Is my dealer responsible?

Chris,

I'm not a lawyer, but I think that "required" may be a bit of a strong word. I think that it would have been responsible of the dealer to have performed this maintenance or to have included it in the deal. If they didn't and you were aware of the ODO reading and that maintenance was due, I'm not sure that you have alot of argument other than an ethical one. Right behind lawyers, car salesmen aren't known for their ethics (sorry to all the JD's in the audience.)

When it comes down to it, the 5K mile maintenance should be worth about $70 at the dealer. Would I ask about that much money and maybe make a little stink? You bet. Would I get hung up on it? No. But I might go so far as to trying to get Toyota to certify, in writing, that the "missed" (quotes because you haven't really missed it yet) maintenance hasn't voided your warranty. If I was feeling truly evil, I might "go there" even if they did the 5K maintenance for me.

If you don't want to pay the dealer for the maintenance at 5K miles, you can do it yourself.

Materials:

Oil, roughly $15 (maybe a little more depending on prices in your area)
Oil filter, roughly $6 (again depending on brand and area)
Oil drain gasket a few cents (you get several of them at a time from the parts counter)

Tools (you'll use these again if you continue to do you own oil changes, I'm assuming you have things like a ratchet, jack, jack stands, and a drain pan):

Filter wrench (for the itsy-bitsy filter the Prius has), roughly $10
Torque wrench, roughly $100 (you buy this tool once if you get a decent one; I still have the first one I bought 20 years ago.)

For all of that, you can do this yourself. It's not going to be cheaper the first time, unless you already have most of what you need. It's good for the character to do that.

Me, I've turned enough wrenches in my life because I had to, I'll pay to have someone put the care up on a nice lift and do it for me, rather than spending my Saturday on my back in the driveway worrying about getting oil stains on the concrete.

One way or the other, get it done (preferably before you've got 5.5K on it) and put you mind at ease.

 

Call the service department or your salesman and ask if they did the service. If not, explain you situation and see if they would be willing to service the car for you for free (or at a reduced rate). The dealer will want you to come in to do future services (there's money in it for them) and will likely work with you on this one.

They aren't required to do it. Likely you should have negotiated it when you bought the car. You are asking them to do you a favor. Be gracious and thankful and likely they will work something out for you.

Good luck and let us know how it works out!

 

Let's put it this way: in most consumer law caveat emptor is the guiding principle.

If you want something, get it in writing from someone authorized to enter contracts for the seller BEFORE you close the sale.

That said, if this were my dealership, I would give you the service.

But they are in no way obligated to do so.

 

The dealership will probably try to wiggle out of any responsibility, and not make a big deal of it. But if YOU were to go a bit over the schedule, watch them raise holy hell. "Warrenty is void blah blah blah"

 

A torque wrench for an oil change? Is it for tightening the drain plug? What torque spec do you tighten the plug to? - Just asking for future reference for my 08

Thanks

 

Maybe this will lend some clarity: What if the car had 7500 miles on it? Surely the dealer would have been expected to change the oil, right?

 

According to Toyota:

 

Actually, no, the torque wrench is for the tire rotation.

I wouldn't have done this either, but I've read enough warnings about not over tightening the lug nuts that I'd err on the side of caution.

If you read the service manual for any car, there's a torque specified for just about every bolt and nut in the thing. However, I've never heard anyone repeat the warnings for lug nuts like they do whenever the subject of changing Prius tires comes up. Some of that may be CYA, but I'd rather not find out for a tire rotation.

Is not having a torque wrench going to prevent me from changing a flat when I'm unlucky enough to have one? No, but I won't be driving for the next 5K miles on the spare.

 

Chris, the way you word your question tells me you have the normal new car warranty even though this was a "demo" car. It seems to me that unless they made you sign something saying you accepted the car "as is" and they were not responsible for any problems related to the 5k miles it was already driven, then I think they need to make sure the car is as close to new as possible. Meaning they can't void the warranty by refusing to do service that is needed because they used the car.

If I were you, I would definitely make sure that they do the maintenance required to keep from voiding the warranty (which is not the full 5k mile service that they try to sell you - e.g., I don't think tire rotation is needed for this purpose. Oil and filter change may be all that's necessary). There is no way I would pay for this service and certainly no way I would do it myself.

If they hassle you at all, I would go to the manager. If that's no good I would escalate to Toyota corporate.

Also Toyota will be sending you a customer satisfaction survey soon. If you put anything negative on the survey the dealer will definitely hear about it, so use the survey to report any problems you have with them.

 

If they did not do the 5k service, and are not willing to do it for you, you should pose the question of why a car "owned" by Toyota would somehow be exempt from the service they recommend to normal owners. A double standard, perhaps?

 

While I don't disagree in principle with what many are saying here, good grief, it's a $50 service. I'd inquire, if they give you the brush off just have it done, it's your car now and you want it to be well maintained.....maybe not at that dealership if you have options. Then write to Toyota. Then let it go.

 

Stock Prius wheel/tires sizes are 15" or 16" for the Touring.

17" wheels would be aftermarket - and you'll more than likely see a significant mileage hit because of them.

Take a picture and post them if you aren't familiar with the stock wheels.

 

38 Nm - Thanks. That is a bit tighter than I would have made it without this information. Seems very snug to me, but now I know.

 

Any reputable dealer will perform all necessary services on the vehicles that they sell, including demos and used. We perform intensive and exhaustive diagnostics and reconditioning of all our vehicles before they hit the lot. It's just good business.