What should I do? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

TomJ · 01-22-2011, 11:39 AM

My fellow Rolla owners, please tell me what you think I should do about this.

I took my 2010 Corolla S to the dealership where I bought it today for my third free oil change and tire rotation. I just bought the car back in June, but I have already reached 14,700 miles on the clock.

Only one tire on the car has some kind of residual orange paint or orange chalk from either the tire manufacturer or from the assembly plant. That tire was on the right front before the service was performed, and it was STILL on the right front when they brought my car around from the shop.

I asked the technician if he had rotated my tires, and he assured me that he had. I pointed out the orange spot on the right front tire and told him that it was on the right front when I brought the car in this morning for service. He told me that all of the tires probably had those orange spots on them. I knew better, but I let it ride.

When I got home I double checked, and there was NO orange spot on the right rear, which is where that tire should have been after rotation. You don't know how badly I wanted to find an orange spot on that right rear. I HATE to think of someone as being a liar, and I try my best to give people the benefit of the doubt. I even checked the left side tires, and there was NO orange spot on either of them. The ONLY tire with an orange spot is on the right front, just where it was before the car was serviced this morning.

If the tech lied about the tire rotation, how do I know that he changed my oil filter? I checked the oil when I got home, and it was nice and clean as it should be after having just been changed, so I know that it was actually changed, but what about the filter? Where IS the filter on a Rolla, anyway? I took the engine cover off and looked around but could not find where the oil filter is mounted. I know it is a cartridge type filter, not a spin-on, but where in the world is the filter housing?

I always used to hang around the shop bays where my vehicles were being worked on and personally watch what was being done. They have gotten so strict everywhere now about not allowing customers in the shop that I have to trust that the work is really being done. It's hard to trust when I KNOW that I was lied to about the tire rotation.

I have always had an excellent relationship with this dealer, especially with the service department. The Service Manager has done me some really nice favors over the years and saved me a lot of money.

What should I do?

Tom

shotgunjimmy · 01-22-2011, 11:54 AM

The oil filter on our cars is located on the bottom passenger side of the engine, right next to the oil drain plug. As far as trusting this dealership, I would contact the service manager, and explain the situation to him. Since you say you've got a good relationship with the service dept. there, he should have no problem resolving the issue for you. Honest mistakes happen. Let's hope this is one of them. Maybe the tech who drove the car around to you wasnt the one who actually did the work.

Best of luck!

Dimaoala · 01-22-2011, 11:55 AM

The oil filter is located under the vehicle. As for the tire rotation, since you have a good relationship with the service manger, I'd say you talk to him about it.

TomJ · 01-22-2011, 12:01 PM

I should have mentioned that I strongly suspected that my tires did not get rotated at the 5000 mile oil change, but in that case I was not 100% sure. I had noticed that orange spot when I was washing the car one time, and after that first service, I was almost certain that the tire with the orange spot was in the same position after the service as it was before the service. Since I was not 100% certain, I let it go, but I made sure to note the position of the orange spot tire before and after my 10,000 miles service. That tire WAS moved at the 10K service, but not this time.

Tom

TomJ · 01-22-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotgunjimmy

The oil filter on our cars is located on the bottom passenger side of the engine, right next to the oil drain plug. As far as trusting this dealership, I would contact the service manager, and explain the situation to him. Since you say you've got a good relationship with the service dept. there, he should have no problem resolving the issue for you. Honest mistakes happen. Let's hope this is one of them. Maybe the tech who drove the car around to you wasnt the one who actually did the work.

Best of luck!

Well, the guy told me that he had personally rotated the tires. He didn't bat an eye.

It might be grasping at straws, but there was a trainee helping the regular technician, so maybe they BOTH rotated the tires. I would love to think that is what happened rather than to believe that I was lied to.

Thanks for your reply.

Tom

ilikebass7 · 01-22-2011, 12:26 PM

i agree with everyone else. Talk to the service manager and explain your situation. Mistakes do happen and hopefully thats all this was.

I just prefer to do my own work

blk09rollale · 01-22-2011, 05:33 PM

ask for a credit for the tire rotation. I always mark two of my rims before I take it in to make sure they do the rotation. You are right they are wrong. Stand your ground. Change dealerships if you have to.

Also, check your cabin filter before each service visit. That is a racket with them I think. They got me for $60+ at my 15K service when the underwriter came out with a filthy looking cabin filter and said it was mine. Hard for me to believe considering my interior is spotless and the cabin filter I have now has lasted 30K miles and looks barely used.

joeylgarcia · 01-24-2011, 03:46 PM

my wife always brings in the car to the dealership. when we know that there will be some replacement done on a few items, i put a distinguishing mark on the item to be replaced because i double check on it at home. she makes sure the service department is aware of the marks i placed on such parts. she is vocal about it at the time of maintenance service. so they dont fool around our car.

example was the 1st and 2nd tire rotation they did. i numbered the tires from the inside and illustrated it on a paper for our own copy. that time my wife did let the guy at the service counter know about the numbering.

***FlawedLegacy*** · 01-24-2011, 05:14 PM

wow, this is sad. hope it isn't a trend. Please keep us posted!!!

***got-rice*** · 01-24-2011, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotgunjimmy

The oil filter on our cars is located on the bottom passenger side of the engine, right next to the oil drain plug. As far as trusting this dealership, I would contact the service manager, and explain the situation to him. Since you say you've got a good relationship with the service dept. there, he should have no problem resolving the issue for you. Honest mistakes happen. Let's hope this is one of them. Maybe the tech who drove the car around to you wasnt the one who actually did the work.

Best of luck!

I like those RPFs on your S...great choice on wheels!

I want a set too but no dough.

TomJ · 01-24-2011, 06:10 PM

I called the Service Manager today, and he apologized for my tires not being rotated. He said I could bring the car over and they would be glad to rotate them for me. I told him that I didn't think I would bother with it, and he even offered to send someone over to my workplace to pick up the car and take it over to the dealership for the rotation. That's what I would expect out of this guy; he has always treated me right.

I told him that I was not out to cause anyone any trouble but that for the sake of the Service Department's credibility I thought I should let him know about this. He told me that he appreciated my letting him know.

I don't know if I am going to bother with the rotation or just wait until the 20K service. It seems to me like 5K tire rotation is somewhat of an overkill anyway.

Tom