$2,000 for Valve Cover on Corolla

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

smc733

Joined
Nov 14, 2011
Messages
326
Location
Massachusetts
Hi Everyone,

I'll be picking up my Corolla from the $tealership in an hour (my fault, I know), and they called and told me that I am leaking a good amount of oil and that I need a new valve cover. What doesn't make sense to me at all is that they said this is 15.5 hours of labor and will cost $2,000, which is in line with the cost of a head gasket, but not a valve cover/gasket.

I have noticed some small puddles under the car, nothing major as of yet. Is this more likely to be a valve cover or head gasket, and if so, am I getting robbed? Will be getting a second opinion from a local place later this afternoon, but wanted to check with BITOG since I've always gotten great advice here.

Car is 2011 Corolla LE, 93,000 miles.

Thanks,
SMC
 
That has to be for the head gasket. I'd get out of there ASAP and take it to an independent Toyota specialist in your area and find out what's really going on. Sounds like typical stealership fraud to me.

Is it leaking oil or coolant????? Head gaskets typically have other symptoms then just leaking.
 
Originally Posted By: austinlunsford
15.5 hours even on a head gasket? Nah.


Although $2000 is about what a head gasket cost me a few years ago....so someone at the $tealership either isn't aware of what is going on, doesn't know what they're talking about, or is overcharging. Agree with a 2nd opinion, as well as finding the actual source of the leak.
 
Something wrong. You are being charged for one mechanic working on your car for two straight days with no break for lunch. Valve covers don't leak; gaskets leak.
 
Wow, thanks for all the quick replies! Definitely doesn't add up, so as soon as I'm there I'm going to try to get clarity on what they think it is and will report back. I'll also be headed to an independent shop for a second evaluation.

I can't say that I've noticed any symptoms aside from very small puddles beneath the car (I thought it was just AC condensation). I had the water pump replaced under powertrain warranty back at 54,000 a little less than two years ago.

So much for Toyota reliability...
 
Bring it to my house. I'll change it out for the low, low price of $1000. LOL

I changed my valve cover gasket on my toyota corolla in like 30 minutes. It's an easy job. Even for me.
 
Have you identified the fluid on the ground? Color? Consistency? Smell?

Also if you do bring it to a second mechanic let them come up with their own conclusion, I don't know if you want to bias them by telling them what the stealer told you.
 
Is that the whole new valve cover or valve cover GASKET?

It should take no more than 1 hour to change just the gasket.
Even if you buy a whole new valve cover, it should not be more than $200.
I am sure JY has a lot of them since it is a popular car.

So, it should not be more than $400 even at $200/hr stealership rate.
 
I don't know if I've ever heard of anyone replacing a valve cover due to an oil leak. Pretty hard for one to break. And replacing the cover or the gasket is a 30-60 MINUTE job. Even a head gasket doesn't take that many hours on this car, and they aren't known for that problem. Dealership either incompetent, trying to rip you off or both. Toyota engines do develop small external leaks from time to time from various other gaskets, mostly related to the timing system. Go somewhere better.
 
The common leak points on Toyotas are valve covers, distributor and oil pump O-rings(especially on the 3S-FE/5S-FE) and the occasional cam seal. Valve covers gaskets on most are easy to do on these.

Do you see a milkshake-looking mix on the oil dipstick or the car has been overheating out of the blue?
 
Let's let OP get all the details of what the dealer has quoted before we jump to conclusions and say he is being ripped off by a stealership.
 
They are testing you to see if you're an idiot. They already think lowly of you and it's best if you moved on.

Valve cover gaskets do get brittle, but at the 15 year mark in my experience.
 
Take it to and independent shop.

If it's not losing all that much oil, you can likely let it be until it gets bad enough to warrant tearing into the engine.
 
Back on my computer. I am at an independent shop now, they've been given no information other than the car has an oil leak and I want a second opinion.

If it turns out $1,700 is as cheap as it goes, I'm more inclined to move on to a Sonata. I've already had two sets of brakes and a water pump done, not to mention I'm going to need tires fairly soon. I'm hesitant to pour more money into this car as I have wanted a larger, more comfortable car, but wanted to ride this out as long as it was cost-free.
 
I've had a leaky timing chain cover on my Rav4 for the past 5 years and 120,000 miles. I'm not fixing it. It only seeps a little bit.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Kantaro
Super glue to hold valve cover gasket?
Replies
12
Views
626
BMW Dom
1
2012 Regal GS under valve cover... plus bad news
Replies
10
Views
497
thastinger
F
Elantra valve cover gasket replacement?
Replies
13
Views
2K
fisher83
B
Under valve cover pics 09 Flex 146k
Replies
13
Views
996
wlk
GON
2016 Ford Edge with 2.0L turbo oil pressure sensor replacement
2 3
Replies
41
Views
2K
iahawk
Back
Top