Service Department Scam

ovni · 03-22-2007, 08:22 PM

Went to the dealership because my outside temp sensor was not working. They told me the cable going to the sensor and the sensor were bad. They told me it would be $415 for everything. I laughed and walked away. I did a little research of where the sensor was located. I found it and did a visual inspection. I removed the sensor and tested it with my multi-meter at different temps. It seem to be fine. I found the cable to be cut. I bought some wire at home depot and some crimps. $5 dollars total. 10 minutes later and my temp was working.

$415...compared to $5 dollars and 10 minutes of my time. Anyone else have similar stories? If your in San francisco and have any problems. Send me a message. I might be able to save you some money.

Bill Merchant · 03-22-2007, 08:27 PM

Don't protect a bad service department. Who was it so others may be wary?

ovni · 03-22-2007, 08:35 PM

San Francisco Toyota on Vanness Street

tochatihu · 03-22-2007, 09:25 PM

Ovni (UFO for the rest of us, I'm guessing), I hope you put some silicone sealant into that connector. It lives a horrible (water salt grime) life and we don't want it messing with your mind later.

Everybody else, *please* identify your best and worst Toyota shop experiences. Our cars deserve the best, and there is some reason to believe that those other shops will be 'urged towards greatness' after they are identified here.

Prius The First · 03-23-2007, 08:53 AM

GO Toyota on Arapahoe Road in Englewood Colorado fixed a flat on our Prius for free!

**TonyPSchaefer** · 03-23-2007, 08:58 AM

OVNI,
What year is your Prius? Is it out of warranty?
Usually when I hear the words "are bad" I'm thinking complimentary replacement.

M. Oiseau · 03-23-2007, 09:00 AM

I'm still looking for a good dealer service department in Tulsa/Oklahoma/Gulf States. Anyone know of one?

I'm pretty sure the two Tulsa dealers are owned and managed by the mafia, which has a direct affect on their service departments' culture.

iaowings · 03-23-2007, 11:39 AM

The Toyota dealership in Jacksonville North Carolina is the best dealership I have ever been to, ever, ever. My sells man was honest as could be. I went in and said I was interested in the Prius he told me they don’t sell a lot of those and no one really knows much about them but he would help the best that he could. He went and got all the manuals and brochures they had. He then told me he was going to ask around to see if anyone actually knew about them. He came back and we looked over options and other such materials. He told me that he could have a fully loaded Prius at the dealership in two days but that is not what I wanted so we didn’t do that. He didn’t pressure me when I told him it was way out of my price range. He called around for about an hour to find anything in the area but was unable to find what I wanted so he ordered it from Toyota. It took two weeks and I had my car in the color and package I wanted. He then threw in floor mats and mud flaps for free because I had to wait. He told me that the policy at the dealership is if a customer has to wait more than 5 days for a car they get a gift and since I already told him I wanted mud flaps and floor mats he just gave them to me.

Their service department is awesome. Very fast and courteous they get you in and out and the price is great. You can get the premium service for 50 bucks. They are not as high-tech as other dealerships but they make up for it in service in all departments.

Charles Suitt · 03-23-2007, 12:46 PM

Good Service Department in Dallas TX: Toyota of Richardson. Asst.Svc.Manager {Mickey Hagar) is expert in the Prius unique needs. They've never tried to sell me unnecessary services, will use my oil {3½ qts Mobil-1 5W30 to prevent overfill}, use my specified tire pressures, did all the SSCs and TSBs on my 2004 Prius and re-aligned my new 2007 Touring Edition providing printout of 'before & after' readings {I bought the '07 from another area Dealer - better deal}, and they deliver my Prius freshly washed.

felton · 03-23-2007, 01:05 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Mar 23 2007, 12:46 PM) [snapback]410975[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Good Service Department in Dallas TX: Toyota of Richardson. Asst.Svc.Manager {Mickey Hagar) is expert in the Prius unique needs. They've never tried to sell me unnecessary services, will use my oil {3½ qts Mobil-1 5W30 to prevent overfill}, use my specified tire pressures, did all the SSCs and TSBs on my 2004 Prius and re-aligned my new 2007 Touring Edition providing printout of 'before & after' readings {I bought the '07 from another area Dealer - better deal}, and they deliver my Prius freshly washed.
[/b]

First congrats on the new car

Where did you buy it? I am in Dallas and still loving my 2005 BC but I bought it from out of state and really don't know where to suggest people look locally who want to buy a Prius.

I was at Toyota of Richardson yesterday for routine service. They seem good, but they have overfilled my oil twice now

Anyway, congrats again

03-23-2007, 11:39 AM	#8
iaowings Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 450 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	The Toyota dealership in Jacksonville North Carolina is the best dealership I have ever been to, ever, ever. My sells man was honest as could be. I went in and said I was interested in the Prius he told me they don’t sell a lot of those and no one really knows much about them but he would help the best that he could. He went and got all the manuals and brochures they had. He then told me he was going to ask around to see if anyone actually knew about them. He came back and we looked over options and other such materials. He told me that he could have a fully loaded Prius at the dealership in two days but that is not what I wanted so we didn’t do that. He didn’t pressure me when I told him it was way out of my price range. He called around for about an hour to find anything in the area but was unable to find what I wanted so he ordered it from Toyota. It took two weeks and I had my car in the color and package I wanted. He then threw in floor mats and mud flaps for free because I had to wait. He told me that the policy at the dealership is if a customer has to wait more than 5 days for a car they get a gift and since I already told him I wanted mud flaps and floor mats he just gave them to me. Their service department is awesome. Very fast and courteous they get you in and out and the price is great. You can get the premium service for 50 bucks. They are not as high-tech as other dealerships but they make up for it in service in all departments. __________________ "If a man does his best, what else is there?" General George S. Patton "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." Hillary Clinton

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03-22-2007, 08:22 PM	#1
ovni Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 24 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Went to the dealership because my outside temp sensor was not working. They told me the cable going to the sensor and the sensor were bad. They told me it would be $415 for everything. I laughed and walked away. I did a little research of where the sensor was located. I found it and did a visual inspection. I removed the sensor and tested it with my multi-meter at different temps. It seem to be fine. I found the cable to be cut. I bought some wire at home depot and some crimps. $5 dollars total. 10 minutes later and my temp was working. $415...compared to $5 dollars and 10 minutes of my time. Anyone else have similar stories? If your in San francisco and have any problems. Send me a message. I might be able to save you some money.

03-22-2007, 08:27 PM	#2
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 4,100 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 18 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts Friends: 60	Don't protect a bad service department. Who was it so others may be wary?

03-22-2007, 08:35 PM	#3
ovni Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 24 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	San Francisco Toyota on Vanness Street

03-22-2007, 09:25 PM	#4
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 2,411 My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: Pioneer #1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 39 Times in 39 Posts Friends: 14	Ovni (UFO for the rest of us, I'm guessing), I hope you put some silicone sealant into that connector. It lives a horrible (water salt grime) life and we don't want it messing with your mind later. Everybody else, please identify your best and worst Toyota shop experiences. Our cars deserve the best, and there is some reason to believe that those other shops will be 'urged towards greatness' after they are identified here.

03-23-2007, 08:53 AM	#5
Prius The First Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 141 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	GO Toyota on Arapahoe Road in Englewood Colorado fixed a flat on our Prius for free!

03-23-2007, 08:58 AM	#6
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,506 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 168 Times in 109 Posts Friends: 23	OVNI, What year is your Prius? Is it out of warranty? Usually when I hear the words "are bad" I'm thinking complimentary replacement.

03-23-2007, 09:00 AM	#7
M. Oiseau 6sigma this Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 260 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 1	I'm still looking for a good dealer service department in Tulsa/Oklahoma/Gulf States. Anyone know of one? I'm pretty sure the two Tulsa dealers are owned and managed by the mafia, which has a direct affect on their service departments' culture.

03-23-2007, 12:46 PM	#9
Charles Suitt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,624 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Good Service Department in Dallas TX: Toyota of Richardson. Asst.Svc.Manager {Mickey Hagar) is expert in the Prius unique needs. They've never tried to sell me unnecessary services, will use my oil {3½ qts Mobil-1 5W30 to prevent overfill}, use my specified tire pressures, did all the SSCs and TSBs on my 2004 Prius and re-aligned my new 2007 Touring Edition providing printout of 'before & after' readings {I bought the '07 from another area Dealer - better deal}, and they deliver my Prius freshly washed.