Powertrain warranty expiring - recommendations?

[jtmann]

Hello. I have a 2007 Camry - the powertrain warranty is up next month.

I maintain it well (have had it for about two years) and, fingers crossed, have not had any problems with it so far.

I last had it inspected/regular maintenace service (per Toyota manual) about six months ago (at a reputable shop, not the dealer - don't get me started on dealers....mine in particular, who seems to be little more than a cash grabber....).

Given the powertrain warranty is about to expire is there any merit at all in bringing it to the dealer for one "last inspection" before the warranty is up. Not even sure what they would inspect or whether they'd just do a regular maintenance/oil and filter.

Thoughts and suggestions welcome...
Thanks!

[Donald E. George]

Forget the extended warranty. Nothing but an overpriced insurance plan.

[t_man]

I learned it the hard way.
Got it for my Corolla.
Got a check engine light and went to the dealer.
(I was feeling happy about getting the extra coverage at this point.)
They checked and said it's something to do with the Charcoal canister and it's not covered by the extra warranty and I it's not a critical component so I could repair it at my leisure ( they quoted around $400 for that).
But here's the surprise:
I had to pay $100 for them to read the check engine light since that part was not covered by the warranty.
I think that was the last time I went there.

[Scott O'Kashan]

Extended warranties usually only cover the drivetrain, i.e. if the engine or transmission fails, which is an unusual occurrence for a quality vehicle anyway. Normal wear and tear items are not covered, i.,e. brakes, tune up items, belts, hoses, wiper blades, etc., etc., even though they use the terminology of, "bumper to bumper coverage", misleading you into believing everything is covered, when in fact, it's not.

In my professional opinion based on 25+ years in the automotive industry, I think extended warranties are an extremely poor investment. Save your money.

[Scott O'Kashan]

Originally Posted by t_man

I learned it the hard way.
Got it for my Corolla.
Got a check engine light and went to the dealer.
(I was feeling happy about getting the extra coverage at this point.)
They checked and said it's something to do with the Charcoal canister and it's not covered by the extra warranty and I it's not a critical component so I could repair it at my leisure ( they quoted around $400 for that).
But here's the surprise:
I had to pay $100 for them to read the check engine light since that part was not covered by the warranty.
I think that was the last time I went there.

If they charged you anything without your knowledge, that's no different than pick pocketiing your wallet and taking money without your knowledge. In any state I have ever seen, it is illegal for an auto center to charge a motorist for repairs the motorist didn't authorize. It's stealing. Call your local Attorney General's office and/or the Office of Consumer Affairs, (phone book), and get the process going to get your money back!