Anyone Know of a good Toyota mechanic in the So-Cal area?

I've been keeping an eye underneath my Taco as of late due to the fact it's slowly been dripping oil on my driveway for the past couple of months. After the on-going inspection and power washing of the oil pan, I've 90% concluded that the culprit is the famed leaky front main seal that plagues a lot of 2005-2008 Tacomas (I'm aware there's a TSB out on em).

Anyways, at 172,000 miles, there's not a snowball's chance of me getting much out of the dealer in terms of pity service. I had a 7:20 appointment with John Elway's Crown Toyota in Ontario this morning and right off the bat they quoted me over $2,000 to replace the main seal even before inspection. (There's a $125 inspection fee that goes into any repairs made, so I didn't even have them look at it.) Later asking $2,200 adding to replace the timing cover w/ waterpump, as a dealer often would. I glanced at the computer and noticed that it was 18.4 hours of labor cost on the V6 (more for the I4 ironically) so I can see why it costs 2k, but that's still out of my price range for a part that cost $20 that I know I could do myself if I had the time.

My question is, does anyone know of a good mechanic that specializes in Toyota maintenance or the 1GR-FE in the Jurupa Valley (Mira Loma) and/or surrounding SoCal area? Any help is appreciated!

Pictures of the damage:

 

IIRC, the front main seal issue was on the 4cyls.

Can you get a picture of the side of the engine where the timing cover and cylinder heads meet? That's a very common spot for them to leak.

 

Try Yotamasters in Corona

 

I have a shop in Murrieta. We specialize in Lexus & Toyota and I'd be more then happy to have my guys inspect the leak for you, no charge, as well as get you a quote.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=eastman lexus & toyota

 

Oh really? Ha, I must of not been paying attention.

It's difficult to get a picture on account it's hot because I just drove it, but there isn't any oil above the main pulley. I said I'm 90% sure it's the main seal due to that fact and the other 10% taking the crankcase gasket encase the oil is just creeping upward.



Not sure if that's even part of the timing cover, I'd have to look at the schematic. Otherwise I'll have to drop the skid to get more pictures from the bottom up.

Thanks to both of you for the quick recommendations, I'll definitely look into both.

 

Their probably more expensive than the dealer. No hate here, I'm sure they do great work but they charge a lot because they can get away with it.

 

Try speed freak here in the forums lots of good reviews from forum members here Tacoma World.

 

If you're fairly certain it's just the front main crankshaft seal, this is what you'd be looking at to get it replaced at our shop.

 

I think I'm having the same issue manifest in mine. I haven't put all of the proper trouble shooting time into it yet. Same location, I thought it might be the head gasket getting shitty early; at least if about 110K is early, seems early to me on one of these. At any rate, I know it's a cheap seal issue with real labor costs and I'm dreading dealing with it. Prob going to bite the billet on it before the end of summer tho.

 

That might be worth the trip to Murrieta. Vs what the dealer charges; the trip could pay for itself.

 

Fairly certain. Forgive my doubt, but is that the right amount of digits? I would think labor costs would be more if it's a time intensive job.

Same I have been dreading it the past couple months, which is why I've lived with it thus far but the leak has gotten worse recently. Escalating to a softball size spot if I let the truck sit for a day. It's still livable if you watch your oil level but I'm not comfortable with it, makes me feel like my truck is incomplete. Haha.
And certainly it would, way more so than the dealer.

 

That would be the price if it's just the front crankshaft seal behind the pulley.

If it's the front timing cover, then yes, that quote is missing a digit.

 

My Tacoma is getting up there in age and I've been looking for a trustworthy mechanic. I'll save your number and give you a ring when I need it.

 

Double time.

 

Hans Automotive in Huntington Beach. They are first class

 

Hope it's not the timing cover, that'd be a drag.

Anyways, looked you guys up on yelp and visited your site (under construction?). Talked to my dad some; I'm thinking I'll drive down on Tuesday this coming week!

 

@Supra4x4 I took my Camry to them when I had the car and never had any issues with Eastman. I had them do valve cover gaskets, timing belt and fan belt. My brother had his tacoma in there for some work too. So I'll give them a positive reference since I never had any issues with my stuff after work being done.