Looking for an honest reliable competent Toyota Prado specialist in Adelaide

[kieranoloughlin Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close kieranoloughlin]

Since I have had my 150 series I have had several frustrating experiences with Toyota service centres and their lack of transparency in how they operate here in Adelaide and have decided I have had enough. Can anyone recommend a good business/mechanic that has a proven record maintaining Prado's in Adelaide. Must be honest and competent obviously. Thanks to all who contribute to this post in advance.

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I can refer you to an ex toyota mechanic who is excellent, very methodical but works from home on weekends and after hours. He is located in Brighton.

Otherwise if you prefer a bricks and mortar mechanic, I I would also highly recommend Southern Performance centre at Lonsdale. Again Ex Toyota and been running their own business for many years. Excellent with Toyota's, including Diesels.

[snapper49 Member Find all posts View Profile Close snapper49]

I live in the country and travel to Adelaide to get mine serviced at HiTech Diesel on Churchill road Very happy so far

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Hi Tech diesel are also very good if your in the North.

[ceasar m Member Find all posts View Profile Close ceasar m]

Anyone ( mechanic ) from Sydney? My transmission is due for service , oil change or full flush. thanks

[luke29ermtb Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close luke29ermtb]

My Prado is coming up to the 200,000km mark and has done some hard work on and off road. It needs a mid-life upgrade to maintain performance and reliability.

I'm looking for a mechanic in Adelaide who can inspect the entire drive train and suspension and give advice on what needs to be replaced and what I should think about replacing. Someone who will know what I mean when I say that the Madigan Line is on my bucket list and give advice from that perspective.

Hi Tech Diesel did the injectors and a couple other jobs and mods for me a while ago. They are not cheap but given the amount of vehicles awaiting their attention they've obviously got a good reputation. Is there anyone else that you would recommend?

[RPP Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RPP]

Try the RAA Inspection Centre, tell them what you want.
I had a pre Canning Stock Route trip inspection done at a well known Adelaide 4WD shop early this year. Lost all confidence in their report when they didn't find the obvious missing 12mm bolt on the Bullbar mount and a broken tag on a Bullbar splash plate; and suspicious/false negative diagnosis items. Went to the RAA centre, told them what I wanted, their mechanic even walked me thru the finer points from under Prado. Even my Toyota service shop scotched the 4WD shops' diagnosis.
Back from my CSR trip now and all went well.

[amts Ninja Poster. Find all posts View Profile Close amts]

My Prado is coming up to the 200,000km mark and has done some hard work on and off road. It needs a mid-life upgrade to maintain performance and reliability.

I'm looking for a mechanic in Adelaide who can inspect the entire drive train and suspension and give advice on what needs to be replaced and what I should think about replacing. Someone who will know what I mean when I say that the Madigan Line is on my bucket list and give advice from that perspective.

Hi Tech Diesel did the injectors and a couple other jobs and mods for me a while ago. They are not cheap but given the amount of vehicles awaiting their attention they've obviously got a good reputation. Is there anyone else that you would recommend?

Sorry, I edited your post instead of hitting the quote button. Original has been restored.

See Greg at Greg's Alignment Solutions at Regency Park. He'll let you know what needs sorting.

Took one of my other cars to a tyre place for an alignment and got told that the tie rod ends were stuffed. Went to see Greg and he had a good look and there was absolutely nothing wrong. On top of that, the ball joint wasn't even on the tie rod. The tie rod was a solid part with no moving parts.

[Grinbot Member Find all posts View Profile Close Grinbot]

Try the RAA Inspection Centre, tell them what you want.
I had a pre Canning Stock Route trip inspection done at a well known Adelaide 4WD shop early this year. Lost all confidence in their report when they didn't find the obvious missing 12mm bolt on the Bullbar mount and a broken tag on a Bullbar splash plate; and suspicious/false negative diagnosis items. Went to the RAA centre, told them what I wanted, their mechanic even walked me thru the finer points from under Prado. Even my Toyota service shop scotched the 4WD shops' diagnosis.
Back from my CSR trip now and all went well.

Nice tip on the RAA Inspection Centre.

I'm in Adelaide too - you may not want to share publicly, but could you name the "well known Adelaide 4WD shop" just so I can perhaps steer clear?

I took my Prado to Alltrac 4WD last service and I was a little annoyed after they changed my engine air filter (with a non-genuine one no less) and my cabin filter, despite them not being part of the scheduled service, and they had both been changed just 6 months earlier and were clean. Still, they seem a lot more competent than CMI Toyota..

[RPP Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RPP]

Nice tip on the RAA Inspection Centre.

I'm in Adelaide too - you may not want to share publicly, but could you name the "well known Adelaide 4WD shop" just so I can perhaps steer clear?

I took my Prado to Alltrac 4WD last service and I was a little annoyed after they changed my engine air filter (with a non-genuine one no less) and my cabin filter, despite them not being part of the scheduled service, and they had both been changed just 6 months earlier and were clean. Still, they seem a lot more competent than CMI Toyota..

I expect anybody that does pre-trip inspections to have a lengthy checklist and walk me thru all their findings. There's clearly something amiss when they can't find the obvious missing 12mm bolt on an ARB Bullbar mount, in addition to some questionable recommendations.

Alltrac 4WD has dropped off my list therefore.
CMI in town used to be my goto for service but after they built that edifice, and added a layer of white collars, quality went downhill. They run hi volume book maintenance efficiently, I'll give them that, but they started making mistakes on my cars; After they had three failed attempts at enabling Custom Mode 2 on my Prado I had enough.
I found Peter Kittle Toyota. They did the job in one go and have had my business ever since.
Llordan Diesel out at Lonsdale know what they are doing. went there for some specialised work last year.

[luke29ermtb Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close luke29ermtb]

I expect anybody that does pre-trip inspections to have a lengthy checklist and walk me thru all their findings. There's clearly something amiss when they can't find the obvious missing 12mm bolt on an ARB Bullbar mount, in addition to some questionable recommendations.

Alltrac 4WD has dropped off my list therefore.
CMI in town used to be my goto for service but after they built that edifice, and added a layer of white collars, quality went downhill. They run hi volume book maintenance efficiently, I'll give them that, but they started making mistakes on my cars; After they had three failed attempts at enabling Custom Mode 2 on my Prado I had enough.
I found Peter Kittle Toyota. They did the job in one go and have had my business ever since.
Llordan Diesel out at Lonsdale know what they are doing. went there for some specialised work last year.

I have the same feelings about CMI and any other car company that puts that extra layer of people between me and the person doing the work. It is you and I who are paying for them and they just make it more difficult to get information from the people doing the work.

I've been thinking about Peter Kittle for regular servicing as I've been buying some parts there recently when I've been going past. Good to know they've got your confidence.

I wasn't aware of Llordan Diesel. They're a long way away for me so I'll probably stick with Hi Tech Diesel for the specialist work.