be back in Texas by this Friday.

I believe the damage occured on the ride up, as I first began to notice a slightly off burnt smell immediately after starting up the car from a warm engine state. I looked and found that the boot was torn and had gotten grease all over the engine, causing the smell. Disgusting, but at least informative.

I've probably put about 400-700 miles on the car since the boot tore.

So the Subaru dealership wants approximately $190 to reinstall the boot, and they can get it done tomorrow for me.

So here's the questions. . .

Is this too much? They quote 2 hours for the repair, but I feel like a shop should be able to do it faster.
If I do the Dealership option, should I have them replace the entire axle? It hasn't been THAT long since the boot tore.
Can I apply a temporary fix (split boot) to get me back home? What work is involved with installing a split boot correctly?
Can I do this myself, in a parking lot of an auto store, with their tools, no prior CV experience (have done brakes, radiator, alternator, etc.), without leaving me in a rolling deathtrap, in about three hours?
Anyone in the Loveland/Denver area that can help me do this repair, or can recommend an excellent shop to have it done at?


Any help would be appreciated. In particular, answers posted before I have to actually make the decision would be most useful.

May the Subaru be With You. . .

SuperBonBon

Forgot to mention. . .

The boot that is ripped is the one nearest the engine, not the one nearest the tire. The dealership told me that was referred to as a DOJ boot, and searching here led me to believe that it and the CV are the same thing. If not, please let me know.

Thanks,

SBB

i actualy did that exact rapair on a Subaru today(my 1st time)in my auto class...the 1st one took me about 2.5hrs sense i never done it before and the instructor was teaching me how to do it. the second one i did by myself and took me only 35min.
i looked in the subaru service manual and it said it takes .8 of an hour(about 40min) to put in a new axle(witch whould run you $200 from subaru, or $50 from autozone/checker after the core charge).
so may i sugest going to a diff. shop and telling them that you want a new axle put in and you will seply them w/ the part and then tell them you will only pay for an hour of labor becoue thats all it takes( and that is also what it said in the Subaru Manual)...
you can do it in the parking lot if you knew exactly what you where doing, but sense you never done it before i seriously doubt it that you can do it there....

hope i helped