I had the head gasket recall performed on my 1993 4Runner in 1998 at 80,000 miles. The dealer that performed this recall said that they sent my car off-site to have it fixed. They had my vehicle for 3 weeks and drove it 20 miles, and they stole all my CDs in the car!

Now it is 2007 and 45,000 miles later. I took it to a different dealership and found out that I have low compression in cylinder #3, two blown head gaskets, and a burnt valve. Since my engine was being taken apart, the dealership recommended having a new timing belt, knock sensor wire, water pump, cap rotor wires, thermostat, and a new radiator. They estimate the bill at $4,100!!! I am in complete shock! Is $4,100 the normal price for this amount of work?

I talked to the service manager and he said that he doubted that the recall was ever performed on my car! He said that he would talk to Toyota and see what he could do. I am picking up my car tomorrow. I am trying to decide if I should get the old head gaskets when I pick up my car. Do you guys think that someone could look at the blown head gaskets and tell if they are the updated ones that were used during the recall?

Any help would be appreciated!

 

$4,100 is roughly what a 1993 4Runner with a V6 is worth(just had to look that up on kelley blue book to be sure). So you ought to be able to buy at least a new engine for that. I'm sorry, I just can not imagine paying what the vehicle is worth just to repair it. BUY ANOTHER ONE! Sorry, I'll go now.

 

4100 is not normal for that kind of work. Shop around. Local shop is maybe around 1500 to 2000 or bring it over to my garage and I'll do it for you for 1500 or 1000 depend though...

 

All the parts they are saying replace is a good idea. But that price is typical dealer pricing. You should be able to get it done for under $2000.00 labor included.

 

Anyone else took their 4runner into the dealership for the head gasket recall, and find out later it was never done? Even the service manager thinks my old dealership was fraudulent and never performed the recall. Can't they tell from the head gaskets they removed from my car. Isn't there a part number stamped into them?

 

The dealership probably just put some new gaskets in and didn't replace the headbolts or check to see if the heads were warped and that is why it blew again.

 

Dealers steal in regards to labor.
They look labor up in a book. The book has nothing to do with actual labor.
They may charge 3 hours to do a water pump.
They may charge 4 hours to do a timing belt.
That's a total of 7 hours labor.

Thing is, to do the timing belt, it only adds an additional 1/2 hour to replace the water pump. Doesn't matter.. Doesn't matter if the mechanic has worked on 1000 3.0L and can do it in 1/2 the time. Such is the retail market of the auto industry.

Mechanics are paid to do the jobs fast.. The more jobs they complete, the more they get paid. What you are billed has nothing to do with actual hours.

Go independent.

Challenge the shop that replaced your HGs. They should have a basic warranty.