My first question is - the 01 Runner is almost 10K past due for the 60K mile tuneup, and I'm leaning towards going to the dealership rather than the "toyota guy" who has an independant shop here in Boulder. Is that wise? I've had several non-dealership places tell me that they don't usually do everything recommended by Toyota for major regular maintenance because they don't think it's all necessary.

Then, the question that follows is - I've heard some people say that there are definitely things that you should always use the dealership for. What are they?

 

I think you should use the dealership when the following exists:
1. You are still under warranty and you don't want them pulling the "you didn't service your truck at the dealer" story;
2. You don't have the skills to do the work and you don't trust a local guy to do the work; and/or
3. You want a second opinion b/c you don't trust an indy mechanic.

Either way, you can ask questions here and then go to an indy mechanic and explain what want done. This way, you appear more knowledgeable and they won't think they can screw you. You can also ask here from others what they've paid for similar services to get a gut check. Good luck.

 

The only time I would ever use the dealer is if the vehicle is under warranty. Find a trustworthy independant shop. If you are concerned they don't inspect everything Toyota does, do some research, find what the dealer would do and simply request the indi to do the same.

 

stealership = warntee work and even then i cringe thinking about it. (my recent 50N recall is evidence of this)

 

Not all stealerships are equal. Once you establish a reasonable amount of trust in a stealerships maintenance department, it's a case-by-case call. I have a certain amount of faith in my stealer (plus I'm only a very, very basic wrench turner) and will have him do work that I want Toyota OEM parts installed (i.e., timing belt). Otherwise, I'll take my rig to shops that have known expertise (such as brand name brake, muffler shops).

 

Unless its warrenty work, stay away from dealerships. they are generally way overpriced. Plus alot of things on the 60k service, you can do yourself like checking fluids. Do you really want them to charge you for that?

 

I say go with the dealership only when an independent garage can't do the work you're looking for (if they are good they will tell you when that is....) or if they don't have the SST (special service tool) you need.... in fact, I would say go to a ind. garage for everything but warranty work or super super toyota specific hard to diagnose problems.. I'd leave everything else for the local garage, they might even have ways for you to save money on repairs (not ghetto rig but repair instead of replace)

 

It wouldn't hurt to go to the dealer and price what you want done, if for no more than a laugh. The prices some dealers charge are still fairly reasonable, but not many.

 

Not all dealerships are equal. Do your homework before you take your vehicle anywhere. An uneducated owner is an easily taken one. Know what your scheduled maintenance items are (thread about it on here that is a sticky), know what labor rates are, and introduce yourself to the service manager and staff where you do business, and if possible, know the mechanic that works on your vehicle.

Learn to do things for yourself that are doable, change the oil, rotate the tires, change/flush fluids, basic mechanical repairs, etc. if you really want to save some money. For example, my wife's Sienna had a door handle to break off in my hand. The whole door handle assembly was $85, which ain't cheap. To have it dealer installed it would have been $200 out the door. It took me 10 minutes to swap it out because I took the initiative to do so. $200 isn't a rip off for someone who doesn't want to mess w/ doing things themselves, it is called paying for a service, and in today's society, it is supply and demand.

I would recommend my local dealership Tuscaloosa Toyota any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Sure, I could get some things cheaper other places, but I've also saved a lot of money there as well on parts, information and "perks".

If you don't trust a place, for goodness sake, go somewhere else that you do.

Good luck.

 

Personally, I haven't found any significant difference in work quality of a dealer versus an independant garage. I have horror stories from both which is why I do all my own work now.

The only two advantages a dealer really has is if it's required to keep your vehicle under warranty and if there is a screw up, they are more likely to work to resolve the problem rather than face an angry customer.

 

I've had good luck with Burt Toyota in Denver, they've never overcharged me and have always done the service that I've asked for. Same with Ourisman Chantilly Toyota in VA, but they're expensive (have a nice new building to pay for!). Kern Toyota in Winchester, VA, isn't that great, but then that's what you get for being in a smaller town.

All in all, I agree with the other posts: use it for warranty work and other repairs that might "void" the warranty, and learn to do the other services yourself. You'll learn a lot about your truck and save some money in the process.

 

i hate dealerships or chain garages (jiffy lube, etc). they don't pay their techs enough and often the techs don't really care about the job, they just need to get it done to get the next car in the bay. if you go to an honest mechanic (finding an honest mechanic is left as an exercise for the reader) that doesn't advertise, then he's relying on repeat business and word-of-mouth advertising and keeping you happy. so unless it's warrenty work stay away from a dealer. once i had some small recall work (<$50) and rather take it do the dealer and have him screw something else up while doing the work, i just took it to my indepenant mechanic just for my piece of mind.

as for you in boulder, from what i hear boulder toyota are just out to rip you off, i hear good things about longmont toyota, but if you're willing to drive to longmont, head north to 20th and main (or maybe 21st and main) to tim's toy shop. he's a great guy and has never ripped me off and does great work. one of my criteria for determining an honest mechanic is if he calls me back to say that work i requested doesn't really need to be done and he'll do it if i want, but it's probably better to save the money. and tim has done that a couple of times for me.

 

any thoughts on the quality of dealers/mechanics in the seattle area?
I know randy in marysville is a master mechanic...but I don't always know in Seattle. thx


belleview has michael's toyota

seattle has toyota of seattle...

 

mike d,have you ever workied at a dealer or chain store to have first hand knowledge what a tech there makes,i work at a dealer & make good money as well as all the techs,you guys also have no idea how many cars we repair that have been to the local "mechanic" who was not able to repair,charged the customer-then said well i guess youll have to take it to the dealer,then when we actually do repair the car we get accused of ripping the guy off even tho now the car works great,plus somehow what the "mechanic charged & what we charged het lumped into one sum,& somehow that total becomes what it cost to fix the car at the dealer,i dont know about where you are,around here techs at all the local dealers avg $40k-$70k a year,not to shabby

 

I think Mike was specificly talking about those chain stores like jiffy lube. they hire most of those guys right off the street with no experience

 

my apologies,sometimes i get on a rant at the end of a week,i love what i do,but man i guess its just like anything else,you dont no whats involved in a person job until u get behind the counter with em

 

Dealerships are an institution that has thought out and executed every way humanly possible to screw you out of every cent they can shake human sheep down for. Overpriced parts, excessive work, low worker wages w/ high labor rates and thats just if they decide not to outright make things up! Find an honest mech and let the suckers go to the stealership. Ask at a car parts shop who is good and honest - they will tell you!

 

HAHA! I know the "toyota guy" you speak of. If it is the same guy that that I'm thinking you are talking about (_____ Garage), he is a good man and does awsome work. I work at Boulder Toyota in the service department. The one thing that I'd would rec is that you do everything that is recommended by Toyota. I have seen several cases where a warrenty issue had come up and Toyota (not the dealership) has declined the the repair, due to missing parts of the recommended maintenance. This is a great reason to keep all of your recipts.

Anyway, one thing I'd use the dearlership for is parts. There are tons of threads about not using Toyota parts on this fourm and the stories that follow.

PS. You have a PM.

 

I think if you are in your warranty period, you SHOULD use the dealership exclusively, that way it will alleviate issues arising should something go wrong and Toyota blaming you or your independant mechanic. Once you are out of your warranty period then go hard or go home.

I find it really interesting that after talking to the dealership technicians who work on my truck, one of which is one of the best, if not the best, Master Tech's in Canada, that they don't seem to hear about or deal with the issues that are pushed forth on this discussion board with the 3.0 engine or others. Mind you they are only dealing with mainly well maintaned dealership serviced vehicles. The Master tech in question mentioned above is not a fan of the aftermarket at all. I think he's seen one too many poor quality after market parts/installations. Ironically on this discussion board we seem to be bent on modifications (mine are very tame personally), and the aftermarket often reigns supreme. Ironically we also hear about or see more problems.

Am I saying I have a dealership superiority complex? No, but I bet you'll have better success in general if you find a good dealership that you trust to service your truck and that won't dick you around, and stick with Toyota parts, and on top of that, you are very careful with the type of modifications you pursue as far as quality of part and quality of installation.

 

i mostly use my stealership for dirty work i dont wanna do myself. ie: oil change. cdn$30 gets me genuine toyota filters, oil/lube and a free carwash! cant beat that. also i used em recently for diff/tcase fluid change. reasonably priced...i paid the $100 n avoided the dirty work. but if your truck is still under warranty, then definitely use the dealership. as noted, find one that youre comfortable with, you can trust and wont rip you off.

simple mechanical stuff (nuts & bolts re & re), i'd take to an indy shop...

ymmv