A New Low (Diagnostic Fee for Warranty Work)?

Some started this long ago. Though maybe that is one reason why they lost so much business to others ...

 

Re the window itself, spray some silicone at window seal/channel

 

Back in the day, OBD scanners were expensive, and then the repair shop had to pay for the manufacturer specific scanner. Diagnostic fees likely started to combat people bringing their car in, getting the scan done, and then doing the work themselves. It wasn't applied to cars under factory warranty though.

 

Seems like a lot of owners go to Pep Boys or similar to get the codes read, for free. Reaction to the dealership policies, to start charging as soon as your foot's in the door.

I think there's a business model, for free diagnostics, no charge till the repair is commenced. It might mean slightly higher labour rates, something like that. And maybe less donuts and coffee...

Unless it's a hypochondriac customer, lol.

 

If it were my car, I would drive to a different Toyota dealer, park in the service area, and when a service person asks "What can I do for you?" just ask him "Is this window working correctly?"

 

Never seen this for warranty work, but I have had the "diagnostic fee will be waived if you do the repair work with us" deal. Unless you have a specific loyalty with this dealer, I would find another that doesn't charge the fee.

 

You really should get that fixed. If for some reason this is being caused by undue stress in the window channel, you may find yourself covered in little glass cubes when that windows pops. I've seen it happen. Safety glass only bends so far before a loud "POP". If you hear it, close your eyes fast.

 

On one hand, I can almost understand it if the dealer is spending a lot of time diagnosng problems that aren't covered by warranty. On the other hand, yeah, I can see this suppressing warranty claims. And the biggest concern is those "intermittent" problems which are not reproducible at will, and where that problem you saw is suddenly not there for a tech to diagnose.

 

Maybe shop other dealers and pit one against the other. If another dealer wants your regular business for service, I’d like to think they wouldn’t charge that junk diagnostic fee.

 

I’d suggest not asking the dealer to look at or diagnose the problem. Instead, just tell them that the car needs repair due to a defect covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. By its own terms—stated in the Warranty & Maintenance Guide (PDF)—this warranty entitles you to repairs of such defects “at no charge for parts and labor” when the vehicle is taken to an authorized Toyota dealership.

The escalation procedure is on pages 5–6 of the Guide. If the dealer (Step 1) and the Toyota Customer Experience Center (Step 2) have been no help, you can go to Step 3, a claim under the California Dispute Settlement Program, at no cost to you, other than the value of your time.

 

Lucky!
I got the same when I asked about the noise maker disabled? and the grille shutters not closing?
Because if they were off, they were never turned on during presale checklist.
I could care less about the noise maker and rather than haggle with the dealer about the shutters I just put my own grille block in place during winter months. I called Toyota USA and they gave me an issue # for my trouble.
My take on this as of today is. get a mongoose/miniVCI and rent techstream lite and learn howto use it.
Hoping the Xhorse/mongoose that is chosen relays all the data from the prime.

Sorry to hear your dealer is charging the same as mine PIP...

 

That will likely leave just Tesla. They ALL play the same game.

 

disclaimer: I'm in NO way suggesting I condone the practice!
What could be some reasons why they play the game?
1:frivolous complaints by customers with attitude problems ( I hope I'm not in this group )
2: ?