Painful trip to the dealer today

Threw together a couple quotes for you. My shop is located in So. Cal and pricing will vary dependent on where you are.

Don't let the dealer scare you, or take your money. Plenty of small shops that'd be more then happy to do the work and save you money. For the equivalent of a few new truck payments, you can have all these things done. Break it down and prioritize. Wheel bearing and water pump should be done first.


Bad Left Rear Wheel Bearing
Bad Water Pump
Bad Drive Belt
Bad Steering Rack
Needs Power Steering Flush *** Will be replaced with rack and pinion ***
Needs Alignment *** Will be done after rack and pinion replacement ***
Bad Trans Tail Shaft Seal
Needs Break Fluid Flush
Mass Air Flow Sensor Service *** Will be cleaned with a fuel induction cleaning ***
Fuel Induction Service

 

I gotta agree here. Rape implies being forced. They're getting bent over, for sure, but they asked for it by going to the dealer in the first place. Less "rape", more "accidental anal".

 

Not a bad idea.

Link me to the GoFundMe, let's get this rolling.

 

Also, don't be afraid to get a second opinion. The dealer is known for pushing sales that might not necessarily have to be done right away, or at all.

Example being a small seep from the rack and pinion is NOT crucial. Or maybe the water pump may has signs of deposits and that's why they're recommending replacement, when Toyota states that a little leakage is normal.

 

That's because when you go to the dealer, you have to pay for all the coffee, pastries and carwashes. Also you're paying for all those people walking, but mostly standing around, and the huge building that they're in.

Realistic prices will be found at honest, family owned local shops in your area.

 

If you're looking for a shop in the NOVA area I've had good luck with City Auto in Fairfax City and Virginia Tire in Centreville. I'm sure there are others around but they've always been fair when I've used them for various repairs. Avoid dealerships if it isn't warranty work, always, and good luck.

 

I checked the Moog website...Tacoma isn't listed under Toyota on their product page. I'm guessing they don't make a rack for the Taco.

Dave

 

Something that most people don't know, and the dealer sure as shit won't tell you, is that warranty work does not have to be performed by the dealer.

 

I took my car to Virginia Tire recently...terrible experience. Angie's List has a good rating for Fairfax Auto Repair, plan to give them a shot.

 

Factory warranty work DOES need to be performed at a dealer. Toyota won't pay an outside outfit to do it.

If you mean that you can take your vehicle to any shop and have maintenance done and it won't void the warranty, then yes, that is true.

 

Get a Maval rack and pinion, they supply dealerships with re-manufactured units. Awesome quality.

Part #93112M

 

Funny, my shop does warranty work regularly, on all makes, especially Chevy. We submit a warranty claim to the manufacturer, and the check comes in the mail. Sometimes they try to fight it, but we document the hell out of the repairs, send them the backup, and *BOOM*, the check arrives.

 

And, as long as the warranty is covering the cost, you can sit there and drink gallons of free coffee.

 

As long as flushing the fluid isn't already included in the labor book rate for replacing the rack; which most of us reading the thread figured it would be.

 

We have free coffee, too.

 

Are you dealing with 3rd party warranty companies? I've never heard of a outside shop doing factory warranty work (IE something wrong with the vehicle under 36/36). Not saying you're wrong, just news to me.

Maybe I need to look into this further for my shop....

 

I'm not sure that we've ever dealt with a 3rd party warrant company. Always the manufacturer. Typically through the dealer that we regularly purchase our parts. They don't like it, but it is what it is.

There are very few dealer techs that I would allow to touch my truck. Even for warranty work.

 

It's not, like I said I've been watching it for 40.000 miles

 

I'm just here for the free coffee.

... and I heard something about a GoFundMe page.