Let's see... I don't work at a stealership, I'm not ASE certified in anything, heck, I don't even have an FSM... Just a Chiltons. Does that mean I couldn't have chaged out my own timing belt? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Stick it to 'em. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" />

ok not to hijack but I am ASE certified, I used to work at a dealership, and I have a ton of experience fixing cars. That said I am no longer permitted to do business with 2 Toyota dealerships in Washington state because I caught them replacing parts that weren't bad. They basically asked me never to come back.

In one case my parents taco got new tie rod ends and an alignment for a shimmy that turned out to be a wheel out of balance. I knew it wasn't the tie rods because I just replaced them less than 3 months ago!! I took it back after the repair and showed their mechanic how to use a wheel balancer! That one was kinda fun. They paid for the tie rod ends and the alignment on that one.

The second one was on my 4runner. My wife took it in while I was out of town because of a miss and check engine light. They told her it needed 3 new coil packs!!! Even my wife who knows nothing about cars knew that one was BS. That one ended up being a loose spark plug wire!

Stand your ground man...fight em!

Folks should boycott dealership shops. The labor rate is ludicrous! ($100/hr) A considerable amount is money for the sales staff salary (you know they can't make much with reliable car sales).

Team Toyota might just be into the "replace non-defective parts " as I had a bad rear drum leaking, and they replaced BOTH sides. And nailed me for rotor work too. They claimed it as 10 hours work (hmm, took it in at 9am and picked it up at 4pm..that's 7 hours...how you get 10 from that?) but "by the book"...can I see this book? Who wrote this book? Some group of stealership managers likely.

The whole auto-repair-sales business is a scam. they've already made it difficult to be a Mom 7 Pop shop (lobbied insurance group and environment departments to squeeze-out shops that can't afford the premiums...).

Glad its not as serious as they claimed. File with the BBB.

hmmm I love the idea of telling jroc standing in front of his running truck that he could not have fixed it...

uhm. isnt the truck running?

then, he fixed it...

I still have to back to my stealership cause the front rotors just warped again... one more free brake job from toyota.

Jeff

They're warped already?!?!? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Yep, and the pisser is I am only 1K into the new 12 month 12 mile warranty...

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Get new ones... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

They paid me back in full for their "mistake" so now let the bad publicity begin.

Master tech was gritting his teeth when I told him "Either I'm hallucinating or that motor 2 feet from your face is running" He still claims several "others" saw him pull on the cam shaft bolt and it would not move. Once again I told him "give me every excuse you want but is or isn't that motor running and running smooth" That dude was fuming and I was hoping he would have thrown a punch then I really would be having a Merry Toyota Christmas. He finally gave up and left. The parts dude after a long long pause upon hearing my solution tried to throw out one more "maybe it could have blah blah blah". I stopped him mid sentence with "enough of the excuses you can't argue with a running motor, a receipt that states "locked heads", and a quote for a new motor" He left and then there was 2 me and the service manager and all he said was "lemme go get you a refund".

Idiots! On top of that he asked to "not hammer him when I speak to my friends" and "at least every once and awhile come in for an oil change"..............FU! "Gimme my money, the Internet awaits!"

Mom 7 Pop? new soft drink Ed? j/k.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Release the hounds! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

Oil Change? Did they really think you were going to let them touch your truck again??? What next. Err Uhh, we changed the oil, but your tires are now flat, so we need to replace your seats?

I'm sorry, I can't stop laughing right now, how many excuses could they come up with that were even close? Did the guy turn the wrong bolt? Did he REALLY have a bunch of guys standing around watching, this kind of thing must happen all the time.

I can see it. Customer brings in car with a problem. Master Tech calls the whole shop over and says: "Ok guys I have NO IDEA what I am doing but you all watch me wiggle this and tap that, that way, when the customer says there was really nothing wrong, Mr. Master Tech is covered."

Good going!!!