Dealer Service and Skid plates

What are your experiences with getting service at the dealer with aftermarket skid plates installed?

I'm due for a 32,000km service which includes an oil/filter change and checking fluid levels in tranny, checking linkages, brakes, and rotors, tire rotation, etc etc. The engine skid plate has access for the oil drain plug and filter, but I also have a transmission skid and LCA skids installed.

In your guys' experience, Is this a problem for the dealership, or do you guys think they will remove what they need to in order to be able to do the job properly and re-install the skids? I'm wondering mostly about the tranny skid.

I left a message for the dealer asking them, but have not heard back yet, and I'm having to decide, remove or leave on.

 

If dealerships are capable of doing engine rebuilds, I'm sure they can remove your skid plates to perform whatever service you needed, provided they're just bolted on. I would do a visually inspection yourself after the work is performed however to make sure they installed all the bolts and don't lose one.

 

I'd suggest going to the dealer to have a face to face talk with the Service Manager.

Discuss your questions directly with the people doing the work.

They are busy people. Returning a phone call for maybe work isn't high on the priority list.

 

I doubt they will remove the skid plate on service work like an oil change or inspection of the fluids...the used oil from the change will decorate your undercarriage and driveway by the time you get home.

 

If you mark......don't use a marker. Use a bead of wax. Like the old method of sealing mail.

Many times a simple chalk or marker will line up again based on how the thread of the bolt engage

The wax will "break" indicating the bolt has been moved. If you have doubts, inspect the vehicle BEFORE you pay for the work and BEFORE you leave.

<edit> Trust, but Verify.

 

I remove my skids before taking my truck to the dealership, otherwise there is a $15 surcharge. Takes me about 10 minutes with a floor jack.

 

Good idea. After reading all the posts, I think I'll do the same. I feel like I'll have more peace of mind that the work gets done right, and it didn't take me long to install them, so that's my plan for tomorrow.

Thanks for all the responses, good to get a variety of views on the topic.

 

I used to let it ride - my dealer never cared - then they stripped one of the bolt holes (i have no clue how) to the point i had to re-tap it to get a bolt back in it to stop the rattle. That was about the time I quit letting Toyota work on my vehicles. Based on what service they were supposed to be doing I would mark every bolt i knew they needed to touch with tamper seal then back check it all before drove off (I used to be a tech years ago, I've seen some serious screw ups so I am not very trusting of other people wrenching on my stuff). On more than one instance (at more than one dealer) I've caught them not changing oil filters, etc. Like hey Mr. Service Writer - please explain to me how to you changed the oil filter without breaking this line of tamper seal... These days half those guys don't even know what tamper seal is.

 

The dealer cross threaded most the bolts holding my stock skids on and lost the rest. I don't want to know what would happen if they had to take real skids off. If I was going to a dealer, I'd pull my skids first.

 

Cross-threading is a result of overzealous use of the impact wrench/gun.

Start by hand, then use an air powered tool for speed.

 

It's the golden rule. I feel if the techs are under time pressure they may cut corners. I've decided I'm going to remove the skids before it goes in for service. No excuses, no chance for fuck ups and fights with the dealer afterwards.