Good Mechanic Good Price in (West) LA for 1999 stickshift 4x4 with 163k miles

Hello,

I just picked up a dream Tacoma off an aging craigslist grandfather - it's a 1999 4x4 stickshift with 163k miles. It's in great shape - I took it into the Toyota Dealership after I bought it for an inspection and they gave me the following list of repairs with these prices

engine valve cover gasket with spark plugs $989
front struts $1,299
rear shocks $950
transmission oil change $350
transfer case oil change $350
front differential oil change $365
rear differential oil change $365


I was into them for $250 bucks for the inspection, which they'd roll into the price of repairs, so I just had them go ahead and do an oil change (transmission) and skipped the rest

the taco does turn a bit before starting up, so I believe him on the spark plugs, but I think I can find a much better price than what a Toyota dealership is going to charge me. Also I don't know if I %100 believe them on the rest of the stuff

So, I was wondering if Taco world could recommend a solid, honest mechanic in LA who does good work at good prices

Thanks

 

I think @Superdave1.0 is out that way.
He's a good guy. Maybe see if he can work with you.

 

Not on the westside but Nightwerks up in Santa Clarita does good, honest work and is a Toyota certified mechanic. He's been working on all of my, my kids, my ex, my fiancee and her kids cars for years.


https://www.nightwerks.com/

 

I too recommend @Superdave1.0 he’s in Downey so not too far from you

 

Are you physically capable of wrenching? If so a couple of YouTube videos , Amazon reclaimed transfer case gasket kit, few beers and a run to Walmart will get you everything you need to knock it out in a couple of hours.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/superdaves-lift-installs-mechanic-service.682299/

 

Did you get things sorted? That is all easy stuff to sort yourself for a fraction of the price. I am in Culver City and might be able to lend a hand and a wrench sometime if you need it.

 

As far as what should be done all those fluids should definitely be changed because most people don't bother and they should have been done many times by now. Same with the spark plugs. The valve cover gasket is something you swap if it is leaking, shouldn't be hard to tell but also not a super urgent thing to tackle as long as its not horrible. Just make sure your oil is topped off regularly. Are their signs of leaks on the shocks/struts? That or poor handling would be an indication they should be done but unless things are way out of wack nothing major is going to happen from waiting on that other than poor handling.