Getting a bunch of maintainance done....for a really good price

[johnnyd]

I am trying to get a bunch of things done and get caught up on work my 97 SR5 with the 3.4 V6. I am lucky to have a good mechanic to take it too....he has his own shop and has been a mechanic for over 25 years. Does great work.

Next week I am getting the following done:

New Timing Belt/Water Pump.
All 3 belts (A/C, PS and Alt) replaced.
Trans service (drain, new filter, new fluid)
Both Valve Cover gaskets replaced.

And...All for approx. 600 bucks. I think that is a really good deal. What do you guys think. I have seen people pay that or more just for the Timing belt and Water pump.

 

[4-Ripcord]

mhmm, good price indeed.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Good price but be careful on the quality of the parts. Timing belt and water pump I personally would only go OEM.

 

[LittleCaesar]

+1 with PitBull's postulation.

Also check the idlers, tensioner, and thermostat and replace if needed.

 

[JayRolla]

If the parts are toyota OEM than its a good deal. No madder what he says, go with OEM. Buy the parts yourself and have him install them.

 

[johnnyd]

Thanks for the advice. I will talk to him about it. I talked to him, face to face earlier today. He is the most honest mechanic I have personally ever used. He won't do things that don't need to be done and sometimes almost makes me feel guilty with what he charges....a example of what kind of guy he is, He did some work on my honda s2000 a while back.

When I dropped it off, I told him I was going to change the oil and filter in it when I got it home, had it in the trunk. When I went to pick it up, he had done it for me with a new crush washer on the drain plug and everything, NO CHARGE. Pretty cool in my book.

 

[Tom P.]

Marry him.

 

[JayRolla]

Thanks for the advice. I will talk to him about it. I talked to him, face to face earlier today. He is the most honest mechanic I have personally ever used. He won't do things that don't need to be done and sometimes almost makes me feel guilty with what he charges....a example of what kind of guy he is, He did some work on my honda s2000 a while back.

When I dropped it off, I told him I was going to change the oil and filter in it when I got it home, had it in the trunk. When I went to pick it up, he had done it for me with a new crush washer on the drain plug and everything, NO CHARGE. Pretty cool in my book.

That is pretty cool, its hard to find an honest mechanic. But I worked as a mechanic and if you charge regular labor prices you feel you are ripping the customer off hands down. $75 an hour is rediculous for the type of work done.

 

[96743runner]

Assuming quality parts are used, that is a really good price. A local reputable shop in my area charges $500 for the timing belt and labor.

 

[johnnyd]

He uses quality parts. He really knows his stuff. I let him work on my Honda s2000, which is kind of my baby and on my girlfriends Porsche Boxster (he REALLY saved me a ton on that one) with zero problems on anything.

He's just a stand up guy, who is fair and is busy all the time, and with good reason.

I just realized I need to post some pics of my rig on here, not sure why I haven't done that yet.

 

[chimpy]

Marry him.

:iagree:

 

[t4rdude]

Would you mind sharing your mechanics info? I need to do a tbelt on mine, have all the parts just not the experience. Thanks!