Toyota service - brisbane

[Bigben Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bigben]

Not to sure , but cannot find the info I require.
Been in Brissy for about 4/5 months now & need 50k warranty service on the Prado
Who do I go too. or better who do I steer clear of.

Ben

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

Hi Ben

Try Motorama at Moorooka, I have tried them all and they are the best I have come across, the worst is Oldmac Toyota especially at the Cleveland centre.

BTW I have had Prados since 1996 and always had them serviced by Toyota.

See ya on the tracks, Richo.

[Bigben Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bigben]

Thanks Richo, just the sought of info I'm looking for.

[mickmac_42 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mickmac_42]

Ben,

I had mine serviced at Motorama Salisbury (not sure if they're still there, or if they're also called Moorooka) for the first 60K. They were okay, but had one occasion when they didn't rotate the tyres despite it being in the logbook and included in the bill. I pointed it out to them and they said the tyres didn't need to be rotated, and that the bill is generated automatically. I pointed out that i'd been charged for the labour as part of the fixed price service and i wanted the service completed as per log book. They rotated the wheels without any more fuss.

While inside the 60K fixed price service period they never found anything that needed replacing or that would incur additional costs. at 70K there were suddenly a number of thing which needed immediate replacing, but were not mentioned in the previous service. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't, but i didn't trust them after that.

I switched to Kmart Tyre & Auto at Logan Hyperdome for log book services until my last one at 120K. They charged an average of $250-$300 for a service and i was content with that... until after the last service when they told me my battery was on its last legs and needed replacing, and the front and rear brakes needed replacing. We were about to go to Fraser and i didn't want to have any issues so, after a quick call around, I bought the battery from them (they were the cheapest). Got home and the battery sat in the shed for a week. The car battery still seemed to be going fine. A couple of days before Fraser i decided to fit the new battery. The terminals were around the wrong way and it couldn't be connected. Went away to Fraser and came back with no problems. Kmart replaced the battery with the correct one. A month later and i still haven't put it in. The old one is still going strong. I'm thinking of going to battery world to have it tested. If it's okay, i'll go back to Kmart and give them a serve.

I'd also got them to quote on replacing the brakes. $660 for front discs and pads, $550 for rears - labour would be a few hundred extra. I didn't think too much of the price, having been charged $1200 to do the brakes in the Navara while i was in Sydney. I jumped online and checked prices. I ended up buying slotted RDA rotors and Bendix 4wd pads, front and rear, shipped to my house for a smidge over $600.

I've had cars serviced at Motorama in Slacks Creek. They were a similar story to Salisbury, but argued about the logbook service, and flat out missed obvious things like dead bulbs which they said were checked and correct.

I've taken other peoples' cars to Oldfield Toyota at Springwood. The service manager seemed genuinely interested in taking care of his customers, but i couldn't speak for the rest of the staff. I took a work car in there (our cars are contracted to be service by another workshop) because i was concerned about some noise and shudder coming from the front left wheel. Our mechanic said that it was okay but would explain it. I just wanted a Toyota tech to look at it. Knowing that he'd get nothing out of it, he took our car in immediately and then took it for a drive. They diagnosed the problem in about half an hour and told me what needed to be done. He offered to do it for free because he didn't think the car was safe to drive. I was really impressed by him and i think i might take the Prado to them in future.

My advice is, even if you go somewhere recommended to be good, question everything and believe nothing. It sucks that i can't just take it to the service centre and TRUST them to do the right thing. I'm happy to pay the money if it's needed, but it just seems everyone is out to take you for as much as they can get, all while agonising over how much of a discount they're giving you.

Mike

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

""It sucks that i can't just take it to the service centre and TRUST them to do the right thing"" you got that write Mike.....Cheers Steve

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

I'm fortunate in a way that my Prado is out of warranty & I can take it to whom ever I please. My mechanic is ex Motorama and is mobile. Just had my 150K service with all genuine oils and filters, the inner CV Boot replaced (boot was split), my Auto Pan removed and panel beated out and Tranny fluid flushed followed by a full engine bay clean for 1/2 the price of a service by a Toyota dealership.

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

Are you north side or lost?

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

Second Richo's Motorama Salisbury, great bunch of guys who have looked after our Prado now for the last few services, tailshaft replacement and also fixed a rattle that 2.5 years, 5 visits to another dealer could not fix.

Oldmac Toyota Springwood, would not trust them with my cordless drill, they charged us for a service that they 'forgot' to complete...

Cheers Dan

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

Ben,



. A couple of days before Fraser i decided to fit the new battery. The terminals were around the wrong way and it couldn't be connected. Went away to Fraser and came back with no problems. Kmart replaced the battery with the correct one. A month later and i still haven't put it in. The old one is still going strong. I'm thinking of going to battery world to have it tested. If it's okay, i'll go back to Kmart and give them a serve.

So when they tested the battery did they test Volts or Cold Cranking Aamps? CCA's is more important for the main battery

Why MUST a Prado be serviced by a Toyota dealer to maintain its warranty?

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

I guess it would be dependent on the deal you've negotiated with the dealership and what the conditions are (fixed price servicing, extended warantees etc...)

[Newby Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Newby]

Hi Ben

Try Motorama at Moorooka, I have tried them all and they are the best I have come across, the worst is Oldmac Toyota especially at the Cleveland centre.

BTW I have had Prados since 1996 and always had them serviced by Toyota.

See ya on the tracks, Richo.

Have to agree here. DO NOT take your car to Oldmac Toyota Cleveland. My car was done there and had to take it back for an oil leak (clearly not done something up correctly) and there were marks all over the car from grubby hands. Oddly enough I have been taking it to Honda Service centre in Cleveland and can't fault them. That's my 2 cents.

Matthew

[Bigben Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bigben]

Ben,


My advice is, even if you go somewhere recommended to be good, question everything and believe nothing. It sucks that i can't just take it to the service centre and TRUST them to do the right thing. I'm happy to pay the money if it's needed, but it just seems everyone is out to take you for as much as they can get, all while agonising over how much of a discount they're giving you.

Mike

Thanks Mike,
I do question & check things, got my hard earned cash invested in my Prado.
Just needed a starting point where others have had good service, then it is up to me.
Better than starting blind, never lived in Brisbane before.

& thanks to ALL for you comments & info.

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

Ross Llewelyn near Ipswich have been very good too...

[Mark from Brisbane Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mark from Brisbane]

I live in Taringa so have been using Sci Fleet.....all good so far

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

Use sci fleet Albion all good.

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.