Wow My Mechanic Is Expensive...

[Bigmikelakers]

I just came back from having my mechanic check over my car. I had a few concerns. Nothing serious though. Here's what I wanted him to check out for me:

1. My idle has been kind of strange lately. When I start it up and throw it in reverse, it sometimes tries to go under 500 rpm and I feel more shaking like its trying to cut off. My mechanic said it could be the throttle body and he wanted 330 bucks just to clean it. Then he also added that since I have high miles (173K), that the cleaning may not work and that I may need a new throttle body which is 1400 bucks! Do you guys think that idle problem is the throttle body? Or could it even be from the cheap spark plug/coil pack that the mechanic in Arizona installed when I had car trouble out there?

2. I noticed my right blinker is acting up. When I first start my car it takes a few jiggles on the right blinker stick before it actually starts to work. My mechanic said he wanted 550 bucks for that. Is this a big deal? Do you think its going to go out completely one day and that I will be stuck without a turn signal?

3. This is no big deal to me. I was just curious. But, I asked him if he could fix my antenna (I know about the tacoma whip mod). As I do miss listening to FM radio. He said the part to fix it was 330 bucks! Looks like I'll be listening to CD's and Ipod's for now on.

Overall, are these prices the norm in most cases for what I would need? My God, I wouldn't think it would cost over 500 bucks just to fix the right blinker.

 

[Qyota]

1. could be a lot of things. Idle Air Control valve comes to mind, or the Mass Air Flow sensor, or a dirty throttle body (which you can clean yourself...see the tutorial reference sticky). $330 to clean it is outrageous, yes.

2. Again, could be a problem with the bulb itself, the bulb connection, the wiring, or the stalk itself. If it's the stalk, you could find a used one at a junkyard and put it in (or find one from someone parting out a T4R in the classifieds). Wouldn't surprise me if this is a several hundred dollar part from Toyota. Install shouldn't take more than an hour, I'd think.

3. The power antenna is expensive, yes. Replacement is probably an hour anyway...so there's another $80 or so, on top of the part.

Sounds to me like you need to get dirty, my friend. Your mechanic may be over-quoting on a few things, but really these are things you can diagnose and fix yourself. That's why you're here, right?

 

[Shibby!]

I just came back from having my mechanic check over my car. I had a few concerns. Nothing serious though. Here's what I wanted him to check out for me:

1. My idle has been kind of strange lately. When I start it up and throw it in reverse, it sometimes tries to go under 500 rpm and I feel more shaking like its trying to cut off. My mechanic said it could be the throttle body and he wanted 330 bucks just to clean it. Then he also added that since I have high miles (173K), that the cleaning may not work and that I may need a new throttle body which is 1400 bucks! Do you guys think that idle problem is the throttle body? Or could it even be from the cheap spark plug/coil pack that the mechanic in Arizona installed when I had car trouble out there?

2. I noticed my right blinker is acting up. When I first start my car it takes a few jiggles on the right blinker stick before it actually starts to work. My mechanic said he wanted 550 bucks for that. Is this a big deal? Do you think its going to go out completely one day and that I will be stuck without a turn signal?

3. This is no big deal to me. I was just curious. But, I asked him if he could fix my antenna (I know about the tacoma whip mod). As I do miss listening to FM radio. He said the part to fix it was 330 bucks! Looks like I'll be listening to CD's and Ipod's for now on.

Overall, are these prices the norm in most cases for what I would need? My God, I wouldn't think it would cost over 500 bucks just to fix the right blinker.

Use this forum to research your issues. In general the info here is more, or better then your mechanic would know.

Cleaning your throttle body takes a screwdriver, some TB cleaner, and like 30 minutes. Total cost to you other then time? Probably 6 dollars and an old rag.


Your idle can be a few things. Likely to be fairly simple. Might be as simple as the throttle position sensor. I think it's 60$ and a stubby screwdriving to change. 15 minutes.

Tacoma whip mod? I think that's about $30 dollars and maybe 1hour.

 

[4runner15]

where does your mechanic get his weed from?

 

[Bigmikelakers]

Yeah guys, I think I may have to do some shopping around to other mechanics and try to work on some of this stuff myself. If I had a walkthrough of sorts with the tools I need and a step by step tutorial for the throttle body or something like that then I'll give it a shot. I'm a starving student. I need to save my money and use it for other things. I think with my mechanic he only orders OEM parts from the Toyota stealership so maybe thats another reason why he's super expensive. Could I just get a non OEM blinker assembly?

 

[IanB]

Yeah guys, I think I may have to do some shopping around to other mechanics and try to work on some of this stuff myself. If I had a walkthrough of sorts with the tools I need and a step by step tutorial for the throttle body or something like that then I'll give it a shot. I'm a starving student. I need to save my money and use it for other things. I think with my mechanic he only orders OEM parts from the Toyota stealership so maybe thats another reason why he's super expensive. Could I just get a non OEM blinker assembly?

Download the factory service manual, and you'll have step-by-step instructions for just about anything you'll ever NEED to do to this vehicle. If you don't mind spending some time researching, and doing, then it's a great way to save some money, learn about your truck, and it can be fun. You can build up a pretty good collection of tools if you spend your money there instead of on labor at the mechanic.

If you're just starting out, then it can help to have a mechanic diagnose the problem (your mechanic sounds like he was simply guessing, and quoting out of thin air on most of these items), and then go home and figure out if the repair is something your capable of, or what you would need to gather in order to do the work yourself.

The throttle body itself doesn't really wear out, it can be cleaned, and any sensors can be replaced (with the possible exception of the TPS, some are rivetted on), so there shouldn't be any need to consider replacing it IMO.

Search for answers, ask if you can't find them, and definitely download the service manual. The more you fix on your own, the more confidence you'll have when the next job comes along. Everyone starts out somewhere, nobody is born a mechanic.

 

[fish0281]

As everyone else has said - that can all easily be done yourself and this forum is a GREAT resource to help you learn and get it all done.

Have you tried manually extending the antenna to get a stronger signal? My antenna motor doesn't work, but I leave it half way extended and my signal is great.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Big Mike, when you came by and grabbed that cargo cover a while back, my mechanic is about 1/2 mile from there.

Far journey for you, but if you desperately need a real mechanic who knows Toyotas better than their own technicians, come on by and I'll introduce you two.

FrankM23 came down all the way from Burbank. His last mechanic screwed up his top end and bolted in lots of things backwards. His valves were nowhere near adjusted correctly. It was the best choice he ever made coming down here.

John, my mechanic, will probably take care of all of those problems for less than the quote for the throttle body cleaning, lol!

 

[Bigmikelakers]

Big Mike, when you came by and grabbed that cargo cover a while back, my mechanic is about 1/2 mile from there.

Far journey for you, but if you desperately need a real mechanic who knows Toyotas better than their own technicians, come on by and I'll introduce you two.

FrankM23 came down all the way from Burbank. His last mechanic screwed up his top end and bolted in lots of things backwards. His valves were nowhere near adjusted correctly. It was the best choice he ever made coming down here.

John, my mechanic, will probably take care of all of those problems for less than the quote for the throttle body cleaning, lol!

Yeah! I remember we talked about him. I'll come down there real soon so you can introduce me to him.

Another thing, where can we download the service manual?

 

[waketek516]

Big Mike, when you came by and grabbed that cargo cover a while back, my mechanic is about 1/2 mile from there.

Far journey for you, but if you desperately need a real mechanic who knows Toyotas better than their own technicians, come on by and I'll introduce you two.

FrankM23 came down all the way from Burbank. His last mechanic screwed up his top end and bolted in lots of things backwards. His valves were nowhere near adjusted correctly. It was the best choice he ever made coming down here.

John, my mechanic, will probably take care of all of those problems for less than the quote for the throttle body cleaning, lol!

COB - What shop is your mechanic at? I'm over in Costa Mesa, and am having a hard time finding someone I trust. Most of my friends have newer cars under warranty so they're no help. Might be worth the drive over there if they know their ****.:cowboy:

 

[cj80cruiser]

Yeah! I remember we talked about him. I'll come down there real soon so you can introduce me to him.

Another thing, where can we download the service manual?

Look at the links in my signature.

 

[Suprareal]

@Bigmikelakers
dont we go to the same school? I'll be your new mechanic for these issues haha

 

[Bigmikelakers]

@Bigmikelakers
dont we go to the same school? I'll be your new mechanic for these issues haha

Still at LBCC? I transferred to CSULB. Would you really be my mechanic?

 

[coinball]

FYI the turn signal stalk is like $150 from Toyota and can be easily changed in about 20 minutes; I had to replace mine when I bought my ride as the right turn signal didn't work about 10% of the time.

 

[Suprareal]

where does your mechanic get his weed from?

EVERY thread with the spambots.

 

[Suprareal]

Still at LBCC? I transferred to CSULB. Would you really be my mechanic?

yeah LBCC i might try transfering to CSULB next semester.
I can help you out with the couple of issues you listed here.. throttle body, antenna and probably blinker. Im no mechanic (still learning the ways) but ive done my throttle body and antenna already to my truck and im good with wiring so i can probably figure out the blinker.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

COB - What shop is your mechanic at? I'm over in Costa Mesa, and am having a hard time finding someone I trust. Most of my friends have newer cars under warranty so they're no help. Might be worth the drive over there if they know their ****.:cowboy:

His shop is called Japanese Car Specialties, located here in Mission Viejo.

This guy is the best. I started going to him for things I couldn't do back in the day, I've since become good friends with him. He's the only guy allowed to touch my 4Runner. He was the one who helped me through my 4WD conversion/5 speed swap.

John drives nothing but Toyota pickups. Does incredible work, one of his rides is a 1985 solid axle pickup, 22RE Turbo swap and 5-speed swap. Can do 3RZ and 5VZ work with his eyes closed. No problem can get past him.

I'll even meet you there if you want, I've been known to turn a few wrenches there. I've recommended many T4R members there before, all left completely satisfied.

Japanese Car Specialties
25672 Taladro Circle #H
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
949-583-0811

His wife, Wendy, does all of the phone work, be sure to tell her that James with the 4Runner told you to call.

:thumb3:

Random pics at work, open Mon-Fri 8-5PM.

Installing my CV axles and a 95 in for head gaskets:

My 87 at the shop, taking out the exhaust to inspect the turbo:

His 85 SFA EFI Turbo 5-speed swap truck alongside my 99 4Runner:

My 2000 donor truck:

99 and 2000 during 4WD conversion:

My 99 and another customers 97:

The man himself, John Najem, shortening the input shaft on my R150F manual trans:

 

[farmerjon]

His shop is called Japanese Car Specialties, located here in Mission Viejo.

This guy is the best. I started going to him for things I couldn't do back in the day, I've since become good friends with him. He's the only guy allowed to touch my 4Runner. He was the one who helped me through my 4WD conversion/5 speed swap.

John drives nothing but Toyota pickups. Does incredible work, one of his rides is a 1985 solid axle pickup, 22RE Turbo swap and 5-speed swap. Can do 3RZ and 5VZ work with his eyes closed. No problem can get past him.

I'll even meet you there if you want, I've been known to turn a few wrenches there. I've recommended many T4R members there before, all left completely satisfied, the last being FrankM23 (all the way from Burbank!) for his 3RZ valve adjustment.

Japanese Car Specialties
25672 Taladro Circle #H
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
949-583-0811

His wife, Wendy, does all of the phone work, be sure to tell her that James with the 4Runner told you to call.

:thumb3:

Wished I lived in CA for access to this guy! Jealous!

 

[Bigmikelakers]

yeah LBCC i might try transfering to CSULB next semester.
I can help you out with the couple of issues you listed here.. throttle body, antenna and probably blinker. Im no mechanic (still learning the ways) but ive done my throttle body and antenna already to my truck and im good with wiring so i can probably figure out the blinker.

I didn't think CSULB was taking Spring transfers in 13. Thats cool though. But yeah I would like to do those things so I can learn for the future. I'll PM you.

Thanks, COB. I think I'm gonna start going to your guy if he is cheaper and he seems just as knowledge about 4runners as you. Mission Viejo is about 50 miles from me but if I find a good mechanic I'll do the drive no problem. I think I know where I'm getting my valve cover gaskets replaced.

 

[Suprareal]

I didn't think CSULB was taking Spring transfers in 13. Thats cool though. But yeah I would like to do those things so I can learn for the future. I'll PM you.

I heard that too, something i need to look into more. And alright cool.