1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

PSA - Basic Maintenance at Dealerships

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Sonic Boom, May 14, 2018.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. May 14, 2018 at 11:40 AM
    #1
    Sonic Boom

    Sonic Boom [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2017
    Member:
    #228052
    Messages:
    95
    Gender:
    Male
    Hey everyone,

    There seems to be a false sense of security that I feel a lot of folks feel when they take their trucks into the dealership for basic maintenance. I've spent many years around several different dealership service departments throughout high school and some of college, so let me shed some light on how it usually works for those of you who are unfamiliar.

    When you go in to get that 10k oil change and tire rotation done on your truck, I can almost guarantee that no Toyota Master Tech is touching your car for the simple fact that it isn't worth their time (usually only pays roughly 0.4 hours per oil change) . Dealerships usually have dedicated quick lube stations/teams that do all the basic stuff like oil changes and tire rotations. This is your usual high school/college dropout kid with a vape in one hand and his other hand holding his pants up. At some dealerships they incentivize these guys to service cars faster which ultimately hurts the customer. Countless times at dealerships that incentivize them I see these guys plug the drain plug while the oil is still pouring out just to simply ship the car and move on to the next one.

    No, not all dealerships are like this, but the majority I've been around have been. If you have a great relationship with your service department, you should continue to get your service done with them if you trust them. On the other hand if its your first time there, take a drive around back and you might see the quick lube team hot boxing in their whips.
     
    Hank Heel and taco 16 like this.
  2. May 14, 2018 at 12:07 PM
    #2
    gamason

    gamason Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2017
    Member:
    #215229
    Messages:
    129
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Randy
    Vehicle:
    2017 F-150 Eco Beast
    Ok...But then again, its not rocket science to change oil and rotate tires. Most people let others do it for nothing more than convenience. I like working on my own , but sometimes just don't have the spare time to doi it. Just check your truck over before you leave and 99% of the time you'll find everything to be ok!
     
    Skydvrr and MattEcho like this.
  3. May 14, 2018 at 12:09 PM
    #3
    JoeCOVA

    JoeCOVA Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2016
    Member:
    #202463
    Messages:
    9,657
    First Name:
    Joe
    Colorado Springs
    Vehicle:
    Ford F350, Lexus RX450h, FZJ80, Jeep YJ, Jeep LJ
    I just walk back there and watch them, way more entertaining that listening to crying babies in the waiting room.
     
    ruffridha9 likes this.
  4. May 14, 2018 at 12:09 PM
    #4
    ChadsPride

    ChadsPride Tacoma Owner & Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2014
    Member:
    #143119
    Messages:
    127,312
    Vehicle:
    Sponsored by TacomaWorld.com
    I don't care if my tech vapes, sags his/her pants or has pink fuckin hair.

    If they do the job right, that's all that matters.
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2018
  5. May 14, 2018 at 12:11 PM
    #5
    ICU1

    ICU1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2016
    Member:
    #196340
    Messages:
    4,531
    Gender:
    Male
    :popcorn:
     
    ChadsPride likes this.
  6. May 14, 2018 at 12:28 PM
    #6
    JS760

    JS760 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2015
    Member:
    #159768
    Messages:
    1,510
    Gender:
    Male
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2017 DC Sport

    This is technically incorrect with TOYOTA, but may vary by dealership.

    If you go in and tell them you want a LOF and a tire rotation, they break it out separately. 0.4 for the Oil change 0.3 for the rotation.
    The inspection is technically free.

    If you specifically ask for 10k service, is DOES GO TO A TECH. They charge you a couple tenths of an hour more.. and at a higher rate.
    The only difference is them topping off the fluids...and they are charging you for them too.

    It works out to about $50 savings at my dealer by not calling it a 10k service.
     
  7. May 14, 2018 at 12:38 PM
    #7
    Sonic Boom

    Sonic Boom [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2017
    Member:
    #228052
    Messages:
    95
    Gender:
    Male
    Sounds like a cool dealership. Some places usually don't allow customers in the shop.
     
  8. May 14, 2018 at 12:47 PM
    #8
    Anchovy

    Anchovy Rule #1: Never take me seriously

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2017
    Member:
    #229096
    Messages:
    6,423
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    TRD Ferguson
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRD Off Road (OVTuned)
    It's good to have your maintenance documented so if a warranty thing comes up the dealer can't say "screw you" because you didn't have your maintenance documented by an accreddited shop
     
    omgwtfbbq!, daddy_o and hiPSI like this.
  9. May 14, 2018 at 12:58 PM
    #9
    hiPSI

    hiPSI Laminar Flow

    Joined:
    May 21, 2017
    Member:
    #219544
    Messages:
    12,121
    Gender:
    Male
    South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2024 Long Tundra
    It does not take an engineering degree to change the oil and filter. Some high school dropouts are probably overqualified to do this task.
    It's not hard.

    Edit: As a matter of fact, after reading some posts here, I would RATHER have the high school dropout changing my oil.
     
    T4RFTMFW and stun gun like this.
  10. May 14, 2018 at 1:07 PM
    #10
    JS760

    JS760 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2015
    Member:
    #159768
    Messages:
    1,510
    Gender:
    Male
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2017 DC Sport
    And since we are calling this a dealership PSA thread, here’s a couple jewels for you.

    1) if your dealership participates with Costco, they are required to give you 15% off parts and service labor
    a. This excludes oil changes...but an oil change includes parts(oil/filter/gasket)
    They will also take 15 off the labor for the rotation.

    2) always check your receipt for how much fluids they are charging you for.
    They are lazy and round up.
    a. You might catch them charging you for more oil than your dry fill capacity, and that’s fraud. Point it out to them and they will likely back down your bill.
    b. They charge you $2.30 for washer fluid...how much did that include? What was the measurement before and after? And where’s the rest of it? That belongs to me cause you are charging me for it.
    Again that’s fraud, and they will back down your bill.

    3) if you have any comprehension of how labor overlap works, use it every chance you get.
    a. You are charging me 0.3 to rotate the tires, that includes jacking the car up to take off the wheels right?...but that’s already being accounted for to perform the oil change..you need to take overlap and reduce that to 0.2...and don’t forget my 15%
    b. Ever been told you need a new air filter? This one is infamous! That’s going to be $40 for the part and $30 for labor.
    You’re charging me 0.3 to replace the filter? How did you know it was dirty??...because you took the old one out right? And if I tell you not to replace it you’re not going to just leave it out right? You’ll put it back in right? So where’s the 0.3 come from?
    Is that taking the new part out of the box? Does that really take 18 min?!
    Maybe more like 6min, if he’s blind and one handed. Let’s just call that 0.1...better yet just bring me the part and I’ll take it out of the box for him. Now we are back to just the cost of the part...and again, don’t forget my 15% off
     
    mstrbrc, rhines, ruffridha9 and 3 others like this.
  11. May 14, 2018 at 1:22 PM
    #11
    daddy_o

    daddy_o Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2015
    Member:
    #168380
    Messages:
    5,472
    Bossier City, La
    Vehicle:
    2018 TRD Sport, Inferno, w/tech package
    Factory Blackout package, Soft roll up bed cover, Cheap seat covers, Front and rear dash cam, AVS in channel vent visors
    Quentin Tarantino was a high school drop out

    George Foreman was a high school drop out

    Aretha Franklin was a high school drop out

    My Dad and my older brother were both high school drop outs and are now running their own trucking company

    I dropped out of machinist school to go a different path and I am now the lead tech at a pretty well known boat/atv dealership.

    So, before knocking on high school/college drop outs, think about who you are including in that list.

    I am very capable of doing all the maintenance on my vehicles, but sometimes I just don´t feel like it. If I can pay someone else to do it while I sit in the lobby enjoying an ICEE or fountain drink or even just looking at the new inventory on the lot, I will do so. The only thing I usually do before hand is to replace the engine air filter and cabin air filter and mark the date on them, so if they try to sell me on a new filter I can call bullshit. I have not had to call them on it yet.

     
    Riding Dirty and CoastieRon like this.
  12. May 14, 2018 at 1:33 PM
    #12
    JS760

    JS760 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2015
    Member:
    #159768
    Messages:
    1,510
    Gender:
    Male
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2017 DC Sport
    1A709A03-CF88-4D31-8B6F-6165C210BC87.jpg
     
    blackrifle76 and daddy_o like this.
  13. May 14, 2018 at 1:33 PM
    #13
    Señor

    Señor Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2018
    Member:
    #252914
    Messages:
    147
    Gender:
    Male
    CA Central Coast
    Vehicle:
    '18 TRD OR DCSB Magnetic Gray Metallic
    The dealer is only gonna see me for the first 2 years of free services, and warranty work, besides that I'm an ASE cert, technician. I'm doing my own stuff on my own rack. Just keep my parts receipts and document service and repairs to cover the warranty.
     
    MikeR585 likes this.
  14. May 14, 2018 at 1:34 PM
    #14
    GTS Bruce

    GTS Bruce Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2014
    Member:
    #126259
    Messages:
    255
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    W
    Morale of the story: Take all your vehicles to an independent when off warranty. Get friendly with your service dept. Buy some coffee when the coffee truck comes in. Dress down not up. I get to watch and help because they think of me as a friend and not some AZZ hole. Need somewhere to park for a local game or concert, son need an Eagle scout sponsor,no problem.
     
    Sonic Boom[OP] and hiPSI like this.
  15. May 14, 2018 at 1:38 PM
    #15
    TACORIDER

    TACORIDER Just another statistic

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2012
    Member:
    #81357
    Messages:
    5,984
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    JAKE
    EAST TAWAKONI TEXAS
    Vehicle:
    12 TACO and some other Toyota’s
    My dealer gave me free oil changes for life so I take it in there and if they screw up I’ll get a new motor. Really not that big a deal to change oil.
     
  16. May 14, 2018 at 1:42 PM
    #16
    Freetime

    Freetime Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2016
    Member:
    #181426
    Messages:
    691
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRD OR AC 4x4 Quicksand

    :smack: Stop being a twat.
     
  17. May 14, 2018 at 1:42 PM
    #17
    daddy_o

    daddy_o Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2015
    Member:
    #168380
    Messages:
    5,472
    Bossier City, La
    Vehicle:
    2018 TRD Sport, Inferno, w/tech package
    Factory Blackout package, Soft roll up bed cover, Cheap seat covers, Front and rear dash cam, AVS in channel vent visors
    ha-got-em-6p1ept.jpg
     
    Lawfarin and JS760[QUOTED] like this.
  18. May 14, 2018 at 1:50 PM
    #18
    Scoobarooo

    Scoobarooo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2014
    Member:
    #133735
    Messages:
    3,851
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Casey
    Brooksville, FL
    Vehicle:
    '02 DCSB TRD OR
    3" OME/Bilstein, Retrofits, Custom Bed rack/Toolbox, Amsoil Everything, tons of others.
    Coming from working as a service adviser, there's nothing wrong with taking your vehicle to a dealer. - I took every chance I could to go back there and ream a tech's ass for time and to make sure they are doing everything that should be done. Hell, I drive a first gen and it still see's Toyota for every single oil change. - I bring my own oil and filter and just pay labor. So now I didn't have to do anything except stare at 3rd gens and 4Runners and I only pay $11. Piece of cake.
     
    Riding Dirty, JS760 and ChadsPride like this.
  19. May 14, 2018 at 1:58 PM
    #19
    Sonic Boom

    Sonic Boom [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2017
    Member:
    #228052
    Messages:
    95
    Gender:
    Male
    Glad to hear you're passionate about your work. Rare to find in that field in my experiences. I hope they're compensating you accordingly for the extra effort.
     
  20. May 14, 2018 at 2:02 PM
    #20
    Sonic Boom

    Sonic Boom [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2017
    Member:
    #228052
    Messages:
    95
    Gender:
    Male
    Sounds like I pinched a nerve. Didn't think anyone would take it so literal. Must be the damn millennial in me (opps I did it again).
     
    Coot83 likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Products Discussed in

To Top