Toyota Prepaid Maintenance Vent (The sucker plans)

~ Oh I am so mad at myself!
I know now that these plans a such a ripoff and just need to vent.
This was a promise I made with Ed from Iowa, the rep at Toyota Corp Customer Service.
I mentioned I was a member of the best Tacoma Enthusiast forum on the internet & would blast my shortcoming on TW ~
possibly save some other unsuspecting souls of wasting their hard earned $$.

Y'all are much smarter than me anyway, BUT
if I save one unsuspecting person, just one, that will turn my frown upside down.

My mistake came when I misunderstood the meaning of special operating conditions.
The Prepaid Plans (sold by Toyota beyond the 3/25 one) doesn't cover the front and rear diffs or transfer case.
It is considered "special operating conditions".
I said what is so special? I bought a 4WD truck with Tow and use it thus meeting the "conditions".
NOPE. sorry Judy.
The stealership wanted some ungodly amount to do this service too.
Oh and then called me about all $h1t that was broken, a plastic parking brake housing, a throttle body cleaning, brakes.
Yeah fool me once not biting

Sorry I do not wrench, I am a late 50s woman who obviously needs to start.
I did point out the spark plug change to the service writer though who didn't believe the book and had to look it up. +1

Moral of the Story save your money and do it yourself or get the services in writing.
But you guys already know that

 

Yes I was super bummed.
I search after the fact here and didn't come up with much about the extended plans.
Only the free ones during the 25k timeframe.
There has been a huge turnover at my dealer in service writing techs.
At 8 am this morning, 8 of them were just sitting behind the counter.
I was the only one in the service lane....it never use to be that way.
The techs are super and have been there for years.
oh well, lesson learned, plus Ed in Iowa who told me he felt my pain
I don't know why he didn't do jack for me lol...........

 

I was just about to post that I got the platinum plan, and all of that is expressly covered.

 

I didnt bother with one, hell when my stuff was free when I bought it I still did it all myself, dealership did call me and scold me about it to

 

Yeah I'm going to find my paperwork when I get home to see what the heck happened.

 

One reason they charge so much to do the differentials is because they use toyota lube at 40$ a quart. A local driveline shop,can do it for alot less.

 

Ah I see that is the reason. They never tell you that.
Thank you! I called my friend's shop who is going to do for a lot less money.
I know it's easy for most here to DIY. I wish I could do more and you guys teach me a lot!
Funny, his service writer came from the Toyota dealer and said no problem.

 

What the hell are they using?

 

I won't gum up this thread with a long story but i made an appointment at 15k to get my diff lube changed out. I had been 4x4 and towing alot. When I arrived they said they had to order the lube at 40$/quart x 6 (2× diffs, transfer case) nearly 300$... let's say a collective chuckle happened in the waiting room when the service guy came out and told me that. ended up going to an auto parts store and buying my own. In the end they refunded me the cost and charged me labor only.

 

Toyota Lube = Baby Seal Blood

 

Hey Joe, I forgot, I asked about my key fob not working too after changing the battery. SW said it doesn't get programmed.
I just watched 5 videos on youtube showing me how to program the fob one even in Spanish. It was awesome.
I'm glad he didn't know that they need programming probably saved a 100 dollars
It really isn't funny....

 

Yeah that is around the price they quoted me ... 3 bills +

yeah no kidding with the "special" liquid gold additive for the LSD

 

Unfortunately, the LSD additive is Tiger Blood, but sadly enough that is not enough needed or used in the electronic LSDs post 2009.

 

Cancel your maintenance plan and get as much money back as you can. That's what I did with my extended warranty.

 

Yes...I got the extended warranty that included the 30K service. It covers the truck from 30K to 45K miles. I think of it as 4 expensive oil changes, and a little peace of mind.

The DYI truck service is not too hard. No reason you can't do it your self. Over the past few weekends I changed the brake, transfer case and F&R diff fluid. It does take some physical strength, the fill and drain plugs on the front diff case just didn't want to budge.

 

Learned something new today!
Oh and that key fob trick click click

 

They're adding LSD? Is the truck now on a trip?

 

I think I would have to be trippin' to pay these estimates for future work

Replace front rear t case fluids plus additive for LSD 322.90
Both rear parking brake housing cracked replace cables 384.54
Clean throttle body 67.38
Replace front brakes 419.99


I just programmed my non-programmable key fob according to the dealer it was doa non programmable needed new one.

 

Isn't cleaning the throttle body a $10 can of spray and toothbrush????

 

This is why Independent Repair Shops exist. You can get burned there as well, but if you ask around, you'll likely avoid the grief you run into at ANY car dealership, not just Toyota.