Toyota dealer...

[bean]

My mom has always had her car dealer serviced, even though it's long paid off and even longer out of warranty. It's a 2003 Toyota Avalon.

3 years ago, we were going to take it on a road trip - it had about 70k miles. They sold her the 90k mile package, which included the timing belt, timing belt tensioner, accessory belt tensioner, water pump, spark plugs, valve cover gaskets, all belts, hoses, coolant flush, transmission flush, etc.... and of course, the day she gets it back the belts are squealing like crazy. Not to mention, the timing belt wasn't due for another 20k miles, and now it just has to be replaced at 160k miles instead of 180k (she fully intends to drive this car until the wheels fall off). She dropped about $4,000 on this "service", on a car that, at this point, isn't worth a whole lot more.

Cue some back and forth with the dealer and Toyota USA and my mom, they grudgingly fix the belt, and blame the squealing on a leaking valve cover gasket (wait, their invoice said they replaced them already...)

A few days ago, with about 95k on the car, she took it in for a check engine light. They charged her $225 for a new gas cap ($25 for the part, rest was labor) and gave her a $2500 list of things that needed to be done, and highlighted 2 that "MUST BE DONE PRIOR TO INSPECTION!!!!!!!!!!!" (their emphasis).

They said it would fail inspection because... get this, "Steering rack leaking badly" (I got under the car and couldn't find power steering fluid anywhere, and it's never had to be topped off - she's the original owner). And "Alignment badly needed" (she's never hit a curb, has it aligned every time she gets tires, and it drives like it's brand new). And once again, they said it "badly" needed a transmission flush (wait guys, didn't you do one a couple of years ago and the car has barely been driven since then?), spark plugs (see above) and valve cover gaskets (see above again)? I can't find a drip of oil anywhere under the hood or under the car. I also looked at the transmission fluid, they claimed it was "badly burnt and black", it was the typical barely pink almost clear fluid you see from a brand new bottle of ATF. The manual actually states the transmission fluid is supposedly "lifetime" (though we all know that's not true).

I don't get why I can't get it through her head that since she wants to drive it into the ground, she really doesn't need the dealer anymore, just a good honest shop. The frustrating part is, she WORKED for several car dealers at various points (grandpa owned several) and should be wise to their tricks by now.

The invoice she showed me from the last visit had plenty of scary words on it and darkly circled items with "MUST BE DONE PRIOR TO INSPECTION!!!!!!". Total scare tactics, the state safety inspection doesn't even look at leaks unless you're literally pouring fluids on the ground, they don't care about alignment as long as it doesn't pull harshly while slamming on the brakes, and they tried to sell her a new air filter a week after I put one in (I spent $8 on it, they wanted $60).

Sad part is... this is the dealer she bought the car from, brand new, 8 years ago - they sold "her" car out from under her, a fully loaded one with navigation, sunroof, spoiler, etc, and tried to tell her she really paid for a bottom of the line model with cloth, no sunroof, etc. They finally trucked one in from 2 states over to appease her and it still didn't have some of the options of the car she "paid" for (no navigation, no spoiler, no alloys, etc).

Fuck dealers, especially for taking advantage of seniors.

[Hanzoku]

Wow, nasty dealer there. She should have refused the second car as well though and insisted that they get the correct model, with the correct features, and a discount for them wasting her time and making her wait.

Our Toyota dealer has been fairly honest so far. They're one of the more expensive dealers, but they (seem) to have always been fair.

[bainsidhe]

I have a coworker that swears by her dealer. She's purchased more than one vehicle from them and referred other business their way. She religiously gets her oil changed and any repair work (usually minor) done there. Just like regular mechanics, there are good and bad. If you find a good one, never let go!

[draftermatt]

I made a vow not to return to the local Ford dealer when they told me my wife's rear axle was making too much noise, and was going to fall apart soon.

See, my Dad's a mechanic, the only reason it was at the dealer was for a dummy light.

He took the rear apart, found no damage. Did some research and found that 2004 Explorer's are known for this.

That truck took us to Florida and back (From Maryland) hauling 4 people and stuffed with luggage, no rear blow out. Odd huh?

[chainedbarista]

i've heard mixed reviews on dealers; is there anyone you know that can recommend a dealer for your mom that they trust?

we've had issues like this, but not with the dealers...

[ditchdj]

Your thread title explains itself, in and of itself.

[bean]

i've heard mixed reviews on dealers; is there anyone you know that can recommend a dealer for your mom that they trust?

Well, the aggravating part is, both my mechanic and her brother have recommended multiple independent shops. My mechanic only works on Honda/Acura, otherwise he'd be doing work on it.

The good news is, it passed inspection today... with the $200 gas cap, of course. She showed the invoice to the inspector after he passed it and he said they don't check for any of the stuff that the dealer wanted to repair.

This is what they check for:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/insp...classsubmit=Go

And since it's less than 24 years old and we're in a large metro area, it also gets smogged - http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/Misc/faq/faq_obdii.htm

[Tithera]

They did this to my grandma on several occasions. She's actually traded in two cars so far, the same exactlly make and model for the same exacct make and model with minor differences (no sunroof/sunroof, spoiler/no spoiler, etc). Now, I don't know that much about cars, but all of my ex boyfriends and my current boyfriend, not to mention my brother-in-law who lives with her know ALOT about cars. It's their life. And she never listens to them. One time, I borrowed her car and it was making weird noises and wasn't shifting right, so I called up my b-i-l and we both checked it out. She just had it in for service and there was like no transmission fluid, very little oil and the timing belt was off by a lot. I told her this and she said they probably just missed it because they weren't that important. Uh, actually, they're the most important part of running a car aside from putting gas in it!
Mom has been having some problems with her Kia dealership. She traded in her 3 year old Seabring for a Kia Rondo (crossover) and nothing has been easy. They gave her an older model than what she wanted and was actually more than what her old car was. The interior had burn marks in the seats and dirt and all that. There were scratches and dents she didn't notice when she bought it because the sales person conviently stood in front of them the whole time. She tried to get it detailed, made appointments and what not. She calls ahead of time because the dealership is a good 2-2 and half hours away. Everytime, they say that she didn't make a appointment and they were going to charge her way more than estimated to her over the phone. She is not happy. I hate dealerships. Every car that I have bought have been off of craig's list. Sure I went through 3 cars in the past year, but that's because I couldn't afford the parts to fix it or the guy told us it was find, then we buy it and take it home and it turns out its a POS, but I only spent like $800 at most on them and I know like literally half of the automotive school because of my bfs, so I'm covered on mechanics.

[sld72382]

Dealerships are known as "stealerships" for this reason. Best to bring it to a reputable independent mechanic.

About 2 months ago, we figured the cabin air filter needed to be replaced. Hyundai wanted to charge us $60 plus install.

We went down to advance auto, picked one up for $18 and my dad installed it for free. And it was then that we discovered there was not even one already installed.

[bean]

Dealerships are known as "stealerships" for this reason. Best to bring it to a reputable independent mechanic.

About 2 months ago, we figured the cabin air filter needed to be replaced. Hyundai wanted to charge us $60 plus install.

We went down to advance auto, picked one up for $18 and my dad installed it for free. And it was then that we discovered there was not even one already installed.

Hah.. my mechanic wants $120 for it - mostly labor. It's not DIFFICULT, but it's very time consuming. Here's a link showing how it's done: http://www.pureoil.com/smartlink/?partnum=C15390 (click installation at the bottom).

It's definitely showing need of replacement though - even with the a/c on high and recirculate, it doesn't move anywhere near as much air as it used to.

[Squeaksmyalias]

My best friend got me a Diagnostic scanner, I found it's awesome for when I go to the mechanic. Also helps when I'm explaining to my grandfather that he doesn't need all this stuff done when the check engine light goes on.

[protege]

Bean, that garage sounds exactly like the one that 'worked on' my MG. Quite a few things they did...either weren't done, or weren't done correctly. Of course, I found out all of this once I'd paid for the work...and driven the car home. For example, the car was missing its horns, the windshield wiper jets didn't work, and neither did the hazard lights. All 3 of those things would have caused the car to fail the Pennsylvania safety inspection. Yet, it had a current sticker on it

By the time I read up on it, I had that garage by the balls. That is, I drafted up a strong, but firm letter, CC'd one of my father's attorney friends, and then had my father deliver it. Let's just say that when the garage owner read the letter...the color literally went out of his face I got him to fix some of the screwed-up wiring, fit the carpets and seats (a bitch of a job on an MGB), and repay me for some of the parts that they'd double-charged me for. I didn't get back all of my money, but at least I was able to cut my losses, and be free of them. The car was fixed, technically 'street legal' and I can work on it at my leisure.

I really didn't want to go that route. But, by that time, I'd had enough of the bullshit--too many excuses, unanswered phone calls, the owner disappearing when I'd show up, etc.

[ravevolution]

I get customers like that, that swear by the dealer, and I often feel they are being taken for their money. Next time (this is for anyone) takes their vehicle for something simple like a oil change to the dealer. . .check out the invoice and it will list a bunch of stuff they supposedly 'inspected'.

I had a assistant manager at the store I sued to work for before transferring and she worked for the FORD dealership and she told me half the time they don't even do the inspections but charge you for it.

I had a similar thing happen when I took my 2009 VW for an oil change they tried to charge me like 150 bucks for the 15k service when all it was am oil change and tire rotation. I told the service writer how I worked at a autocenter and could have all the stuff they were supposedly 'inspecting' done for free, even the tire rotation cause it's a perk for me working there. So the guy charged me like 90 bucks for the oil change and rotation, cause it takes only a certain weight synth. oil and a cartridge filter.

I now take my car to a independent shop that specifically works on german cars and they do agreat job and alot less price than the dealer. Best advice I can give anyone is to shop around for a quality mechanic and take your cars there

[Sapphire Silk]

Dealers are getting desperate for income now that sales are way down. They are making up lost revenue by taking advantage of customers who clearly are short one card in the deck, or who simply have no clue about cars.

We have two Honda dealers in my area. Took my car recently to the one I don't use for service, because I had to get it inspected to renew my tags, and it was closer to the tag office. I also decided to get an oil change (I was due).

They come in wanting to do all this extra work . . . much of which I'd had done a few months before at the other Honda dealership. Needless to say, I passed.

If you have an elderly relative, and have concerns about their judgement (signs of dementia, etc), do try and do your best to get them to let YOU take the car to the dealer or service station. These guys are shameless in taking advantage.

[EvilEmpryss]

I've learned that when the check engine light goes on I can go to the local auto parts chains and they'll get their reader out and tell me what's wrong. They don't charge me, they give me straight-forward advice on what needs to be fixed, and they have both the parts and the tools I need to fix the problem.

Replaced the upstream O2 sensor on my Civic last month. The dealership wouldn't tell me if it was the upstream, downstream, or both sensors that was bad and they wanted over $400 to do the repair. I fixed it myself for a $65 dollar part and the rental deposit was fully refunded once I turned the tools back in.