Advice on how to avoid the "stealership" rip off?

Planning to take my Tacoma in to the dealership soon for a transmission flush and fill. Since Toyota took away my ability to check my own trans fluid, how can I tell if they actually do the flush and fill? I don't put it past them to take my money, hide my truck for 2 hours and give it back to me with out ever putting a wrench to it. So is there certain bolts, screws or anything that I can look for signs that the work has been done? I would LOVE to be able to do the whole job myself but feel like Toyota hosed me on this.

 

If you distrust them that much why go there?

 

There is a write up here showing how to do it yourself with step by step pictures.

No need to worry about the dealer just do it yourself.

 

This.

Otherwise take it to a place that specializes in transmission. IMO stay as far away from any dealer as possible.

 

True, I get what you're saying.....

My problem is.... I distrust ALL of them. IMO, the most trustworthy "car place" around here is Gateway Tire. They have always been a great place to deal with and I trust them more than any other mechanic, or dealership around, and if they do work for me I still check behind them. I called them today (Gateway) and they quoted me 199 for a flush and fill and told me that I would have to go full synthetic with the new fluid. That really didn't sit well with me, so I called Toyota. They're charging 259 I think, but I would have piece of mind knowing the right fluid is in there.

 

You have to use WS (world standard) fluid. That is probably what the place was talking about. It's expensive too, like $12/qt expensive.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...atic-transmission.68462/page-18#post-10232846

 

Take it to a transmission shop if you don't feel comfortable with the dealership.You may also want to do a search on this forum.There probably is a thread to do it yourself.Good luck OP!

 

Only problem is, WS is NOT synthetic.

I'm fixing to do this to my '07 as a 100K mile service, after reading various threads here, I've decided to use maxlife synthetic, which wally-world sells for about $17.00 per GALLON, as opposed to $12.00 per QUART for WS. And there is no warranty issue at all for newer trucks as maxlife meets WS standard and then some.

 

So the one place in the world you trust quotes you 60 below dealership which you believe is trying to trick you, and you go with the dealer? I guess that means you don't really trust the tire shop. Its an easy driveway job if you're that worried about being scammed.

 

I would take a carpenters crayon and mark the plug. The crayon would essentially wipe off if they had to take the plug out to drain the fluid. If the fluid wasn't put back in, naturally the truck would fail to shift about ten feet out of the parking lot.

I'm kinda glad I don't have a distrust in my dealership here. They are super nice with me when I take my truck in. Its the "quick" guys I avoid at all costs.

 

I would highly doubt the dealership is gonna charge you $250 or so and not change the tranny fluid. Not saying I'm a fan of dealerships by any means. And yes it could happen but I think the odds are pretty low that they would actually "scam" you in that way.
But you never know.

 

My dealer's service bays have big windows, so I can see them do the work.

Unless you use a flushing machine (i.e. unless you get all the old fluid out), stick with Toyota WS. Don't want mixing.

 

Every time I see a "caught on camera" repair shop scam it's always at a jiffy lube or hole-in-the-wall shop. Not saying dealers are 100% honest but I would trust them over a little shit-stain shop.

I worked at a toyota dealer here for nearly 3 years and never once saw a customer scammed like that. When we were slow some of the techs would go out of there way to find so-so parts to replace under warranty, at zero cost to the customer. (ie heard belt squeak so replaced it when it was probably just dirty) Only person that lost there was Toyota corp and really, the customer was extra pleased with the "over and above" service. So Toyota was better off for having a happy, return customer.

 

Forget the dealer and forget Toyota's WS.

http://www.valvoline.com/pdf/maxlife_atf.pdf

I've got 2 "WS required" Toyota vehicles that have been running on the Valvoline substitute for quite sometime now. Both shift smoother on the Valvoline than the WS.

Search for Gearcrunchers write-up on WS. Toyota's decision to use it had more to do with financial reward than science.

2 great write-ups on this 2nd Gen forum that detail DIY transmission fluid drain/flush/refill.

If you don't want to DIY - have the tire shop use the Valvoline product.

 

Do it yourself.

 

Amsoil OE Fuel Efficient ATF is Toyota WS compliant, synthetic, and cheaper.

http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...c-automatic-transmission-fluid/?code=OTLQT-EA

 

You're just trying to be a special kind of douche bag ain't ya? You act like you don't check your own ride after other people do work on it. Nearly everyone here has a story of how a dealers service department ripped them off. I have had it happen to me as well. The first time it happened I took my Tacoma in for a "complimentary" oil change.... got my truck back an hour later and checked the oil... it was still black and still had the old dust covered oil filter on it too so they had done nothing to it. The 2nd time.... the oil change right after that they changed my oil but still left the old filter on it again. In closing I would like to tell you that you SHOULD always hold some level of distrust with anyone working on your ride.

As far as doing it myself...

I have read over the DIY write up, seems fairly simple. I'm just not sure about adding fluid back to it. I read it says basically to add as much as you take out, but I remember reading on this site before that many 2nd Gens rolled off the assembly line low on trans fluid. Since I think that is why my transmission always acted kinda wonky at times I don't think I would know how much to put back in it as its kinda coming out at the same time.

 

The DIY is very good. I overfill mine run it up to temp like the procedure calls for and pull the overflow plug and let it go till it trickles out. Been doing this since I bought the truck in 11 and works right every time. make sure you do this with the truck parked on a level surface though. good luck

 

THIS. the valvoline maxlife is excellent in our trucks. I did a full flush last year with it and the transmission felt much better/smoother.