Hi all,

My 1999 TH solara has got an oil leak and some engine noise, and needs the driver power window regulator replaced. It has been a good car but has hit about 330k kms now. I took it in to the local mechanic to get a quote on getting it repaired and he said it was leaking from the top manifold and they would have to start from there and check for more leaks as they worked their way down. This is what they quoted:

Window regulator/motor assembly (aftermarket) - $225
3x l/h spark plugs - $69
3x r/h spark plugs - $15.75
2x Valve cover gasket - $50
Spark plug tube seal set - $34
Spark plug lead set - $127.50
Labour for rocker cover & plugs - $225
Labour for window - $75

Total = $903.38 Inc get

My concern is that given the age and mileage that they are going to find more problems and its going to cost me a lot more, in which case it may not be worthwhile. Does the above quote sound reasonable though?

I would love to do some of the work myself alongside someone who knows what they are doing and learn some new skills while I'm at it but the most work I have done before is a general service, everything else is beyond me!

Major service but no timing belt?

Major service but no timing belt?

Yeah, good point! I just checked and the car has actually done 328K, and the timing belt was replaced at 280K on 06/05/2010. Reckon it should be replaced after that amount of time/mileage or is it still ok for a while? How much extra would I expect to pay if it needs to be done?

Anything else I should get checked/replaced while It's in?

Yeah, good point! I just checked and the car has actually done 328K, and the timing belt was replaced at 280K on 06/05/2010. Reckon it should be replaced after that amount of time/mileage or is it still ok for a while? How much extra would I expect to pay if it needs to be done?

Anything else I should get checked/replaced while It's in?


I work on every 5 years or 100,000km which ever is sooner. What about your water pump? when was that done?

Hi all,


Window regulator/motor assembly (aftermarket) - $225
3x l/h spark plugs - $69
3x r/h spark plugs - $15.75
2x Valve cover gasket - $50
Spark plug tube seal set - $34
Spark plug lead set - $127.50
Labour for rocker cover & plugs - $225
Labour for window - $75

Total = $903.38 Inc get

My concern is that given the age and mileage that they are going to find more problems and its going to cost me a lot more, in which case it may not be worthwhile. Does the above quote sound reasonable though?


The part prices and labour charge sound reasonable enough for a workshop (though Madmagna can supply two rocker cover gasket kits for about $67 including postage, as opposed to the $84 quoted here; if you shop around (or have an RACQ or equivilant card and buy from Repco) you can get the leads for about $100-110

If you can, do the front gasket yourself. Its a simple job (30 minutes tops, remove and refit a couple of hoses, 6 bolts (be careful to not overtighten them on the re-install) Plenty of info available on the forum, read up before doing it - while you're at it, do the front bank spark plugs), and will save you on labour costs. If you're not confident, mechanically, best leave the rest to the workshop.

Yeah, good point! I just checked and the car has actually done 328K, and the timing belt was replaced at 280K on 06/05/2010. Reckon it should be replaced after that amount of time/mileage or is it still ok for a while? How much extra would I expect to pay if it needs to be done?

Anything else I should get checked/replaced while It's in?

Doesn't need to be done yet. Do it at either 380k or May 2015, whichever comes first. Doing it now would be a waste of money.

Thanks for all the advice guys, I'll look around the forums to read about doing some of it myself. The water pump was replaced at the same time as the timing belt I'm pretty sure (was definitely done at the same time with my TE, pretty sure it was with the TH too.

Seems a big percentage is the window regulator, see if your local wreckers have them and how much they'd want, you may or may not be able to get that cost down substantially.

I looked all over ADelaide wreckers for a window Reg. Only Eddies had one for $165 part only.
Brand new Mits was over $330!
U Pull it, never checked, but would assume all cars would be stripped anyway so never tried.

Boosty

Quick question, when should a water pump be done and why? I got my wifes 180k coming up which is a Major and going to do the timing belt then too.

You can probs leave water pump but i think it should still be done every major... Still ages with time just like a timing belt.

I looked all over ADelaide wreckers for a window Reg. Only Eddies had one for $165 part only.
Brand new Mits was over $330!
U Pull it, never checked, but would assume all cars would be stripped anyway so never tried.

Boosty

Quick question, when should a water pump be done and why? I got my wifes 180k coming up which is a Major and going to do the timing belt then too.

Get it done with the belt mate, shouldn't cost any extra in labour and you should be good for another 200k. I see it as replacing it every second timing belt service, unless it shows symptoms of needing it prior to that. Why? Because if it dies in between belt changes you're looking at a fairly hefty labour charge to replace it (more than the price of the water pump itself). Best spend the extra $80 or so and have it done at the same time.

I looked all over ADelaide wreckers for a window Reg. Only Eddies had one for $165 part only.
Brand new Mits was over $330!
U Pull it, never checked, but would assume all cars would be stripped anyway so never tried.

Boosty

Quick question, when should a water pump be done and why? I got my wifes 180k coming up which is a Major and going to do the timing belt then too.


u pull it elizabeth still has quite a few 3rd gen magnas there with the electric window regulators still in the cars. this was just last week.

Window regs here are $89.95 plus freight

Water pump gets done generally at the 200k mark, there is little to no need to get one done at 100k, rarely do them here at the 100k service

As for not costing any more in labour, wtf is that about, labour is not free and there is about an hour extra to do the pump so why would they not charge for the pump to be done....

Hi all,

My 1999 TH solara has got an oil leak and some engine noise, and needs the driver power window regulator replaced. It has been a good car but has hit about 330k kms now. I took it in to the local mechanic to get a quote on getting it repaired and he said it was leaking from the top manifold and they would have to start from there and check for more leaks as they worked their way down. This is what they quoted:

Window regulator/motor assembly (aftermarket) - $225
3x l/h spark plugs - $69
3x r/h spark plugs - $15.75
2x Valve cover gasket - $50
Spark plug tube seal set - $34
Spark plug lead set - $127.50
Labour for rocker cover & plugs - $225
Labour for window - $75

Total = $903.38 Inc get

My concern is that given the age and mileage that they are going to find more problems and its going to cost me a lot more, in which case it may not be worthwhile. Does the above quote sound reasonable though?

I would love to do some of the work myself alongside someone who knows what they are doing and learn some new skills while I'm at it but the most work I have done before is a general service, everything else is beyond me!

I got all the above work done a couple of months ago, and unfortunately there is still a patch of oil (albeit cleaner oil!) under the car wherever I park it. Took a while to notice because I was parking it on the grass at home 99% of the time and after paying a grand I just got complacent and figured it would be all good!

That said, based on the above any ideas on where the oil could be leaking from? I am a bit reluctant to take it back to the same guys because they haven't fixed some minor things on my other magna when I've asked in the past, but if it's related to bad work done by them then I want to go back and get my money worth.

Is it transmission oil or power steering fluid? Where abouts is it leaking from?

Lots of second hand regulators out there. Try EBay - complete units and repair kits. Mal (Madmagna) will probably have them too. Would be less than $100.

Genuine are pricey! 380 ones are much cheaper but then again they break if you look at them the wrong way.

Is it transmission oil or power steering fluid? Where abouts is it leaking from?

Judging from the OP's quote, it would appear to be engine oil from the rocker covers.

Quote seems reasonable. Window reg is on the pricey side. You might want to consider a second hand unit from a wrecker or the similar.