Am I getting screwed by the mechanic?

So I took the car in to the Toyota dealer because I didn't know where the hell else to take it. Yes, I know the dealer is more expensive.

They said it would cost 170 bucks to figure out what the hell the problem is, figure out what the hell other things are wrong with it, and change the oil.

They called me back a few minutes ago, and said the problem was with the starter. They also said the timing chain tensioner is leaking oil, and the transmission pan gasket is leaking transmission fluid.

The starter will run $490, the timing chain tensioner will run $208, and the transmission pan gasket will run $225. This plus the $170 I already put into it will run $1,093.

So am I getting totally screwed?

Also, does all this shit need to be fixed today, or can some of it wait?

Thanks.

:bounce:

:thumbsup:

...but if the timing chain goes bad, that could lead to much more costly repairs.

What model Toyota is it?

:P

as that's what it has. Don't know how that would be leaking oil. It's not an internal part, nor do I think it's part of one. Like saying the radiator fan is leaking oil.

Second opinion. Stat.

and he thought they were trying to rook me but good. He said that he'd do all that stuff for half the price they were going to charge.

I'm probably going up there this weekend, so I'll have him look at it and see what he thinks.

Hope he saves you some good money.

I thought that was pretty much a spring thingy?
Maybe 'timing belt tensioner leaking spring water'?
I'd probably believe that.
:rofl:

:woohoo:

:hi:

:hug:

:rofl:

The tensioner doesn't connect to the oil to leak. If you haven't noticed any oil/transmission fluid puddling under your car where it's parked, I doubt you have a leak.

is that there's a slow oil leak somewhere in the system, *and* a couple weeks ago the transmission was acting flaky (but that was after the car was in a deep puddle for a few hours).

But yeah, I think they're trying to take me. :P

Oh yeah, and I just got off the phone with the mechanic and he was like, "Does that thing HAVE a chain?" :P

His car was due its timing belt service, and the Renault dealer quoted £1000 ($2000) for the service. He eventually found an independent dealer who would do it for a mere £700.

:P

a Gauloise hanging from his mouth and a contemptuous look on his face.

Je suis desole, M'sieu... :D

Please, no sex treads.

also regarding the $170 to check things:

that's at least 2 hours labor.

if the guy is checking, tearing things apart then he doesn't have to do that to fix them, thus the labor on fixing them should be less as they are, so to speak, opened.

on the other hand, finding a leak in the transmission pan, that doesn't take long and how long to test if a starter is bad? it sounds like all visual inspections (except for the starter).

$170 is too much for visual inspections or minimal effort and then visual.

if he argues that it was a lot of effort, then that should reduce the labor on the actual repairs.

i think some mechanics take advantage if they think people don't know the difference.

there's your answer

$250 to put a new one in mine. You gotta change the belt at least every 100,000 miles or it could break just when you're making that left turn in front of the oncoming bus. Unlike Hondas, Toyota broken belts won't lunch the whole engine, but you still don't want to go through that. Tensioners I don't know from, but the dealer here seems to but a bit more rapacious than the average Toyota dealer. Get a second opinion and a fair price on belt replacement. If it is suggested that you replace the water pump at the same time, they are not ripping you off-- the water pump is right down in that area, and if you need one next month you will pay at least $150 bucks extra to get down there again, so it's a good idea to do both at the same time.

What's with the starter? Does the thing start at all? Does it take a while to "catch'? You turn the key and nothing happens? Two Toyotas I had had starters that went out at around 125,000 miles and cost a bundle to replace. One cost $350 20 years ago and the other cost around $250, but it was a backyard mechanic who did the job and I got the replacement starter cheap. Problem with Corolla starters is that they hide them under the exhaust manifold so you have an hour's work just to get to the thing to take it out. Most other cars I've had I could do the starter myself, but Toyota made the job a real bear.

May be time for a transmission checkup, which any decent mechanic can do. Leaky gaskets shouldn't cost that much, but get an honest opinion whether you should have the fluid changed while it's open down there.

(And wait till you see what the harmonic balancer costs when that goes!)

Usually NOTHING happens, and sometimes it tries to start with no "catching."

For the last couple weeks it's taken me 5 or 6 tries to get it going, and that's not cool.

I've heard that the starter is a known Toyota weakness, and it's actually been flaky for YEARS, but in the last couple weeks it's been REALLY flaky and getting worse by the day.

It's at 183, so it looks like by your experience, it's about due for a new starter.

Good times. :P

:D

about $150.00 from a parts store.

And, it doesn't take 5 hours to replace one. IF there's a leak around the transmission pan, that doesn't take much either. The timing belt may need to be replaced, but check the manual on the mileage recommendations. It could be anywhere from every 60 to every 120 thousand miles.

If you replace the timing belt, you might as well go ahead and replace the water pump while you're at it...same labor to get to both, and you'll save yourself labor later if the water pump goes.

But, those prices are ridiculous, and I'm not sure I would trust them. Go with your friend, or a local garage that you trust.

Almost $500 for a starter? Shit, service on my kid sister's Mercedes costs less than that.