Auto box service worth the $$$

[Jaymboze Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaymboze]

Just had my auto box serviced by A local Goodyear service centre.
The standard service is to change the fluid and replace the filter, but I opted to get the entire system flushed, and it was totally worth it.
I was quoted $250 for the entire service including a full flush, but an after I dropped off the car, the mechanic rang me and said that it could not be done as the guys had ordered standard ATF fluid and he would only use genuine Toyota fluid as the gearbox would toast itself after only a few thousand Kms if standard ATF fluid was used. Unfortunately the local Toyota dealer was out and could not get any until this morning...Bugger.

Took the car back this morning and they already had the Toyota fluid waiting, so no hold ups this time.
They drain the old oil out of the pan, and replace it with a recycled oil and do a flush of the entire system with a pump which cycles the oil throughout.
The drain the recycled oil and then remove the pan to clean it and replace the filter.
Once back together they then fill the system again with recycled oil and flush again.
Drain the recycled oil and fill with fresh Toyota spec ATF oil.
Entire process only takes an hour or 2.
The difference was instantly noticeable and the car shifts so much smoother and sounds quieter also.
The best part was that they honoured the original quote of $250 even though the Toyota oil cost them $160.
The original oil that came out of the box was almost black, looking a bit like thick coke so a full flush was worth a few extra bucks.

Highly recommended if your car has done more than 60,000 Kms like mine has.

[fridayman Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close fridayman]

$250 for a proper flush like that is a good deal. I've had a quote from some robbing bar stewards for more than that to just drain and refill (which only gets about half the fluid out).

[Jaymboze Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaymboze]

Yeah, it pays to shop around.
Another reputable workshop just down the road quoted over $500 for the same job...?

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Yet Toyota told me the oil doesn't need changing, go figure!

[Jaymboze Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaymboze]

Yeah, I've read other comments on here about Toyota not wanting to do a fluid change as it's not necessary.
The colour of the fluid that came out my gearbox was disgusting to say the least, and as I will be towing the camper around and doing a fair bit of sand driving in the coming months, I am glad that the service was done.
Apparently the local Toyota dealer has quite a few Prado's and 200 series cruisers coming in with imploded gearboxes of late, and will not cover them under warranty once the vehicle owners mention that they had a fluid change and did not use the recommended Toyota ATF fluid...
The Toyota fluid is a semi synthetic, not a full synthetic, which could be a problem
Now before everyone starts telling me that full synthetic will always be better than semi synthetic oil, please keep this in mind.
I own a late model BMW R 1200gs motorcycle, and BMW still recommend using good old mineral oil in the engine, not a synthetic...!
Why, I do not know, but they say to use nothing but a mineral based oil.
So maybe Toyota have good reason to say that you should only use their oil and nothing else...?

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Yeah, I've read other comments on here about Toyota not wanting to do a fluid change as it's not necessary.
The colour of the fluid that came out my gearbox was disgusting to say the least, and as I will be towing the camper around and doing a fair bit of sand driving in the coming months, I am glad that the service was done.
Apparently the local Toyota dealer has quite a few Prado's and 200 series cruisers coming in with imploded gearboxes of late, and will not cover them under warranty once the vehicle owners mention that they had a fluid change and did not use the recommended Toyota ATF fluid...
The Toyota fluid is a semi synthetic, not a full synthetic, which could be a problem
Now before everyone starts telling me that full synthetic will always be better than semi synthetic oil, please keep this in mind.
I own a late model BMW R 1200gs motorcycle, and BMW still recommend using good old mineral oil in the engine, not a synthetic...!
Why, I do not know, but they say to use nothing but a mineral based oil.
So maybe Toyota have good reason to say that you should only use their oil and nothing else...?

Pretty much all dealerships recommend you ONLY use their genuine parts. They are very good at it too.
Oils, filters, fluids & parts, not to mention you should only take it to them, the "factory trained technicians" the dealership.
That's business!
Today a TOYOTA dealership is sending me parts so I can fix their work. Mmmm...........



The Prados with the black wheels are fighting to get in
2 trans fluid changes done this week both coming in under $200, yes well worth it.
It is Quite a procedure to get it done right, might be too hard for some workshops lol......

[CaLLaN 52 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close CaLLaN 52]

Seems to be a Virus, Black Wheels spreading all over the place, should see a Doctor about it! LoL

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Seems to be a Virus, Black Wheels spreading all over the place, should see a Doctor about it! LoL

Ever heard a negative comment about them?

If so what was the comment?

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Yeah, I've read other comments on here about Toyota not wanting to do a fluid change as it's not necessary.

They went further as to tell me it couldn't even be done as there was no dipstick to check the level and no way to top it up. Now I know this isn't true but as I still have extended warranty with them that leaves me in a pickle for just the reason you mention.

[Jaymboze Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaymboze]

If it's not in their maintenance schedule then it will not be done by the dealer, so you may have to pay to have someone else do it, but it's amazing that they actually tell customers that it can't be done...? But they do sell the fluid for the job, but it can't be done...
Yet another reason to do it yourself or have a 3rd party do it for you.

As for what type of oil to use, I usually stick with what the manufacturer recommends, which from my experience is pretty much the same price as aftermarket suppliers, or sometimes even a bit cheaper.

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

After coming back from the Cape a couple of months ago, I had my 100,000km service come up.... I went down there and TOLD them that I want a few extras things done. This is a Lease vehicle and I knew I would have to pay extra, but they said no worries to the EXTRA items I wanted done - as follows:

• Replace Under Bonnet Fuel Filter
• Replace/Flush Auto Transmission Fluid
• Replace Transfer Case Fluid
• Replace/Flush Power Steering Fluid (Even though this is no where listed in the Toyota Serv Schedule to replace, the Head Mechanic said it was a good idea to replace)
• HandBrake Adjustment

All these extra items to get done came to approx $460 (exc GST). Seemed reasonable to me at least......

They also said that they have had few other owners come in wanting their Auto Fluids changed as well.... they didn't seem to mind doing it, so I don't know why some dealerships say it can't be done....

rob

They went further as to tell me it couldn't even be done as there was no dipstick to check the level and no way to top it up. Now I know this isn't true but as I still have extended warranty with them that leaves me in a pickle for just the reason you mention.

If it's not in their maintenance schedule then it will not be done by the dealer, so you may have to pay to have someone else do it, but it's amazing that they actually tell customers that it can't be done...? But they do sell the fluid for the job, but it can't be done...
Yet another reason to do it yourself or have a 3rd party do it for you.

As for what type of oil to use, I usually stick with what the manufacturer recommends, which from my experience is pretty much the same price as aftermarket suppliers, or sometimes even a bit cheaper.

[netarch Member Find all posts View Profile Close netarch]

Pretty much all dealerships recommend you ONLY use their genuine parts. They are very good at it too.
Oils, filters, fluids & parts, not to mention you should only take it to them, the "factory trained technicians" the dealership.
That's business!
Today a TOYOTA dealership is sending me parts so I can fix their work. Mmmm...........



The Prados with the black wheels are fighting to get in
2 trans fluid changes done this week both coming in under $200, yes well worth it.
It is Quite a procedure to get it done right, might be too hard for some workshops lol......

Yes thanks #### the service was well worth it. It was suprising how brown the transmission fluid was on a Prado 150 with only 40 000km and no towing. The transmission does feel crisper.

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

$250 is a ripper deal. I doubt you would get that again.??

Ever heard a negative comment about them?

If so what was the comment?

Great work MJR, fantastic. I happen to think black rims on a white or black Prado is acceptable but not on Dune/ Gold. The original picture http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post156135 is a lot better.

I stand by it. Blk rims look Ok on dark coloured cars just not as good on lighter one's (bar white). Just my opinion.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Jaymboze, noticed your in Sydney, where about's did you get it done ?? Id like to get mine done also. Was it a one man workshop ? also did they replace the pan seal with original seal or did they use a cork gasket ??... I want the genuine sealant used when they put the pan back on.......Cheers steve

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Jaymboze, noticed your in Sydney, where about's did you get it done ?? Id like to get mine done also. Was it a one man workshop ? also did they replace the pan seal with original seal or did they use a cork gasket ??... I want the genuine sealant used when they put the pan back on.......Cheers steve

I agree don't like cork gaskets for anything.