1 reviews | Active since Oct 2026
Worst experience.
I booked my Toyota Etios 1.5 in for a major service and asked them to check an overheating problem. On quote *** they charged a diagnostic scan plus labour, then quoted R586.96 for a thermostat, R782.61 for a water pump and R461.74 for a radiator flush, with R1,813 in cooling-system labour on top. Acting on that diagnosis, I had the water pump and thermostat replaced by another mechanic that cost less for sourcing the parts and for labour. The overheating did not change at all. I then took the car to another workshop, which ran a combustion leak (glycol) test and confirmed a blown head gasket which could have been less severe had the proper tests been done, a completely different fault that their diagnostic scan missed. I spent money chasing cooling-system parts that were never the real problem. I still have their written quote. Insist on a proper leak-down or combustion test before you pay for anything.
Dear Sarel,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We would like the opportunity to investigate the matter thoroughly.
This will allow us to review the matter with the relevant team and provide you with a detailed response.
We take all customer concerns seriously and look forward to resolving this for you as soon as possible.
Kind regards,
CARtime Head Office
Dear Sarel,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We would like the opportunity to investigate the matter thoroughly.
This will allow us to review the matter with the relevant team and provide you with a detailed response.
We take all customer concerns seriously and look forward to resolving this for you as soon as possible.
Kind regards,
CARtime Head Office
Dear Sarel,
Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding the service and diagnosis of your Toyota Etios 1.5.
We understand your frustration regarding the expenses incurred and the fact that the overheating issue persisted after the recommended repairs were carried out.
However, we would like to clarify that the subsequent repairs and further diagnostic work were conducted by another workshop and not by CARtime. As a result, we were not involved in the further assessment of the vehicle or the identification of the blown head gasket.
Had the vehicle remained with CARtime for further investigation and repairs, we would have had the opportunity to conduct additional diagnostic checks, including a cooling system pressure test, to investigate the ongoing overheating issue and assist in identifying the underlying cause before proceeding with further repairs.
Unfortunately, as the vehicle was taken elsewhere for the subsequent repairs, we cannot comment conclusively on the findings of the other workshop or confirm whether the head gasket fault was present and identifiable during the initial assessment.
We regret that you have had an unsatisfactory experience and appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns and clarify our position.
Kind regards,
CARtime Head Office
Dear Sarel,
Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding the service and diagnosis of your Toyota Etios 1.5.
We understand your frustration regarding the expenses incurred and the fact that the overheating issue persisted after the recommended repairs were carried out.
However, we would like to clarify that the subsequent repairs and further diagnostic work were conducted by another workshop and not by CARtime. As a result, we were not involved in the further assessment of the vehicle or the identification of the blown head gasket.
Had the vehicle remained with CARtime for further investigation and repairs, we would have had the opportunity to conduct additional diagnostic checks, including a cooling system pressure test, to investigate the ongoing overheating issue and assist in identifying the underlying cause before proceeding with further repairs.
Unfortunately, as the vehicle was taken elsewhere for the subsequent repairs, we cannot comment conclusively on the findings of the other workshop or confirm whether the head gasket fault was present and identifiable during the initial assessment.
We regret that you have had an unsatisfactory experience and appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns and clarify our position.
Kind regards,
CARtime Head Office
Dear Sarel
We thank you for raising your concern regarding the initial diagnosis. Our tech picked up a faulty water pump, so the compression test would have failed with water exiting through the water pump and not highlighting the gasket issue. The gasket may have failed soon thereafter, prior to any work being done. A full compression test would have been completed after the installation of the water pump, as a matter of procedure.
Thank you for raising your concern.
Yours sincerely
CARtime Head Office
Dear Sarel
We thank you for raising your concern regarding the initial diagnosis. Our tech picked up a faulty water pump, so the compression test would have failed with water exiting through the water pump and not highlighting the gasket issue. The gasket may have failed soon thereafter, prior to any work being done. A full compression test would have been completed after the installation of the water pump, as a matter of procedure.
Thank you for raising your concern.
Yours sincerely
CARtime Head Office