To be a fly on the wall during a service visit

This video was taken by my dash cam October of last year. Sorry about the extreme compression, but this was my "emailable" version. I also have it in stunning 1080p with surround sound (j/k).

Brought my Tacoma in for the decel vibration, before the TSB exsisted. With a bit of pressure from me they contacted Toyota engineering and checked driveline angle, were instructed how to repair and ordered parts. I had requested a ATF level check and dropped it off cold the night before. They gave me back the truck while they waited for parts due to unknown timeline. They did NOT check ATF.

Returned a couple weeks later with another night drop off (no loaner either time), to have repair performed and again requested ATF level check. Got vehicle back same day and again no fluid check. A bit agitated, but whatever....just glad to be rid of decel vibration. Jump in my unwashed truck and head off down the road. Not even 1/4 mile away I notice steering wheel is at 15 degree angle. Fantastic! I use my nifty Bluetooth and call up the dealer and let them know. They schedule me for a week later to get it aligned. What? Seems that should have been done before I picked up and not a week after.

Return a week later to have the alignment sorted out...don't even bother with ATF, but I do mention my rear end howl....a totally separate problem from decel vibration. I had just forgot to mention the other 2 times (although with the way the ATF thing went over, it probably would have been ignored too).

Get truck back, alignment good....no problem found for rear end howl.

Then I watch the video...I have only just now calmed down enough to share it with y'all.

 

Bahahahaha. I'd be calmly showing this to the service manager. Should be some discount/free maintenance following.

 

Lol such diligent service techs...

After you piss up the rope, you should whip them with it.

 

I'll be first to admit I give dealers a bit of grief because I'm (we're) not the average customer when it comes to service visits, but this is pretty low of them. Yes, yes, I know it's "locker room talk" and all that shit, but there's clearly a visible dash cam, so you probably should just bite your tongue. Have you contacted the dealer themselves about it or escalated to corporate?

 

I'm a tech and understand "locker room talk" better than most. I sent it to their boss, asked for nothing in return. I simply told him in a town with as many dealers as mine has i will not be returning to buy or service.

I then used the video as an educational tool for all my guys....they hopefully won't make the same mistake.

 

clearly said technition must be blind to not see a dashcam there or dumb enough to not think you wouldnt check the video... or maybe both? I for sure would show the video to the service manager AND the general manager of the dealership. from a professional point its terrible.

 

Did the boss you sent it to say anything about it?

 

My camera is pretty hard to see....

 

He did apologize, and said he would use the opportunity to educate his guys

 

What dealership is this?

 

It's a dealership in the St. Louis metro area

 

You should name them, especially if you plan to never go back. Other customers would appreciate knowing.

 

Not surprising. I'd guarantee you that if I had a dash cam (based on the body language I've seen from my dealer and lack of eye contact) there'd be similar talk... This prick keeps whining... first it was the floor/pedal vibes, then the transmission shifted too much, then the braking was screwed up (warped rotor b/c they overtightened..), then the steering was screwed up (steering pressure...driven by power delivery/CKP), then they were probably like "this guy...what a #$@#$, thinks he needs his diff fluids replaced @ 15k..."

Sometimes though I think it's just almost unheard of for new Toyotas to have so many problems, so if that's the brand you've been working on for years, people coming in constantly for what they feel are imagined issues, it probably is irritating to them. Most people I know, including myself have owned Toyotas (bought new mostly) for years and never had issues like these.

 

Yeah, he'll educate them to make sure dash cams are disconnected/off before they start working on stuff...

 

Took me a minute to find it. Lou Fusz Toyota. 5 stars w/ 713 reviews on google.

 

Lol. Satellite view for the win. There's the ramp clear as day.

 

You really should name the dealership so everyone on here can avoid going there.

 

Ding! Ding! We have a winner!

Info being that easy to interpret and obtain is EXACTLY why the employees of all service industries need to be on high alert!

 

Wonder if there is anyone else up here that uses that dealer? In all seriousness not trying to dis the dealership or anything, but others may want to know. Granted no harm no foul other than "locker room talk" but still shouldn't be happening in a professional environment where the ones they are talking about pay their salaries in the end.

 

I appreciate that you're a technician yourself and want the best for your vehicle, but what they said "behind closed doors" that you just so happened to record is nothing to fret over. As long as they take care of the customers request and actually do the service they are supposed to do, then there shouldn't be any issue with what they are saying about you. I don't think anyone needed to know the dealers name specifically because this was an isolated incident, but you guys do you. I would never give someone free service or something similar because of what some of my workers said "behind closed doors" about a customer. They didn't take it on a joy ride or something and use an excess of fuel or bump into anything. TBH I thought the video was going to be them backing into something or damaging the vehicle. I do like that "hidden" dash cam though lol. I believe back in 2013, the dealer I took my truck to had finished the service for me and was giving my truck a complimentary wash in their on site car wash. They backed my truck into something pointy which pierced the drivers side rear bed panel and created a good sized hole. Unfortunately I didn't find it until later and because I didn't have camera evidence they refused to fix it. And now I avoid even driving past the dealership as much as possible.