Toyota Specialist...sw London?

[Shimmy]

Hi all!. New member to forum. I have searched but not found anything relevant. Can anyone suggest a reliable Independent Toyota specialist in the Wimbledon area...or fairly near. Or Failing that, just a reliable good independent garage. Wimbledon, Sutton, Mitcham area. Thanks.

[Shimmy]

Hi All. As I had no replies to my original question I had to seek out a garage myself. I found one fairly local to me. As I see the question has been viewed a lot, I thought I'd do my bit and add a reference to the garage I used. I researched them online. They have a few reviews here and there, all very good, which I always take with pinch of salt. Here's my review and the contact...

MY CAR: Toyota Corolla 1997 AUTO 1.6 GS...(pre-face lift Frog eye model: )...Engine 4AFE. (Used to be my Dad's so I have a record from new. Better than many service record, but not 100%)

Mileage: 95,000 miles.

TIMING BELT: Last changed 2002! @ 52,000 miles...which I knew, but risked as this engine is NON Interference.

In desperation I tried to speak to my nearest Toyota Service, CURRIE MOTORS, Beverly Way, Coombe Lane Flyover SW20... next to the A3, which is a pain to get to...and not for the first time, I either got cut off when speaking to them, or left message and never got call back. Not the first time! So fu** 'em.

JOB RQD: Alternator belt/power steering squealing...but really overdue on Timing Belt.

SUPPLY & FIT New Timing Belt & 3 Ancillary Belts. (One is Aircon)...so I spoke to these people..

AUTO EXPRESS SERVICES Kimpton Park Ind. Estate. I.O.Centre. Minden Rd Sutton SM2 9BL. TEL 020 86447310

www.autoexpressservices.co.uk

A woman called Sonya answers calls. But she is not just a receptionist. She seems to work in the workshop also...and she knows about cars. Good start. She pointed out my car was a crossover model and people get confused on parts...quite true. We discussed changing the water pump at the same time, as I hadn't quite finished researching whether it was off them..'change the w/pump when doing t/Belt' ones...or was not driven by T/Belt. I now know it isn't, so it's not essential to change at same time as belt.

2 quotes were emailed to me within half hour. Very Good.

QUOTE 1...Inc New Water Pump. ( figures + vat )

Labour 2.5 hrs @ £52ph TOTAL LABOUR £130.00 + VAT

PARTS...Not Toyota OEM...she never got a call back either, so Quality matching from Europarts (next door to them!)

Aux Belt Alt £13.05 Aux Belt AC £7.59 Aux Belt Power/Steer £12.55 Timing Belt Kit (inc's Tensioner) £59.85 Water pump £55.10 A/Freeze £7.00 Consumables £5.00

TOTAL PARTS £160.14 + VAT. TOTAL Inc Vat £348.17. Which I thought very reasonable. I was dreading £5-£600!

Long story short...She rang me back an hour later. I did not request this. She told me that it was not necessary to change water pump. If that went it could be changed without taking T/Belt off. Excellent.

She then pointed out that on the quote not including pump, she'd overquoted 1/2hr labour as the 3 Ancillary belt removal had to be done to get to the T/Belt anyway and that was in the T/Belt figure. I knew this and was going to question it...but she beat me to it. Good again.

She is bright, totally on the ball and generally a breath of fresh air.

SO...we went ahead with 3 x Aux Belts and Timing Belt...TOTAL Inc Vat £242.45. In my eyes. A result!

She advised that my oil was below min at pick up...So I am on that now.

Their servicing pricing seems competitive also. So, so far, with the caveat that the Compatible parts have 3yr warrnty...the job's a good 'un. Only had car back 1 night, so if all stays well...I can give a big thumbs up to AUTO EXPRESS SERVICES...and a big thumb's up for receptionist Sonya. A pleasure to deal with and...excuse me Ladies...happens to be easy on the eye also. ; )

She told me that TOYOTA Parts have only 1 yr warranty...which I haven't checked on yet...but it wouldn't surprise me.

Hope this helps some of the 200+ that viewed my post. Any queries, feel free.

Shimmy.

ps...can you not swear on these forums. My post seems to have been...vetted? : )))

[oldcodger]

Glad you have found a garage you are happy with. :D

I do wonder though how you came to this conclusion

Alternator belt/power steering squealing...but really overdue on Timing Belt.

Timing belts are toothed, they are not regular squealers like the other aux belts are.

However, regardless of that fact you Timing belt was way overdue for a change.

She advised that my oil was below min at pick up...So I am on that now.

That really does make me wonder..... why on earth did they not say, we have or we can , topped it up for a £ or so, or better still as a FOC goodwill gesture for your custom.

[Shimmy]

Sorry OC, what I meant was, probably power steering Belt causing the squeal...when using steering lock to lock was worse noise. The PS belt is aux belt, not toothed ( I'm sure you know). Nothing to do with T/Belt, but as you say, that was well overdue. Re the low Oil...I did wonder myself...they test drove it. Not wise. They tried to sell me oil when I went to pick up car. The dipstick shows just above min, but they insisted it was below? Never found a perfect garage. Even this one marked up the compatible Aux belts to more than the cost of Toyota originals by £10. (All the other Toyota parts were hugely expensive...see my other post). Bearing in mind this garage use Eurocarparts...who they are next to, I could have saved £38 buying the belts and giving to them! ( I checked the eurocarparts prices...)

[oldcodger]

Have changed timing belts on a few cars, but not what I would call a beginners job.

If its your kind of thing (?) , then getting a Haynes manual takes you though all the basic servicing in easy stages up to more complex tasks.

Its surprising how much money you can save for very little effort and with only some basic tools, plus you know its been done right.

Theres some handy diy info in the Stickies at the top of the forum and even Ytubes on changing the oils /filters etc.

[Konrad C]

Hi All. As I had no replies to my original question I had to seek out a garage myself. I found one fairly local to me. As I see the question has been viewed a lot, I thought I'd do my bit and add a reference to the garage I used. I researched them online. They have a few reviews here and there, all very good, which I always take with pinch of salt. Here's my review and the contact...

MY CAR: Toyota Corolla 1997 AUTO 1.6 GS...(pre-face lift Frog eye model: )...Engine 4AFE. (Used to be my Dad's so I have a record from new. Better than many service record, but not 100%)

Mileage: 95,000 miles.

TIMING BELT: Last changed 2002! @ 52,000 miles...which I knew, but risked as this engine is NON Interference.

In desperation I tried to speak to my nearest Toyota Service, CURRIE MOTORS, Beverly Way, Coombe Lane Flyover SW20... next to the A3, which is a pain to get to...and not for the first time, I either got cut off when speaking to them, or left message and never got call back. Not the first time! So fu** 'em.

JOB RQD: Alternator belt/power steering squealing...but really overdue on Timing Belt.

SUPPLY & FIT New Timing Belt & 3 Ancillary Belts. (One is Aircon)...so I spoke to these people..

AUTO EXPRESS SERVICES Kimpton Park Ind. Estate. I.O.Centre. Minden Rd Sutton SM2 9BL. TEL 020 86447310

www.autoexpressservices.co.uk

A woman called Sonya answers calls. But she is not just a receptionist. She seems to work in the workshop also...and she knows about cars. Good start. She pointed out my car was a crossover model and people get confused on parts...quite true. We discussed changing the water pump at the same time, as I hadn't quite finished researching whether it was off them..'change the w/pump when doing t/Belt' ones...or was not driven by T/Belt. I now know it isn't, so it's not essential to change at same time as belt.

2 quotes were emailed to me within half hour. Very Good.

QUOTE 1...Inc New Water Pump. ( figures + vat )

Labour 2.5 hrs @ £52ph TOTAL LABOUR £130.00 + VAT

PARTS...Not Toyota OEM...she never got a call back either, so Quality matching from Europarts (next door to them!)

Aux Belt Alt £13.05 Aux Belt AC £7.59 Aux Belt Power/Steer £12.55 Timing Belt Kit (inc's Tensioner) £59.85 Water pump £55.10 A/Freeze £7.00 Consumables £5.00

TOTAL PARTS £160.14 + VAT. TOTAL Inc Vat £348.17. Which I thought very reasonable. I was dreading £5-£600!

Long story short...She rang me back an hour later. I did not request this. She told me that it was not necessary to change water pump. If that went it could be changed without taking T/Belt off. Excellent.

She then pointed out that on the quote not including pump, she'd overquoted 1/2hr labour as the 3 Ancillary belt removal had to be done to get to the T/Belt anyway and that was in the T/Belt figure. I knew this and was going to question it...but she beat me to it. Good again.

She is bright, totally on the ball and generally a breath of fresh air.

SO...we went ahead with 3 x Aux Belts and Timing Belt...TOTAL Inc Vat £242.45. In my eyes. A result!

She advised that my oil was below min at pick up...So I am on that now.

Their servicing pricing seems competitive also. So, so far, with the caveat that the Compatible parts have 3yr warrnty...the job's a good 'un. Only had car back 1 night, so if all stays well...I can give a big thumbs up to AUTO EXPRESS SERVICES...and a big thumb's up for receptionist Sonya. A pleasure to deal with and...excuse me Ladies...happens to be easy on the eye also. ; )

She told me that TOYOTA Parts have only 1 yr warranty...which I haven't checked on yet...but it wouldn't surprise me.

Hope this helps some of the 200+ that viewed my post. Any queries, feel free.

Shimmy.

ps...can you not swear on these forums. My post seems to have been...vetted? : )))

You got a reasonable result.

I am mainly in the Avensis forum as an owner, but your engine is similar to mine (7A-FE).

The cam belts kit I used was Gates including the tensioner roller. I too went to Euro Car Parts for the other 3 belts - Continental.

Here is a sight you can use to look at parts for your car.

Get a can of quality oil. You know what to do, just top up and check often.

Euro car Parts are okay but I have had some minor issues with the tail exhaust (Klarius), and brake discs. The exhaust silencer is a different shape which makes it louder and it resonates, and the shape makes precise fitting difficult. the brake discs warped. Got a different brand elsewhere and so far perfect.

http://www.japan-parts.eu/toyota/eu/1997/corolla-hb-lb/ae111r-alpdkw/3_153540_013_/tool-engine-fuel

Basically the Corolla is a smaller Carina/Avensis MK1 so any queries may apply to them.

The hard bit is to finding a garage you can trust. I live South East London, so I don't know the garages in the areas you mentioned, but I do frequent Sutton and Richmond.

Do your homework, check with the forum to find and source your parts carefully.

Do you know that your car has self diagnostics, so you can get fault code from the EML Morse code style?

Now you know more.

[Shimmy]

Thanks Conrad. Useful stuff. I'll look up that diagnostic.