I take good care of my car—if the dealer tells me I need something, I pretty much go along with it (spacing out the $500 recommended options as much as I can). So when the check engine light comes on, off I go.
Yesterday, however, it was the check engine light PLUS the ABS and BRAKE lights. 88| The ABS and BRAKE lights did eventually go off, but I still made the appointment.
The first |-| is the $95 just to diagnose the issue. Then the >:XX came with the return call:
- THE MUST FIX: $595 to replace the ECU (electronic control unit)—oh, not life or death, but “your speedometer may not work correctly”
- RECOMMENDED: $470 to change the timing belts (due soon)
- RECOMMENDED: $598 to flush all the fluids (due soon)
- RECOMMENDED: $94 for a new battery (apparently mine is still original and they’re only supposed to last for 5-6 years—and the car is on 7)
Of course we don’t have the money to do any of this right now (otherwise we may not have rent next month)…so I am in the process of making another appointment with another place to see what they say (and what their prices are).
It just stinks because I trusted my last dealership wholeheartedly and never questioned them…but in a new city with a new dealership, I am leery. I hate to pay another diagnostic fee, but I guess the benefit is it will either tell me that the Toyota dealership is dead on (and I can continue to go there) or they are way off and I just saved myself a lot of money and found a new, trustworthy place.
Hey—I wonder if I could pay them in office supplies? 😀