Dealership refuses to look at alignment issue??

Hey guys,
Just wanted to run by my experance by the masses and see what you all thought I should do in this situation....
In November, I was in a fairly significant rear end collision (I was the one rear ended). The grand total to my 2010 Tacoma was $8700 in damage... While in the body shop, the truck was taken to a local Toyota dealer (DarCars Toyota of Frederick), for a mechanical check of my transmission and other parts. While there, the techs said that my tires where "cupping", however, they did not do anything there due to this not being directly involved to my accident. I picked up the truck in mid Decemeber, and have been driving it ever since. I took the truck back there yesterday, and explained to them that I believe I had a suspension/alignment issue because of what the techs had said in an earlier report. My truck has 15,500 miles on it. The service advisor told me that if one of my tires was cupping, it was not covered in the waranty, because it would be due to me hitting a pothole or something. I explained to him that it was all 4 tires that where cupping, not just one. He stated to me that in order to insure I had proper alignment, they would have to put it on an alignment machine, and the prices start at $89.99. I do not claim to be a master mechanic, however, wouldn't all 4 tires cupping be because of an inproper alignment in the first place?? Shouldn't this be a waranty issue?? While I was there, I also had them rotate my tires, for a cost of $28.00.
When I arrived back at the dealership to pick up my truck, the service advisor told me my grand total was $36.00. They charged me $2.00 as a "document retention fee", $4.00 for an "envorimental disposal fee", and another $2.00 for a "shop fee". I flat out told him that I wasn't going to pay the $36.00, as the other 6 bucks where utter BS fees. After talking to the head manager, I walked out paying the agreed upon $28... Not very impressed with this dealership at all.... What do you guys think? I know the alignment is under waranty for another 3K miles.... Is what the dealership telling me correct, or are they trying to avoid the issue and make me pay??
Thanks!

 

Cupping is usually more than just an alignment...but with such a new truck I find it hard to believe you have a damaged suspension. Either way you should get it aligned and start looking at new tires.
How many miles do you have total? Miles since the last alignment before the accident? Cause if the front went out that can lead to cupping on all four.

As far as the fees- You got lucky cause at least two of the three are usually state mandated (Environ Fee and Shop Fee).

I'm thinking about it too- Do you have/can you get some photos of the tires?? Cause cupping and one side wear look alot alike.

 

It is a slight cupping that you can notice if you see..... Should I pony up the cash then??

 

I wouldn't pay 90 bones for a dealership to one time align it. For less than double that you can get lift time from Firestone or many similar nation wide places. They aren't going to custom set alignment or do amazing things...but they work good for most normal alignments.

 

I have never had to do an alignment on my truck before.... It is completly stock, however, I rotated my tires approx. 3-4K before the accident.... The shop that did the alignment did not mention any unusual wear patterns (if they where looking). As far as the fees, I simply told them all they did was rotate my tires, they used nothing other than an air gun, and they didn't use anything from their shop, and they did not dispose of anything...

 

And for that matter, out of the 4 new vehicles that I have owned in the past 5 years, I have never ONCE had to take them for an alignment short of 45K or so... If the truck needs an alignment this early, shouldn't that be Toyota footing the bill??

 

Usually alignments sre covered for a 12 months/12k period. Most manufactures do a one time alignment. If you pull out of the dealer and hit a curb is that warranty? Cupping can be caused by bad tire inflation, lack of tire rotations, incorrect downforce pressure from shock/strut. The price he quoted you for "checking alignment" is just about correct. The tech does have to spend time setting up the alignment machine. Someone mentioned about lifetime alignment for a few bucks extra. Go for it! Oh and the fees charged are not state mandated it is a way for shops to earn a little extra CASH.

 

LOL @ them charging you 89.99 to LOOK at the alignment.

Places around here CHECK your alignment for free, then if it needs it well it carries from place to place.

Between 59-79

 

First off, next time you replace tires spring for lifetime ballance & rotation & do it every other oil change or 7500 miles as well as others suggested, lifetime allignment. Stay away from the dealership service as much as possible, for they will rob you for as much as they can get away with, it's their main goal. Visit a Firestone or Tires Plus & talk to a tech & let them know you will be a regular customer if treated fairly. Bottom line, if you think you're being taken, you probably are. Educate yourself on general maint. of your truck. This forum will help greatly with that, the search is a great tool here. Check for cupping yourself, you will get different explanations of it from every tech at a dealership, & most of them have no clue what cupping is. They are not tire experts there, they are learning mechanics. Go to where 80% of the business is tires. Put a straight edge across your tire tread pattern & see where it's not touching the rubber. If you see a gap in the middle, you are most likely overinflated, the opposite, underinflated. Gap on one side or other, or uneven wear on individual tread lugs, alignment or balance issue. I have worked in a tire factory for the past 12 years & have learned alot about tire wear. My Revos have almost 30k on them & have worn perfect from following regular care as mentioned above.