TOYOTA Servicing......... Oh what a &^%$#!!! feeling!!!!!!

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

I had a warning twice that my pads were wearing out. That was 4 services ago, and they don't even mention it now. - Done 115,000km

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

My son lives away in Perth where he attends university so when he complained that his car (99 V6 Camry) was losing coolant I told him to put it into nearby Melville Toyota, get it looked at and I would pay the bill. $1600 later, they pressure tested the cooling system, all ok. They also did front discs and pads, replaced a $90 gasket on the intake and wanted to replace the steering rack. I said no more. Well, today - 6 months later - I've repaired the coolant leak that Toyota couldn't find. It was leaking from the engine block coolant drain cover located next to the oil filter. Bit hard to see all that pink stuff dripping down the front of the engine and onto the driveway.

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

Slightly off topic I know, but a couple of my mates had their new Navaras serviced at point of sale in Midland. First one had an Engel in the back when he dropped it off. The Engel was gone at completion of service and no liability was accepted by dealer.

Second vehicle has in in car recording. After hearing strange noises underneath after being picked up from dealer, the camera hard drive was checked and revealed two mechanics taking it on a joy ride that involved high speed weaving in an out of traffic, shouting obsenities at pedestrians/other vehicles and a case of road rage against some old boy minding his own business. The ride lasted 6 minutes and showed the owner of the vehicle waiting in the dealers yard to pick his vehicle up as they returned it from their little outing.

A copy of the incident was sent to the manufacturer of the recording equipment who wanted it aired on Channel 7 but the affair had already been taken to the automotive group who own the Midland dealership. Apparently the head knob from DVG was shaking during discussions but my mate ended up with free servicing for life out of it all if he took it no further. Footage was also shown to the police, but as no one hurt and no damage was done they werent interested.

The mechanics still are still employed there as "its hard to get good mechanics". True story.

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

Windsor Toyota in Sydney where I have sent some members and the outcome has always been good.

The Roo.

I can also vouch for them. Anyone got any dealings with Torque Toyota in Redcliffe Qld as I'm moving up there later in the year?

Cheers Jim.

[Samsonite Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Samsonite]

Awesome.... I just bought a 2010 GXL V6 auto from Sci fleet and getting it serviced before I take ownership. Hope it makes it home haha...

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

I have no issues with Sci fleet Albion, always looked after.


Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.

[Dusty74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dusty74]

Up here in Cairns I've had reasonably good service, had some issues. They have finally agreed to replace the tail shaft after complaint/ taking it back four times. But on the plus side they have always tried to fix any issues.

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

I prefer small country dealerships....Havn't had any issues with my services at all..even the 40,000 klm service they provided me with a customer car and provided me with all the valve clearances (before and after shim changes)

[Samsonite Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Samsonite]

I have no issues with Sci fleet Albion, always looked after.


Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.

Scifleet Taringa has been good to me so far, picked the prado up Friday and couldnt be happier, a few minor issues which were sorted no question before I got it (replaced damaged seatbelt and overdue for a service) everything I wanted in a 4x4, go the V6!!!!

[Dusty74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dusty74]

Can anyone advise a good dealer in Sydney, within a reasonable drive from Middle Head area. I'll be down there when my 40k service is due and being the first major one I don't want a half assed job, especially when I'll be driving back to Cairns afterwards.

Cheers,
Dusty

[Riv39 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Riv39]

Dusty, I use Castle Hill Toyota (not very close to Middle Head) but they did not do the valve clearances at 40k as per the book and calaimed they were no longer required (as per advice from Toyota Australia apparently) despite what the book states. Unfortunately the closer you are to the city the worse the dealers seem to be particulary with 4x4's. I have heard good opinions on Windsor Toyota but unfortunately that is even further out.

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

I got my 80,000km service done at Katherine Toyota. They were cheaper than Darwin and good customer service. Had issues in relation to warranty work through Darwin but when I approached Katherine Toyota it was no issue at all. The only problem after my service was the front diff drain plug was leaking oil. I don't think the copper washer was replaced. I did it myself and no issues since.

Winston.

[Bear63 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bear63]

Had the 1000k service done on my GXL the other day , i noticed the coolant was on the minimum after i picked it up new , but i didn't worry about it as i assumed it would be topped up at the first service.
Well after i picked it up from the first service i checked it when i got home (350k away) and it was still on the minimum , i sent them off a quick email to ask what they did , they told me they check and top up any levels, i asked them why they didn't .......... all i got was crickets
They wonder why nobody goes back (they probably rely on the gumpies that have no idea), i service all my own vehicles and i was curious if they actually did anything as i had been told they don't , all they do is park it somewhere else, but i wanted to give them a chance to explain , do anybody from Toyota actually read these forums??

[Max Member Find all posts View Profile Close Max]

Can anyone advise a good dealer in Sydney, within a reasonable drive from Middle Head area. I'll be down there when my 40k service is due and being the first major one I don't want a half assed job, especially when I'll be driving back to Cairns afterwards.

Cheers,
Dusty

I had my 40k done recently at Chatswood Toyota (service centre is in Artarmon). First time I've used them but they seemed decent enough. I was originally told they wouldn't need the car overnight but got a call later asking me to pick it up in the morning. I asked to see a photo of the pickup screen after reading about problems on here and was surprised to find a copy attached to my invoice.

That said, my old man won't go back there after they put the wrong air filter in his 100 series a few years back.

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

Here's another wonderful service experience...

.................................................. ................

This post has been edited by me out of fairness to both Toyota and Sci Fleet dealership managers who became involved after having been let down by a staff member who was incorrect and acted in a manner that, it could be argued, was somewhat less than professional.

After having phone calls from Toyota, the dealerership customer person and the service manager , it is very clear that I was indeed provided with erroneous informtion about warranty repairs by an emplopyee who, it would seem, is ignorant of how to correctly apply the conditions of the toyota warranty, and who ialso, in my opinion, represented toyota in a poor light.

Let me explain...

The Prado is within the time and km limits of the original toyota warranty being just over 2 years old and just under 100,000km on the odometer. A noise develops at the exhaust flange/joint in the vacinity of the drivers door and this is investigated by the dealer at the 100,000km service which was deliberately arranged before the warranty expired... there was 99,600km approx on the odometer.

I am told that a part has been ordered for repair under warranty...excellent.

Now the clincher: I am told by a staffer you need to have your car back here at the dealership BEFORE it does 100,001 km else it is out of warranty and the toyota rules are that the repair can't be done. I was also told if you don't have the car back here when we get the part, we won't keep the part here for more than a few days, as we will have to send it back to toyota.

Huh...I have to get the car back before I drive another 400km (which I would do before the weekend easily), and if I don't have it back when I am advised that the part has arrived then the part will be sent back to toyota as they can't hold a part for me for more than a few days. What the??? Come on, be real?

Well, let me assure folks, that advice was absolutely, definately NOT correct, as confirmed by another dealership (who would hold the part for at least 28 days+ and would certainly undertake the warranty repair even though the car had subsequently done more than 100,000km).

The service manager of the dealership involved, the customer manager and indeed as confirmed with toyota themselves, if a warranty repair is correctly identified when the car is within the warranty, and the parts are ordered, then, even if the car has done over 100,000km by the time the parts arrive the repair will certainly still be conducted, provided it is within a "reasonable" time frame and at a mutually convenient time. Parts are not held indefinately, but for a "reasonable" time....(somewhere between 2 weeks and a month it would seem), and potentially longer if there is some unforseen issue. Thank goodness, common sense prevails.

Thankyou Toyota, and thankyou to the Sci Fleet Service manager and Sci fleet customer person for your calls and the correction of incorrect advice from a staff member.

The warranty repair has now been done, a very good job, problem quickly fixed, well done.

But not before the same staff member has then decided to challenge me that as the car has an incomplete service history, it may be out of warranty. A simple look at the log book would have indicated the complete service history. Huh? Why the difficulty, why is it so hard?

Unfortunately, one is left wondering if some service staff really know their job. Why cause such angst and utter waste of time for all concerned. There was no need to try and seemingly bully a regular customer, by providing some rubbish about having to send a part back to the central store if the customer doesn't turn up within a couple of days of an unknown date to get the warranty repair done, and then question the service history when the car has a meticulously complete log book, why the attempts to try and avoid doing a warranty repair. It was indicated to me that its in the interests of dealerships to avoid warranty repairs as ithey are not profitable. In fairness, this was refuted by senior managers.

I was advised that in future, if there is anything that requires clarification with regards to servicing etc, then simply ask for the service manager directly. Thankyou Liam, well done, you know your job, and thats why you are the service manager. I will happily speak with you anytime Liam. Furthermore it was Liam himself who arranged for some parts to be appropriately replaced under warranty, (which was then questioned by the service staff member).....thankyou again Liam. I'm sorry that someone in your team has seemingly let you and Toyota down on this occasion. Unfortunatly it was not the first occasion, but I now have confidence that this will be rectified and I now have a strategy to solve any issues...the lesson for me is ..speak to the service manager!

How did that monty python movie theme song go again?..."Always look on the bright side of life..."