Dealership Woes..

This family owned oil change shop I go to has multiple cameras and monitors set up so you can watch while they work on your car. Now does everyone know what they are looking at? No, but it's an added level of comfort for others.

 

I like to beat around some bushes, if you know what I mean.

 

Try driving home with the oil filter drain plug not put on, having all your oil splatter the undercarriage, not to mention wonder if your brand new, 5K mile engine will ever be the same, then within weeks start hearing more than the Atkinson cycle click-diesel sounding engines we have...yup, I'm living a nightmare. Next day I bought everything I needed to do this myself going forward...but the damage has already been done and destiny of this engine in the long run has already been etched in stone. Doesn't get stupider than that. I wish I had the problem you did...

 

Wait what? The dealership isn't going to fix that for you? They messed up that badly and possibly permanently damaged your engine.

 

Nothing to fix...until years down the road...the atkinson shit cycle engine hides it real well...they're not going to admit something is wrong...replacing a whole engine is the greatest label of dumbest tech/dealership ever. Even if corporate pays for all warranty, they will be audited on how this could happen, and because it was human error (neglect) dealer would likely have to eat it...you think they would easily place a new engine out of their own pockets for me? We all already have to fight them for dynamic radar/CC sensors if we have an after market grill...and that's a recall! I wouldn't want a new engine...when you touch anything OEM, and something of that magnitude and complex, it'll NEVER be the same. I would want a whole new vehicle.

 

The grill thing isn't anywhere close to the same type of scenario as a tech not installing your oil drain plug properly...

 

In situations like that, I would say your best bet is usually to ask for an extended warranty in case there are problems down the road. That said, sometimes they're really down the road.

Jeff

 

Toyota has been replacing frames for years which basically involves disassembling and reassembling the entire truck. I think they could handle an engine swap.

 

Time to find and independent shop and upgrade to a 2JZ!

 

I'm sure that there is a really good number of techs that could handle the job without issue. The problem is that not everyone at the dealership does frame replacements, and not everyone at the dealership has experience replacing engines. There are definitely times when your truck is that person's first time doing that job. That may be better, because they'll be very careful to make sure it was done right, it may also be bad news because things may be done improperly.

Basically, it's a bit of a gamble as to how well things will come out. Sometimes your vehicle is broken and undriveable so you need to get it fixed, other times you just don't feel like dealing with the follow-ups and bringing the truck back when something that worked more or less perfectly before someone touched it no longer does. Of course dealers always aim for the correct fix the first time, but when it's a larger and/or more complex job, the probability that something will be missed, etc., is a bit higher and should be taken into account before deciding to have something done.

Of course there's always the idealist in your head that says: I paid for this, it should be done correctly, and the people with Toyota on their uniform should know how to do it correctly! But sometimes they just don't yet. An independent dealership does not have the same quality control as a manufacturing facility, and techs are paid flat rate to get the job done as quickly as possible. The model used by most manufacturers and dealer service departments does not benefit the customer or their vehicle in my opinion.

Jeff

 

If it were me, I would sell it.

 

If they could remember to put the oil plug on...I'd run with ya on this. I just cant get myself to feel comfortable on any task assigned to them ever again. It's a me thing...trust is hard to re-gain after something like this.