first service appointment - any advise?

[Barracuda]

Good day guys,

I am having my first service appointment with Toyota this Saturday and I was wondering are there are anything I should avoid.
Like for example, my issues are: (1) cigarette lighter isn’t working, (2) plastic cover of the back tire is sticking out (looks like just need to be popped in place), (3) passenger seat is rattles when driving more then 35 miles/hour.

After talking to the service representative, I was told that they couldn’t check rattling on Saturday since they most of the times do regular maintenance that day and I have to come during the week for that. I am not taking time off work and driving 45 minutes to the crevice center during the week for that. Saturday is the only one time I can go there. So, I have opted not to check rattles for now (after reading a forum I am a little concern on leaving car there for the couple of days) and just check issues (1) and (2).

Since it is my first car that has a warrantee, what do I need to pay attention to? Do I have to insist on having paperwork that these issues were check? Or shell I not even bother with the paperwork since looks like issues are minor?

I would appreciate any advises.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by Barracuda

Good day guys,

I am having my first service appointment with Toyota this Saturday and I was wondering are there are anything I should avoid.
Like for example, my issues are: (1) cigarette lighter isn’t working, (2) plastic cover of the back tire is sticking out (looks like just need to be popped in place), (3) passenger seat is rattles when driving more then 35 miles/hour.

After talking to the service representative, I was told that they couldn’t check rattling on Saturday since they most of the times do regular maintenance that day and I have to come during the week for that. I am not taking time off work and driving 45 minutes to the crevice center during the week for that. Saturday is the only one time I can go there. So, I have opted not to check rattles for now (after reading a forum I am a little concern on leaving car there for the couple of days) and just check issues (1) and (2).

Since it is my first car that has a warrantee, what do I need to pay attention to? Do I have to insist on having paperwork that these issues were check? Or shell I not even bother with the paperwork since looks like issues are minor?

I would appreciate any advises.

Snap the hubcap on yourself. Replace the fuse for the cigarette lighter as you probably blew it when whatever you plugged in the port drew too much amperage. Then schedule your car for a weekday when they have a full crew on.

There's no sense in bringing your car in on a day where those types of repairs aren't performed.

Would you expect a plumber to just document a plumbing problem or briefly check it out on Saturday if he didn't work on that day? Probably not.

Remember it's YOUR car. They provide 5 days access to you. Don't you have any friends, relatives, neighbors, or coworkers that like you enough to give you a ride? Then you could leave your car on a weekday. You could also rent a car for a day.

[ASG14]

Honestly, just bring it on a weekday. It;s the same thing with my dealer here. they only perform basic services on saturday, such as oil changes. Also, if yuor car is there, and they have a Toyota Rent a Car, you may be able to get a discount on a rental for a day. But it sounds like this is all things you can fix yourself, except for possibly the seat.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

Most dealers i know of have courtesy cars..where either you can use the car for the day if really needed..or they drive you to work when you drop your car off..and come pick you up when you're shift is done and take you right back to the dealer for your car.. they do that here, i've done both, borrowed a car and have gotten them to drive me and pick me up!

[Barracuda]

TRD VVTi thank you for your recommendation. I happened to be a female and not that good at snapping the hubcap or changing the fuse myself . Sorry. Plus since car is on warrantee, I would not take any chance that they can tell me that someone else have been doing work and warrantee is voided.

I do not have to have a ride back during the week since my dealership would provide the loaner for free if car stays overnight (I am sure that they will do anything possible not to do that). The problem is that after reading horror stories in the forum I do not want to leave my car overnight at the shop unless I absolutely have to. And doing it during the week is very inconvenient for me. With the difficult situation at work taking a ½ day off to go to the dealership would be not a smart idea. As for someone else’s driving a car to the dealership, well, how shell I say it polite - my husband would not do that , nor would he fix anything in the car . I guess it’s pretty much myself - or …myself.

As for working 5 days a week – well, according to their schedule they work 6 days a week and yes, I think that if they are open they should provide all kind of service and not just an oil change. For me, as a working person it is outrageous that dealership works only 5 days a week and 6th day is more like someone just present at the shop. We have bought a car on Saturday- they were open and fully equipped to do so. So why not to check the car on Saturdays? I understand that if there are any serious problems car would have to stay there, I am not expecting complicated work being done in 5 seconds. For the amount of money they charge per hour they should be open 24/7. None of their work is free and well paid by us – drivers. But that is just my opinion.

As for coming back to the subject, if it is a minor work, does it means that I will still have to sing the papers that they did a work on a car and would it be in the car’s record?

[TRD VVTi]

^ Wow. You really suck. Maybe you should have to do your job six days a week. That's just stupid. I am in such disbelief about how rude, selfish, and stupid your posts are that I had to come back and address some of your concerns specifically. You must think you're the Queen of the world or something. Here's my additional comments:

We have bought a car on Saturday- they were open and fully equipped to do so. So why not to check the car on Saturdays?

Did you ask about the service hours when you purchased the car? It seems to me that you're the one with the problem. You only work 5 days a week and you're complaining about people who work 6 days a week? That's why I said you really suck. This world doesn't owe you anything and you're not in the center of it. Grow up. Have you ever wondered when the people at the dealer ever have time to do THEIR errands? Maybe you should offer to go into work on Saturdays to help people that have to work all week.

As for someone else’s driving a car to the dealership, well, how shell I say it polite - my husband would not do that , nor would he fix anything in the car . I guess it’s pretty much myself - or …myself.

You and your husband's problems shouldn't be considered a factor when relating to car problems. That's you own personal problems.

I happened to be a female and not that good at snapping the hubcap or changing the fuse myself

As I stated earlier, you probably plugged in something that drew too much amperage and blew the fuse. That's what the fuse is there for. If you can read the owner's manual, you can replace the fuse. If you or your husband can't tap the hubcap back on with your first you should get in contact with Social Security. You're both disabled. If it was that way when you purchased it I'm sure your salesman would have snapped on for you. I probably wasn't though, and is probably loose from you hitting a curb or pot hole. Again, this is YOUR problem.

For the amount of money they charge per hour they should be open 24/7. None of their work is free and well paid by us – drivers. But that is just my opinion.

That's just a stupid and selfish statement, much like your entire post.

As for coming back to the subject, if it is a minor work, does it means that I will still have to sing the papers that they did a work on a car and would it be in the car’s record?

Yes. If you bring it in to be written up and repaired on a day that they do those repairs.

[Barracuda]

And what got you so fired up? I know for the fact that those people rotate and do not work all 6 days a week. According to you, customer cervices should work only 8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. and not till 9:00 p.m. (in some companies even later)? What about grocery stores? No one said that the same person have to work 6 days a week. I use to work like that and know how difficult it is.
And to have shop open when it is comfortable for the consumers is not stupid. It is smart managing. If you want to earn money you have to work for it.

I have a local oil change place. They open 12 hours/day 6 days a week. They have lots of customers and many of them returning again and again. Not far away from them there is another oil change place. They open only 10:00 a.m. till 5:30 pm. 5 days/week. Guess what? They are going out of business now.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by Barracuda

And what got you so fired up? I know for the fact that those people rotate and do not work all 6 days a week. According to you, customer cervices should work only 8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. and not till 9:00 p.m. (in some companies even later)? What about grocery stores? No one said that the same person have to work 6 days a week. I use to work like that and know how difficult it is.
And to have shop open when it is comfortable for the consumers is not stupid. It is smart managing. If you want to earn money you have to work for it.

I have a local oil change place. They open 12 hours/day 6 days a week. They have lots of customers and many of them returning again and again. Not far away from them there is another oil change place. They open only 10:00 a.m. till 5:30 pm. 5 days/week. Guess what? They are going out of business now.

I'm not fired up.

I didn't talk about any other customer service businesses. I didn't ask about debating anything. I responded to specifics.

You want them to change their policy and hours to meet your needs

What you know for a fact is that you stated something that you really don't know. I can promise you that the average hours worked by all the full time personal in the service department is between 50 and 60 hours per week. That is a FACT. It's not a fact because I said so, but because it is.

It may seem like I'm fired up because I pointed out how unrealistic your demands are. You don't think that you should be responsible for anything. Dealing with you must be a real hassle.

[robob2]

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

I'm not fired up.

I didn't talk about any other customer service businesses. I didn't ask about debating anything. I responded to specifics.

You want them to change their policy and hours to meet your needs

What you know for a fact is that you stated something that you really don't know. I can promise you that the average hours worked by all the full time personal in the service department is between 50 and 60 hours per week. That is a FACT. It's not a fact because I said so, but because it is.

It may seem like I'm fired up because I pointed out how unrealistic your demands are. You don't think that you should be responsible for anything. Dealing with you must be a real hassle.

Maybe it was the phrase "you suck" and the name calling (rude, selfish, stupid...) that gave her that impression.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by robob2

Maybe it was the phrase "you suck" and the name calling (rude, selfish, stupid...) that gave her that impression.

I was describing her behavior. Her behavior is stupid, not to mention, rude and selfish.

I never said that she was stupid or such.

I'm being a little too blunt, but demands by such people are outrageous.

[rawknmxpx]

If you have a hammer and a rag (or better yet a rubber mallet) you can pop the hubcap back on... just cover the head of the hammer with the rag and give it a moderate tap. Or just read TRDVVTi's posts, get pissed and punch it with your fist or kick it or even headbutt it if you're feeling frisky. You'll feel better and fix your car (Cost: $0 and some aggression turned productive.)

Worse case scenerio, the dealership will charge you for the fuse itself but not the "labor" as it will probably be considered normal wear and tear. It's so minor it seems like it's not worth the 45 minute drive tho... I bet you could sweet talk some guy at autozone or somewhere to do it for you... These are both basic maintenence and will not void your warranty. (Cost: $1 and maybe finding a new friend...)

As for the seat rattles... make sure there is nothing under the seat, rack the seat all the way forward and back a couple times, fully reclined and upright... make sure someone is watching you when you do this so they can have a good laugh. When it still rattles make an appointment with the dealership when your work situation allows you to leave an hour or two early. I "fix" the majority of my rattles by turning up the radio until i have time to actually drive my car into the shop. (Cost: Free either way... but a good laugh and good tunes are included prior to the actual toyota visit.)

Isn't avoiding the dealership fun?

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

^^^ nice way to put it, if you follow his advice with the seat, make sure someone takes pics of this and post them