Whatever

Yeah, we got one coming tomorrow.
I'm staying in, hanging out with the Kwazy Kats and feeding the stove.
Mrs Gritto is scheduled to work at the pharmacy.
But hey, she has the AWD Highlander and knows how to drive

... which reminds me


Story Time With Gritto

The best SUV ever made


I bought Mrs Gritto her Highlander, new, in 2005.
V6, AWD. Made in Japan.

It was time for PA inspection and yesterday I took it to my trusted local mechanic.
Not the ripoff Toyota stealership in Chambersburg
@Delta09 you know the one I mean.

Mrs Gritto told me she wanted to keep it until the wheels come off.
Well okay then
She had also mentioned some squeaky noises and slow shifting, so I took a serious test drive and took notes.

I had them do:

- Inspection
- Oil and filter
- Cabin air filter
- Rotate tires and fix slow leak in one tire
- Lube the suspension
- Tranny drain and fill ("lifetime transmission fluid" is bullshit)
- Spark plugs
- Look for anything else while it's on the lift.

The guy gave me the rundown:

Timing belt needs changed and is way, way overdue.
Those shitheads at the stealership totally missed that one.
The timing belt kit comes with the belt and water pump (might as well replace that while you're in there)...
... and a sticker to put on the underside of the hood to show when and at what mileage it had been replaced.
No sticker
(They charged her $3,000 bucks for some questionable work last time, which is why I insisted she go to my mechanic this time).

Timing belt replacement is scheduled for January 3rd.

No rust to speak of.
Cabin filter was incredibly filthy.
Tranny now shifts just fine.
Suspension lubed and squeaks are gone.
Leaky tire fixed (wheel wire brushed good on the inner rim and valve replaced.
Everything else was good.

The guy asked me if the spark plugs had ever been changed... I said no.
He showed me the old ones.
150k miles and they looked almost new
Mechanic said no oil consumption, no codes... and the Highlander should be GTG for at least another 150k.

Ya gotta love Toyotas (and good independent mechanics)


... butt knot the stealerships

 

TL;DR
Bandersnatch

 

Randy Joes......

 

Yeah, that's a goodie.

 

The vehicle needed a lot of maintenance and afterward it felt and sounded better

 

Oh, and

 

Smelled better too

 

@SRH wins lotto...

 

Maybe wear a mask next time?

We have a 2010 Highlander with 156k on it. It was also built in Japan and is still going strong. I'll have to get some of the things done that you mentioned.

 

Keep it

 

I did. When I went back for more paint, I put one on when I started up again.

 

Seems like a good conversation starter though.
Maybe some random guy will try to pick you up

 

Rando: homemade vegetable soup…it’s what’s for supper.

 

That looks delicious!!! we had veggie soup tonight too.