2000 with 117k .... I about wet myself when he called.
Took it in to have the CV boots replaced.... They have both been split & leaking & running dry for about 60k miles - was expecting them to tell me i needed new joints, but surprisingly they said they are ok... were $642 to replace the boots. This seems about on par with what I have seen from others. I am a
mechanic and didnt feel like I could tackle this on my own.
They did their usual multi point inspection and 'the truck checks out great except for the following 4 things'....
First, if you did change the fluids and they were recommending and I was the adviser, there would be hell to pay as NOTHING is more embarrassing than a fawking lazy ass tech that does not check and I have written up and fired techs for this act.
Please understand that most tech's do their job very well and by doing that it includes full inspections and these are noted on the inspection as I hope that you would not only want but would expect.
The adviser as myself is a translator to the client from the tech's notes. Coming from a High Line store my client base will not stand for any oil leaks and will pay $5,000 for case half reseal on a North Star and it requires removal of the engine. and I hate doing them as it ties up a stall for 3 days. But that's not my call.
The average repair order at any Toyota store is about 1.8 hours per. I run 3.8 at a GMC, Pontiac and Buick store. They write 3 times more than I do, but some people believe that they don't have to do any maintenance and it will go forever. Knock yourself out. Myself, I change every oil in my rigs every 10 miles because I can, meaning being an employee it costs me pennies and lunch for a tech. So every other LOF it's getting everything except coolant.
I look under my 100 and I see the rack is soaking wet, but not dripping and I know it's going to suck to do, but I won't do it, Toyota will.
I had my 100 next door "Gladstone Toyota" for a rear wheel bearing last month. Where two of the advisers have been there for 15-20 years. Jenny is my FAV, while Peggy is a bitch to work with she is awesome with customers. Anyway, the tech I hired and a friend that could do side work if I asked him to did my inspection, he called and said get over here. Ok, lower ball joints are loose and rear inside pads are at 1mm (my tech missed) so I had him do it all. I went to get it and the service manager had internalized 14 hours of labor and I only paid for parts. That was nothing I had asked for and was way beyond good business, even if I was an ex employee. But I refer a lot of work, parts sales and sales to them and they (owner and service manger) thought it was time to give back. Since then, I have had 2 follow up calls from outside call center asking about my experience and 2 online surveys. This is from a HUGE Toyota dealer that cares, some don't and don't have to. But NONE are a like. I DEMAND to know what what issues or concerns my truck my have! as should you.
This store goes out of its way for me on parts sales. I get 10% over cost which is below employee cost and I could ruin all the online part whores out there and they would drop ship, but this is a business and I wont no part of that brain damage. So with that, if you ask questions and ask to be shown what they are recommending then you will get an idea and then make a call on what is important at that time or what to watch.
don't walk, run. see if you can find a good independent or a fellow cruiserhead to help. that's insane and the fluid change is just icing on the proverbial cake. the sad thing is they do it (aggressive upselling) because most people are ignorant and it works.
I have been screwed so many times thinking this, it's not the case all the time. You get better techs and better info at the dealer, most of the time. But I will never sell outside of manufacture supported recommendations unless there is a reason.
i just sawzalled off the rears...took me about five minutes.
1. Glad you're not falling for it.
2. Post the dealer name, and if possible, the service advisor that fed you that line of bull. When people google the dealer name or the service writer's name, this thread will then pop up. Google is your friend... when you're HONEST.
3. OEM shocks are $29 each, and take all of 20-min each to change. Most of that time is consumed by jacking up each side and removing the wheel so you can get in there to work. Fronts are cake and a half-banana job at most.
4. You should write a STERNLY worded letter to the manager/owner of the dealership how his service advisor was attempting to STEAL your money on the fluid changes, shock prices, etc and how you intend to file your letter with the BBB and Toyota corp. Make sure to include your phone number so he can call you and offer a bribe, er I mean "discount" for your next visit. Use the coupon he gives you for parts, then take them and put them on yourself or get another shop to do the labor.
5. Good luck in your search for a DECENT, HONEST shop.
There is some hate there, you can't think your right and expect to sell that? Dude, I will sit and talk all day long and educate you from both sides, as Toyota and LEXUS will not fawk around with that your stating.
They don't know when it's going to fail, if it even is. But you can sure as hell bet if they didn't mention the problem and it did fail, it's their fault for not catching it.
What exactly is your sternly worded letter going to say? "Your dealership tried to point out problems for repair that could case me bigger problems later. Then they had the audacity not to read my mind or check the thousands of parts they sell to see if I'd purchased coolant from them. Furthermore, they want to charge me a normal price for shocks and they don't know that I know Dan. How dare they."
Then there's that. .
Shane
