Took car in for recall fix and dealer found $1900 worth of problems..

[Insomniator]

Take it far far away from the dealer. I think its part of their training to make up 2k worth of repairs every single time you bring the car in.

Was quoted 5k one time... lol... they said the tires were 1500 to replace.

 

[slag]

5. I did the timing cover gasket on my other car last year. I think the gasket itself was about $30 and it took around 30 minutes. $870 is outrageous.

The timing cover gasket on a corolla is a lot more difficult, see. First you have to remove the oscillating drum confabulator to even get to the pintle valve. Once there, the pintle valve has to be removed with 594 ft lbs of torque using a unique 13 point G92 socket operating at 16 fluons. Not many people are capable of doing this. By this time you should be able to see the entire cover. Partially remove the 21 fasteners using a 90 degree bent whomble de constrictor. Then gently pry the cover up with the special tool that comes with the sealant kit, and apply 28 consecutive pea size beads of Acme sealant in a whirl pattern, starting at the leftmost quadrant when looking at the cover. Reverse the steps when reassembling, and don't forget to crank the pintle valve down or you risk long term exposure to raytheon chloroflourocarbons that don't fully burn in the drum confabulator.

Just a simple 18 hour job really.

 

[pauldun170]

The timing cover gasket on a corolla is a lot more difficult, see. First you have to remove the oscillating drum confabulator to even get to the pintle valve. Once there, the pintle valve has to be removed with 594 ft lbs of torque using a unique 13 point G92 socket operating at 16 fluons. Not many people are capable of doing this. By this time you should be able to see the entire cover. Partially remove the 21 fasteners using a 90 degree bent whomble de constrictor. Then gently pry the cover up with the special tool that comes with the sealant kit, and apply 28 consecutive pea size beads of Acme sealant in a whirl pattern, starting at the leftmost quadrant when looking at the cover. Reverse the steps when reassembling, and don't forget to crank the pintle valve down or you risk long term exposure to raytheon chloroflourocarbons that don't fully burn in the drum confabulator.

Just a simple 18 hour job really.

lol

You should see how much a clutch job on a Camry costs.
When going by book, it is close to $2500 job.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Stay away from dealerships AT ALL COST.

There is a GOOD reason why they are called Stealerships in the car enthusiast community.

 

[Vdubchaos]

lol

You should see how much a clutch job on a Camry costs.
When going by book, it is close to $2500 job.

Well, you do have to remove the transmission. Just the cost of parts is usually around $800-$1000.

Figure average cost per hour for labor at a dealership, it's about right.

Indy shop will usually charge you about $1500-2000.....

 

[skyking]

There is a good VW shop nearby, and a fantastic japanese car shop not far either.
OP, you can find a GOOD shop with plenty of references that will not cheat you, if you want to get it checked out. Take some time and look around.

My japanese shop guy is an older Korean ex-GI who is just as nice as can be. I followed his estimate on our Honda AC condenser quote and shopped it. Nobody was within $50 and most were more like $150. His place is overflowing with cars.
I went next door to a marine hardware business to look around. The people there said he was the best neighbor too.

 

[Vdubchaos]

There is a good VW shop nearby, and a fantastic japanese car shop not far either.
OP, you can find a GOOD shop with plenty of references that will not cheat you, if you want to get it checked out. Take some time and look around.

My japanese shop guy is an older Korean ex-GI who is just as nice as can be. I followed his estimate on our Honda AC condenser quote and shopped it. Nobody was within $50 and most were more like $150. His place is overflowing with cars.
I went next door to a marine hardware business to look around. The people there said he was the best neighbor too.

This, good advice.

I've noticed in my area these places are HARD to find.

 

[pauldun170]

Well, you do have to remove the transmission. Just the cost of parts is usually around $800-$1000.

Figure average cost per hour for labor at a dealership, it's about right.

Indy shop will usually charge you about $1500-2000.....

Let me clarify.

The cost to change a clutch in a Corolla, and general ball park for most fwd vehicles <$1000. It's a 5-6 hour job by the book

Cost for a Camry is based on a 12hr book rate since you have drop the sub frame and a bunch of other crap.

 

[sontakke]

My japanese shop guy is an older Korean ex-GI who is just as nice as can be. I followed his estimate on our Honda AC condenser quote and shopped it. Nobody was within $50 and most were more like $150.

If that is the case, why in the world were you shopping for better price? If the guy is honest, competent, reasonable you should stick with him.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Dealership is trying to hose you.

Ran into a similar thing when we purchased a company vehicle. Took it to our local GM to get it insurance inspected and they tried to tell us the vehicle was almost a write-off if we didnt repair a number of things. Their list was incredible. Things like, all four shocks are blown and need replacing; the brake dust shields are too rusty and need replacing; cant align it because there is too much rust on the control arms; etc etc.

We took it next door to another tire shop, they lifted it up, laughed, put it back down and rubber stamped it PASSED. Brakes are brand new, shield are fine; brand new exhaust; shocks travel perfectly and arent damaged; a bit of penetrating oil and all nuts and bolts broke loose without issue.

The dealership was just trying to hose us. It REALLY pissed me off because our company just bought a brand new truck from them this year, then we get this from the shop side?!! We considered putting in a complaint, but decided not too, just in case the other tireshop passed it as a favor (we know the owner well).

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

If that is the case, why in the world were you shopping for better price? If the guy is honest, competent, reasonable you should stick with him.

sounds like he found out that he was honest, competent, and reasonable AFTER he did the shopping around and used him.

 

[skyking]

sounds like he found out that he was honest, competent, and reasonable AFTER he did the shopping around and used him.

I had a solid recommendation and he started the job. I shopped while it was in his shop to satisfy my curiosity.

 

[NutBucket]

Let me clarify.

The cost to change a clutch in a Corolla, and general ball park for most fwd vehicles <$1000. It's a 5-6 hour job by the book

Cost for a Camry is based on a 12hr book rate since you have drop the sub frame and a bunch of other crap.

That sounds more reasonable. Good thing my folks dumped that Camry before it ever needed a clutch!

 

[pauldun170]

That sounds more reasonable. Good thing my folks dumped that Camry before it ever needed a clutch!

I'm probably going to get rid of mine as soon as I see symptoms of
A. Clutch slippage
B. Signs of the the dreaded headbolt issue on the 2.4

Actually, I'm really looking for any excuse to get rid of the car.
Any reason that will pass the wife test and this car is gone. lol

 

[CA19100]

A few things:

1. A lot of folks don't realize this, but service writers at dealerships work on commission. The more services they sell you, the more money they make. So I take their "recommendations" with a huge grain of salt, especially when they quote service intervals that are different than what's in the car's manual.

2. Never, ever do a flush on an automatic transmission. It can dislodge materials that'll cause real damage to the transmission. Dropping the pan and changing the fluid and filter? Sure! But absolutely do not do a power flush.

3. Injector cleaning is probably not necessary.

4. Brakes may well be worn; that one's worth investigating. I don't know how your Toyota's wheel covers are set up, but on my Honda, you can easily see the brake pad thickness without taking the wheels off. (They look something like this.)

5. Brake fluid probably does need to be changed, especially if it's never been done. My Honda's manual says to do it every three years. No idea if that's a good price on your car, though; worth asking around.

 

[mvbighead]

I'm still a fairly green 'mechanic,' but my experience of something similar just blew my mind.

I had a check engine code pop up on a 2000 Jeep. I was just getting into the whole working on your own car thing, but had the code scanner and determined it was a specific valve. I popped the hood and through google found the valve. I ordered a new valve, and when it arrived I popped it in. Couldn't have been more than 15 minutes. Jeep was fine for a little while, but the same code popped up later. I took it to my mechanic, and he checked a few things over but figured the only thing it could be was the computer. He sent me on my way without charge.

A short while later, the code popped back. I brought it to a dealer as there was some suggestion that their diagnostic tool would get more information than a standard code reader. I was fine with their $99, but when it was done I was told the total was $350. They indicated that $200 of the labor was to put the valve in. Valve that sits right up top in the engine bay that I had just plucked out less than a couple weeks ago. I figured, whatever, I must've had a bad replacement valve and this was the cost for me using a cheap part. Picked it up, started the drive home, and the code popped up again.

Brought it back, and they speculated (the same as my mechanic) that the computer was shorting out. They wanted $1200 for a new one plus labor. Pretty sure my mechanic did the same for under $500 parts and labor. Not only that, but I argued with them to the point that they refunded most of the labor charges from the valve.

Long story short, unless there is a really, really good reason to use a dealer... just avoid. They want to do anything and everything they can to squeeze some $$$ out of you. $200 labor for what for them had to be less than 5 minutes of work? There is no effing way that is realistic. This is a big reason why I now to as much as I can before turning it over for service, even to my mechanic.

 

[BoberFett]

Took car in for recall fix and dealer found $1900 worth of problems..

I think I see your first problem...

 

[jlee]

I think I see your first problem...

The alternative is to ignore a safety recall?

 

[Mark R]

2003 and later corollas do have problems with sticky intake valves, which might benefit from an induction service (a solvent sprayed into the intake manifold to clean the valves). However, the problem is usually too severe for a simple solvent spray to fix, and if you have the problem bad enough to get misfires, it requires the manifold to come off for manual cleaning of the valves with a wire brush or a walnut shell media blaster.

Unless, the car is misfiring, I'd give this one a miss.

 

[senseamp]

Pick up your car, laugh at the dealer, and leave.

 

[tweakmonkey]

took the 2013 Toyota in

took my 2004 Corolla

Is it a 2004 or a 2013?

Timing chain gasket != valve cover gasket - this is not a 30 minute job IMO

Brake fluid flush for $175 - I'd probably charge that much at our shop. What's their hourly rate, $100?

Injector cleaning though... Meh

 

[nisryus]

Doh, just saw that I had it listed as 2013.. fixed.

Yeah, I left the dealer after telling them I couldn't get a hold of my wife (told them she is in charge of $$) so I have to discuss all these fixes with her. The rep told me she could wait for 30 mins for me to see if I have any luck reaching my wife! ( She must be wanting the extra $$ on commission really bad..)

Another old guy (in his 60s) was waiting for them to finish his 2008 Camry oil change. We talked about things while waiting in the lobby area. Later on he was told his car engine has issue. They guided him to a desk and they talked for like 15 minutes. He was waiting for a rental when I left, and said the total was $1290 for his car problem... I felt bad for him now...

 

[KentState]

So took the 2004 Toyota in as it had a recall for front passenger air bag inflator, and they found so many problems they are asking for $1900..

In 2014 they ran out of part. Fast forward to present.. Two weeks ago they finally notified me that they have the part. I scheduled an appointment and took my 2004 Corolla in for the free fix. The car only has 67k miles since it is a backup, and we don't drive it too much until the last seven months when I have to commute 30 miles daily to work with it.

When the rep told me the part was replaced, I was ready to go, but she stopped me and said it needs some TLC...

1. Injectors need cleaning. Also Fuel induction service. She said one of the intake vault became sticky and needs cleaning. $220 for cleaning all of them.

2. Front brake pads need replacing. Only 3mm left. My wheels are locked and I didn't given them the key, how can they tell if there was only 3mm without taking the wheel off? $390.

3. Flush brake - all system $175.

4. Flush transmission (auto) $275. She said the fluid were jet black.

5. Timing cover reseal $870. She said there is a leak.. I never hear any weird sound and everything has been fine. There was a leak with the power steering, but it was leaking at the connecting point of the reservoir and the hose. It was fixed with new hose clamps but the area was not really cleaned. I wonder if they have mistaken the stains from the power steering fluid. where should I look for if there is any leak?

The car has been taken care of and is pretty low mileage wise for its age. Oil change every 8k miles, and tire rotation every 6 months. Was the dealer trying to make the quota and dump these on me?

Holy crap, replace your post withe 2003 Mazda 6 and this is exactly what happened to me. My car also has around 65k and I took it in for the passenger airbag recall after the parts finally became available. They come back with a laundry list of suggested repairs. I said thanks for the inspection and moved on.

My list of repairs:

Brake flush
Transmission flush
Radiator fluid flush
Timing cover leak
Valve cover leak
Oil pan gasket leak

Out of all of them, the only legitimate one i the transmission flush as it hasn't been done yet. Starting to think that these airbag recalls on 10 year old vehicles was a great incentive to sell service on cars that probably don't come to dealerships anymore for work.

 

[Kelvrick]

Fuck car dealerships. My wife brought her 06 corolla in for that recall, I think. She called me later with a list of things they told her to do.I laughed most of it off. Told her to go down the street to one of those tire/brake places that do free inspections. They said it was fine. A few months later (maybe half a year to a year), it went in again for some other reason. They said the brakes AGAIN. Wife didn't want to go to another shop, so that weekend I pulled out the jack stands, pulled off the wheels, found the pads to be at over 70% left.

Fuck them (especially local Elk Grove Toyota dealership). Too bad my neighbor works there. I think she is on the administrative side.

 

[BUTCH1]

This is normal practice by those thieves. What is sad really that many people actually follow their "advice" and pay for non-existent crap.

Service departments are the milk cows actually, they will fvuck everyone in the ass to get your money for nothing. They will lie and deceive w/out doing any work that actually needs to be done.

Run, run far and never come back. Ask them why don't they replace air filter for $389?

I had my '05 Chevy in the dealer for a (free) seat repair, it was '09 and they had just finished up an old woman's Malibu, they had replaced EVERY cooling system hose on the car, yikes, she got literally robbed. OEM hoses are actually pretty good quality, mine are 10 years old now and show no signs of swelling, cracking or dry-rot. I do change coolant every 30K instead of the 100K that it calls for. Brake flush every 3 years, it's simple and despite it being a closed system it does get nasty but for $175?, insane, with the car on a lift I could do it in 15-20 minutes. I don't believe in injector cleaning either, gasoline is a damm good solvent, I've never done it, I do use Techron every 6 months, $7/bottle.