Car Talk
- Thread starter JHDK
- Start date
IdRatherBeSkiing
Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.
Not sure if I mentioned this, but I got a flat on the way home from Disney last time. I have a full size spare so I've been driving on that for the past couple weeks. Today I went to get it fixed. The RAV had some other issues too, she's an old girl after all. The check engine light was on again, I have an issue with my door and the tire pressure light was acting wonky even before the flat.
So I was worried this would be an expensive trip to my favorite mechanic. I was delightfully surprised when he did all of it for $121. And he said the gas cap (that I should have already replaced but didn't) is probably causing the check engine light. He said to get a cap from a Toyota dealer and not on Amazon so that's what I did. I drove from him to the Toyota place and got one for $51. So a freaking gas cap at a dealer cost almost half as much as everything else at my awesome mechanic.
Overall I'm very happy though. I went in thinking I'd be happy if the total was $500 or less and I was willing to pay $1k max for this trip. All told I got everything fixed for under $200 so that's a big win in my book.
So I was worried this would be an expensive trip to my favorite mechanic. I was delightfully surprised when he did all of it for $121. And he said the gas cap (that I should have already replaced but didn't) is probably causing the check engine light. He said to get a cap from a Toyota dealer and not on Amazon so that's what I did. I drove from him to the Toyota place and got one for $51. So a freaking gas cap at a dealer cost almost half as much as everything else at my awesome mechanic.
Overall I'm very happy though. I went in thinking I'd be happy if the total was $500 or less and I was willing to pay $1k max for this trip. All told I got everything fixed for under $200 so that's a big win in my book.
I just got my oil changed, tires rotated, and whatnot.
The last time I was in, they said my lug-nuts (hehehe) were worn and should be replaced. They didn't have them in stock then, so I got them changed this time. They were $125 or so. It's funny how little stuff like that adds up.
The last time I was in, they said my lug-nuts (hehehe) were worn and should be replaced. They didn't have them in stock then, so I got them changed this time. They were $125 or so. It's funny how little stuff like that adds up.
IdRatherBeSkiing
Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.
The $50 inspection and oil change always winds up to be $250. It's also funny how much of this is not covered by the warranty.
Yeah, right?
I was expecting him to tell me I needed at least 2 tires and maybe to replace all of them. I had it in my head that when you get one new one it's good to get 2 to even them out or whatever. But he came back and said my other 3 were fine, just old. My flat was due to some of the tread tearing off the tire and he said that may happen again simply due to age but if it was his car he'd stick with them for a while. That was a very nice surprise.
My tires are getting close to needing to be replaced. I think they are about 8 years old and the treads are getting thinner. I’ll probably change them in the spring.
Good for you, but you're living in a different world. Mrs. Scotch hit a curb with her 1-year old Subaru, and damaged the sidewall. Since the car had like 15K miles on it, they would not replace just one tire on an AWD vehicle, because of the difference in tread depth. We had to buy 4 new tires. That was our 1st stimulus check.
You shouldn't drive an AWD vehicle with 1 new tire, and 3 bald ones. If you need to emergency brake, the car will probably roll over. And even on turns, like on-ramps. it could go into a spin. But good luck with that.
Oh, and unless you're driving a tractor-trailer with re-treads, a passenger car tire's tread should never "tear-off".
IdRatherBeSkiing
Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.
I have had to buy 2 tires rather than 1. And move the old tires off the drive wheels. They said replacing one was not advisable. I assume with AWD that means all 4.
Huh, well the RAV is AWD (hah the "4" in RAV4 is supposed to mean that but they sell many front wheel only models, yet not mine) my guy certainly knows this about my car but he still said what he said and as I've said around here a ton, I totally trust him.
The tires aren't bald or anywhere near it. They still appear to have full tread on them. The one ripped off a bit due to age, not so much wear. I'm assuming it will happen again at some point and now that I know I can get new tires for around $100 each it won't be so bad if I have to replace 3 at once.
Holy Sh!t, Batman. Most tires need to be replaced every five years. Especially since the rubber becomes weaker and degrades faster five years after being manufactured.
BTW, anyone know what a tyre is?
This explains the whole two vs four tire replacement issues.
Should You Replace All 4 Tires On An AWD Car? - Shadetree Automotive
I’d go with replacing all four tires.
Should You Replace All 4 Tires On An AWD Car? - Shadetree Automotive
I’d go with replacing all four tires.
Just call me Hectic "Dangerous" Art......
They told me I still had a little life left in my tires when they checked em the other weekend.
Maybe they are trying to get me to crash my car so I have to buy a new one.
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IdRatherBeSkiing
Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.