Dealer trying to screw me on maintenance?

[merlyn412]

We have a 2009 highlander limited. Currently has 33,000 km's (21,000 miles). I get the highlander serviced at our local dealership every 8,000 km's (5,000 miles). These trips usually cost me under $100. They call it a standard oil and filter service.

So I get a call telling me that the highlander is due for it's 32,000 km service. Dropped the car off the AM and just got a call from the service guy. He says that the car is due for the major maintenance service. Listed off a million different things, including brake service & inspection, battery service. I asked how much and he said $309. He also said that every 2 years I needed to have my A/C serviced, filters replaced, inspected, and it was going to cost me $93 for that.

I told the guy that we couldn't afford that, and to just stick with the oil & filter service.

Are they trying to shaft me on this?

[vsansal]

Ask them to perform whatever is listed in the service book. The same thing happened to me with my 05 Solara. on 30K mile service, they tried to perform their own recommended version which was about $350. I asked them to stick to service book, and the final cost was about $150. They tried convincing me I needed it but, if you drive your car carefully and get it serviced regularly then you dont need that extra stuff they try to push on you.

It is the first time I am hearing about servicing the A/C. All you need is cabin air filter change.

[arabianobsession]

You will be fine with oil/filter change, tire rotation, and possibly filters. Make sure you get a chance to look at the filters before you okay replacing them. The brake inspection should be done with the tire rotation, and it's not an extra cost. All they do is take the wheels off and measure the thickness of the brake pads, although at 33,000 kilometers you shouldn't need to worry about that yet.

Just my .02

[becks]

+1^

[nmehes]

Originally Posted by merlyn412

So I get a call telling me that the highlander is due for it's 32,000 km service. Dropped the car off the AM and just got a call from the service guy. He says that the car is due for the major maintenance service. Listed off a million different things, including brake service & inspection, battery service. I asked how much and he said $309. He also said that every 2 years I needed to have my A/C serviced, filters replaced, inspected, and it was going to cost me $93 for that.



Are they trying to shaft me on this?

DId you read your owner's manual? Did your salesperson go over the recommended service with you? I've never heard of the A/C service but the brake service is not just inspecting the brake thickness. ALL of this is listed on your service schedule in your owner's service manual.

[arabianobsession]

The biggest part of the brake service is inspecting the pads.

Either way, it is not an extra cost, is part of the multi-point inspection in an oil change/tire rotation.

[nmehes]

Hopefully this helps.........

http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObje...110000e%2ehtml