Key Battery

Just had my 2008 Tacoma in for a 60,000 service at my local dealership, plus check and update all recalls and TSBs, except for accelerator pedal chop.
They were ready at appointed 2:00 pm time.
They loaned me a car - free - to run a few errands.
All went well- including re-flash for brake/throttle problem, and replacement of speedo spiral cable.
Told that rear leaf issue resolution would likely be July, and likely a new leaf pack.
While reviewing the bill, I saw a $6.00 battery, with $5.00 labor charge.
WTF I asked. "Oh, we replace the keyfob battery at this interval. $6 for battery, the min we can charge for labor is $5. We don't want customers locked out of their vehicle." I never would have thought of that!
For all the negative "stealership" posts, I thought I'd post a positive one. This is my 3rd positive experience with this dealership - Mossey Toyota/Ford, San Diego.

 

Does your truck not have a key hole in the door in case the remote doesn't work? It's not that hard to pop the remote open and put a battery in it.

 

I just replaced my fob battery for $2, but hey if being charged $5 to put a $6 battery in a fob that takes a dime and 1 second to open makes you happy then run with it.

 

You are 100% correct.
However, if the FOB died, and I had to drive to the Radio Shack to get the correct battery, then do the simple install - that's worth $9 of my time.

 

5 dollar labor and 6 dollars for a battery that cost 2 dollars tops.

I have now seen it all.

 

It'd be one thing if they were like "oh hey, we're gonna replace the battery in your key fob". But what if you had changed it a week before and they didn't know? I would have been like "I didn't approve it, I'm not paying for it".

 

I agree. Come get your battery out of my FOB and give me my old one back.

 

Well my dealer is pretty good, they replaced the steering a few weeks ago on my 89 for a recall that came out in 92! I had them put on balljoints while they were at it since the recall came with a free alignment

 

They are sort of bound to do recalls by law.... Just saying.

 

Troof. I had a recall done on another truck well out side of 7 years for a ball joint issue.

 

If you are happy that is fine, but replacing that little battery and charging for it without permission is NOT a good dealership. The dealership is playing an old con game. Do it, charge you and make you think you got a deal.

The batteries are bought in bulk. At retail they cost around 15 cents each ( http://www.amazon.com/50-Powertron-...id=1426002754&sr=8-13&keywords=cr2016+battery ) on the open market so he charged you a 4000 percent mark up from bulk retail prices. It also takes less than 1 minute for someone who has done it before. So a 5 dollar labor charge works out to be 300 dollar an hour rate.

I would say that this is a very good scam especially when the battery is still working and they do not ask permission to change it.
Like I said if you are happy that is what counts for you, but they are not a good dealership. They are con-artists.

 

for <2.50 I can get a 6 pack 2016's online

http://www.batteryjunction.com/cr2016.html


wow you were ripped off... for short dollars... but still, ripped off

 

If I did not give permission I would not pay for it. The fob I leave with the dealer is my spare which rarely gets used as the one I keep on my keyring is the one that might need a battery. The longest I've keep a Toyota is 90,000 and 6 years without ever a battery problem.

 

Is the FOB battery replacement listed in the 60,000 mile service schedule?