Recommended Services from Dealership

[pb1216]

Just got back from the dealership today after getting my oil changed.

Here are the suggestions they recommended:

- Dog Bone cracked ($116 to replace)
- Need new Air Filter ($25 to replace)
- Oil Pan Leaking (no estimate to fix)
- Tran Pan Leaking (no estimate to fix)
- Check Engine Light on (Diag $112)

I have a local mechanic that I go to for repairs. Should I have all the above fixed? What should I expect in terms of prices?

[cf99]

Comments in-line below:

Originally Posted by pb1216

Just got back from the dealership today after getting my oil changed.

Here are the suggestions they recommended:

- Dog Bone cracked ($116 to replace)
>>Never done this myself but I've seen a Youtube video replacing this and it looked fairly routine. I'd wait for others to confirm though.

- Need new Air Filter ($25 to replace)
>>Easy DIY. I think the filter is around 15 bucks from dealer

- Oil Pan Leaking (no estimate to fix)
>>Common for the gasket to deteriorate with age and not necessarily any indication of a problem. Recent estimate I got to remove pan and replace gasket plus oil and filter change was $175. Essentially includes being billed for an oil change as a regular hourly-rate job, with pan gasket R&R added in. I think it's billed as 1 labor hour (~$90-100 per hr) so the rest is parts and oil.

- Tran Pan Leaking (no estimate to fix)
>>Same deal with leakage due to age. I had this done recently, including fluid drain and refill. 1 labor hour and around 40-50 bucks in parts, fluid.


- Check Engine Light on (Diag $112)
>>Can't help with that one. Replace the air filter first, and this would be next highest on the list to fix probably.

I have a local mechanic that I go to for repairs. Should I have all the above fixed? What should I expect in terms of prices?

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by pb1216

Just got back from the dealership today after getting my oil changed.

Here are the suggestions they recommended:

- Dog Bone cracked ($116 to replace)
- Need new Air Filter ($25 to replace)
- Oil Pan Leaking (no estimate to fix)
- Tran Pan Leaking (no estimate to fix)
- Check Engine Light on (Diag $112)

I have a local mechanic that I go to for repairs. Should I have all the above fixed? What should I expect in terms of prices?

new dog bone from dealer online cost about $30. time to replace, 2 minutes.

air filter, you can use any $15 air filter from auto parts store like Purolator or FRAM, they are fine on this one. time to replace, 30 seconds.

oil pan leaking is normal on older cars, don't worry about it now unless it's pissing oil. seeping is fine. besides it's possible that oil actually seeps from source above the oil pan gasket (e.g. valve cover or cam/crank seal timing area) and only makes it look like gasket itself is leaking.

trans pan leaking, get a transmission kit (pan gasket and strainer around $30 aftermarket or $50 OEM online) and buy a few quarts of decent ATF fluid (e.g. Castrol IMV or Valvoline MaxLife or Mobil1 full synthetic ATF), drain it, unbolt the pan (17 bolts for V6, 15 bolts for i4 model), drop the pan, clean pan, clean magnets, replace gasket, replace strainer (3 bolts), re-install using torque wrench on all bolts (1/4'' drive, from HFT is like $20-30). time about 2 hours with bringing the new ATF refill to proper level.

check engine light. go to Autozone or Advance Auto parts and they will scan it for you for free on any car 96+.

[JohnGD]

^ +1.

You should be able to change the dog bone with a basic 3/8" socket set (it would be easier with a longer breaker bar however). Or tap on the ratchet end with a wood block if the bolts are tight. You can order Toyota parts online for these items as suggested.

As far as oil pan leaks check the spark plug tube nuts that hold down the valve cover. They're probably loose - causing a vacuum leak which can lead to oil leaks. Change the PCV valve and grommet (<$10, the grommet can get brittle, crack and fall into the cover, so be careful).

Transmission pan leak - get an ATF kit (gasket and strainer, ~$20). Have the mechanic drop the pan for you and change them out. Make sure the differential fluid is replaced too. I'm not sure if the Fram ATF kit includes both gasket and strainer like they used to. But Autozone and NAPA have them too.

What year is your car. If it uses OBD-II Autozone in some states read them for free, but not in Calif I heard. So just get one from Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/can-obd...enu-98568.html

Originally Posted by pb1216

Just got back from the dealership today after getting my oil changed.

Here are the suggestions they recommended:

- Dog Bone cracked ($116 to replace)
- Need new Air Filter ($25 to replace)
- Oil Pan Leaking (no estimate to fix)
- Tran Pan Leaking (no estimate to fix)
- Check Engine Light on (Diag $112)

I have a local mechanic that I go to for repairs. Should I have all the above fixed? What should I expect in terms of prices?

[njwrestler07]

i have a slight leak on my trans, i have a I4 auto, i was told its a bad seal, and who trans has to be pulled to get to, this is coming from a mechanic at my step father's shop, the whole trans!?!? wtf lol

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by njwrestler07

i have a slight leak on my trans, i have a I4 auto, i was told its a bad seal, and who trans has to be pulled to get to, this is coming from a mechanic at my step father's shop, the whole trans!?!? wtf lol

try Lucas Transmission Fix:
http://www.lucasoil.com/products/dis...smission%20Fix

it may stop the leaky gasket. of course eventually it will need repair, but Lucas may allow you to temporarily fix it.

[njwrestler07]

i may as well replace the seal, im keeping it as my commuter car, im going to run this thing until it dies, well, it didnt want to stay idling earlier, i had to keep giving it throttle so it wouldnt stall until i drove it for a minute, lets hope this isnt a sign

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by njwrestler07

i may as well replace the seal, im keeping it as my commuter car, im going to run this thing until it dies, well, it didnt want to stay idling earlier, i had to keep giving it throttle so it wouldnt stall until i drove it for a minute, lets hope this isnt a sign

that's a sign of dirty IAC valve most likely, nothing transmission related.

spray some TB cleaner into tb and IAC hole and clean with tooth brush (make sure there is no rubber parts on it that may stay inside IAC):
How to: Cleaning Throttle Body -4 Cylinder Engines- With Pictures

[pb1216]

Hey you hijacked my thread lol

I have a 1999 Toyota Camry and live in California.

How would you rank my repairs in order of importance?

[bdy0003]

If your dog bone mount is cracked, chances are the other engine mounts are worn too; so I would get those three mounts replaced.

1. Get the check engine light diagnosed and fixed. You won't pass smog otherwise.
2. Get the oil pan and transmission pan sealed up. You should NEVER starve your engine of oil, esp the I4 engines.
3. Engine mounts
4. Air filter-- the easiest fix ever

Lastly, I hope you didn't go to Mossy Toyota cause they charge an arm and a leg, at least for parts. The dealership in Poway was much cheaper.

Edit: For the check engine light: You might want to see if you can get the error code for free and then come back to this forum to see what ppl have to say. Some say autozone lets you use it for free and others don't. Call the nearest one (the only one I know of is in Mira Mesa) and ask if they will do it for free.

[pb1216]

ok so I just got back from PepBoys and here's what they said regarding the check engine light:

1) For free, I could just get the error code

2) for $89, I could get the diag (cheaper than the $112 from the dealership)

If I chose the free option, is there anywhere on the web or would you guys know what that code means?

Let me know.

thanks in advance!

[uibalnme]

Take the free option, then search the forums for the code. Takes a little more time, but it'll be $0 out of pocket.

[pb1216]

ok so I went to PepBoys and got the free check engine light to get the following error code:

P0401

Exhaust gas recirculation flow - insuffiency detected

What do you think could be the problem?

[ajkalian]

Originally Posted by pb1216

ok so I went to PepBoys and got the free check engine light to get the following error code:

P0401

Exhaust gas recirculation flow - insuffiency detected

What do you think could be the problem?

You might try this.... http://lmgtfy.com/?q=P0401