I’d at least expect a new filter for that amount.
That’s ridiculous.

 

Wow! Lesson learned I guess but I would have come unglued when they handed me that invoice!

 

Just took my wife's 2021 in for state inspection , oil change, and tire rotation. In a weak moment I said OK to letting them do a hybrid air filter service. Yes...I know its easy and anyone can replace the filter...and I will NEXT time. They charged me $128 to take out the filter (one clip), blow the dust off of it, and put it back it. Has anyone else paid for this service, and if so how much.
I have already talked to the service rep and she explained to me what was done. I told her I expected the price to be adjusted when I come to pick up the car later, its a FIVE MINUTE JOB!
If I'm being unreasonable please correct me, but I seldom return to any business that tries to do me without lube.

Agree with @Mushroom, I'd insist on a new filter for that price. "Blowing the dust out" is not recommended in any circumstance. For every particle blown out, there's a hole left behind that another particle can enter. I would have a conversation with the service manager. If they didn't replace the filter, they owe you.

 

...I'd insist on a new filter for that price. "Blowing the dust out" is not recommended in any circumstance...

Per the Car Care Nut, Toyota says the filter can be cleaned and reused as necessary.

2:40 of this video if you want to go directly to that comment versus watching the entire thing.

How To replace Hybrid Battery Fan Filter : 2019+ RAV4 hybrid, 2021+ Venza Hybrid and 2021 RAV4 PRIME - YouTube

 

Even more of a reason to put up a stink for that price.

 

This gives new meaning to the term “stealership”.

 

Typical dealership rip off. They do whatever they want to take your money. I don't deal with dealerships at all. They are true thieves and the government does not do anything to regulate their practices.

 

Yea ...lesson learned. Talked to a friend of mine who is a Toyota master tech in Massachusetts. He said they charged a 1/2 hour labor and $20-25 for the filter. Just ordered a new filter on Ebay from a Toyota dealership in Miami. $22 shipped.

 

I bet they blow it out or brush it while not even removing it. Or look at it , says it looks clean and move on while taking your money.

 

Total rip off. I just replace a much larger filter in an '11 Corolla. Fram from Farm & Fleet, $11. Too me less than 5 minutes and I washed out the box. I try to do everything I can, it is such a rip off taking it in.

 

Total rip off. I just replace a much larger filter in an '11 Corolla. Fram from Farm & Fleet, $11.

Not an engine filter, not a cabin filter, talking about the hybrid filter under the seat.

 

Yep, stick it in a "lessons learned" category! I hope folks also decline the "fuel injection maintenance" which can be over $200. Basically, they spray something in the throttle body and put a bottle of fuel additive in your gas tank. If folks just fill up their vehicles at a "Top Tier" gas station, they'll very very rarely have injector problems, especially in a Lexus/Toyota.

 

I had a dealership (not Toyota) tell me I needed to do a HVAC cleaning to get rid of mildew and mold in the system, they charged $150. I told them that wasn't a bad deal since the only way to clean the HVAC system of mold and mildew would be to get into the HVAC box behind the dash. If they only charged $150 to take apart the entire dash and put it back that wasn't bad.

Of course they said that's not how they do it and they had a special disinfectant they sprayed into the system that would do the job. So I replied that I didn't want it done because I could spray Lysol in the intake below the windshield myself for a lot less. Gave them the get out of my face look and that was the end of that.

 

Just took my wife's 2021 in for state inspection , oil change, and tire rotation. In a weak moment I said OK to letting them do a hybrid air filter service. Yes...I know its easy and anyone can replace the filter...and I will NEXT time. They charged me $128 to take out the filter (one clip), blow the dust off of it, and put it back it. Has anyone else paid for this service, and if so how much.
I have already talked to the service rep and she explained to me what was done. I told her I expected the price to be adjusted when I come to pick up the car later, its a FIVE MINUTE JOB!
If I'm being unreasonable please correct me, but I seldom return to any business that tries to do me without lube.

Never paid for the service, since I DIY it every 5,000 miles, when it's literally less than 5 minutes to do.

The owner's manual tells you how to do it

 

Yes...I'm aware its easy. They took $20 off my bill. Big effin deal. I have 3 Toyotas that I have occasional service done at Diehl Toyota in Butler Pa. I now have 0 Toyotas that will get service there. Hope it was worth it to that business to get my $108 for essentially looking at my filter, because its the last nickel I will ever spend there, AND I will tell everyone that's willing to listen how I got taken advantage of by their service department.

 

Air filter services (cabin, engine, hybrid, whatever) and wiper blades are the biggest rip-offs going at dealers. I usually use the dealer for oil changes while under warranty just for the record keeping aspect of it all. I would always cringe when the service advisor would come sit down next to me in the waiting room. Time for the needless upsells!

"We are working on your car, but we noticed that your cabin air filter needs replacing. We can take care of that for you for $90. Shall we do that while you are here?"

"No, thank you."

"But sir, it needs to be replaced."

"No, thank you."

"OK, but your HVAC system will not be as efficient as it could be. Are you certain?"

"Do not change the cabin filter."

"OK, we will put on your service record that you REFUSED that service. You should also think about new wiper blades soon, we can do that today for you for $70. We would also suggest fuel injection service, wheel balance, and a 4-wheel alignment."

"The car only has 20,000 miles on it. NO THANK YOU! Just do the oil change and tire rotation like I originally asked!"

"Sir, we highly recommend at least the wheel balance and the 4-wheel alignment. That should be done every 15,000 miles."

"NO!!!"

The service work order literally had printed on it that the customer REFUSED recommended services for fuel injection service, 4-wheel alignment, tire balance, cabin air filter replacement, and wiper blade replacement. That was my last trip to that particular dealer.

 

I usually use the dealer for oil changes while under warranty just for the record keeping aspect of it all.

All you need is a simple logbook of sorts. Hold on to all receipts. Keep track of everything you (or the dealer) have done. Not only makes tracking things easier, but it is also written proof that you've done the service. I'd take this to a court any day to prove my compliance. Nowhere does it say that a "dealer" must do the work.

 

People wait for their vehicles in the dealership, sitting in a nice leather chair, inside a climate controlled multimillion dollar building, sipping free coffee or bottled water while they eat donuts and bagels. Those things don’t happen without cost. Don’t flame me as am not a dealer or even know anyone that works at one. I recently paid $245 for a filling that was a 15 minute job and $125 to a PDR that was a 10 minute job.

 

I have to ask, and I am not trying to be mean or anything, are we being trolled? If not, people do some research, go to YouTube and find a video on how to replace your air filter. By a Haynes manual. I'm a former mechanic. A lot of this stuff ain't rocket science. Last boss was known by locals as $500 Fred. I never sold anything the car didn't need and we didn't gouge. We charged book time when estimating.

 

I have to ask, and I am not trying to be mean or anything, are we being trolled? If not, people do some research, go to YouTube and find a video on how to replace your air filter.

No,sir.....not being trolled. As I stated it was a moment of weakness...I had refused every other recommendation and just assumed I would be charged a reasonable amount. I take care of most of the easy stuff but there has been a LOT going on here, my wife's cancer surgery the most recent. I take care to not allow myself to taken advantage of. I give positive reviews whenever they are deserved. And I get madly pissed off when my own muddled thinking allows someone to put their hand in my wallet and steal from me. So yes...this really happened. Sadly its mostly my fault. But, just like forgetting to lock your doors and getting robbed, its still theft that someone willingly inflicted on you.

 

I once had a Toyota dealer quote me over $100 to replace the PCV valve on a '95 Corolla.
I am so glad I asked the cost because it took me less than 5 minutes to replace not counting the time to purchase the $10 OEM part.

I learned ALWAYS ask cost before having work done, even if its not at a dealer.

 

I own a 2012 Camry XKE Hybrid. I did vacuum the filter at 119.000 miles. It was very clean.
A 2012, does NOT have a filter.
The most difficult part of it was to pull out the bottom part of the seat. I do Travel back and forth from Houston to North West New Jersey.
I just replaced the Hybrid battery at 159.000 miles for $2350. With a 5 years warranty from Hybrid911.
Yes, you should clean your own filter.

 

Rotate the tires every 5 k?
Leave my damn tires alone. Charged that once and the morons left the factory weights on two wheels. You STRIP the old weights and replace them as necessary. Two cars bought new by the wife, never balanced the wheels once on either and I rotated the tires when they had a visual difference in tread depth front to rear. For both cars the average was 32k miles when rotated, replaced at 60k on them. Why would I want the lugs removed and reinstalled 12 times X 20 lugs.
240 chances to strip the lug nuts, NAH.
My Prius has a similar filter for the cooling fan for the hybrid battery, never cleaned since it was new, almost completely plugged up. They claimed they did a 138 point inspection, but never told me the cooling fan was inoperative. AC would not cool in summer when sitting still, but the engine never ran hot in 18,000 miles I drove it. AC was OVERCHARGED when I bought the car sadly in winter so it got by me.
Fresh air vent was totally clogged with tree debris. I wonder what 138 things they did inspect?
Fuel injection "service" $200 plus, poured a bottle of Techron in the tank for $10.
I wish I could have sold that kind of crap when I had my shop.

If your tires are wearing evenly then your front end is aligned. Once had a customer tell me his car was pulling, garage kept, perfect, never saw rain, never hit anything.

Told him to get a new set of Michelins and don't let them touch the alignment. Tires were around 10 years old. New tires car tracked perfectly. That was integrity in action. Trusted him to tell me anything that could have contributed to the "pull".

If you have nothing to "fix" then I would not let them do anything except any maintenance required to maintain a warranty. She got oil changes and state inspections for life included in the purchase and a power train for life warranty, especially important with Nissans's CVT issues.

 

Rotating tires doesn’t require re-balancing tires