Car Servicing 'Recommendations'

[Calgary14]

I just took the car in for servicing and what I thought would be a $300 bill for regular maintenance has now turned into a $2,500 bill for recommended services.

Here are the things they have recommended that I get done (in addition to the regular service of oil change, fluids etc).

- timing cover resealing ($590) since the side of the engine is leaking oil. To clarify I have never seen any oil spots in the garage where I park it
- water pump leak ($380). Even though I haven't noticed any fluid spots
- oil pan leak ($458). Again, I have never seen any oil spots
- fuel service (cleaning injectors) ($160)
- brake servicing (taking calibers off and cleaning them) ($110)
- power steering fluid flush ($110)

There were a few other small items I cant recall but the total was about $2,500.

Are any of the above items actually necessary? I'm starting to think they are a wish list of items they recommend but aren't actually necessary.

For context it is a 2008 Toyota Corolla with 125,000km. The vehicle is worth about $7,000 so a bill for $2,500 is a bit hard to take.

I am cheap, but not stupid, so if they actually are necessary I have no issues paying. I just would like a second opinion.

Any mechanics that can give an opinion?

[kevman]

I'm cynical and not a mechanic but most of that sounds like the general run of the mill dealership up-sell.

Everything is always sold as preventative maintenance saying spending $300 now could save you $2,000 in the future. But spending $300 a year for 10 years ends up costing you more than $2,000 when that part fails. For every person that does all of the hocus pocus fluffy maintenance there is someone that drives their car with nothing more than oil changes until 300,000km...

As for your list:
-timing cover - It's probably not leaking, the last guy to change the oil probably spilt oil everywhere when filling it up.
-oil pan - Maybe it's leaking but if you check your oil and you're not dangerously low between oil changes it's not leaking enough to worry about.
-injectors - Scam. A long highway trip will bring enough fuel through at operating temperature to make sure everything is running clean.
-calibres - What are the cleaning? Not needed.
-power steering flush - Check the fluid yourself, my guess is it's still clean and doesn't need replacing.

[OutOfTheCube]

From my experience with mechanic shops, here is my opinion:

- timing cover resealing ($590) since the side of the engine is leaking oil
- water pump leak ($380). Even though I haven't noticed any fluid spots
- oil pan leak ($458). Again, I have never seen any oil spots

The above three things are likely made up

- fuel service (cleaning injectors) ($160)

This may be good to have if you haven't been putting in an injector cleaner on a annual basis

- brake servicing (taking calibers off and cleaning them) ($110)
- power steering fluid flush ($110)

Pointless

[burn_this_city]

I would do the fluid changes and brake maintenance, skip the oil leaks and injector flush, and investigate the water pump issue assuming it needs replacement. If you are skeptical of the mechanic, take it somewhere else.

[Jacks]

Sounds like they're trying to milk you.

Recommendations for mechanics (including my own) are here.
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=108029

[rbochan]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

I just took the car in for servicing and what I thought would be a $300 bill for regular maintenance has now turned into a $2,500 bill for recommended services.

Here are the things they have recommended that I get done (in addition to the regular service of oil change, fluids etc)...

I just ran this by a buddy of mine who is a mechanic, and who has his own shop...

- timing cover resealing ($590) since the side of the engine is leaking oil. To clarify I have never seen any oil spots in the garage where I park it
- oil pan leak ($458). Again, I have never seen any oil spots
Check your oil every couple of days for the next month. If it's low, top it off, then you should consider one and/or the other.

- fuel service (cleaning injectors) ($160)
If you're really worried, put a $3 bottle of cleaner in with your fuel.

- water pump leak ($380). Even though I haven't noticed any fluid spots
Where's the leak? Are your levels low? See answer about oil above.

- brake servicing (taking calibers off and cleaning them) ($110)
Pure BS. That will (should be) taken care of when pads/rotors are replaced.

- power steering fluid flush ($110)
Check the fluid level yourself. Examine it for grit/burned odor. If it's low, keep it topped off. If there's excessive grit, you might need a pump, but it's unlikely (esp. with that vehicle).

BTW, my buddy said he would _never_ hand someone an estimate like that without explicitly showing the vehicle's owner the exact nature of the problem(s). He calls BS on this, especially if the vehicle has bee fairly well maintained.

[LanceUppercut]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

I just took the car in for servicing and what I thought would be a $300 bill for regular maintenance has now turned into a $2,500 bill for recommended services.

Would you mind sharing which dealer gave you this estimate? Either here or in a PM. A recent visit to mine got a recommendation of changing the brake pads because they had "2mm" left. I ended up changing them myself only to find a heck of a lot more than 2mm on the pads.

[burn_this_city]

Might have been 2mm until the squealer were touching the rotor.

[Northendzone]

I think that the op should go to home depot, get some citrus engine degreaser, go to the car wash and give the engine a good cleaning. Then monitor the situation.

Throw a large piece of cardboard under your car, and monitor it daily for fluids. You water pump should be leaking antifreeze if is is going.

To me it is worth it to have a maintained vehicle, I like to avoid any roadside breakdowns if possible.

[vtec260]

To see that many things wrong with bullet-proof Corolla, I doubt the recommendations of the dealer. I'd look for good independent mechanic next time and skip the dealer once the warranty is over. Whenever I take my vehicles to the dealer for any warranty service and they try to upsell recommended service, I politely ask them show it in my owner's manual that is required by the manufacturer.

[Calgary14]

Thanks guys. I ended up declining all extra service items. I'm a bit frustrated as I'm not sure if any of it is needed. The thing is, the car is worth $7,000 tops. And the total of all recommendations would be $2,500!? Not sure when that would ever make sense. I could see if I had neglected all previous service, then it would slowly start to fall apart. But I've followed the Toyota recommended service schedule exactly since day 1 (bought it new). Not one servicing has been missed.

When I told the service rep I wouldn't be doing any of the extra stuff he seemed annoyed and warned that the vehicle engine may overheat, long trips wouldn't be recommended, etc. At that point I knew this was more about sales than service.

My plan is to get a second opinion and take it from there. I will also look at the solutions mentioned above (ie. $3 bottle of cleaner, putting a piece of cardboard underneath to see the extent of the "leak", etc).

My bigger concern is not even the possible $2,500 bill, or even my vehicle - it's the fact they would recommend all these things that most people would agree are BS. It's scary to think what others are paying for that they don't need.

[btimbit]

- timing cover resealing I'd leave it unless you start noticing low oil. chevk your oil whenever you get gas for the next few weeks
- water pump leak Worth looking into, 2nd opinion recommended
- oil pan leak I'd leave it
- fuel service (cleaning injectors) nonsense, don't bother
- brake servicing (taking calibers off and cleaning them) If hasn't been done before, I'd do it
- power steering fluid flush Not a bad idea but not necessary either

[llwhiteoutll]

Last 3 items are total nonsense. Pure gravy for the shop.

[Dynamic]

Anytime they give you an estimate like that just type that stuff up in google so you have a clear picture of what to look for. The timing cover leak, water pump leak, and oil pan leak all sound bad but all can be watched just by checking fluids and visually looking for yourself.

[prarieboy]

I'd be really interested to hear if this is the same shop we take our Highlander to. Can you PM me the place that quoted you? All of it seems really far fetched if you haven't seen any fluid leaks or the brakes weren't working properly.

I used to have a Corolla. Drove it for 110,000 Kms and spent $75 dollars on repairs the whole time. They didn't replace the starter, they replaced some sort of contact plate. Those cars are bullet proof. Biggest reason I still have a Toyota in the garage.

[Calgary14]

Originally Posted by prarieboy

I'd be really interested to hear if this is the same shop we take our Highlander to. Can you PM me the place that quoted you? All of it seems really far fetched if you haven't seen any fluid leaks or the brakes weren't working properly.

I used to have a Corolla. Drove it for 110,000 Kms and spent $75 dollars on repairs the whole time. They didn't replace the starter, they replaced some sort of contact plate. Those cars are bullet proof. Biggest reason I still have a Toyota in the garage.

PM sent.

As an update I did a quick visual inspection of the engine and overnight I put some cardboard under the engine so if there was something leaking it would show up. The cardboard is dry and I don't see any leaks

[AcGold]

A mechanic friend that is freelance recommends dream auto. They won't rip you off.

[zhulander]

Former mechanic here and here is my insight:

- timing cover resealing ($590) since the side of the engine is leaking oil. To clarify I have never seen any oil spots in the garage where I park it
- water pump leak ($380). Even though I haven't noticed any fluid spots
- oil pan leak ($458). Again, I have never seen any oil spots

You probably do have a leak at the junction of these 3 area. They are calling for all 3 to be replaced to make sure it fixes the problem. However since you don't see anything on the ground, the leak is so small that it's nothing to worry about if you regularly maintain your car. Go somewhere else to do this if you want it fixed when it becomes more severe as those quotes are ridiculous.


- fuel service (cleaning injectors) ($160)

Wont' hurt but won't help that much either. There's more than enough detergents in modern branded gasoline to keep injectors clean. And don't bother with throwing in fuel injector cleaner, just a waste of money and won't do much.

- brake servicing (taking calibers off and cleaning them) ($110)

Depending on when you need to replace your brakes, it's not a bad idea to get it done. If you have less than 25% pad remaining, it can wait until you replace them since they'll be doing it anyways.
Brake servicing is preventative maintenance just to make sure everything is in optimal condition and prevents brake noise from forming.


- power steering fluid flush ($110)

Not a bad idea either if it's never been done. After 5 years and 100k km, fluid's protective properties is bound to be diminished.

[llwhiteoutll]

Except that $110 for a power steering flush is robbery, pure and simple.

[Northendzone]

^ how so?