Hi Everyone,

Just bought a forklift for the small warehouse business I am trying to start.

I don`t know much about forklifts. I showed it to a forklift mechanic and he gave me an estimate of $1200+!! So I want to get some opinions here if possible. Not sure if the mechanic is telling the truth or trying to stiff me. So any help is highly appreciated.

Here is the forklift details:
Toyota 7FGU25
Serial No: 69309
I believe it is 2002, works with propane.
Around 7200 hours on it.


Basically, when I purchased it from the business that was selling it, it didn`t start right away, they said it must be the battery - it worked just fine with a jumpstart.

When I sent my delivery truck and it was delivered, I was expecting this so I jumpstarted it - it started but when I was lifting the forks or with a slight side shift, the engine died immediately, like it doesn`t have power to lift forklift.

I bought a battery charger from wal-mart, charged battery at 8 amp. By morning, it was fully charged, but then it drained charge again, because it didn`t start couple hours later.

So I decided to call a local forklift tech that I found locally. I figured he could change battery and also lube, take a look around and everything. I thought it would be all fine once the battery is changed.

Forklift tech charged me $209 for the battery plus his labor.
And he tells me, the starter and fuel regulator also needs to be changed! And this can cost me at least $1400!

He first called me and said that the fuel regulator for this specific model costs $600 and the starter costs $165.
I couldn`t believe that a fuel regulator costs that much.

So, he texts me few hours later and asks if I see a light "TWC" (three way cat) when I turn key on but not start it.

I said yes, I see a TWC along with battery and a down arrow light on left side of it when I turn the key but not start it. He said, in that case, the fuel regulator will be cheaper at $525.
He said $525 for fuel regulator, $165 for starter and he can fix it in 2.5 hours at $90 / hr.

I called a local forklift parts center. They said, if it has a Japanese fuel regulator (which it has, according to my mechanic, because I didn`t see any donut shaped impco brand regulator or anything like that in the engine) it can be converted to American Impco and conversion kit is only $300.

I told about this to the mechanic. He said that it could be converted to American fuel regulator, but it is more work (more labor) and the lights on the dashboard would start lighting up.

So, I am not sure what I need to do.
The problem is not gone after changing to new battery.
It does not start - keep clanking - like it is almost about to start but does not start. Sometimes it starts. Once it is up and running, you can drive it around, but once you try and raise the forks it dies (if you can give a good gas, it will not die, but when it hits the very top, it dies instantly) Also, soon as you do a side shift, it will die.

I have been told by other people who worked with this mechanic that, he is very money oriented. So, I don`t want to be stiffed in this situation. At the same time, I am not sure if he could be telling the truth.

I would appreciate it if anyone can help me with this as I am clueless about how to fix my first and beloved forklift.