45,000 mile checkup

Yeah you really gotta be mindful of what they actually are doing, and what they're charging you for. It's ludicrous. I mean, for that service, for me, would be as follows:

• takes literally 10 seconds
• discount tire does that for free
• takes 20 minutes
• part of the above 20 minutes
• takes maybe 1 minute
• also around 1 minute
• takes a few minutes
• takes a few seconds
• not sure on the brake stuff
• inspecting fluids takes a few seconds
• my wiper blades are new, and inspecting them takes seconds
• don't know what the multi-point inspection is, but I doubt it takes very long

So how in the blue hell is that 4 hours of work? I imagine all of that can easily be done in under an hour.

 

Do you have an auto or manual transmission? Toyota motor oil is perfectly fine. It’s manufactured by Mobil and carries nearly the same specifications as Mobil 1 synthetic. Any rated 0w-20 will work just fine for normal oil intervals.

 

they charge book rates for each item even though they are done all together....while drawing oil, you can rote tires, and do other things at the same time

 

Yep literally stealing. And then your truck sits there all day afterwards. For the price of the service you can do it at home probably at least 3-4 times over. That whole list can be done easily in less than 2 hours with beer drinking included.

 

Yes, I personally do agree.

I have limited experience with the "how often should brake fluid be changed", but this often overlooked issue can cause a lot of safety and maintenance related problems, as Dens71TA points out! Also, as Dens71TA points out, the money you'll likely save in the long run by having the fluid changed proactively is money well spent!

Finally, *I* think that while you might be able to change the brake fluid yourself, if you're so inclined, I think it's also money well spent to have someone who has the proper training and equipment to change the fluid, bleed the brakes, etc., do the job for you. Again, since your dealing with a safety related system, *I* would have someone else do it. But that's me.

I recently had a master cylinder replaced on my Wife's Volvo and I had the option of having the Dealership replace the entire system fluid (or not), and I let them do it! I don't remember the exact cost, but it wasn't much and her brakes work perfectly, as you'd expect!

Ed

 

Most Dealers quote prices based on the factory documentation. Their prices are based on how long it would take a novice, ASE Certified technician to complete the task(s) requested/required.

At a typical California Toyota Dealer labor rate of $145/hr, I think $286.95 is a bargain.

I'm also guessing that a Dealers idea of "inspect" is different than your perspective.

Ed

 

Ok, then explain to me what goes into inspecting wiper blades? You think they put them under a microscope or something?

And what do you think a coolant "inspection" entails? Do tell...

Or what about floor mat inspecting? You think it takes an expert a bunch of time to see if your floor mats are in correctly? Come the fuck on.

Most of the stuff on that list takes seconds, if not minutes to complete. You don't need to be an certified technician to know how long an oil change takes or long it takes to swap out the air filter.

 

dealers rely on the fact that most people are idiots and would let them change out the passenger-side bearing flux filter if the dealer told them it was necessary. Comes down to laziness or stupidity or both, and dealers capitalize off of it.

 

I'd be happy to...

If you want to know, with certainty, what the dealers definition of "Inspection" entails, you'd need to ask. For example, the Dealer's definition of coolant inspection *could* include something like testing the pH, specific gravity, and reserve alkalinity of your coolant. After 2 years of age, I'll guarantee you the coolant pH is turning from alkaline to acidic - the question is whether it's degraded enough to cause problems. Are you capable of testing pH, specific gravity, and reserve alkalinity? I doubt they're popping open a cap, and simply making a visual, "Yep...it looks like coolant..." inspection. I'm just saying the cost for this "service" of inspections isn't pulled out of thin air.

*If* the dealer is doing something more exhaustive that the average individual is equipped to do, I think the price may be justified.

Ed

 

You honestly think a "coolant inspection" for a standard drop-off maintenance includes drawing the coolant and running tests on it? Are you being serious right now?

If it was anything more than just checking the coolant level (which takes all of 5 seconds), I would be stunned.

 

Hahaha no it’s a novice tech who pops open the cap and checks the level (if you’re lucky). We’re simply saying that when the manual or service calls for an inspection, that they’re most often taking 5 seconds to look at something. And anyone can dunk a coolant strip in it to test PH levels. I’ve never seen a dealer of any make do that for customers. They’d simply flush it out and replace, or lie and say they inspected it.

 

I'd love to hear what he thinks a floor mat inspection is. Probably thinks NASA gets called in.

 

And they only added that to the manual after the stuck gas pedal incidents if I recall correctly. They’re awfully hard to inspect when you put a plastic sheet over them for customers to ensure their carpet is clean. It’s almost as if they don’t inspect them. Hmmmm....

 

And you might be correct. I'm only responding to r1200gs4ok who said his Dealer quoted the Basic Service 30k fee of $286.95 for the list of inspections, etc. After getting the *specifics* from the Dealer, if they're doing nothing more than a visual inspection..I would agree. You also have to consider any potential impact on your warranty, if applicable.

I'm only suggesting to put cynicism about the Dealer aside until they provide details on what their services/inspection entail.

Ed

 

I’m simply saying in my work with dealerships for numerous makes, that I’ve never seen such detail applied in an inspection, as apart of a standard mileage or routine service. I think many other well-aware customers could also attest to this.

In the case of damage, issues, or defects, then yes they may often look into it with more detail if they’re of integrity. More often they’ll go for the known fix rather than try and play detective.

 

if they do that, then they should give you the results of the inspection and test, right....show you the numbers

 

I got suckered into the Basic Service 30k a couple of days ago with a front wheel alignment ($110). Consider it lesson learned. After looking at the list of "services" during my wait, I didn't see much beyond my ability to perform on my own. Well played, Toyota. Well played. I will say I did need the front wheel alignment and I did buy the truck used, so I considered it a baseline of where the truck was at for future reference.

 

When the dealership does a suggested 'milage' service do they check the battery and/or the coolant condition with either of these devices, or do they just give cursory eyeball inspections? Do they suggest re-balancing the tires when they do the rotation?

 

What does the throttle body service include??

Remove the air intake and blow inside?

 

30k mile Throttle body service:

- sell said service to customer who doesn’t even know what a throttle body is. Make it sound absolutely necessary and explain that your wheels may fall off if it isn’t take care of.

- don’t even touch it. It’s likely perfectly fine at 30k miles anyways.

- claim that you serviced the throttle body. Point to the airbox under the hood showing that you serviced it. Stupid customer nods in agreement. Explain how you repaired the flux bearing filter and readjusted the coolant valves in the throttle body assembly.

- do it all over again for the next customer.