Rack and Pinion Work

Quick Update... I had been putting it off but I finally made an appointment to take it to Toyota to get checked out.

They charged me $150 to take a look at it and provide an estimate.  Turns out the issue doesn't seem to have been with the rack and pinion like they first said.  The found that the transmission mounting bracket was a bit loose.  They tightened them back up and the issue now seems to be resolved.

AT $150 it was a bit expensive to have a couple of bolts tightened but it's a lot better than what it could have been. 

Maybe I should start fixing my own cars...but then I rememeber that my uncle always told me to let mechanics fix cars, plumbers plumb, and softwre developers develop software... to each his trade.

Wait Angel, they said it was the rack. Then they didnt and charged you an inspection fee? Damn. Did they look at the rack or just guess when the problem first showed? The dealers usually have a minimum charge of an hour for most stuff. Sorry about the cost. That sucks. It is a lot cheaper though. They could have hammered you and it wouldnt have been the first time I heard that happen.

Glad it wasn't worse buddy!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Wait Angel, they said it was the rack. Then they didnt and charged you an inspection fee? Damn. Did they look at the rack or just guess when the problem first showed? The dealers usually have a minimum charge of an hour for most stuff. Sorry about the cost. That sucks. It is a lot cheaper though. They could have hammered you and it wouldnt have been the first time I heard that happen.

When I first took it in one of the sales guys put it on the rack and took a quick look...it was late and he was the only guy there.  He said he was a mechanic before.  His quick look seemed to show that it was a bushing in the rack and pinion that was missing.  I did think it was a bit odd though that you would hear the noise both when you turned the wheels and when you got in and out of the truck.  The fact that it made the noise when turning the wheel made me think he might be right about it being the rack and pinion.

I took it in for an inspection today to get an "official" estimate.  That costed $150.  During the inspection the real techs found that it was just some bolts that were a bit loose.

Paying $150 to have some bolts tightened sucks, no doubt, but I'd rather be sure that the truck is in top shape when I'm out doing some of the silly stuff I do.  Now it's on to replacing the tires... I need some descent AT's.

Quick Update... I had been putting it off but I finally made an appointment to take it to Toyota to get checked out.

They charged me $150 to take a look at it and provide an estimate.  Turns out the issue doesn't seem to have been with the rack and pinion like they first said.  The found that the transmission mounting bracket was a bit loose.  They tightened them back up and the issue now seems to be resolved.

AT $150 it was a bit expensive to have a couple of bolts tightened but it's a lot better than what it could have been. 

Maybe I should start fixing my own cars...but then I rememeber that my uncle always told me to let mechanics fix cars, plumbers plumb, and softwre developers develop software... to each his trade.

Does that now mean that you can afford some of the teaser flies I picked up from Harry? 

Ah!!! You got ahold of Harry?  I hope he's doing well. That man makes some cool stuff.

Yes I'll take whatever you got from him. I'm running low on flies and haven't had time to learn to tie my own yet.

Thanks Hojo!!! You're a pretty good guy no matter what Art says about you

well if it took them an hour and a half to find the problem and fix it. The price is right, most shops charge 100.00 per hour. When I sold repair manuals for Tractors and they were about 500.00 for the dealer manual. The way to justify the cost was if it saved you 5 hours in the shop plus transport one time. the manual paid for it's self. So if you really don't know what your looking at it there is a saying that applies. "Do it for less and make a mess". Then you end up taking it in to be fixed right. Sorry Like I said if it took 1 and 1/2 hours I'm on the shops side. If it took less then you are right.

Diagnosed and repaired at the dealer for a buck 1/2!  They must like you... flat rate shops have to pay the teck and HE got it done. Glad it's fixed