mark your oil filter

True for the Tacoma.
Not true for an independent rear suspension.

'90s Ford Escort and Taurus absolutely ate rear tires with cupping and there's no adjustment.

 

True, was commenting for the tacoma only.

 

If it needs a bath like mine you will see the brake dust on the rears after

 

I stand back there and watch them change mine, I talk to the guy while he does it. They rotate my tires too! I'd blow a gasket if I caught them trying to pull a scam like that!!!!

 

I always "trusted" that the stealer had changed my oil when they said they did.... but now I wonder hmmm I know they didn't rotate my wheels one time - I'd cut a corner too sharp and scuffed the tire... go to get it after it was "done" and the scuffed tire was in the same spot guy came over and said he'd rotated the wheels - BS!!!!

I do all the maintenance I can, just so I know it's done right. I know there will come a time when I'll need help and just hope the person is trustworthy.

 

i put my ODO miles on each oil filter. helps me remember. but i DIY.

those white paint pens are amazing. every tool box should have one.

 

As a Tacoma owner myself and a Certified Tech at a Toyota / Mitsubishi dealer in Ohio it frustrates and sickens me that this happens. There are alot of honest well trained technicians working at dealers and independents doing what is not always an easy job, diagnosing, repairing and servicing cars and trucks honestly. These idiots that do stuff like what the OP had happen gives us all a bad name. The service manager should have fired the employee that did it on the spot, unless he knows what is going on which is a hole other story in it self. Sorry this happened to you !!

 

WOW, I can't believe some of things people do to save 2 min. and a few bucks. I'm glad you busted out the bastard. Can you report them to the BBB on that particular dealership?

 

I use the local Toyota independent specialist. They know me and they know I am capable of doing most things myself, but choose not to. I'm never a dick about it, but I do double check and make sure they do what I pay them for. I caught what I believe was an honest mistake once, and no problems since.

Just find a subtle way to let them know you are vehicle literate, and things seem to go well.

 

BBB is also corrupted. Just google complaints against them.

I had a problem with Jiffy Lube a while back and complained to BBB. With all the back and forth and Jiffy lying their asses off, BBB closed the case without verifying Jiffy actually corrected their mistakes. Why? Jiffy is a "paying" member of BBB.

 

Well, that's some BS right there. I guess one option to provide a poor review on something like yelp and if someone really wants to take it another level, contact your local news station. I know around here, our local stations loves to do stories like this on consumer issues. Just a thought.

 

If they fired a guy over an electrical plug being left loose, then the issue isn't the tech, it's the employer. Obviously he didn't do it on purpose, he'd know the light would come on and he'd get a comeback over it. And the brakes would still work just fine, just not the antilock. Not really a major issue since the light came on to warn you. Loose lug nuts would be a big deal. If you go to work every day and wonder if you're going to get fired over some stupid little oversight like that, then you start not caring about your work. I've been there and done that. Find a dealer who cares about their employees and you'll get a tech who gives a shit about his customers.

 

Yep. I worked for an appliance dealer for five years. Customers would threaten to call the BBB and we would just laugh. The owner was the president of the local chapter of the BBB.

 

Are you referring to Channel 5?

yelp is not going to help. Channel 5 has done a story on them, too. They're extortionists!

 

I also do all my own fluid changes. I don't trust the low quality employees at the places near me, also I can do full synthetic on my own for the price of these guys regular oil changes. I really try and avoid the dealer at all cost, every time I take my truck to a dealer they blame whatever issue I have on the truck being "heavily" modified.lol My tacoma is the only truck I've ever had an issue with the modifications. My chevy had 9" of lift and 37" tires, rear arb, 4:56 gears, shift kit, chip, etc. Not once did chevy turn me away from a repair under warranty. I even had my transmission replaced at 56000 miles (should of geared it sooner) with zero questions asked! Toyota has really rubbed me the wrong way with the behavior towards ANY modification. Be careful of the dealership, they aren't always as highly qualified as you think they might be.

 

Yeah, our local CBS and ABC stations. I'm sure other local news station do the same type of stories as well.

 

I agree 100%. This tech apparently had a history of things like this. I know that this incident alone didn't get him fired. Mine was just the cherry on top.

 

I'm going to pick up my truck from the dealer right now from doing another comp oil change. I marked my filter this time so I will post as soon as i get back to my computer.

 

Oh the irony of finding this thread! Went to the dealership today for oil change/tire rotation and state inspection. I always check the oil level before I leave and occasionally crawl under later just to make sure the filter looks new. Today I drove just 15 miles back home (it hasn't rained here in a while) and low and behold, the filter is still covered with muddy water spots. That certainly didn't happen on the way home, so that means I left with the same filter. I rubbed half of it clean with my palm for contrast, and took a pic of it. Will be going back to the dealer tomorrow. Screw "Toyota Care"; I'm going to simply ask them for 6 quarts of oil and a new filter so I can do it correctly myself.

 

Sorry to hear that - definitely point that out to them. My last change was good at my dealership, they did change the filter.