A Toyota Tacoma owner received a repair quote of nearly $905 and is now wondering whether the shop is trying to upsell them and whether they can do the work themselves.
They shared the estimate and situation on the r/AskMechanics subreddit, where they explained that they have a 2001 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner. They went in for an oil change, and during the visit a technician offered to perform an in-depth inspection for free.
The owner accepted the free inspection, but it led to something much more. The shop came back to them with several repair recommendations, including a radiator flush, transmission fluid flush, brake fluid flush, and replacing the truck’s spark plugs.
According to the estimate, the services would cost the owner $904.62 before taxes and fees. The owner shared it online, asking whether the shop was trying to upsell them or if the repairs and maintenance items were worth worrying about.
A Breakdown of the Cost
Should I fix this myself 2001 toyota tacoma
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u/Helpful-Plantain-253 in
AskMechanics
The estimate included $232.97 for a radiator flush, $356.84 for a transmission fluid flush, and $103.49 for a brake fluid flush. The shop also recommended replacing the spark plugs, with the IK16 Iridium plugs costing $95.62 and the replacement service listed at $116.
The owner admitted they aren’t particularly mechanically inclined, but they still wonder if this could be a good opportunity to start learning to work on their 25-year-old truck on their own.
They also asked whether it made more sense to let the technicians handle the work rather than attempting the services themselves.
Commenters Say It Might Be Worth It
In the comments under the post, several people suggested the owner could save a considerable amount of money by doing the maintenance themselves.
One commenter said replacing the spark plugs is a relatively easy job, although handling automotive fluids can be more complicated because they must be disposed of properly. They also said the owner could potentially spend only $300 if they do it themselves.
Another commenter suggested watching YouTube videos of someone performing the same services on that generation of Tacoma before deciding. They also recommended adding up the cost of any tools the owner doesn’t already have, along with fluids, before comparing that amount to the shop’s estimate.
Someone else commented on the repair pricing, arguing that the recommended services were relatively straightforward and required only basic hand tools. They also suggested the owner could get a second opinion from a cheaper shop and noted that everything listed on the estimate was primarily preventative maintenance rather than repairs the owner absolutely needed to address immediately.
There have been no updates to the original post, so it’s unclear whether the owner did the repairs themselves or took it to another shop.