Best options for repairs...any advice please?

[Polly333]

Hi

My 2001 Toyota Yaris is due to have a MOT in February.  I am aware that due to it using far too much fuel recently and other things happening , it has been suggested I will need to have a replacement  ignition coil and also a new Alternator. My little car has run very well over the years, but I appreciate it is getting old.    I just wanted to know, would it be best if I buy the parts myself, and ask a mechanic to fit them, or do I take it to a garage and get them to get it through the MOT and repair it?   To be quite honest I have no large amounts in the Bank and am afraid that it will be an expensive job!   Does anyone know a reasonable mechanic in the Ipswich area? Any idea what I am expected to be charged for this type of repair?   I really do not know what is the best option.  Any advice would be very welcome.  Thanks in advance!

[RUToyota]

Hi Paula,

I wouldn't go buying parts unless and until you were totally sure of what's actually needed...and you may need the services of a good mechanic or local independent garage to do that.

Ask around locally and someone will know of a trusted and fair local independent garage....entrust the MOT and probably the work to them and treat it as an investment to keep your little gem going.!..they aren't ALL rip-off merchants.

I've been with my local independent for over 10 years and never had a problem..they treat me fairly and always do good job at a fair price.

If you can find a good local mechanic who is willing to do the work cheaper, then fine...just do your homework as best you can.

The Yaris is a great little car btw..and certainly worth looking after.

 

Good luck

[TP49]

Hi Paula, I use a good mechanic in the  Colchester  area might be a bit to far though depends what part of Ipswich you are. As Neil has said don't buy any parts till your  sure you need them. Good luck.

[Polly333]

Thanks for taking the time to answer.  I have not really found a regular garage that I trust to give me the correct advice.  I am looking on U Tube to see what they say about various problems it might be in the hope I can go to a garage and say what I think is wrong. Sometimes  these Diagnostic Tests are a waste of time but we still have to pay for them.

[alan333]

On 1/10/2019 at 10:05 PM, Polly333 said:

Hi

My 2001 Toyota Yaris is due to have a MOT in February.  I am aware that due to it using far too much fuel recently and other things happening , it has been suggested I will need to have a replacement  ignition coil and also a new Alternator. My little car has run very well over the years, but I appreciate it is getting old.    I just wanted to know, would it be best if I buy the parts myself, and ask a mechanic to fit them, or do I take it to a garage and get them to get it through the MOT and repair it?   To be quite honest I have no large amounts in the Bank and am afraid that it will be an expensive job!   Does anyone know a reasonable mechanic in the Ipswich area? Any idea what I am expected to be charged for this type of repair?   I really do not know what is the best option.  Any advice would be very welcome.  Thanks in advance!

Using too much fuel has nothing to do with the alternator - it's job is to charge the Battery.  Alternators can be quite expensive (maybe towards £200) but can also be rebuilt quite cheaply.  Try phoning a car electrics specialist for a quite to remove, rebuild and refit.  Alternatively take a gamble on a used one from a breaker or eBay and have someone fit it for about an hour's labour.

An ignition coil shouldn't be too expensive and would be easy/quick for a mechanic to fit, probably half an hour's labour.  The same electrics specialist could do that job too, along with reading the codes to correctly diagnose the problem in the first instance.

[RUToyota]

A decent independent garage often charges NOTHING for a diagnostic trouble code read...I have a local one that doesn't and my own independent doesn't charge either (although I do have my own code reader tbh).

It is always a good way to give the best indication of what might be wrong...guessing can be expensive.!

[mecheng46]

Can you post the symptoms you get that make you think that your car has problems?

[Polly333]

Hi mecheng46-   My Toyota 2001 Yaris cdx 1.3 litre petrol engine NZ2 . Car misfiring, with high fuel consumption, suspect ignition coil requires replacing.  Alternator is noisy.  Hydraulic clutch seems to slip and suspect system need bleeding.  A coil spring on bonnet is broken and needs replacing. Second return indicator lamp requires replacement bulb.  This is what is happening, but until I pay for a diagnostic test, unsure what they will suggest is wrong!

[mecheng46]

2 hours ago, Polly333 said:

Hi mecheng46-   My Toyota 2001 Yaris cdx 1.3 litre petrol engine NZ2 . Car misfiring, with high fuel consumption, suspect ignition coil requires replacing.  Alternator is noisy.  Hydraulic clutch seems to slip and suspect system need bleeding.  A coil spring on bonnet is broken and needs replacing. Second return indicator lamp requires replacement bulb.  This is what is happening, but until I pay for a diagnostic test, unsure what they will suggest is wrong!

 

The problems you are experiencing you will need to find a good and honest mechanic to work on your car.

Misfiring is the only issue that you need to be worried about. It can be one of the coils, spark plug or even the injectors/circuit. A mechanic who knows what is doing should be able to find the misfire issue in no time. There are ways to do this yourself but I am not sure how good you are with your hands. Is the engine management light on?

Noisy alternator is not a major problem for now unless it starts causing problems with the Battery charge etc.

I am sure you can get a free diagnostics test done on your car. If not, buy a cheap OBD2 reader from eBay and read the codes your self. An OBD reader will be useful for your future cars too. You will get a lot more help once you read the codes.