Hey guys, my dad has forked out nearly 15k over the past 6 months just to fix our car problems. And nearly 25k over the past 2 years.

The thing is, the workshop we went to this time is, City Alignment at Damansara Jaya, is overcharging and they like to replace parts not necessary to replace. They also cant find the cause of a problem and they love to change the whole system instead of pinpoint the problem and fix it. However, their work is quite quality it does makes a difference after they do all that, car smoother. But they like change this and that, like we ask them to fix electrical wiring problem, they also change some O ring, replace ATF etc etc which is not needed. ==

Other workshop been to is some hidden workshop behind Caltex at Sea Park area, and also Overlander 4x4? workshop somewhere at ss2 RHB bank that row. These 2 is cheap, but also very poor quality work.

Example:

1.My previous overheating problems they "overhaul" my whole cooling system.
2.My engine overheat, they need change gasket but they also did overhaul for my engine and change many parts.
3.Power steering leakage they replace the whole steering system.

Since we did overhaul recently, normally workshops will give 1000km breaking in period one-to-one replacement for faulty parts, and will give extra 3-6 months warranty. City Alignment only give the 1000km warranty.

After the overhaul, things were good for a few days and problems came back, the "donk" noise when accelerate from stop or accelerate after breaking, i suspect something loose cause this sound is momentum related.

Then the car drive halfway, suddenly the whole thing shut down, all the power, engine everything off. Sent back to them and they found some wiring problem. They also said that they know what is causing the sound and they will fix it for us.

Then the electrical shutdown happened a second time. I CANT IMAGINE HOW THEY CAN DO SUCH A BAD JOB. Imagine me driving 120km at the highway and the whole car just shut down like that? I wont have brake booster and the transmission will just die like that (mine auto). Its f***ing dangerous. Lucky the times this thing happen it was at low speed below 40, still relatively safe.

And now we still send it back, repair wiring, repair the sound. Total cost 650. The fcuked up part is they say sound is gone, after 1 hour driving it's back. And my car install security system, lets say, i open my door, close it and press the brake, then it will lock the door. But now it seems that after they do the "wiring fix" i got no more autolock and it seems that my security system not functioning properly.

So i need help from everyone here, to recommend me a mechanic than can actually pinpoint the actual problem instead of changing the whole system related to the problem. I need a mech that is very responsible and know what he is doing. As u can see, my dad has forked out nearly 16k to fix all the problem but the problems just keep coming one after another. We want a mech that can diagnose the problem and fix it once and for all. Our location PJ area ( Kelana Jaya, SS2, Sunway, Kota Damansara, One Utama, Damansara Perdana, Bandar Sri Damansara ) any mechanic in those area that is really good pls pls recommend or PM if u are a mechanic and we discuss.


This is a list what i have changed so far:
its not a complete list, still got much more, but take a look at it and u'll know.

- Overhaul for the engine, if i not mistaken my mech mentioned...
(clean, replaced gaskets, valve replacement and realignment, skimming)
- Change spark plug
- New Spark plug wire
- Air conditioning system complete service
- Replaced relays as my mech said it need to be changed
- Replaced front strut bushing? I don't know whats this my mech said change
- Service and replaced cooling system: fans (radiator and a/c fan, thermostat, piping, radiator flush)
- CV joints? I dont know what is this either
- Service front suspension, replace back suspension
- Replace all engine mountings
- Replace steering pump and rack
- Replace brake pump
- Throttle body service
- Air-blast brake system to remove dirt and dust
- Change brake pads
- Flush/clean transmission
- Rotate tyres
- Check and service wiring (replaced only really really teruk parts of the wire/wire contacts)
- Change battery to solid-state battery

This post has been edited by andrew9292: Jul 19 2009, 10:11 PM

1st what car are u driving?

1. overheating does not need to clean the whole cooling system, maybe there's some leakage in the cooling system or rusty part that bring the cooling efficiency down, and there are so many other causes

2. i dont think engine overhaul will improve the temperature

3. could be the steering rack problem, can be fix with low price.

if your car die half way for no reason, then it might be your immobilizer problem

if bandar sunway is not too far for you, i would recommend you to go Kaitenaz Racing in bandar sunway, tell them your problem and they will advice you, look for Nazlee

or you can go Excool in bandar sunway for your electrical and air con problem, they go engine diagnostic also, look for ah loo

or you can go Kin Alignment for your car alignment and balancing

all the above shops that i mentioned is quite good as i have go there to fix my car before

Toyota Rav4 98" CBU Japanese

It's was a good car, but mechanic after mechanic just make it worse and worse =\

And since we have spent so much on the car, it would be stupid to sell it off since there wont be much gain too...

Dilemma.

I see, thanks for the recommendations bro. They did the overhaul because they needed to open engine to change gasket.

They said the shutdown problem is a wiring problem, somewhere short circuit, the 1st time i had that problem there was a burning smell somewhere under the dashboard near the driver's accelerator/brake there. Well that is what they say, wiring problem, i dont trust them on that either.

Bandar Sunway...Sunway Pyramid/Sunway Lagoon there right? Which part exactly? Nope, its not that far, a short drive using the highway from ss2. How are their charges? Expensive or moderate or really good deal?

This post has been edited by andrew9292: Jul 19 2009, 02:30 PM

alternatively, please contact maddriver in this forum.. reliable and good mech, im sure he will solve all ur problem easily and effectively.. he is based in bukit jalil, but sometimes will go elsewhere so better call him to make appointment

wow, so much money just for fixing the engine and suspension? might as well swap in a 3s-gte, cheaper, more powerful and easy to maintain. RM15k can easily get you the engine and 300whp

I see, thanks i found his number in the forums already i guess, will call him tomorrow during working hours see whether something can be arranged.

but it will lead to a series of chain effects...higher hp, higher Nm would mean i need a new Auto Tranny...probably new drive shafts etc etc... but i know what u're trying to say... i just lost 15k for nothing. zzz. =\

I wanna end this once and for all already, this is probably the last time my dad allocating funds for this car, once it is all done, the next time i'm going to workshop is for regular oil change/service only = )

15k spent n still the prob occuring.. man, if i were u i would be pissed off as well!!

98 rav4, that means thats the 1st gen one.. iianm, there is a forummer here who drives an exact same model, so probably u can get advice from him.. cant quite remember who he is though.. anyone here have any idea??

Japanese cars DONT need to spend as exorbitantly high as RM 15K worth of repairs.If it's a Conti/German car, it's possible, but this is JUST TOYOTA, be it CBU or CKD. Its clear that your father has been ripped off thoroughly.

And even then, before reaching RM 15K, your father should had been very suspicious about the high repair bill.

Your father should forward this case to the Consumer Rights Association.

This post has been edited by SleeplessEyes: Jul 19 2009, 07:34 PM

just service my car at kaitenaz racing few days ago, and saw a toyota mark X there

the boss there very friendly, he will explain to you clearly for something you dont understand.

RM730 for my major service, M7 GT full synth engine oil, Q8 ATF oil, silicone wiper, and other parts checked, got some free sticker at there as well

then when to Kin Alignment for tires rotation, alignment and balancing, cost me RM60, workmanship guarantee, they didnt even trying to con me like asking me to change camber nut, saw 2 subaru impreza and 1 RX8 there, damn nice....

ya, kaitenaz quite friendly, the price might be slightly higher but i would say it certainly worth the price.

Kin alignment also at sunway ? where is it ya?

TS, how can you repeatedly send yourself to get ripped?

Isn't it obvious that those 'crooks' don't know what they're doing (or in fact they knew & they did it on purpose).

Your car's condition has gone from bad to worse. It's screwed over & over again. To be honest with you, mechanical related mistake is easy to rectify. But once they mess up with the wiring. God knows how to undo the wrong.

RM15k is enough to completely overhaul the engine + radiator system + aircond system + overhaul gearbox, and maybe still some balance for suspension.

Don't ever go to that shop again, ever!

And with all these "expensive cars" coming to their workshop, no wonder they self-classify themselves as "high class workshops"

Nothing special if there are Impezas and RX8 coming there to pamper the workshop instead.

I read an email before, about workshops. You have to be extra careful with some workshops because they fix your car but break other parts. Then they try to be friendly and look honest so you come back to their shop again. That's how some people do business.

it's obvious you don't know much about cars. swapping to 3s-gte means that u are buying a half cut and replacing everything from it to your car, that means the engine, gearbox, brakes and suspension

halfcut price around RM3500
workmanship around RM2000
new parts like timing belt total RM500
jpj approval RM300

that means u'll have everything done for around RM6300 only

the change will get u a bigger turbo, intakes, new exhaust, metal gasket, bigger intercooler and pipings, piggy back ECU and dyno tuning.

This post has been edited by stormlcc: Jul 19 2009, 09:01 PM

check ur PM. City Alignment is known for insurance accident claim. But known for good or bad i not sure.

go out to the back of kaitenaz, turn left and go straight you will see Kin Alignment

Okay, so it looks like Kaitenaz is quite popular and is satisfactory, but rather expensive.

Money again

hmm maybe you can try the workshop in ss2 near the coffe shop there . name is benson .i service my car there before and its was the same car as u driving but diff by one year .

i see, but any workshop can service our cars without problem. its whether they are able to handle and diagnose the root cause of complicated problems. this noise in my car has been here for nearly 2 years, so far over about 4 mechanics i went to, only City Alignment manage to reduce the sound, but not stop it completely =\ actually they manage to stop it for about a week or 2 after my major overhaul with them, but then it came back

This post has been edited by andrew9292: Jul 19 2009, 11:34 PM