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Complementary Service From a Dishonest Toyota Service Department

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by car78412, Feb 11, 2012.

  1. car78412

    car78412 Member

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    2010 Prius
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    IV
    I brought in my 2010 Gen III IV for its complementary 20k serivice to Prestige Toyota in Kingston NY. This service includes an oil change, fluid check and tire rotation. After the 15k service I noticed that my tires did not look like they were rotated so this time I marked the front tires with blue chalk to to assure myself that they indeed rotated my tires. The service area has large windows facing the service bays where I could clearly see them working on my Prius. I saw them roate the passenger side front and rear tires and was satisfied that they indeed rotated my tires. When I pulled into my driveway I noticed that the left side (driver side) front and rear tires were not rotated. That was the side of the car that was facing away from the service area windows. I immediately called the service manager who clearly did not believe me until he asked the mechanic who admitted that he did not rotate the driver side tires because he felt they did not need to be rotated. The tire does indeed need to be rotated. I will complete the rotation in my garage tomorrow. I clearly do not trust them. The work order I signed says that the tires were rotated when they weren't. They should had at least informed me.
    So mark your tires before you take in your prius for the so called complemetary service.. It says 0-20 oil was put into the car..but was it? Was a new oil filter cartridge installed? I asked them to change the oil drain plug gasket since I noticed that the original factory gasket was still on my car when I changed the oil myself at 15k miles. DO NOT TRUST TOYOTA SERVICE. I wont anymore.
     
    1 person likes this.
  2. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    I agree that it's very common for car dealers to be incompetent and/or dishonest, Toyota dealers are independant businesses.

    One, or a hundred dishonest dealers don't make them all dishonest.

    I'm satisfied enough with mine that I no longer will bother marking parts when I go in for service.
     
  3. DumbMike

    DumbMike Active Member

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    You raise a good point. I trust the dealer I go to, so it's no longer an issue. But if I were to take my car to a different dealer, I would mark the tires and the oil filter, and check the color of the oil just before I take it in, and recheck everything when I get it back to make sure they did what they say they did. If they do it right the first couple of times, then I'd let it go.

    One of the sayings I would hear is that it is good to have a car mechanic you can trust.

    Also, I always get a survey from Toyota after each service. That's one way to voice your issues.

    Mike
     
  4. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    Excellent idea to mark your tires tho.
     
  5. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    I don't trust Toyota dealers or New Yorkers. :madgrin:
     
  6. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    +1. You can find a bad <anything> franchise location.
     
  7. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    Not all stereotypes are true. Well, maybe for Toyota dealers... :D
     
  8. Genoz World

    Genoz World ZEN-style living

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    God i hope this is NOT a frequent business acumen. No wonder why DIY is so popular.
     
  9. Gary in NY

    Gary in NY Member

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    You might try Kinderhook Toyota, northeast of Hudson. I've been happy with them so far, I've been in twice for service, and each time, they did rotate the tires. But at 20K on a 2010, I'd guess you may be getting close to the end of your 2 years of complementary service.
     
  10. TruSound

    TruSound Member

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    If any one stopping by this post lives in the San Fernando Valley here in so Cal...be warned, NEVER, and I repeat NEVER take your car to Northridge Toyoya, I've got a few horror stories I could tell you that you wouldn't believe could actually happen at a leading manufacturers dealership...and did I mention, NEVER.
     
  11. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Sometimes "Free" service isn't.
    I'm a confirmed DIY'er.
    Cars, M/C's, everything.

    I'm not as good as the average ASE wrench swinger to be sure, and I don't have nearly as many tools however (COMMA!) I care about my vehicle much more than any mechanic that I know or have ever heard of.
    If I take an hour to do an oil change?
    It takes an hour.
    Nobody is going to yell at me for not turning out enough work, and I can take as much time as I need to properly do the job.
    I know what oil is used. I know where the filter comes from and that in fact it has been changed. I KNOW that the tires have been rotated, or the air filter has been changed.
    I've seen good dealerships and bad. Motorcycle and Car. Up North and down South.
    Some people have to trust dealerships.
    So far.....I'm not one of them.
    Time is money. Cut corners=more $$
    I've seen to many things, and I've had several good friends that have swung wrenches inside dealerships----most of which have left in discust to other carreers or their own shops.

    When infirmities and/or car complexities catch up with me, I might have to use dealerships, but I doubt that I will ever trust them.
     
    1 person likes this.
  12. vinnie97

    vinnie97 Whatever Works

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    ^Hey, bud, you missed a semicolon before however. :D

    I have a premature infirmity (tendinitis), so I sadly have to settle for the dealership. I had a trusted mechanic. However (comma? ;)) I have since moved away and know of no replacements adept with the peculiarities of the Prius.
     
  13. dbikedoc

    dbikedoc New Member

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    My g/f had her last oil change at the dealer as part of a repair for water damage due to Irene. I did the prior change and used a TRD filter. Can't wait to do the next change to see if it's still there.
     
  14. samsprius1

    samsprius1 HEV Fanatic

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    Never take your car back there for anything! Here in MN dealers can use lower paid people to do oil changes not mechanics, I took mine in for one free oil change that was the last,took an hour and a half!
     
  15. mickey513

    mickey513 Member

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    With the 10k mile oil change interval, making sure the oil and filter is properly changed is VITAL. Most techs are honest people who just want to make a honest living but THERE ARE some out there who will lie and cheat to make a extra dollar.
     
  16. car78412

    car78412 Member

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    I am glad that I don't need to go back to PRESTIGE TOYOTA IN KINGSTON NY for any more service. Toyota can keep its complimentary 24k service. It is not a selling point to me. Fortunately I have 2 Prii and can do the routine maintenance myself.
     
  17. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

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    Dealer Service is a mixed blessing, to say the least. I only use a Dealer Service Dept. when the need is specific to one of our Prii. I prefer shops for routine maintenance (tire rotation, oil changes, etc.) which allow me to talk to the mechanics and actually SEE the work being done... such as NTB.
     
  18. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Hey, I married a New Yorker! :eek:
     
  19. krazypriuslady

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    How do you mark the oil filter - just write Old on it?
     
  20. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Writing much of anything on it will be hard while it's still on the car. If you've got the time and access to go this far, and mistrust the dealer enough to do it, you may as well change it yourself. Then, once it's out of the car, you can scratch in the mileage to prove it was changed, and that you've met the service requirements of the warranty.