Does there exist a shop, regardless of price, that does honest AND thorough work to OEM Toyota spec?

Looking for your input please.

I want to follow my Tacoma's service manual to the letter. And I do - there's a reason the engineers put it in there. For example, calls for 0w20, re-torquing on prop shaft bolts and zerk greasings, inspection of this and that system, using the correct GL rating for mt fluid changes, etc... all add up to a vehicle that runs at 200,000km just as well as it does on day 1.


I don't trust myself wrenching. So that leaves two options for me: dealership or independent mechanic.



Dealership: I'm tired of them. Used to work at one. Won't bring my truck to a dealership because:

i) the service team's given mandate is to sell you more services than you may need. Service and parts drive revenue.

ii) they use bulk fluids (you're getting 5w10 or 10w20 in your Tacoma whether you want to or not)

iii) unless you're getting a tranny rebuilt or a electrical system malfunction, most work i.e. oil changes, fluid changes, brake service, is done by underpaid early 20 year olds who come and go and have no reason to check their work, have no formal training, and are essentially apprenticing on your vehicle. This is how dealerships keep costs down. Free oil changes? You're still paying somehow.




Independent Mechanic: I like this option. Took a while and many many tries but after about 5 shops I but found an honest guy who works on high end cars. I pay him a 50% premium on his shop rate. I provide him with a service manual, OEM Toyota parts, and also with the Toyota maintenance schedule that says to the letter, exactly what must be done when. I do all the legwork to go get the parts, and I serve up everything my independent mechanic could need to do his job.

but the problem is he says things like 'oops I forgot to grease your front prop shaft I couldn't find the zerk.' As a tacomaworld reader, I know its hard to find but its there. Another thing is I also give a written list of things for him to do, he comes back saying yeah I did 2/3 and that's that. I don't want to feel like I'm chasing someone around to make sure they did their work.





So obviously guys maybe I'm missing something. Am I looking for an impossible thing here?

Is it possible to find a shop (even if its an expensive one):
1) that does OEM quality work
2) that does exactly what I ask for
3) and where I don't have to second guess their work and literally check their work after, myself



Sometimes I think I'm asking for too much. Anyways thanks for reading everyone.

 

The real issue is you want to pay him to do everything.

Everyone else wants to not pay him at all to do everything.


I had a very good friend who is a mechanic, he had a 2 post lift in his garage. He could do anything. Yet when people bring their cars or trucks to him. They wanted everything done for almost no cost.

Arguing with customers gets old fast. He gave it up, as it was just not worth it.

He loved working on my truck, cuz

1.) I paid him more than what he charged me. aka often tipped $100
2.) It was new and nothing was rusted lol
3.) He was my friend before my mechanic, and we kept it that way. It was a friendship that I paid for his work. We often traded work for work. I helped him with PC troubles at the shop and home. He discounted my work big time for his, sometimes free. Still tho that $100 tip would make his wife smile I would tell him, 'if you dont want it just take it home to the wife, she wants it!@'

 

That's great advice and I agree with you. I learned a while ago its better to pay a premium!

So the funny thing is about my guy - I always offer to pay more, I tip him well, I always respect him time by getting him all the parts and manuals, etc.. and he's totally honest! Just he's not thorough, and I guess that's what I'm saying - I swear I would pay a 200/hr shop rate if I knew a tech that checked every nut and bolt the way Toyota intended.

 

You are not alone in this problem.

Since my buddy moved, decided I needed to learn to wrench. Same problem you have, I dont trust anyone with my rig.

It is all me and my new buddy @TjAeCeOpMAmiah that does everything on my rig now.

He taught me that we can fix any issue, nothing is that hard. Someone else has done it, and documented how to do it. We just follow what they have done.

Just changed the oil and engine air filter last night.

 

Location would help, if you are in GTA -> Sumin Auto (2400 Finch Ave West, North York) is the way to go, members here use this shop a lot. He works on Tacomas, 4Runners, Land Cruisers and much more, can fab anything as well, your wallet is your limit.

 

First off......no matter who does the requested work, you need to verify the work was done. That verification is on YOU, the owner.

2nd, you supply the parts. How does the mechanic know the parts are the correct parts to solve the problem? In addition, all shops make a bit of profit on parts. Profit is not just the labor portion. So in reality, you are cutting the shop's margins.

3rd, you should be receiving all the old parts when the work is complete. This will help to verify the work was completed and new parts installed.

4th, sometimes the owner is the underlying cause of a "bad" mechanic. The owner is the only constant.

Good luck finding a mechanic who can satisfy your wants.

 

I agree Knute. I'm finding that I've gotta learn to do the work myself. But gotta say the second part you said isnt true in my case, my mechanic and I are close and he actually asks me to get the parts since he doesnt have the time to look things up (also I pay him a 50% premium on his shop rate so his margins are larger with me). Old parts I agree also, its part of checking the work myself.

The owner (me) could be part of the problem - but I can't see why, since I'm only asking for the exact same thing the Toyota engineers are asking for...

 

Thanks Norilsk, that's very helpful. I will check him out. Also your truck is badass.

 

FWIW, my local dealer is competent, friendly, reasonable price and good service. So far, no issues.

I tell them the wanted service, get the quote, let them WORK, receive the old parts, verify the work, then pay. Any problems, I calmly address the issue and allow them the opportunity to make corrections.

Yes, they offer additional service. I just simply say, "No Thank you. I'll address the issue another time."

On the other side of the coin, I do as much service work as possible with my skills and equipment. I have found the more I do and learn, the more I can do. Most times the service is not complex, its the diagnosis that is difficult. I try to avoid loading the parts cannon.

 

@ontariotruckman Sounds like you have a good business model for a Tacoma repair + totally fix garage . Mechanics and Tacoma owners will come , like the movie A Field of Dreams

 

Went to Sumin as recommended by @Norilsk - Naz was awesome - if I lived within the GTA, Sumin is definitely where I would bring my truck for servicing. Honest hard working shop.

 

Thanks Knute and Llamasurf - you've given me confidence to start to learn more complicated tasks. I can definitely do oil changes, tire rotations, etc.. but still intimidated about brake jobs, clutch, cooling system, etc..

Philth and Norilsk thank you for the shop recommendation - I will definitely check them out and your vote means a lot.

4x4spiegel you've got a great idea but I sank all my capital into my truck!


cheers to all and thanks sincerely

 

Get on the youtubes. You can watch entire brake jobs front and rear, keep the laptop with you in case you get stuck.

 

No line for me.

I replaced my transfer case with the manual one from a FJ Cruiser. Of course with the help of my friend @TjAeCeOpMAmiah. He has a ton of wrenching experience that he is kindly passing on to me. We went a step further with this mod, and modified the FJ transfer case to allow twin sticks, intead of the J-shift it came with. I can now independently shift to Lo or 4x4.

2Lo is amazing

With this mod, we also removed the entire 4WD ECU, and the ADD system


Also bought an OBD2 dongle that came with techstream. Same software the stealership uses to diagnose all the problems.


My rear brake line exploded from me ignoring my brakes, full brake system went dry. We used the software and dongle to run the Toyota Service Manual steps. After replacing my entire brake system.

http://www.ttguide.net/brake_fluid_for_hydraulic_brake_booster_-473.html

Fixed it.


The more you do, the more confidence you will build to just keep going.

 

My "do not cross line" on maintenance/repair is based on knowledge to do the work and tool limitations, occasionally time/space will be a constraint.

The knowledge aspect is softened by having a repair manual for my '06 Tacoma.

 

When the tools and equipment get too elaborate, or needs really specialized skills. For example:
A/C system service (need a cart to meter the refrigerant and PAG oil)
Tire mounting and balancing
Adhesively mounted glass (windshield, back window)
Body dents, repainting, etc.

I will say it's a lot easier to learn to DIY today with the wealth of YouTube videos and guides on TacomaWorld, than even 10 years ago.