I will never trust this garage with any diagnostics again. They tried to rip us off to the tune of $4,300.00 for a new engine in our 2000 Toyota Avalon! We traveled to Silver City, NM, arriving Saturday morning, June 17, to pick up my grandson from my daughter and son-in-law who were traveling from San Antonio, TX. (This was the halfway point for both of us and was also the birthplace of my father, aunt, grandmother and many other family members.) Less than 4 miles out of town our car overheated. We pulled to the side of the road, turned it off and called AAA. While waiting, a good Samaritan stopped and informed us all the repair shops were closed until Monday morning. He called several mechanics he knew but no one answered. He gave us a list R & L was the only AAA authorized garage in town so we towed the car there and set up with AAA for repair services. We went to the garage on Monday about 1pm and my boyfriend was told the car had a blown head gasket but due to a slow computer we could not be given an estimate on the work, so Michael the service writer was going to call us b4 5pm. We never received a call. The next morning we returned to the garage. We were told we had to wait for Michael to go over paperwork for the repair. Michael told us that we needed a new engine and that a rebuilt would cost $7,000.00 but he was looking for a used one for $4,300.00! he said the car had an engine knock. I asked if it was a lifter or a rod knock and he said he didn't know. I asked for a pipe to find the knock and he replied that he left his stethoscope at home. He continued to tell us how complicated the engine was and that even Toyota dealers didn't mess with them. We stepped out and decided to have tow the car to another garage recommended by our good Samaritan. I know some about cars and what we were told didn't make sense: there was no mixing of oil and water in the engine, he never started the car for us to hear the knock, and he could not give us any specific reasons for the need of a new engine other than he heard a knock. We paid for the diagnostic work which included a AAA discount and came to $38,56 and promptly called the other mechanic who gladly agreed to see the car. The new mechanic was very informative and specific on what he would do to check for engine damage. He called us 2 hrs. later and informed us the car was fine. He replaced the faulty radiator cap! He also drained the oil and checked for metal shavings. Fortunately there were none. He assured us the car was fine and we could drive it home, which we did, all the way back to La Puente, CA. I was shocked and appalled at the lack of professionalism and actual diagnostic work performed by R & L Service Center. The mechanic who supposedly checked our car was a certified Toyota technician. He never refilled the cooling system, (It was still empty when it arrived at the new garage and they had been driving it like that to move it in and out of the garage at night.) I have a copy of the service record that states the oil was 1/4 qt. low, the cooling system was "topped off," and the engine was tested and failed. I'd like to know what kind of test was performed on this engine. I would like to know where all the coolant went that they put in, and who's idea it was to think they could lie to us and try to get either the engine replaced to the tune of $4,300.00 or get us to abandon our car. In all fairness the car is old, but it has been well maintained and has no mechanical issues. It has new tires, new battery, new radiator, an new alternator and over 260,000 miles. I hope this review will help save someone else from going through what we went through. We had rented a car on Monday for the week, stayed an extra day in our motel room and the only up side was enjoying more meals at wonderful eateries in Silver City while I researched family roots. We have since reported this garage to AAA.