I had my maintenance inspection today from a local Toyota dealership.

Got an oil change and tire rotation.

But they recommended I get a transmission fluid change; new hood struts (I already knew that my hood could not stay open with the current struts); and my cabin and engine air filters need to be replaced (I've never changed them).

If I had gotten this work done at the dealership, it would have cost me $1,166.40 (parts and labor).

Instead, I plan to do most of the work myself and what I cannot do I'll hand the job to my long-standing neighborhood mechanic. He lets me do this. In fact, this is what I did when I had to get new brake pads, two years ago.

My 3 questions to any Good Samaritan on this forum:

1) After looking at YouTube videos, I think I can replace the hood struts myself. But would you recommend I buy them from the dealership or RockAuto (where I bought my brake pads)?

2) Cabin and engine air filters: Replacing both filters looks really easy. However, what kind and where should I get them?

3) Changing the transmission fluid is what I would like my mechanic to do? Also, what kind should I get and how much and from where? Or do you know of an altogether different alternative, like a service center?

Any feedback will be highly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Rockauto struts are OK and same for the filters. Both are easy jobs.

For trans fluid need to know year of car and engine model such as 4 cylinder or V-6. The drivers door has a sticker on the side with the trans model number that may start with a "U".

Later model cars don't have a dipstick thus have a different refilling procedure. The fluid type will depend on the trans model.

 

I agree with Joey and a lot depends on year/engine/mileage Camry.
Rockauto seems fine with most things.
Transmission fluid change might be a different story, again, depending on year and mileage, you may want a drain and fill.