Dealership or other for service?

Howdy,
So my 30k service reminder started bleating at me. Who do you you all use for service?

Anyone to avoid?

Lastly do I have to go to the stealership or is their some other 'official' Toyota service centers around.. is that even an option to maintain warranty?

I'm in Tempe.
thanks!

 

Avoid Big Two Toyota.

 

If you’re talking about the manufacturer warranties, you don’t have to have scheduled service done by a dealer to maintain it, you just need a record of it whether done by an independent shop or by you.

However for some dealership extended warranties they specifically require you to do the service there and on schedule or the warranty is voided. Or sometimes it has to be done within a family of dealerships with the same owner. Read the fine print in that case.

 

Shit, I've been taking my truck there up to the 20k mile mark...

 

I tend to avoid stealerships like the plague and only take it to a trusted local mechanic if it’s anything I can’t do. We have a guy with a business/shop behind his house just outside of town we’ve been going to for years. Before we found him it was hit and miss between decent and garbage places. All of which screwed us over infinitely less than any dealership ever has. Expect to pay much more for much less at a dishonest crooked dealer.

 

They are terrible. During one of my free oil changes they left a full bottle of used oil under the filter. I was taking my 6 dogs to a xmas photo shoot and the entire cab filled up with smoke on the freeway. Long story short, the bottle hit the alternator pully and shot oil all over the engine bay. Ruined the alternator. Had it towed, they 'fixed it' and cleaned the truck.

Also ask @Man of Steel TRD about Big Two... He's got some GREAT stories.

 

Only do that if you have a day or two to kill, though...

 

Seriously. I feel bad for him with all the shit he had to go through on that blue ball of a truck.

 

Agreed...definitely a textbook example of why the first year of a new design should be avoided.

 

Normally I agree with that. However my mom got a 2005 Tacoma when they came out and literally has had 0 issues with it. Alternator and shocks are the only two things that has been replaced on it. The truck also feels a lot better than my tacoma and my dads 2014 tacoma in regards to power and transmission.

I've had more problems with my 2011 I bought new vs her 2005 she bought new. I mean a lot more problems.

 

I see your're in Tempe. I've used Right Toyota and Bell Road Toyota had minor issues with service at Bell Road Toyota and one major issue with service with Right Toyota although they fixed it. I usually do my own maintenance and it's never been an issue with warranty. Just save your receipts and a log book of maintenance that you've done as proof. That's my 2 cents...

Edit: As my Grandpa used to say, "Don't bring your car in for service on Monday or Friday. Monday's everyone's hung over from the weekend and Friday's they're rushing to get off work."

 

I suggest trying to maintenance yourself. It’s easy and will like cause less headaches down the road. Had Bell Road Toyota leave my drain plug loose on my ‘13 long ago and Big Two Chandler over tightened my filter housing on my ‘20. Only reason I ever took it to them was because I had the free maintenance thing for 25k miles. Not worth letting the dealer touch the truck for maintenance. Most dealers don’t pay a lot to their lube tech’s so they just want you in and out and get their 0.82 hrs flat rate or whatever Toyota pays.

 

@Snaeper what what the name of the dealership you had good luck with?

 

It sure was a fun ride.

 

Larry Miller uses an impact wrench to install the oil filter housing.

 

Don't they all?

 

I'm gonna be the weird ass that has no problems going to the kwik-E-lube after my free service is up.

I know how to do my own stuff just fine, but I have no problems wasting 30 bucks to have someone else do the easy shit. I just watch them to make sure it's done right. It's worth the 15 minutes of my time to not sweat in my own garage in the middle of summer.

 

Can’t say. I only know they do, after the struggle to get it off.

 

Camelback Toyota has been good to me.

 

Picked up my 2021 from Camelback - they want me to come in at 4,000 miles I'm gonna chalk the tires when I do.
Gonna check the oil before and after as well.

Supposedly I get a car-wash and some kind of ZAK TEC premium coating whatever the f that is.

Do you have a go-to-person that you deal with there?