Toyota Service Experience

[BillGeek]

I drive a 1996 Camry 200i, and had to take it for it's 200 000km service (Major service) yesterday. I took the car in at 06h30, and got a call from them around 14h00 per usual. They told me that the following parts need replacement:

1.) Front Engine Mounting - R 1600
2.) Clutch Kit - R3300
3.) Tyroid Ends - R4900 (with Steering Rack Ends)
4.) Steering Rack Ends
5.) Water Pump - R1980

All the spares would round up to around R11 780!!! (Converted, that's around $ 1700) This excludes the normal service costs, which are R3600 ($ 500). Basically, for my 200 000km service, I would've paid around R15 380 ($2200) I'm not furious about these prices and problems, and I would gladly have paid it... IF THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG!

I got the car back at 18h15, got home and ducked under the car. This is what I found:

1.) Engine Mounting
While applying brakes, kicking the car in gear, and applying a LITTLE gas, I can see the engine rock a bit forward (around 12mm) which is normal, in my opinion. The engine does not "fall around" the hood, nor does it cause a vibration while driving. My opinion? NOTHING WRONG! Shifts are smooth, virtually zero engine noise, NO vibration inside the car while driving...

2.) Clutch Kit
Alright, the clutch does shudder in the morning when the car has been sleeping outside. I suppose normal wear is expected on this, but it's hardly worth replacing now if there's absolutely nothing wrong with the clutch once the car has "heated up".

3.) Tyroid Ends / Steering Rack Ends
There is NO play in the steering wheel whatsoever. I turn, and the car goes. None of "keeping-the-car-in-line" crap.

5.) Water Pump
The temperature in the car rises when it's cold, and stops around half way. Once there, the temperature stays constant. I mean CONSTANT. Even while driving up a long uphill (around 10km) the temperature stays there. How in the hell are they supposed to know that the water pump is stuffed anyway?

This happened before as well, where Toyota thought they could take me for a ride. (See my previous posts) I think their "aim" is to target young, inexperienced people, and milk them dry! I feel that they are ripping me off, as I'm young. (20 years old) I think from now on, I will be servicing my car at a different service station (NOT Toyota) and see EXACTLY what's REALLY wrong with the car.

Has anyone else EVER experienced the same kind of service from Toyota? I must admit: The Camry is truly an amazing vehicle, and I love it to bits, but at the current rate of their horrible service and bad advice, I doubt I will drive it for much longer.

[Corollacrazy42]

Well it kinda goes without saying... If it's not bad why replace it. Toyota basically "recommends" these sorts of parts be replaced regarless of their condition in most cases.

Toyotas whole recommended service line is basically just a guideline. Its seems like more of a preventative treatment more then just fixing something. I see your point on not wanting to spend the money if the car is not really in bad shape as it is. Although there is the possiblity they are just trying to screw you. Like I said though, most of it is just to keep the car in tip top condition.

Personally I'd say you'd be fine not really doing anything if you feel your car is running fine. The water pump probably doesnt need replaced until.. like you said.. raises the cars running temp dramatically. Clutch is always just something that could possibly go bad. Steering.. well if it seems normal I wouldnt bother. And engine mounts.. I'm not to fimiliar with but I couldnt see that doing much harm...

If you know someone well enough to trust at a different shop, take their honest opinion too. It can't hurt to get it looked at by more then one place to see if the same issues arise.

[BillGeek]

I understand that they wish to keep the car in "Perfect" condition by preventing certain components to fail which causes damage to other components, and I have read up on the Water Pump issue, (Apparently, in order to replace the waterpump, the Timing Belt needs to be removed) so I guess that they are just giving me a guideline, as you said.

On the other hand, though... The car has a perfect service history, it runs amazingly fine, and I'm really happy with it. I do know an old friend that owns a service station, and will ask him to have a look for me.

Even with the guideline, they shouldn't make assumptions or guess what's wrong with a car. As mentioned in the link above, when I took the car in the last time, one of the pins were bent over which caused a vibration, and according to Toyota, it was caused by the Engine Mountings.

This leads me, yet again, to a different question: What are reasonable quality levels that I can expect from Toyota? I mean, honestly... I take the car for a service (completely perfect) get it back and notice a vibration. Upon taking it back, without even looking under the hood, the mechanic tells me: "Nah, we need to replace your engine mountings as soon as possible. Both that, and the linkage between the exhaust and the manifold".

I'm sure that if they receive any training, guessing and assuming is not part of it...

[skewe]

i would change the timing belt and water pump

timing belt. because if it snaps, you are looking at towing, etc.
since you are doing the timing belt, the water pump is next to it.. 2 birds, one stone.

[Spartan0536]

It would seem like no matter where in the world you are, the STEALERSHIPS are all the same.

[renmike]

I see dealerships like this: They should have ASE Certified mechanics (I don't know what they call that type of certification outside of the US) at the dealership, but then again, a good private shop will too. The dealership and the private shop should both honor their work, with the only difference being that the dealership will use oem parts while the private shop probably uses aftermarket (possible quality difference). Now, working myself in the past for a dealership (heavy equip, but this translates to other fields), they do whatever they can to make money on their jobs, they have outragous labor rates. A big difference between a dealership and a private garage is the warranty work performed. Most warranty jobs don't make the dealership any money, or if they do not much. The manufactuer gives crazy low completion times and unless its a campaign it's not always easy to get the approval to do the warranty (to get paid for the work, that is). I recall many warranty jobs I worked on that were wrote off at the end of the year because we did them to keep the customer happy but knew that we weren't going to be reimbursed for the work.


As for a mechanic recommending what should be replaced, any mechanic can say what they think is wrong, there are few things that can be diagnosed like that. I couldn't justify paying them unless they actually took the time to look under the hood and troubleshot the problem, though. That's just my opinion, though.

[xet]

thats why its called th stealership -_- but ya dealers charge huge amounts for little work many times only preventative fixes as well. I personally take my car to a toyota and nissan specialist mehanic and they do great work for a fraction of the price

[toyo_tech02]

preventive maintenance is just that preventive........... if you dont do it, thats up to you. but dont be crying when things fail.

[mikeyq926]

dealerships can go to hell. they always overprice repairs and simple maintenance stuff. i say if it ain't broke don't fix it.