Realteeyee123:


Wow just diagnosis 15k e never even start work ooo it means to fix it would cost like 30k ooo

Realteeyee123:
Quite a lengthy post but it's worth it

I drive a 2012 Toyota Corolla thumbstart, and the car has been giving me lots of issues, the gear lever area always gets hot when I drive the car for less than 20 minutes, the ABS was bad, and as a result the steering was stiff and the brake light was on, plus the ABS light too, the metal and bearing was damaged due to poor servicing over the years, car was bought brand new though, the legs were all bad, and lots of smaller issue.

I took the car to Toyota place and they said I should pay 50k for a diagnostic scan which I did, and less than a week later they called and said to fix the car would cost me 3.5m naira I just quietly parked the car at home, and this month I decided to gather some money and fix it.

You won't believe I spent a total of 180k to fix all the issues.

I gave my mechanic really experienced guy not a kazeem , 100k and he fixed the Gear stuff, legs replaced the metal and bearing, painter also painted the front and back bumpers too, Plugs and coil, etc but the steering was still stiff and the speedometer wasn't working still, he said I needed to change the ABS.

I bought ABS at Ladipo for 50k paid the guy that connected it 5k, paid a scanner guy 5k to scan for all codes both ABS and check engine, and we noticed after fixing the ABS the steering was still stiff and speedometer didn't work, the code was a leg sensor issue bought it and everything came back to life, ABS light went off speedometer worked and steering was very free, but after some time ABS light came back and we scanned again and it said the passenger sensor is also bad, but it doesn't affect the steering and speedometer side it's the driver sensor that controls that, so would buy that this week. In total I spent 180k to put the car back on the road.


The only light showing on the dashboard currently is the ABS light due to the passenger side sensor I'm yet to change and the Airbag light, no codes again. When we scanned, and car drives really well

What I've learnt from all this is all these companies place like Toyota, Honda place, Coscharis, their charges are crazy and expensive, a job of less than 200k they can say 3m so funny

Pls share your experience if you have visited one of this places before and what was it like compared to when you fixed the car with our local mechanic,

anthonyuncle:
truth is, the service center of these companies don't repair parts, they change them.
they have to import these parts direct from the company's manufacturing factory. the cost will involve cost of the original part plus cost of its importation plus profit.

my issue with this your case is that you can use that amount they charged you (₦3.5m) to get clean toks of that same model, and they know this.

400billionman:


I just came to car talk because I want to buy another car. The last car I was using, my mechanic was busy extorting me like the Toyota guys you mentioned.

My car had exactly all the issues that you mentioned above.

To my greatest surprise, the mechanic said I needed a new engine. I was like wow, a car that starts and moves, it doesn't smoke, it still drops liquid from its exhaust due to my maintenance routine.

Just that the steering is stiff, the speedometer stopped reading and the day it stopped reading, I left your shop that day and noticed it. Then it doesn't accelerate fast, which he attributed to gear failure. He referred me to one gear guy and both of them kept extorting me endlessly, since I disagreed with giving him money for new engine. Everyday, they will tell me it's a new fault.

Oga, after I sold my car, the buyer told me the car needed a new radiator. I now remembered that the first time this car had such issues, there was a radiator overheat on the expressway that day and evaporation. So I just replaced coolant with water and sped off.

So I came to car talk so that I can start diagnosing my car by myself. I don't mind buying the diagnostic tool. I can't be feeding others under this buhary era for lack of knowledge.

xProfx:


3.5m is an awful lot of money, but you must know that these folks will go the extra mile to fix your car and they use 100% brand new original parts from Toyota which would cost more than what you would get at Ladipo, even if you don't see the difference. Toyota Place makes its money from government auto sales and services... So middle class income isn't their target.

Also, you said your mechanic is "not a kazeem" so I want to believe you value skills and experience, so how much do you think he made from the job despite his experience and hardwork, probably less than 20k right? They can't charge you that at Toyota place obviously.

We don't want to pay high for services but we want the best, that's why there are less people involved in vocational training. Either ways, next time, go to where their services would be commensurate with your income.

bonnyhope:


I am still having the same issue with '07 Corolla, it is slow on acceleration, sometimes the accelerator will be touching the foot but car not moving fast, and also it slows down with high sound
Still looking for solution

xperiencelove:
Changing oil and oil filter of Ford Explorer 2015 at Coscharis cost 196k. Changing the steering rack and general servicing of the same car at the same place cost 760k. The car was bought brand new from the same place.

kayswag100:
Back in 2006, my aunt whom I stayed with had a brand new Corolla of same year bought from Elim Motors.

Time for servicing and when we took the car to Elim motors service center, service charges were in the excess of 20k (mind you, this was in 2006)

Negotiated with one of their mechanics and he came to the house at a later date to do same servicing for less than 5k.

That mechanic took risks Sha because if anything had gone wrong, guess where we would have gone to report to...

bonnyhope:


Pls I need an experienced mechanic for my car, '07 corolla

ghettochild4u:

U started nicely but ur last paragraph was so uncalled for..
If I earn one million a month, that means I must or shd fix my car at a dealership n services CTR like Toyota... So I can give it to an experienced mechanic who doesn't work with or for Toyota.
Na wah for u

Realteeyee123:


Your location Sir, I have someone

400billionman:


They will start telling you its fuel pump. I changed fuel pump 3 times in their hands. Serviced gearbox with costly oil 3 times. And so on.

Mad mechanics. Nah Cashout strategy.

ghettochild4u:

You wouldn't be able to report sef cos una do illegal business..
Company will deny u both n the guy would definitely lose his job.
In essence, the company won't be liable..
And servicing a car doesn't cos gbege Ooo. Unless if he carelessly left certain part not adequately coupled

xProfx:


3.5m is an awful lot of money, but you must know that these folks will go the extra mile to fix your car and they use 100% brand new original parts from Toyota which would cost more than what you would get at Ladipo, even if you don't see the difference. Toyota Place makes its money from government auto sales and services... So middle class income isn't their target.

Also, you said your mechanic is "not a kazeem" so I want to believe you value skills and experience, so how much do you think he made from the job despite his experience and hardwork, probably less than 20k right? They can't charge you that at Toyota place obviously.

We don't want to pay high for services but we want the best, that's why there are less people involved in vocational training. Either ways, next time, go to where their services would be commensurate with your income.

ghettochild4u:

Lol I do that here for less than R2000rand equivalent to 60k.

weyreypey:

Lies

xProfx:


Werepe how far na? Who dey lie? Me abi the oga wey post am?

weyreypey:

Those guys also buy part from ladipo

Elsueno:
An average scanner for personal use is not that expensive. if I will remove like 3-5 million naira to buy a car. I see no reason why I won't add 100-200k to get a good diagnostic tool.

I have most of the tools to fix my car, changing parts etc...
When shyt hits the fan, I go to a mechanic....but we do the work together!

ghettochild4u:

You wouldn't be able to report sef cos una do illegal business..
Company will deny u both n the guy would definitely lose his job.
In essence, the company won't be liable..
And servicing a car doesn't cos gbege Ooo. Unless if he carelessly left certain part not adequately coupled

bonnyhope:

How is that possible that 3.5m will get direct toks of 2012 Corolla
Even '09 model, they are calling the same amount

Realteeyee123:

100-200k for a scanner taught scanner is like 20k or so

jaz:
In 2014 I took my 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander to Mitsubishi office to program a new key fob I bought. They charged me 200k. Mo ya look away. A whole 200k in 2014 oo

id4sho:

hw much did it later cost you?

jaz:
15k at ladipo

Erulog:
Thank you for this post. I’ve been searching for solution since.

Last week my car started displaying “Check Abs” “check brake system”

So I took it to a workshop he said he will fix it without changing the abs, and when the guy brought it back it went from bad to worst.

Steering became very stiff, mileage cleared, “check engine” and lots of indications on the dashboard.

I asked him to thoroughly fix my car. I’ll just call him to bring back my car so I’ll find n experienced workplace.

I even thought the steering has gone bad, and it’s quite expensive to fix steering, that was my fear. I stay in the east, they said abs is 70k, so I’ll call Lagos to make inquiries.

Thank you for this post.