Help regarding Servicing

[PradoDude Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close PradoDude]

Hi Guys,

I have a dilema on my hands. My Prado (150series, GXL, Petrol) is up for the 10,000km servicing and I'm contemplating having my regular registered (licensed) mechanic to service it (and replace items needed with genuine Toyota parts) rather then bringing it back to the Toyota dealership.

P.S. He sub-contracts for Land Rover, Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan and BMW in Perth before.

Two reasons:
1. I have a Toyota Camry which have always been serviced by the Toyota dealership but it has given me nothing but grieve and they seem to charge a fair bit but seem to not do much. (it always seem that they cut corner but still charge a premium)
2. My mechanic does a mobile service and since my job is rather demanding on time, it would save me a day of leave for bringing the car to the dealership

Questions:
1. Will not having the Prado serviced by the dealership void warranty (i have the 36 month extended warranty as well)?
2. Since there's no KDSS and the servicing is only for the mechanical parts and not electronics, is it ok for my mechanic to do the servicing?
3. Any thoughts?

Thanks for your input guys.

[Guest Close Guest]

1. No.
2. Yes.

[strombleki Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close strombleki]

Fixed price servicing ???...

[Guest Close Guest]

Oh yeah. Forgot about that. It's supposed to be one of the selling points. I would take it back to Toyota unless you find major issues with the service, then go to another dealer.

[Rogerthatv2 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Rogerthatv2]

Fully agree with Strombleki, go the fixed price $210.00 for a full service on a 150 is good value in my opinion especially with the extended warranty. The 40000km service will be a few hundred more then the $210.00 that Toyota charge. Just my 2c. Cheers Daniel

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

With the fixed price servicing I am sticking with Toyota for now, but using the 4x4 shop for pre trip checks

[cyclone Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cyclone]

Only had my Toyota for a short time. Not happy so far. I noticed last week that the bolts on the ends of the genuine Toyota tow bar were not screwed all the way in. This was only a few days after it had it’s 1000k free check up. This is what the free check up is all about. I could see that the bolts were loose standing more than a meter away. Makes me wonder if they bothered to look at anything at all

[PradoDude Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close PradoDude]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies. I understand that the fixed price servicing at $210 per service (for 6 services) is a very good factor for servicing at Toyota. But with the experience I had at the dealerships (the service department not doing what they are supposed to do and not check what is needed but instead tick all the boxes on the logbook only for me to find out later that things were not done) really makes me wonder if the $210 is actually worth the $$. I would rather pay a little more for a proper service then pay for a half-ass service at a cheaper price.

For your information, there was an instance that I found out by chance that the engine oil and transmission fluid was not changed on my Camry even though it was clearly stated in the logbook that it requires changing. I was really disappointed as I thought the dealership did a proper servicing.

If you guys have any good experiences with Toyota Dealerships who do the right things, please advice (P.S. I'm living in Kwinana, WA).

[Stephen77 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Stephen77]

Hi PradoDude,

To date I have had a very good run with City Toyota's Northbridge Service Centre, not very convenient to Kwinana though! Service desk staff have been very knowledgeable or else have taken time to find out the correct answer. I'm not that mechanically minded but with the couple of high level queries I've had to have dealings with the workshop foreman. He has been awesome and seems to have genuine interest in the Prado - I can only hope that this passion is passed onto the apprentices that do the basic servicing.

Steve..

[greggo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close greggo]

hi guys , Try to locate a mobile toyota service ,we have one in Perth ( prosser) get quote which i did 2005 gxl turbo diesel auto don't know the series though i'm a bit thick that way however they quoted me around $380 and you get to watch what they are doing while you have a cuppa. That is for a 100,000 km service

[noahboy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close noahboy]

taking my car to prosser next week for its 10000 service and hopefully mudflap upgrade - see how we go!