Dealer refused to check fluid

Toyota designed the transmission not the dealership, so this argument of them wanting more money is invalid. If anything they make it sealed so there is less for the techs to do and less warranty work for Toyota to pay out.

 

By sealing the trans Toyota avoids any warranty work from customers adding the wrong fluid or putting in a additive. Tacoma owners tend to experiment and it's not like they will come in and say what they did

 

I don't know when it comes to Toyota's warranty pay, but with being a Ford tech, i don't get paid for checking fluid levels. I'm sure Toyota is swamped with people complaining about how terrible the trans shifts with every new 3rd gen owner. I doubt they even give it to their trans tech to even drive. They just write some generic normal operation story in the work order like they did with mine.

 

I think consumers have just been so disappointed with the way the third gen performs, throttle response and shifting transmission it’s just folks are looking for something to fix to hope and explain and resolve the issues. Blaming it on low trans fluid and getting every transmission software update is a wild goose chase because I’ve done it all and the truck still drives like crap

 

Trade it. Sell it. Life is just too short to go to an enthusiast's forum and write and complain about shit every single post you write.

 

Alot of customers think they know whats wrong with thier car and wont take no for an answer. Ive had a guy want his double carden joints greased on his 12 tacoma, a guy want me to fix his carb on his 10 tundra, and god help me if the free u-joints dosent fix your driveline vibration. If you dont trust a dealer or you know more than they do fix it yourself. $400 for checking trans fluid does sound kinda high tho.

 

Maybe he got the PMO charge.

 

Amen. This guy needs to move along.

 

Just contributing to the thread topic boss

 

I had an older customer bring me his 4 wheeler with no spark. He swore it needed new points, but he could not find anyone that sold the points for his bike. It was a 2008. First off, I don't believe any 4 wheeler has ever used the point system, and second, when is the last time points were ever used on anything, its been a while.

 

More evidence that Toyota hates your guts. It's a real thing I tell ya.

Mr. Lentz obviously has your name on a black list. Somewhere, somehow you pissed him off. Every service writer in this country has a little 3x5 notecard by their register that says "Fuck Brett Weir Over Every Chance You Get - Or Else."

I know this for a fact, because I'm sure that every service tech has the same type of note card by their work station regarding me. Only difference is that it instructs them to fuck with my mirror and seat settings every time they get in the vehicle.

Stupid Toyota.

 

Feel bad for the mechanics that have to deal with these kinds of sh*tass service advisers. My brother regularly gets hit with "the customer has been waiting 6 hours, what's taking so long" when the SA told the customer to come in, blindsiding my brother who is working on a car/truck he was initially told (by the same SA) would be picked up tomorrow.

I also almost had a run with my dealer, I wanted the oil changed at my initial 5k. Told me they don't do that. That's part of the 10k, and I'd have to pay out of pocket to have them do it at 5k. I changed it in my driveway.

 

This is from the email that I received to schedule my service.

 

Yep it’s bullshit

 

Do you have the note that goes along with this "2"?

 

Any garage that operates as a flat rate shop screws the tech out of time on certain jobs, especially warranty driveability concerns. More often than not an experienced tech will spend 2 hours road testing and fixing a problem that pays 6 tenths. Flat rate is a system that bones the tech, and the customer, and the dealer makes out just fine.

 

Pretty sure I don't qualify for any "special operating conditions" lol

 

Yeah, was just curious. thanks.

Their wording is definitely contradictory in places, as they say check all fluids, including as you pointed out transmission, but at the same time they say they will follow the factory maintenance schedule which does NOT include checking the transmission fluid (beyond the visual check for leak/seepage).

 

Searching about this on forum looks like you’re not the first to experience the issue and somebody escalated to their state under consumer law

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/low-transmission-fluid-level.436115/page-10#post-12757510

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpvQmmIhrXI