I am sick of dealers

[wv1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wv1]

So I had my car serviced today at Berwick Toyota. I was really pleased I went for a test drive with the mechanic to try to track down a slight vibration.
Pick up the car they could not find or feel vibration Ok hard to diagnose. So said at pickup well hopefully it is onl;ya wheel balance problem and you have done that so see how we go.
Disappointing that the wheel balance and tyre rotation has not been done and yet I queried it at pickup and told yes it has been done.
It takes me back to the time they printed an invoice which included spark plugs for my 120 diesel. How the hell can we trust dealers that they are doing the right thing mark and check everything?

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

This is why I stopped using Toyota dealers. What I can't do myself I have a trusted 4wd mechanic down the road.

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

Not defending dealersdealers, but generalising is pretty pointless. There are also plenty of independent mechanics that aren't great. It's very much case by case and good if you can find a good one.

[wv1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wv1]

I am not generalising.
1. They tprinted an invoice that included spark plugs etc.
2. They tried to charge extra for a fixed price service. "computer error"
3. Did not replace air conditioner filter " Toyota no longer allow"
4. Car vibration "Mechanic tested my comment hopefully trye balance ill resolve".
5. Pickup car You did a tyre balance? Hopefully tyre balance resolves probem. Answer yes.

Handbook in highlight say's tyre rotation and front wheel balance. Check spare wheel never used still why should I trust dealer after all we are chasing a vibration problem and history of incompetence?

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

So I had my car serviced today at Berwick Toyota. I was really pleased I went for a test drive with the mechanic to try to track down a slight vibration.
Pick up the car they could not find or feel vibration Ok hard to diagnose. So said at pickup well hopefully it is onl;ya wheel balance problem and you have done that so see how we go.
Disappointing that the wheel balance and tyre rotation has not been done and yet I queried it at pickup and told yes it has been done.

It takes me back to the time they printed an invoice which included spark plugs for my 120 diesel. How the hell can we trust dealers that they are doing the right thing mark and check everything?

I stopped using this dealership years ago, very poor service & attitude, went to Cranbourne, no better, didn't even know how to change under bonnet fuel filter properly.

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

I am not generalising.

The thread title is 'sick of dealers'. And I'm not a dealer or affiliated with one

[t303 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close t303]

Not defending dealersdealers, but generalising is pretty pointless. There are also plenty of independent mechanics that aren't great. It's very much case by case and good if you can find a good one.

The problem at the dealer is that there are probably very few highly experienced mechanics, and you can rest assured they are not the ones doing the fixed price service on your new Prado. It's a problem in many industries, one licensed guy overseeing a bunch of apprentii. At least you get to make the choice with an independent mechanic.

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

There is not that many apprentii, but more like a bunch of 457 skilled migrant workers that cost the dealer only a fraction of a mechanic that knows his stuff, if it's anything like a Toyota Service Center that I went into and out the back not long ago over here in WA!

[oceanracer Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close oceanracer]

I tried all the local dealers. All as bad a eachother, so only use them for parts now, havnt had a service at one for years.

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

I am not generalising.
1. They tprinted an invoice that included spark plugs etc.
2. They tried to charge extra for a fixed price service. "computer error"
3. Did not replace air conditioner filter " Toyota no longer allow"
4. Car vibration "Mechanic tested my comment hopefully trye balance ill resolve".
5. Pickup car You did a tyre balance? Hopefully tyre balance resolves probem. Answer yes.

Handbook in highlight say's tyre rotation and front wheel balance. Check spare wheel never used still why should I trust dealer after all we are chasing a vibration problem and history of incompetence?

The computer printout shows what is scheduled to be done at a particular service (and is standard issue from Toyota dealers); what is actually done is something completely different according to what the service person does/feels like doing/ how he is supervised if a junior.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

I think generalizing is ok.
Generally dealers have many mechanics & apprentices.
Generally it doesn't matter if they are qualified or not, there is lots of bad workmanship coming from many of these dealers, it's widespread. But not all dealers.
Generally if someone thinks they are ok, they have not had a problem yet or do not know about the damage.
Generally if they persist they will find out eventually, but not always.

Generally when you find the local guy who works on his own & good, it's about as good as it gets.
Check fakebook ratings & comments on their pages :-)

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

I had a CV boot replaced recently as a result of a broken shockie. Anyway, out of an abundance of caution I reminded them NOT to touch the diff oil. I know, "why would they touch the diff oil?" I thought about it after and felt a little silly, but nevertheless did not want to take any risks.

I pick up the car and the invoice says "Diff Oil" Seriously?????? I questioned the young lass as to why it was on the invoice?

YL: maybe its the type of fluid used to fill up the cv....
Me: I don't think so, maybe you should check.
YL: well it could be its leaked from the diff through the axle and out the CV....
Me: (with big smile) I don't think so, maybe you should check.

On coming back after asking
YL: Apparently the diff loses oil when things like this happen.
Me: OK, lets just put that aside. What type of oil was used?
YL: OH, the right sort for your car, we used limited slip diff oil because yours is a 4wd.
Me: So the manager made sure its the diff oil to suit ARB diff lockers?......

Upon checking with the manager
YL: Mr XXX these are the keys for the car out there, what time can you come in tomorrow to pick up the car after we flush out the oil and put your required one in?......

I still don't know why they tried it on in the first place, but they paid for the privilege,especially where the top up oil was $25 and the labour and replacement oil would be well in excess.

(For the record, the service booklet has signage saying do not use normal diff oil, refer to specific sheet for acceptable oils.

mlc - watching for oil to leak through a solid metal shaft into my CV boot.

[wv1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wv1]

Just an update as I took car back today. Explanation from dealership. They did a front to back rotation not a 5 wheel rotation as per handbook. Why? Because some cars come with a steel or space saver spare so we no longer do 5 wheel rotation but as a special favour we will mark your file for 5 wheel rotation always. I pointed out that permanent AWD requires tyres are within similar diameters and that is why a 5 wheel rotation is required!

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

I would stress about the tyre size. It won't hurt anything anymore than going around corners or fighting the camber in the road surface.


Sent from my iPhone 6s Plus

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

5 wheel rotation is worthwhile if you have 5 identical tyres of the same age, which most of us have.

Rotation evens out the wear across all the tyres. No point in having a virtually unused spare that is getting old.