The daughter in law was talking to the wife last night and mentioned that during a recent service the mechanic found a crack in the intake manifold on their 98 tf solara Magna. Don't know the full details but apparently they were told its going to cost about $3000 to remove the motor and repair. Any thoughts or comments on this. Does this sound right or are further quotes or options needed.

If it is the intake manifold, there is no need to remove the engine.

They have been told the motor needs to come out so the part can be removed and sent away to be patched up and reconditioned / machined before being replaced??

Get a picture of the crack if possible and post it up.

i would recommend finding a new mechanic, if its a plenum (how ever its spelt) its the upper intake manifold, source one from the wreckers, and have it fitted, its no more then an hours job, if its the lower intake do the same thing, source one from the wreckers and have it fitted. there is no reason for the engine to be removed for these 2 jobs.

Unless you can put up some pictures, any words typed in this thread are meaningless.

The mechanic may be referring to the casting marks on the aluminium intake manifold, which to the uninitiated may appear to be cracks.

Someone needs to eyeball the "problem" either in person or by photographs.

It takes 30 minutes to take the intake manifold off to change the spark plugs.

Either there is a misunderstanding as to what is cracked, or you are being taken for the biggest ride in known history.

If you read the original post, the information flow went : Mechanic --> Daughter on law --> wife --> Highlander.

I'm sure something got lost in translation. lol

For that price, you can get a 3.8l installed! With change! Or is he maybe talking about the exhaust manifold, even they are easy and don't require taking the motor out.
Pics would help.

Guys, as Max stated, words are useless without pics

I have never seen an inlet manifold crack. Even the lower inlet manifold section is an hour and a half at best to swap over

OP, get some pics.

Spoke to the daughter in law this afternoon and she says that she has been told that the lower inlet manifold is supposidly leaking oil onto the exhaust chamber?? She had the car serviced only recently by the same mechanic, so you would think he would have noticed this then if it was happening then. She's also been quoted about $2000 for a 200000km timing belt change.

Lower inlet leaking into exhaust.....yeah, I saw cows building a pyramid this afternoon being helped by 30 topless chickens

The mechanic is trying to stitch her up, I have no issues with you posting the mechanics name here either to keep other away

The inlet and exhaust are on opposite side of the head for starters

Main question here, is the car having any issues. Exactly what was she told, is there a chance than she may have mixed up the explanation she was perhaps given

The car is apparently running ok. As mentioned it was at the mechanic a few weeks ago for a service with no mention of this issue. I think the daughter in law took it in to get a quote for an exhaust job and was then told of these "new" issues. She seems sure about the details and unfortunately photos are not an option at present but she is very skeptical about it all, as we all are. Given that there was a service and new oil etc recently, this could be left over that is dropping down. Not sure as yet what evidence/proof of alleged cracks, have not seen the car myself yet. Will grill her some more on what she believes she was told by mechanic.
The mechanic is in the georgetown area of newcastle nsw, so I don't think it will affect too many members.

unfortunately its mechanics like this one, that makes it bad for the very few good mechanics, first order of the day would be find a new mechanic, and shop around for one as well, $2000 for a 200 000k timing belt change sounds very high to me, should be half that.

Run and find a second option mate. Hes taking her for a ride

OP - timing belt change should be about half of that - even here in Canberra (which, I reckon, is the most expensive place to get any trade work done on the east coast)

OP - timing belt change should be about half of that - even here in Canberra (which, I reckon, is the most expensive place to get any trade work done on the east coast)

Any recommendations of where to get it done in Canberra?

Any recommendations of where to get it done in Canberra?
Perhaps ask in the ACT section to avoid clogging this thread.