00 Limited 4WD not working - Seattle

[Bmwang]

Just bought a 00 Limited and the 4WD isn't working. The 4WD indicator lights keep flashing when I push the 4WD button or when I manually attempt to shift into 4wd. I've read the great post at Yotatech but haven't done any testing myself.

I took the rig to Greg's Auto to have the timing belt/water pump replaced today and to have them check the 4WD system out. I gave them the Yotatech link (dont know if they actually went to the site) and they told me they were testing the actuator by applying power to it but it was frozen.

$2700 to fix and they aren't 100% sure its the problem. There might be an ECU issue as well.

I am going to try and test the actuator myself before I get it done with an auto shop.

I do trust Greg's but just want a 2nd/3rd opinion.

My question:
Any other local shops that do this work a bit cheaper?
Other suggestions in addition to the tests provided in the Yototech link?


I think this site rocks by the way.

 

[NickF]

$2700 sounds very steep to me, if its the actuator, it can't be more than a couple hundred bucks. Thats all labor hours that tehy are charging you for

 

[iraqsux]

sounds to me like a rip off. what did they charge you to do the timing belt/waterpump?

 

[Bmwang]

They charged about $800 to do the timing belt/water pump. The work was fine, just wondering if there is a auto shop in Seattle/Bellevue that can do it cheaper . .. assuming the actuator really is the issue.

 

[iraqsux]

i paid $690 for toyota to do my water pump, timing belt, all drive belts, thermostat and coolant flush. if i were you i would take it to toyota. thats what they work on all day everyday. and im sure they would have a better idea of whats wrong... i took my 4runner to titus will toyota in tacoma.

 

[theizzardking]

turn key here in lynnwood/everett is very good and very fair, they have a look for me all the time for free and help out quite a bit, plus they just like to hang around and b.s. about yota's always a +!

Turn Key Auto Service for Everett, Edmonds, Mukilteo, Millcreek, Snohomish County, King County

anyways, if you want to get together with some fo the seattle crew and try swapping out the fluids and some of the more basic fixes, i'm down, i would really like to know a bit more about how our 4x4 system works, and from my understanding swapping out an actuator isn't that bad at all, messy but not bad.


let us know whats up, cheers.

 

[Hepar]

I think Greg's is a ripoff, but that's just from my experience. I once had them do a full service on my '91 4Runner and the next day after picking it up my battery was dead. I took it back to them and they wanted to charge me $45 to test it. Now, I'm not saying that it wasn't anything more than a coincidence that my battery died so close to having a full service done on it, but if I were running a good shop, the last thing I would do is charge someone just to test a battery.

Try Len's Auto in Bellevue. I think they have a great shop. A bunch of old school mechanics in there.