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Kendall Toyota of Anchorage Service worth trusting?

Discussion in 'Alaska' started by httuner, Apr 1, 2016.

  1. Apr 1, 2016 at 1:12 PM
    #1
    httuner

    httuner [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I wanted to open this thread for some inputs about personal experiences at our local Toyota dealer (Since we pretty much only got one) Whether its based on a service experience or a purchase.

    Anyhow I've been going through them for the last 20k miles to do my Toyota maintenance plan. I've noticed that they have never rotated my tires as they should have. I mark my tires so I know which tire belongs where. Last service they told me that my tires were good and didn't need rotation; yes they were good but still I had over 5k miles on my new tires and would've been nice if they rotated the tires no matter the thread depth.

    So I got to thinking; are they even performing all the fluid checks properly? Because I just recently replaced my Rear/Front diff fluids and transfer case fluid. I only had exactly 2 quarts of fluid in my rear diff come out(which is extremely low; considering it takes least a little over 3 quarts).

    So after all this time; they told me they have inspected my fluid levels properly; they have been lying to me?

    Now I'm worried about my transmission fluid level, since they probably haven't checked that either. (well its probably too damn hot for them to check it properly but I know Toyota has a special tool they hook up to the check plug and they can adjust it to compensate for transmission temp to verify AT fluid level.)

    Do you guys trust Kendall Toyota to work on any of your trucks/vehicles? Are the techs lazy and just not doing the required maintenance scheduled work they are assigned to do? Don't get me wrong; I always had good customer service in the service department but I fear that the service for my truck, I've been getting hasn't been completed to its fullest.

    I'm just glad I'm not paying for this, but what about the other folks who are paying for these services? Are they getting ripped off? Probably.
     
    AkRoaneo likes this.
  2. Apr 1, 2016 at 1:20 PM
    #2
    DustStorm4x4

    DustStorm4x4 BBC 2020

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    Most members on here don't trust any dealerships to do their maintenance. You sound like you know how to do these things, you might as well do them.
     
    httuner[OP] likes this.
  3. Apr 1, 2016 at 4:04 PM
    #3
    Alaska15

    Alaska15 Well-Known Member

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    Never take your truck there again. They charged me for work that they didn't do. They can't be trusted.
     
    httuner[OP] likes this.
  4. Apr 2, 2016 at 1:52 PM
    #4
    TacoTuesAK

    TacoTuesAK Member

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    This is a bummer to hear. I was really pleased when I bought my truck from them. I just put on 1000 miles so i haven't had any maintenance experience with them yet but I will definitely be double checking everything to make sure it gets done.
     
    AkRoaneo likes this.
  5. Apr 2, 2016 at 10:33 PM
    #5
    httuner

    httuner [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Definitely double check, I would use a whiteout and mark the fill bolts on the diffs so you'll know if they cracked it open to look at it or not. Definitely worth putting a mark on the transmission check bolt too. I mean it stated all fluids right? So ATF and gear fluids would definitely be part of it.

    I'm usually not one to complain but if it's required to be done then complete it so. I found out I was low on diff fluid 23k miles too late. I wonder if I'm low on ATF fluid too. Gonna check it next week.
     
  6. Apr 3, 2016 at 8:39 PM
    #6
    SnowroxKT

    SnowroxKT Well-Known Member

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    I haven't had good experiences with their service. I brought my truck in and asked for the tech to call me so I could explain the symptoms, didn't happen. I was told after the fact that they took out my AEM dry filter and washed it for me and told me that was the problem. It wasn't. They also said well your truck doesn't have the technology so we're not really sure what's wrong. Truck died on the way home. Called them and they asked me if I'd like to tow it back for them to take another look. I then fixed the coolant sensor and then had GTF do a valve adjust and it solved my issues.
     
  7. Apr 5, 2016 at 1:55 PM
    #7
    robm7

    robm7 Well-Known Member

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    Interesting post. I don't entirely trust them either but have used their services and bought both trucks from.
     
  8. Apr 11, 2016 at 6:12 PM
    #8
    AKdude007

    AKdude007 The mountains are calling and I must go

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    I just took my taco in a few weeks ago to the Kendall in Fairbanks to have a couple outstanding recalls taken care of. They included an inspection free of charge, which I thought was nice. But they came back with a huge laundry list of fluids to be replaced, each fluid saying contaminated and discolored or burned next to it. I thought that was interesting since two days prior I did a tranny flush (actually, 2nd one in 5 months because I was diagnosing an issue), and they came back saying the fluid was bad and needed to be changed. Same with the brake fluid. The service guy tried to back pedal a little when I told him that I did my own maintenance and the work I had done. I wouldn't trust them. Hopefully they properly did my seat belt recall!
     
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  9. Apr 11, 2016 at 8:32 PM
    #9
    httuner

    httuner [OP] Well-Known Member

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    That's how they get your money or someone whom doesn't have automotive knowledge. I saw a lady getting charge to change out an air filter and cabin filter. I just thought that was silly that they would charge labor because they've already opened it up to inspect it. Might as well replace it in the process and only charge for the cost of the filters? That's just greedy, so I offered to do it for free if she buys the filters, told her it'll take me 5 minutes to do it in the parking lot if she's willing. So I pop the new filters into her truck and off she went. They charge an outrageous price for labor for something that takes minutes to do.
     
  10. Apr 11, 2016 at 8:38 PM
    #10
    httuner

    httuner [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I got a buddy whom works at Chevy of South anchorage, he tells me they get paid according to the work they do, forsay someone wants a transmission flush and it's quoted at 2 hours of labor, they get paid the 2 hours. I don't remember how it works but the more work they are given the more money auto techs can make so they are always looking to make more money out of the customer, even sometimes with dishonesty. It happens sadly.
     
  11. Apr 11, 2016 at 8:53 PM
    #11
    AKdude007

    AKdude007 The mountains are calling and I must go

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    This is pretty normal for a mechanic's pay schedule since most aren't pay by the hour. It is more commision based. There are standards layed out by the automotive industry for how long a job should take and that is what they charge. It protects the customer too. If the books says 2 hours and an experienced mechanic does it in 1 they still charge for 2, but an inexperienced mechanic does it in 4, still charged for 2, and the mechanic is paid for 2 regardless. That being said, they definitely should not charge for work not done. If I pay for an inspection, inspect it. Don't just look up how many miles the vehicle has and give a generic service schedule list of maintainence.
     
  12. Apr 17, 2016 at 11:02 PM
    #12
    300AACTaco

    300AACTaco Well-Known Member

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    Last time mine was there they tried telling me I needed a new cabin air filter when I replaced it the week before
     
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  13. Apr 20, 2016 at 4:22 PM
    #13
    AKHawkeye

    AKHawkeye Well-Known Member

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    I don't hardly add any miles to my truck. So in 15 months I've only had them change the oil once (only 4.5k miles on the truck currently). With that said, they seems pretty polite, quick, and better organized than other dealerships I've dealt with (avoid the BMW dealership AT ALL COSTS). That said, their parts department is a joke. They couldn't give me a quote on tires they had on the showroom floor (Duratracs), and when I tried to order a set of the bronze TRD beadlocks they quoted me $300 more than they had 2 months prior ($1036 vs $1300).

    I found their sales staff to be pretty unorganized too. I ordered my truck from the factory. They had no way to track it, and had zero updates until one day it just showed up. Of course at that time my sales guy no longer worked there, and the one they assigned me couldn't find the paperwork pertaining to my $1k deposit. I had to go home to pick it up as I went straight to the dealership from the airport after getting home from work. When I applied for a loan I was on the fence of just paying cash. But decided to get a $10k loan for credit reasons. They portrayed Toyotas loan as being a better rate, but when I decided on my banks it somehow turned out to be .75% better. Toyota : 2.5% vs Alaska USA: 1.75%

    All in all, I'm going to treat them like any other dealership experience. Utilize them for recall/warranty/Toyota Care, then once I'm dated out of all the free shit I'll be taking it to an independent shop.
     
  14. Apr 21, 2016 at 5:16 AM
    #14
    N8ivFlav

    N8ivFlav Well-Known Member

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    I take my truck in for an oil change there 2x a year... Hardly drive it and last year they wanted to buy it from me... Lol they said they need to look at it to give me an estimate I said didn't you guys do that all ready or else your wouldn't want to buy it from me lol.
     
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  15. Apr 21, 2016 at 4:08 PM
    #15
    SnowroxKT

    SnowroxKT Well-Known Member

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    About every 5th time I go there and a sales guy is outside they are interested in mine, sometimes even walk around it. I spoke to one of them and he said the first gens sell well on the lot. :notsure:
     
  16. Oct 7, 2016 at 10:49 AM
    #16
    httuner

    httuner [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Said the same thing to me when I went in for my 25k miles oil change; said it was dirty LOL I just replaced it the day before taking it in for service that same day. They are such ripoffs; I told the service gal that I just replaced it yesterday; why would it be dirty today? She didn't have an answer.
     
  17. Oct 7, 2016 at 12:09 PM
    #17
    300AACTaco

    300AACTaco Well-Known Member

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    Lol bunch of jokers over there in the service department its ridiculous
     
  18. Aug 2, 2017 at 11:38 PM
    #18
    AkArin

    AkArin Well-Known Member

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    One time I had an appointment and dropped by truck off at 7:30 for some minor service, forgot exactly what it was. Came back at 5:30, expecting work to be done. It wasn't. They told me they literally "just forgot" about my truck. They gave me 4 car wash coupons and told me to come back the next day. It was unbelieveable. Luckily I'm a pretty easy going guys and don't fault people.
     

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