I am sick of dealers

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

Interesting about dealers getting smashed , had a Mitsi 4x4 come in today surging lacking power 64k on the clock , 15 service done by dealer all the rest done by a "reputable independent that has won awards and all" , still had original fuel filter ,air filter and also valve clearances never done (booked was stamped)
Just thought i would throw it out there that its not only dealers that dont do the right thing

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

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.

I have six rims, so every change one gets a rest on the roof or in the shed until next rotation.

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

Yep, gets complicated, doesn't it?

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

I prefer to do everything myself, however I am having the dealer service while the car is under warranty. Has anyone logged in to the Toyota website to check their vehicle history? My 10,000 Km's 6 month service was done several weeks ago yet it is not shown on the Toyota website. The dealer says "they are waiting for Toyota to pay their share of the capped service charge"
I have emailed Toyota customer service centre but received no response. Unfortunately following previous contact with Toyota, I have so little faith left in the company that I fear if a warranty claim is necessary they will say that the service hasn't been done.

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

I have done my own servicing or used independent mechanics for most of my life, lately I've used the dealer. I'm also pretty fussy and pay attention to what gets done.

Independent mechanics; 3 separate car fires cars that had been serviced by the same independent mechanic, stuff broken on my parents car after sending them to a mechanic who I trusted, spark plugs left loose by another mechanic, dirt all through the car by another. I could go on.

I've had great service from my local dealer and very happy with the work. I have gone to the trouble of getting to know the workshop foreman, top bloke who knows his stuff. They have also been great with some fairly minor warranty claims that they could easily have rejected.

But like I said case by case and good luck to you if you find a mechanic, dealer or independent, who is reliable. There is also at least one mechanic on this forum who I wouldn't hesitate to use if he was nearby, attitude counts for a lot.

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

I had a handling issue in my last car after an accident. Took it to a number of independent mechanics to find a solution, including an expert suspension and steering shop. None of them could diagnose the problem.
Took it to the local dealer, they initially couldn't work it out either so they tried swapping out the steering box (even though it had passed all the usual diagnostic tests) and found that fixed the problem. Something to do with a faulty sensor which was constantly setting off the electronic stability control.

It may be true that most of the basic work at dealerships is done by apprentices but, for some problems at least, they probably have more combined knowledge and resources than your average independent guy.

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

I've used the same mechanic (non dealership) for the 60,000km I've had the car and I'd keep going back to them. In my opinion if the mechanic you deal with is open enough to allow you into his workshop and let you watch what he is doing to your car (I am an overly curious person) and talk you through everything and the reasoning behind it then he is the one to trust.

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

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.

Use Stepney next time and come past and buy me a coffee!

[Yibbitta Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Yibbitta]

Just have to say we have a fantastic local dealer and they service the 4 Toyota vehicles we have without any problems. Had and engine failure in our 150 and they supported us to no end with a loan vehicle and the repairs. So not all dealers are mongrels. The dealer is Naracoorte Toyota SA.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

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.

To replace the c/v boot you remove the drive shaft.
Shaft goes in the diff, so oil will leak out when removed.
So it does need to be topped up.
I just drop the oil it's only 1.5 lt ish.
But yes for Arb lockers no LSD oil.

I think you need some tech days

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Interesting about dealers getting smashed , had a Mitsi 4x4 come in today surging lacking power 64k on the clock , 15 service done by dealer all the rest done by a "reputable independent that has won awards and all" , still had original fuel filter ,air filter and also valve clearances never done (booked was stamped)
Just thought i would throw it out there that its not only dealers that dont do the right thing

Yes the problems are widespread.
I think if you find a good 1 person shop, you know that's what it is, it should be consistent.
If you find a good dealer, if the 20 techs are all good ok, but unlikely, because it seems there's a lot more bad work than good. I'm sure it's possible & you should give your operation a plug & it can be put to the test.
Do you have a FB page? I'd like to check the ratings & comments, happy to promote.
People need good workshops to go to.

I do know 1 dealer in Melbourne I have never had to fix any of their work

Certainly a hard one, it would be difficult if I was to take my school teachers advice & be one of the many things they recommended, we may have been in the predicament of most of the readers here.
I have owned dozens of vehicles over a dozen being new, so plenty of experience with warranty repairs & the mistakes & forgotten. It seemed 90% of the time.
Now we stick with vehicles out of warranty, self service, nothing expected.
Lucky I have that option.