Hi, I have a 2005 Corolla with 78,000 miles. The other day it stalled at a stop sign and wouldn’t start. I got it towed to the repair shop and they called me the next day with the following:
1. Under the back seat is a fuel compression module. This has gone bad. They need to take out the seat, order the part, install new.
2. The belt that drives the accessories motor (or something like that, don’t recall the exact phrasing) is worn, cracking, and probably going to break. Needs replacing.
Battery is corroding and needs replacing.
For all of this I was quoted at around $1150. Scam?
I don’t know what the “fuel compression module” is, but if that gets the car going again, I’d consider just doing that. You can then get some 2nd opinions on the belt and battery, or at least put off the repairs for a more convenient time.
You could get a better description of the repairs and call the dealer to get an estimated cost so you can compare.
I’d guess the battery and the serpentine belt should not cost more than a couple hundred dollars.
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the only “fuel compression module” I’m aware of is the fuel pump assembly. There is a module that Toyota puts fore of the fuel tank that contains a charcoal canister, a pump to maintain a slight vacuum in the tank’s airspace, and some other minor stuff ilke the purge valve and purge valve solenoid. Failure of this would trip a CEL, but not stall the car. Perhaps he said a fuel pump module? Or perhaps Toyota calls the fuel pump assmbly the “fuel compression module”.
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If your ascessories belt is that far gone, let me suggest that you review your owners’ manual recommended maintenance schedule and get caught up on the rest of the maintenance too. Before you end up with even bigger repair bills.
The corroded battery is probably what caused you to stall. A corroded connection can do that. If this is the original battery, you’re probably due for a new one anyway.
I don’t see any reason to suspect a scam here.
Thanks for the quick responses.
I suppose I could easily replace the battery myself, but my assumption was that such an easy install for them would be hard to over-charge me on, so I let them do it.
As long as it sounds reasonable to a few better educated people, I see no reason to stop them from doing the work.
I think the real reason why your bill is so expensive is because they were able to feed you a story about a “Fuel compression module” in your car, and you bought it, so now they know they can make up whatever terms, and you will hand over cash all day long.
I recommend you take your car someplace else for a second opinion, and a second price quote.
BC.
Yeah… I was thinking that. It’s why I came here in the first place.
I do think “fuel compression module” means fuel pump, which is under the back seat of this car.
However I recommend a test should be done before just changing the part:
Check for voltage at the pump. This requires removing the back seat and an access plate.
Shouldn’t be more than an hour of labor.
If there is no power to the pump they need to look at fuses, relays etc.
He did tell me that they ran electric tests through this piece as part of the diagnosis. He said it was getting power fine.
Fuel compression module ??—fuel pump.
recycling operator—trash man.
interior maintainence specialist----janitor
manual ingress/egress mechanism-----door handle
The bigger the title the more money ?
I’m not sure, but I do know that the custodial engineer at my high school drives a Mercedes.
Perhaps. Our “sanitation engineer” (trashman) does pretty well. He probably has a good retirement plan too.
And Teamsters union, to boot.
My brother is a Teamster and drives the big industial trash truck that picks up the huge steel dumpsters overhead to dump in the back.
" I’m not a trash guy, I’m a truck driver. I never have to touch the stuff." he says.
We employ a Security Sentry Officer at our residence. Fortunately, he wants his salary in dog biscuits.