Be careful if anyone other than you changes your oil

Yep learned my lesson again. Went in for fuel pump recall and was told I still had a free oil change to use so I said ok. A few weeks later I hear something rattling when I shut my door. Look under my truck and the skid plate (oem) isn’t tight and one of the bolts is only half way in, I get under there to tighten it and it’s cross threaded. Threads get screwed up so I have a TRD now and will not let them touch it again.

 

You're trying to cause disruption. I understand.

Thanks for the dialogue.

Ed

****

 

You can make a sig instead of typing ed4asterisk every time.

 

Did 2 oil changes today. F the “free” offer. - I am convinced! it is by far the most expensive option in the long run.

my wife’s bmw was due for a tire rotation - by George if I could not make one single lugnut budge. 24 of them - likely above 150 ft pounds - each & everyone!

18” ratchet handle just bent a and nothing moved.

I could not do it!

ran over to th dealership to just have them break them loose! I will not be back there again.

not a fan any longer- (I was a fan 25 years ago…) they are all plastic now. No oil dipstick- oh, it’s measured electronically. - my ass! Anything to save a buck. They are sh*t cars.

The dealership model is busted. - they are all morons!

Maybe Ferrari or Bentley can afford decent techs… maybe - I do not know…

they do not let you in the back - not for insurance reasons… it’s because they don’t want you to know what atrocities they are committing on your car!

I no longer trust the any of the bastards…

 

The dealer sucks for oil changes. I go once a year for my inspection because they only charge me $25. Last week while waiting for the inspection the person came out and asked me if I wanted an oil change since my oil was 2/3qt low (no it wasn't). Of course I said no.

She then asked me who does my oil changes. I said, "Yours Truly". She said, "where's that?" haha

 

Thats exactly why I started doing my own. I lost a bunch of weights on a big road trip 5k from home. After doing it myself I havent lost one and I have driven over 500k spread across all my rigs. Clean the spot on the wheel with rybbing alcohol, then use a heat gun and warm up both the wheel and the weight. Then stick and apply pressure for a few seconds. You can get black, gray or silver stick on weights. You can also paint them to match the wheel, which is what I do on my nice street cars.

 

I'm sure a lot of the techs don't even thread the skid plate bolts by hand before sending them home with the cordless impact, I've seen it first hand.

I've had worse, the last time I took my truck for an oil change years ago, the tech didn't change the filter. I took a photo of the filter's serial number before taking it in because I had suspicions of a different dealer doing that once, popped the hood when I got home and immediately knew I'd been screwed.

I called right before they were closing and brought it back, stood out there with the service manager in the shop while this guy tried to defend himself with every excuse he could muster that he changed it. Then once he literally could not figure out how to remove the filter while we were watching him (it is a PITA on the 1st gens) I turned towards the service manager and said "If this guy had actually done it before, don't you think he'd know how to get it out of there one hour later"

 

It's not that they are unskilled, cause a 12 year old can do oil changes properly, its that they just don't give 2 fucks. That's the problem with taking your car places, usually indy shops have a rep they try to uphold, esp if you get to know them personally, but dealers just turn and burn so no shits given until it really turns to shit, then the SM has to step in

 

I've always done my own maintenance and I've never went in for Toyota's free oil changes. As a matter of fact I just changed the oil and rotated the tires on my 4Runner this afternoon while watching AMA Supercross in the garage. Good times.

 

Just my 0.02 cents. Not trying to defend dealerships (just sell a car at MSRP ffs).

As a young gent, I have a working knowledge on how to do basic maintenance, but lack any skills. On my past Ford Focus, I guess I was lucky enough to encounter a "good" dealership. Still go there to this day to service an Escape (which you can tell Ford deliberately engineered to be DIY unfriendly). Hell, they even serviced the "lifetime" fluid in the rear diff of that thing (which isn't fun since on the 13-19s, there is no drain plug, only the fill plug next to the rear subframe). They even a had a rare GT in their service bay (whether or not it was for an oil change, I don't know, but it sat with its car cover on).

After the Focus was killed in an accident, I bought a Civic. After reading too many horror stories in FB groups (which should be taken with a grain of salt, but I digress), I'm tempted to go independent. The problem is there are barely any independent shops where I live (unless I live under a rock). And the ones I encounter cost similarly to the dealer. I can try to do this myself, but I end up usually breaking something. I've only dealt with Ford (still taking parents' car to that dealer if need be).

If it's any consolation, I swapped the steering wheel in both the Focus and Escape. And went through the ordeal of swapping the Focus' center console with one having an armrest.

 

Having a bad dealership experience was the thing that pushed me to learn how to do my own maintenance/repairs. I can't tell you how many 1-2 hour jobs I have started that ended up taking the whole day because something breaks or I need a new tool. But you get better as you go and there are a lot of resources out there.

 

Dealer offered to do my first one free. Hard pass. At times I've had the tire shop where I got tires/rims do free rotations, but I always check torque in the parking lot lol. Fuck what they think. Any good mechanic will understand someone double checking.

Some people don't have the luxury of having a spot to work on their vehicles though. I've had landlords make a HUGE deal about it and even threaten to kick me (well, my gf and her two kids) out. I can only imagine what it would be like in a crowded apt. complex or something. No matter how clean you are, or how much preparation you go to in order to avoid a mess, some places just have a zero tolerance policy for it. It's understandable really. I could tell everyone here that I installed a Fumoto valve and have the tools and equipment to avoid a mess, and so could the next guy... but telling a landlord who's had to deal with previous renters spilling crap all over their land might not go so well. I wouldn't take someone's word for it either. Some landlords are just assholes about it (and many other things) as well though.

Would be great if that maint. light didn't come on every 5k though... or, every 4k for the warnings until 5k then it becomes a total disruption and takes over your speedometer... Just found that out today. Not distracting at all, Toyota...

 

Takes 30seconds to clear fortunately

 

Yea for me it was in the menu that you get to through the steering wheel buttons... tried googling how to though and got all kinds of mixed results about "turn key" versions and pushing the ODO button before I gave up and found it myself.

 

I'd have no problem going back to the toyota dealer here for an oil change as they've done a fine job with the truck under toyota care. Its their rates i've got a major issue with....you'd think you were getting service for a farrari, or a porsche. I can go to a toyota dealer in another city further away that charges much less. Even our napa shop that does toyotas all the time is more reasonable for all types of work.

 

I am all but certain that during the free service time period my front u-joints were never lubed. Check your front two u-joints.

 

Great suggestion! Will totally do that.

 

Most young people have never seen a zerk, I gave seen some guys showed what they are and later tried to grease the brake bleeder. Usually they can't figure out why the grease gun doesn't fit. Alot of cars don't have grease points anymore, to be fare.

 

The moral of the story is to get a dealer with a better service department. I'd have taken pictures and had a chat with the manager of the service department.

 

Yeah,

that has been suggested. I've been on GSR (GSResources since Dec2012) and did a sig there but haven't messed with this one yet.

I do a lot of correspondence at work as a Surgical Materials Specialist. I'm so use to ending my messages with "Ed" minus the asterisks that it's no bother to add it at the end of my text.

I see it annoys people on here; you're not the first to mention it...which I find entertaining! lol

FYI, I'm retired USAF (25years in Logistics Management) and I do my own oil changes at the Auto Hobby Shop on Dover, AFB. Since I purchased Extended Warranty (I know most don't do this and I may get an earful but I did it anyway) my intent is to have documented record of all work done on my Sport.

I installed the TRD Skid plate as well as the Talon Skid plate and I made the message perfectly clear, the 4 Allen type bolts on the TRD Skid did not require intense torquing. I wanted to plant a seed and have it relayed to the technician to consider as he began the oil change/service.

In my life, I'm learning that people cannot read your mind. It's unfortunate that it has to be said but if ONE thinks people will do a task like you want them to without giving them insight of expectations, it ain't gonna happen...hence, ONE will be disappointed every time.

In my line of work as a Support person (I'm the Supply Guy), I deal with lots of Surgical departments in the OR, Cath Lab, CT-Scan and Diagnostic Imaging arena. I find that young people do not show much respect to their support function. Don't get me started on the leadership of these younger people; they're the ones in position of power and do not have the leadership qualities I can appreciate--it's mostly personality based.

As you can see/read, I do have a tendency to expand and go in different directions. My family reminds me of this discrepancy and suggest me working on it.

It's a work in progress.

I know this thread is basically trashing dealerships and I did mention I had a disappointing 1st ToyotaCare Maintenance visit. I just wanted to tell my story and prop up a location where the staff actually listened to my concerns and it was a successful visit.

E

I took a pic when I inspected my Sport!