Dealer's recommendations for 96 Camry. Ouch...

- T
- Tim
  
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posted
20 years ago

Mon, Jul 21, 2003 5:28 PM

Went to a dealership here in Los Angeles. Did oil change+transmission flush. At the end of the invoice I was given the following recommendations (in parentheses are the approximate prices I was also given):

Resealing Engine Oil Pan (395.00) Replacing Trans. Oil Pan Gasket (167.50) Replacing Engine Dog Bone Mount (160.00) Replacing Engine Valve Cover Gasket (158.27)

Now, knowing nothing about the cars I really don't know what all these things mean, if I need to do them and if this is the right price and dealer is not just trying to rip me off. I will of course ask around the regular shops, but do you guys think these things are have to be fix and the price is right. ($1000 is a lot of money for that car; 100,000+ miles, 96, 4 cyl) Thank you in advance. Tim.

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- ROBMURR
  
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posted
20 years ago

Mon, Jul 21, 2003 5:56 PM

If they service the trans the trans gasket should be included in the price. Wow all these prices are outrageous...I wonder what you paid for the oil change and trans flush?

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- Tj
  
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posted
20 years ago

Tue, Jul 22, 2003 1:29 PM

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- Andrew
  
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posted
20 years ago

Thu, Jul 24, 2003 3:50 AM

Those prices are way too high. A 30K-mile service ($290) will include the tranny pan gasket, and that included other things like oil and coolant change, etc.

Stay away from that dealership and try a mechanic specializing in Toyotas in your local area.

Tim wrote:

- B
- Bill
  
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posted
20 years ago

Thu, Oct 30, 2003 10:37 PM

Resealing an oil pan would be done only if it has a hole in it. You should be able to buy one for less than that. I Think that is a rip. Oil pans usually just need a gasket, They have to have the oil pan off to reseal it so to charge you $167.50 to put a $5.00 gasket on it adds insult to injury. I'm not sure about the engine mount. If the car is an automatic you can open the hood, get in the car, put it in drive, hold the brake down, give it some gas, look at the engine from inside the car.....if the engine lifts up then you need an engine mount. If not then you probably do not. The valve cover gasket is another $5.00 part (maybe $10) and is fairly easy to do. Look at the surface where you park your car and if it hasn't leaked "too much" overnight then you might be better off not to do anything at all. The car isn't worth enough to put money into it needlessly. Just keep oil and transmission fluid in it and drive the car.

Bill