Can a mechanic/tech/dealership tell if maint. has been done?

You need to remove the parts in question (or take a sample of the transaxle ATF) to see - and if you are going to the trouble of removing a maintenance part, you'd might as well replace it with a new part.

I would not call replacement of the serpentine belt or iridium spark plugs "big" things.

 

it would cost almost as much to look at the spark plugs as replace them. i think you're best bet is to pay them for an hour to look it over and run it through the scanner. there won't be any guarantees though, and there's no way to know if reular maint. has been done without records. have you checked the owners website? anything done at a dealer would be there.

certainly, a visual check of some things like the serpentine belt is easy and accurate. brakes will be inspected for operation and condition, filters fluids and etc., but most fluids are hard to determine age by looks.

 

I'd personally look it over, carefully, closely. Look at stuff like the door hinges for example: are they awash in sprayed on lube? Is there evidence of service interval decals in upper left corner of windshield. How's the carpet, upholstery? Anything odd looking on the dash, any wires hanging under? Bring a flash light for this.

In the hatch area, how's the floor look, protected, or grungy. Are the side panels banged up. Pull up the hatch floor, check the tool kit is all present, and while you're there, pull the temp spare right out and check the temp spare's pressure. If it's way low, could indicate chronic, general inaattention. Also, how's the 12 volt looking? OEM, or aftermarket? Do the connections look clean?

Take a look a look under the engine bay: is the plastic under panel intact, not hanging. Any evidence of oil on it?

Run fingers along the lip of the rear wheel wells: relatively clean, or clogged? Look at the tires, rims, especially the curb side. Some chew-up is almost inevitable, but was it left as-is, or touched up?

 

all good points. while you're in the hatch and battery area, check for collecting water.

 

all of the above. plus, look at the brake fluid. is it dark or clear yellow? is the oil dirty or clean? if the car appears to be well maintained, it probably was. but if its all grungy, you know they didn't do routine maintenance.

 

Usually a very clean car will indicate that it has been maintained, You can always have a Toyota Dealer run the vin, and they can you tell you of any service history performed by Toyota. Is this car being sold by a dealer or private party?

 

I want to see the Toyota red coolant. If it ain't red I don't trust the maintenance


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