Take it to Toyota or a "generic" mechanic?

[darkman0101]

Well I have given up on trying to figure why my FXGT isn't running as she should be.

So I have decided that I am going to swallow my pride and money and take it to a mechanic.

Question is:
Given that I don't know what the issue is would I be better to
a) Take it to a Toyota place (like Albany Toyota) where they work on them all the time and might be able to diagnose the problem quicker.
or
b) Take it to Joe Bloggs down the road... It is just a car after al and if it is something like the distributor cap, HT leads, plugs etc hel'll find it.

Would taking it to Toyota be crap loads more expensive?

If option b) then does anyone have any reccomendations for places on the North Shore?

Cheers as always,
Jas

[Twolitre]

Buy the parts and fit them yourself, for the price of what Toyota will charge you in labour alone.
HT leads, distributor cap and rotor etc can all be changed very easily with basic tools and if you can't do it then someone here should be able to do it for a box of beers.
If you need to check your timing I have a timing light you can borrow too, and you can check your ecu diagnostics codes with a simple paper clip.

[FLAWLES]

you can check your ecu diagnostics codes with a simple paper clip.

explane.............how

[Dr-X]

Go to a general mechanic. Toyota will charge you through the nose, for both parts and labour. The fact is, there's some VERY skilled mechanics around, it's just about finding the right one.

[Al]

you can check your ecu diagnostics codes with a simple paper clip.

explane.............how

Open your diagnostics box, bridge te1 and e1 with a paperclip bent to shape and turn car on. count flashes.

[Twolitre]

What Al said
And if you need more information perform a search please as this has been covered many a time.

[matt dunn]

Yeah dealership rates are usually quite high,
and they aren't always as good as your led to believe.

My work is not a dealership but we do get sent all the cars the the delerships can't fix.
We get them from Toyota, Subaru, and Ford.

Take it to somewhere else rather than a dealership,
but find somewhere that has more than just 1 or 2 mechanics as they are usually better places.

Matt

[Dr-X]

I disagree, I've had a lot of experience with mechanics, and I've found th best ones are usually the ones where there's 1 or 2 techs working, not the ones where there's a dozen employees, where the job will only be as good as the unsupervised, inexperienced guy that works on your car.

[_will_]

Don't go to Toyota!! They're overpriced and don't do a good job.
I had my clutch replaced which involved the whole engine having to be removed (the joys of GT-Fours!), and when I got it back all the splash panels from under the engine were in the boot along with 24 screws/bolts, and the intercooler protector wasn't screwed on at all...it was just lying there!
Not good enough for a supposed top Toyota repair place aye.

[Mr Revhead]

will


i find that hard to believe..... are we getting the full story here?

thats also a VERY broad claim there..... not really a fair call at all

[_will_]

Unfortunately it's true.
The excuse they gave me was that one guy took the engine out, putting some of the pieces in the boot so they wouldnt get lost, and another did the work. The guy that did the work wasn't informed that the pieces were in the boot and so presumed that they weren't on the car when it came in.
Fortunately they came out to put the splash panels/intercooler protector back in.
I guess that this could have been an isolated incedent and usually they may be very good, but thanks to this episode I can't say I'd ever use them again.

[GTCRSHR]

Fortunately they came out to put the splash panels/intercooler protector back in.


cant blame some one if they forgot ... (specially when 2people are working on such a thing)... id be more worried if they forgot to put ure piped backon

personlally i would take my car to toyota in ure situation ...

or if you can find a VErY good mechanic with good rates ... then go for gold

[GTCRSHR]

Fortunately they came out to put the splash panels/intercooler protector back in.


cant blame some one if they forgot ... (specially when 2people are working on such a thing)... id be more worried if they forgot to put ure piped backon

personlally i would take my car to toyota in ure situation ...

or if you can find a VErY good mechanic with good rates ... then go for gold

[Mr Revhead]

see, the full story changes things a bit....
ok so there was a lack of comuncation between the guys working on it, shouldnt have happend, but its not a biggie, and they fixed it.
hardly fair to slander ALL toyota dealers due to that.

[GTCRSHR]

couldnt agree more ....

[Dr-X]

It's not slander. For something to be slander, it has to be untrue. It may be considered defamation.

[Mr Revhead]

sounds like lawyer speak to me.... which would explain a lot....

slander fits... its unture that every toyota dealer does that

[Adamal]

Had Papakura Toyota find and fit a subframe for me. Did it quick, did a good job and was a reasonable price.

All up it cost less that what I was quoted for a subframe alone from a Pedders outlet.

[_will_]

its unture that every toyota dealer does that

Fair call, apologies to all other Toyota dealers.
I personally think that it was a biggie, but thats just my opinion, and the car hasn't broken down yet so thats the main thing.

[BlakJak]

I took my car to a 'local' mechanic, wound up then taking it to Giltrap City Toyota to fix up the things that the 'local' missed.

I've had a hard time finding mechanics that I trust, so if im not doing the work myself, id rather pay slightly more and have a little faith that the car will come out the other end without any 'hidden' problems.