At least that is what a shop tried to do for me today. I am still trying to figure out why, let me explain. (Please help me with this)
Brief History: 1995 FZJ80 174,000
Have had the cruiser about a month now, knew it had an oil leak when I bought, figured rear main (didn't know about pan arch til MUD). The leak has gotten progressively worse. Time to take it in.
I researched MUD for all possibilities, rear main (RM) and pan arch(PA) came up, I gathered that the PA was more common than the RM, is that correct?
Took to Toyota dealership, they said RM was leaking, but that PA might be too, and that RM's sometimes ruin the crank by gouging it, just as an FYI though, not that mine had. RM $700, PA $500
Called another shop with Toyota in their name (to remain nameless at this time, not trying to smear them if everything is legit) but not a dealership, that I found while searching this site. Told him the situation, he said Toyota dealerships just have a bunch of kids working there and all the good techs have opened up their own shops. Stated the RM's rarely go out on these, he's been a tech for 30yrs and it has always been the upper pan gasket leaking on these.
Made sense to me and was congruent with the research I had done.
Took the truck in this morning, he called me a couple hours later, said he did the mirror check and it was definitely the PA leaking and not the RM. I said to go ahead and fix it and he said he would have it done today or tomorrow morning.
He called me about four hours later said, "Just come get your truck, I'm not going to charge you for the work I did today, it still has a little leak, but I'm not going to charge you, just come and get it." This surprised me, I asked him why and he started acting evasive.
When I arrived at the shop he said the RM is leaking, but that he fixed the PA and wasn't going to charge me. (I don't know of ANY mechanics who work for free) I asked for an explanation, he said he fixed one leak and another one started, he wasn't equipped to work on vehicles with such modifications (OME lift and gears only drive train mod) I pointed to the lifted FJ40 with a V-8 just through the window in his shop, no explanation. Just asked to leave and said didn't want to work on my truck again.
Sorry this is so long winded but a lot happened.
He refused to give me any paper work stating he had worked on the truck, only that he had "inspected it for an oil leak" I wanted documentation that he had removed the oil pans and performed that work, in case any problems followed me home. He said the only way he would write a ticket was if I paid for the work. I told him I would rather pay $500 and have proof that he was in my motor than walk out empty handed, this surprised him.
After much debating and not much explaining (and him calling me names, and a PITA with a POS Land Cruiser, [it ain't shiny, but its no POS] I had two shops inspect it before purchase and both gave a clean bill of health sans the oil leak, and I was being very nice for me in a situation like this, not a PITA!) I had to practically demand he take my $500 so that I had documentation/WO. He seemed to be hiding something, does anyone have any idea what I should look for after work like that is performed where there may be damage. He wanted me to walk out of there with no paperwork and therefore no recourse!
Thank you to anyone with ideas and for making it through all that I wrote. I left many details out to keep this shorter.
This BL*WS!! What do you think???
Brief History: 1995 FZJ80 174,000
Have had the cruiser about a month now, knew it had an oil leak when I bought, figured rear main (didn't know about pan arch til MUD). The leak has gotten progressively worse. Time to take it in.
I researched MUD for all possibilities, rear main (RM) and pan arch(PA) came up, I gathered that the PA was more common than the RM, is that correct?
Took to Toyota dealership, they said RM was leaking, but that PA might be too, and that RM's sometimes ruin the crank by gouging it, just as an FYI though, not that mine had. RM $700, PA $500
Called another shop with Toyota in their name (to remain nameless at this time, not trying to smear them if everything is legit) but not a dealership, that I found while searching this site. Told him the situation, he said Toyota dealerships just have a bunch of kids working there and all the good techs have opened up their own shops. Stated the RM's rarely go out on these, he's been a tech for 30yrs and it has always been the upper pan gasket leaking on these.
Made sense to me and was congruent with the research I had done.
Took the truck in this morning, he called me a couple hours later, said he did the mirror check and it was definitely the PA leaking and not the RM. I said to go ahead and fix it and he said he would have it done today or tomorrow morning.
He called me about four hours later said, "Just come get your truck, I'm not going to charge you for the work I did today, it still has a little leak, but I'm not going to charge you, just come and get it." This surprised me, I asked him why and he started acting evasive.
When I arrived at the shop he said the RM is leaking, but that he fixed the PA and wasn't going to charge me. (I don't know of ANY mechanics who work for free) I asked for an explanation, he said he fixed one leak and another one started, he wasn't equipped to work on vehicles with such modifications (OME lift and gears only drive train mod) I pointed to the lifted FJ40 with a V-8 just through the window in his shop, no explanation. Just asked to leave and said didn't want to work on my truck again.
Sorry this is so long winded but a lot happened.
He refused to give me any paper work stating he had worked on the truck, only that he had "inspected it for an oil leak" I wanted documentation that he had removed the oil pans and performed that work, in case any problems followed me home. He said the only way he would write a ticket was if I paid for the work. I told him I would rather pay $500 and have proof that he was in my motor than walk out empty handed, this surprised him.
After much debating and not much explaining (and him calling me names, and a PITA with a POS Land Cruiser, [it ain't shiny, but its no POS] I had two shops inspect it before purchase and both gave a clean bill of health sans the oil leak, and I was being very nice for me in a situation like this, not a PITA!) I had to practically demand he take my $500 so that I had documentation/WO. He seemed to be hiding something, does anyone have any idea what I should look for after work like that is performed where there may be damage. He wanted me to walk out of there with no paperwork and therefore no recourse!
Thank you to anyone with ideas and for making it through all that I wrote. I left many details out to keep this shorter.
This BL*WS!! What do you think???
