Please HELP me for the out of province inspection

[Hakka]

Hi CP members,

I have a 2007 Toyota Camry, runs for 150K kms. I need to do the out of province inspection in order to get my car's Alberta license plate.

I brought my car to one the mechanic shop in SW last week. After 3 hours inspection, the mechanic guy came to me and told me your car everything is OK except ONE ISSUE. At that time I start to have a bad feeling

He gave a list of the quotation about fixing the car. It is front suspension problem. There is rubber on the lower control arm at left and right side. It's getting old. I have to replace the lower control arm left and right side. You have to fix these in order to pass the out of province inspection, otherwise there is a safety issue. He lift up my car showed it to me. The rubber parts are rusted and getting bad.

In order to change the rubber I HAVE to replace to the left and right side lower control arm. I CANNOT just change the rubber. I asked WHY. He told me it is Toyota DESIGN problem.

The total invoice is $2,100( parts, labor, supplies, out of province inspection......) I want to cry after seeing this price. I really cannot afford it. I am not a mechanic person. Can someone please help me what should I do? Can someone recommend a honest and price reasonable auto mechanic can fix my car?

Thank you very much.

[Ducay]

http://www.autopartsway.ca/PartList..../pagenum1/tabS

Part is going to be about $200 a side cheapest; so add in labour, and maybe you can get it down to ~$1300 with the inspection cost. No recommendations on mechanics though, sorry.

How much was labour if you supply the parts to him?

[BlackArcher101]

Rubber doesn't rust. For a 2007, any component underneath will be rusty, but it won't fail an inspection because of that. What you really need to check is if the rubber has disintegrated and crumbling. If it's not, then take your car for a second opinion and get the OOP done elsewhere, this guy might be trying to hose you.

[DownhillGoat]

Is this a general all-makes mechanic? Since it's a Toyota, try taking it to a GM or Ford dealer that does out of province inspections. They can fail the inspection, but since they don't carry Toyota parts, they won't try to up-sell you. So your chances of getting a more honest OOP inspection are better, IMO.

[puckluck2]

If it's a Toyota design problem, is there a recall?

[ricosuave]

My neighbor has 7 toyotas and have had them all his life.

He swears by Stampede Toyota, maybe try them?

[pylon]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

If it's a Toyota design problem, is there a recall?

Poor design, does not equate recall. If that was the case, GM would be recalling entire cars. Poor design, that poses an immediate safety risk, or poor design that creates a blanket problem with identical symptoms usually requires a recall. A suspension component wearing out at 150k, is normal wear and tear.

[Fusebox]

Call this guy: Gee at 403-520-2008. Very reasonable mechanic, just explain the problem and ask him to have a look at it for you. If he can help, he will. If it is something that absolutely has to get replaced in order to get the inspection done, you'll be out of luck no matter where you go though. Good luck.

[Mayer]

Chetlin Auto on MacLeod trail is about as honest as they come. They are great. Everyone in my family goes there.