Is ToyotaCare Plus a Good Thing?

Bait and switch.... typical of some stealerships

 

Like others have said, make sure it includes REPLACING the spark plugs and both engine and cabin filters. I don't have my manual here in front of me, but I think differential fluid can wait until 60K unless driving under extreme conditions. I COULD BE WRONG. But not about the spark plugs.

 

Great thread by OP hrznhiz(Is Toyota Care Plus A Good Thing)!I paid $299 which included 4 oil changes 4 tire rotations and included everything in the 30k service.I had my warranty&maintenance guide with me that i have stamped and checked off after every maintenance.I went over the 30k service with my service writer at the dealership and he verified that everything would be included.I didn't even hesitate and paid the $299 for the extended ToyotaCare.My spark plugs,differential oil,engine filter,cabin filter,engine oil/oil filter,fluids topped off,tire rotation were all done.My paper work listed everything done when the job was complete and while waiting for my Tacoma to be pulled up i verified it once again with my service writer and the technician was there as well.I think it's great price and i even laughed to myself that they changed the cabin filter because per warranty & maintenance guide it's changed at 20k which i already had done.

 

Thank you stphnman20. I can't get the dealer warranty person to call me back, grrrrrr

I think I'm going to put on a pretty dress and go there. I bet I get an answer really quick...

 

Which dealer is this? I was thinking on doing the 30k maintenance myself. I might just take a trip down there.

lol. Yea that'll get someones attention quick.

 

I had the same thing happen to me & pointed at my maintenance schedule from my truck manual at them. They said "oh yeah right"....
They did the plugs & everything else needed at 30k under my extended care plan and its on the RO.

 

the toyota maint care plus covers everything that your owners manual states it supposed to have. for the Tacomas its a great value b/c it does include the plugs. if the owners manuals say diff services than it will include those aswell.

for those complaining that dealerships tried to get over on them....you have to realize people are human and these maint care plus' are fairly new. since Tacomas are pretty much 1 of only a few vehicle remaining that still take 30k mile plugs, dont fault them for not knowing up front. they did step up and take care of them after getting the info right. theres no bait n switch intended but skeptics will be skeptics no matter the situation.

long story short, for $299 its very worth it for the tacomas...i recommend it.

 

$299 does seem like a deal. But it still seems hit or miss depending on the dealer. I'm going to guess that most dealers will only do the oil and tires. Seems like a crap shoot. If it was guaranteed they would do spark and all that, I would go for it too.

 

Toyota of Huntington Beach,CA.

 

really shouldn't matter the dealer as they are all supposed to follow the factory main that's in the owners manual. It's a new thing so all the dealers may not allways be up to date on all info. I had to look into myself to be sure when it was presented to me a couple weeks back.

 

I don’t understand why guys, in general, are so predictable! I’ll explain in a minute

First, I did exactly what you all said to do. I called the service department, the sales department, and the dealer who sells warranties and accessories. I was polite and very nice. I asked all of them if I buy the Toyota Care Plus does the 30K mile service fix and replace the spark plug, the front and back differential things, and the filters. Over the phone, no one could or would answer my questions and what really upset me was no one was willing to help me find someone who could. One guy gave me a phone number for Toyota Extra Care (800-228-8559). I called three times. The first two times I spent 20minutes waiting and when someone finally picked up the phone I was disconnected. After waiting 30 minutes the third time I decided I needed a new plan

So here was my new plan – and it WORKED!

I put on pretty shoes and a very short dress. After work I stopped at the dealer. I walked in the door and I had three guys jumping over their desks to help me before I even said a word. I told them about wanting to buy the Toyota Care Plus for my truck. One of them called a service guy to come to the show room. One of them went to go help another person who was buying a car.B ut I still have three helping me! The service guy didn’t know the answers so he took us to see his boss. So now I’m in his bosses office and there are 4 guys helping. Still no answers

The service manager told his service man to go ask the finance guy. Then the service manager took me out to my truck and got the service manual and showed me how to look it up. Meanwhile the finance guy called somebody at Toyota and they answered all of our questions. The service manager and the finance guy talked and verified everything.

- The motor oils get changed.
- The motors air and oil and the cabins air filters get changed.
- They balance all the wheels and rotate them.
- They told me my truck has lots of spark plugs and they replace all of them.
- They put grease on all of the 4X4 shafts, then the guy said and all the moving parts under the truck.

The differential and some transfer thing is not covered under the Toyota Care Plus.The service manager explained that there are lots of other things they inspect and that the regular 30K mile check is for normal driving. For normal driving they only inspect the differential thingie. He then asked me a bunch of questions about towing things, and driving on dirt roads, and other places that are considered “Special Operating Conditions”. He showed me in the manual how if you drive under these special conditions there are other maintenance items to be checked. These other Special Operating Condition things are not covered under the Toyota Care Plus.

I think I’m going to buy the Care Plus for our truck. So again, why is it if I walk into the dealer I have guys falling over each other to help me but if I call, it doesn't matter how nice I am I can’t get a stupid question answered? Don’t bother answering…

One more thing. I got the last laugh When I left they held the door open for me and thanked me for stopping by and all.T hen they stood there watching me walk to my truck.They just wanted to see my trying to climb back into the truck in heels and my short dress. I intentionally backed into the parking place when I got there so they couldn’t see anything when I had to climb in and out I just smiled and waved goodbye as I was driving away

 

I just purchased the ToyotaCare Plus for $299 and it included all plugs and oils. Toyota of Escondido CA

 

Good for you savage!It all worked out for me and included everything for the 30k service.You can't go wrong for the price.I posted on this thread earlier to explain my experience.Hopefully it will work out for the TW members who are being misled.

 

Mr ODNARE, I did read you thread and I know I really appreciate you taking the time to try and help. I tried to get the dealer guys to do the differential thingie but they said it isn't included. I really am trying to do this correctly.

Sorry but I really don't know what a differential is but it sounds important.
Is there anything more I can do to get the dealer to do it? If they won't should I just pay them to do it?

 

OP(hrznhiz)you have every right to question the dealership why the rear differentialoil wasn't included.Rear differential oil is inspected at intervals of 15k miles per the maintenance guide for our vehicles.As stated in our guide perform these service items only if you drive primarily under these conditions(towing,driving on dirt roads/dusty conditions).I did a overwhelming amount of both at the end of last year before my 30k servicewas due so my rear differential oil was changed after inspection.A rear differential is part of the rear end/axle of the vehicle(2wd).4x4 have a front and rear differential.Your husband will be very proud of what you've done in regards to the Tacoma truck you both share.Hope this is of some help.

 

Good to know about the ToyotaCare Plus package... $299 seems like a deal to me

 

Thank you Mr ODNAREM! I did buy the Toyota Care Plus but I have not asked the dealer guys to do the work yet. I wanted to make sure I did everything the way my hubbie would have. I am going to make sure they look at the front and rear differential I even know that we have 6 spark plugs in our truck and that I should ask them to please give me the old ones when they take them out

Thank you for saying my husband would be proud. I love my guy and I know he really loves his truck. It feels good to know I'm taking care of his toys!

It really has been kind of fun learning about something I know nothing about! Thank you and thanks to everyone who has helped answer my stupid questions!

 

LOL Awesome. Apparently these guys had nothing better to do than check out the lady in the short skirt/dress. I'm honestly wondering if the finance guy was brought into the equation just so he could check you out too...

 

I got dizzy reading this thread. Too much chaos over what is and is not included in this 'Extra" care plan. While I know nothing about the "Extra" care plan, what I do know is there's an amazing amount of conflict between what one dealer thinks is due under the basic-up-to-25K-plan vs. another dealer 5 miles away.

Then you run into the problem of paying for something you may not really get. You think you paid for plugs and diff oil change, but didn't really get them. The service writer and the tech aren't on the same page.

I would simply craft my own plan using Toyota's suggested service in the manuals that came with the truck and have the work done at an independent repair shop. These trucks do not need synthetic oil like the 4-Runners/Tundra's. The work to be done on a Tacoma in these incremental maint. schedules is pretty straight-forward. You do not need a dealer for this kind of work.

My personal experience with basic Toyota Care and their dealerships has made me cynical.

God bless your husband for his service to our country.

 

Thank you Mr Lester Lugnut Sometimes I selfishly think about the price we pay for my husbands service and I think it's too much. Then someone like you, who also has served our country, says what you just said in thanks and I absolutely lose it. God bless YOU! When I'm not crying I'm so very proud to be the wife of a Marine. I just want him home safe.



Thank you for your help with Toyota Care too! I can't do the work myself or even make my own plan. My daddy is too far away to help but he told me to make a list (someone else suggested this too) of everything the dealer said was included. After they do the work I'm going to ask the service manager to please sign next to every item on the list saying that the work was done. It's not going make them do the work but hopefully it will make them a little bit more accoutable (my Marine talk for words and deeds matching )