I took my runner into the dealer today to get the Fuel Gauge TSB performed. In addition I have an external warranty service.

Toyota called my warranty service and told then that it was going to be 755.00 for the repair parts and labor. My warranty said that they would cover 457.00 parts and labor. The dealer called me telling me that my warranty service is not good, and wont cover the full cost of the repair. So I called the warranty service to find out whats wrong. They told me that the dealer was tryin to rip them off. Guess what they were right!!.
On the TSB itself, its states that it would take 1.1 labor hours. (Availible at www.phorunner.com..thanks phong) The dealer is charging 6 hrs!! My warranty service offered to pay 2 hrs which is .9 hours more then the TSB states and .2 hours over the National Labor Guide. So I called the dealer back asking them why they were charging 6 hrs labor. "Thats how long it will take our technicians." WTF!! Do they have incompetant techs? Their own TSB says 1.1 hrs. And they are tryin to charge 6 hrs!! I am sick of crooked ass repair shops, not to mention dealers. Any thoughts?

 

sorry to hear that.Sometimes I feel the same you can't trust anyother place to fix up your so you trust the dealer but feel like they too are crooked.

 

Most of the time, these situations are unavoidable. The last time I caught the dealer in a scam, they remedied the situation and did the job right. I guess the fact that I threatened to take them to small claims court helped.

 

I would first document everything that has transpired. Print out as much as you can. You've done a good job just in your post but you need supporting documents.

Then I would go to the dealership manager and show him the discrepancies in your labor figures. To see if he agrees with what you found. Try to be diplomatic and remember, these guys could be working on your car.

If that didn't work, I would file a complaint with your states DMV office. They don't look too kindly on repair shops ripping off a consumer. Especially, one that bought a warranty. It may take time that's why I'd try the above one first.

My sunroof glass cracked and I had to get an estimate for the ins. co. They dealership repair guy said "I dont know how they say it will take 1.5 hrs but, that's what it says." They honored the labor time. Maybe it was because the ins. co. was involved.

 

Well I just got off the phone with Toyota (Been on the phone all day). Not the dealer but the Corporation. I explained the whole situation to them. And Toyota Corporation Customer Service said "The dealers are allowed to charged what ever they want for labor hours." Is something fishy here? They said that the 1.1 on the TSB is the labor rate Toyota Corporation would pay the Toyota dealer if the repair was done under the 3years 36k warranty. Basically that if it did take longer, then the dealer is taking a loss. And if the repair work is done outside a warranty time period, then the dealer can charge what the want for labor hours. So that said, I asked "Well then they could charge 200 bucks for an oil change if they wanted too?" Toyota Corp reply "Yes". I think there should be some laws that would prevent this kind of crap.

 

I second what Cat-O-Lean said. Documentation is crucial, hearsay is worthless.

I would dress and act professional. These days, every little bit helps. I have dealt with dealers at both ends of the spectrum, some really good, and others really bad.

Definetly take it up the chain of command. Good luck.

 

If you don't like the service you're getting show the dealership with your wallet, take it elsewhere.

 

Hey flips... is that an MR2 in your avatar? Yours? I've been lookign for an MKII for a long time now - any details about yours?

 

Well here is the latest.
I called Ourisman Fairfax Toyota, another dealer by my work. I told them about the TSB and they rang up all the parts and labor. Guess what the total was 370 instead of 755!!! They charged 2.1 hrs of labor. What a difference... I then told the service person about the other dealer I dealt with and how they charged 6 hrs on a 1.1 hr job. She couldnt believe it!! She said what they usually do is double the labor hrs but never charge 6 times the amount of labor hrs.

So I am dropping my car off tomorrow and will have it by lunch time.

If you want to know what dealer to stay away from in the DC area. Its Kay Jennings Springfield Toyota. They are crooks

 

Now when you get done and go to pick up your truck, ask that dealer if they have a customer feedback card.. Nicely print out on it not listing the other dealer name (but hint town) and mention what TMC America told you and then write down how this dealer was shocked and quoted you , what? 66% less than the other dealer and was able to do the job with out charges over your warranty which stated the job should cost XX$$

Now my friend, you have a point with your new dealer.. PS, asking for the feed back card is key, Even if they send one , Heck even if they handed it to you with your papers.. ask anyway and play stupid.. That will show that the feed back is more than secondary...
BTW, most dealers around here go by flat rate.. Sure, you can get screwed if it takes a tech .3 to do a 1.0 job.. But, they have to eat too.. (and they don't get more for come backs or sitting around).. Yet, you don't get that crap load either...

 

BTW.. What the heck are they doing that is going to take a tech all friggin day to preform?? (standard lost labor time is 9 minutes of every hour of the day for stupid stuff.. bathroom, blowing your nose, washing hands, picking nose..) So that is 1hr and 12 minutes lost.. figure in coffee breaks (30 min a day) and you have a 6 hour production day (give or take a long dump)

I just read the TSB.. Ok, so it takes all day to change a cluster and sending unit?? Yea, that is a 2 hour job..

Corey, where is the POR flip off??

 

hey vtruong1 something like that happened here to a friend of mine, but i think it was K-Mart, they tried to triple her bill, she told them no, if they charge her that, that she would put a really nice big sign on her other car stating some to the effect of " K-Mart tried to screw me out of $500 just ask me how" and would park her car accross the street right by where people had to turn to get in there, and see just how many people would go there after that, needless to say, they drop the bill back down to where her husband thought was a fair price, and has never been back since.. sorry to hear about your troubles, glad it worked out.

 

DONT PAY FOR IT! dealer tried to pull that crap on me (out of warranty so i had to pay). i called the 800 customer service number right at the guys desk, before i even talked to the operator they said theyd do it free of charge.

DONT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

 

Damn sounds like the crooks here in gainesville.

I asked for a price quote to replace my catalytic converter only. They quoted me 760 bux!!! When the service dude - not a tech - saw my jaw on the floor, he kinda stammered that the cat was 600something bux. I just played dumb, did NOT make an appointment, and left pronto.

My HiFlow Cat from performance products will be here thursday for me to install it in the whooping 30min that Im guessing it should take. Gonna start hitting the bolts with liquid wrench tomorrow.

 

Not to split hairs, but that was me who gave it to Phong.

Anyways, I was the first person in CA (as I was told) to get this TSB done in California. I used to work for TMS USA so I'll give you my 2 cents:

Go to a different dealer as others have suggested (and that you have done). Also, write a nice letter to TMS describing your situation and including what TMS reps said to you. Name names.

Finally, don't go back to that dealership. In fact, cc: the Service Manager, the District Service Manager, etc. Anyone high up in the food chain.

And yes, tell all your Toyota owning friends about your experience----EVERYONE.

Bob

 

Tempe Toyota tired to charge me for 5 quarts of gear oil for the front diff.

Needsless to say to say it only takes 1. So I pointed that out. The service guy was so flustered he took all the gear oil off and rang me up.

I go to Right Toyota in Scottsdale now for service or get parts from Big2 in Mesa.

 

Steve.. maybe that is why your seal blew a second time?? How much can they cram into a diff housing if the fill it to the top ot the diff itself (not the fill plug) LOL....

Yep, it is fun knowing stuff like that... I knocked $200 off my bill for the HG recall when I had a bunch of other stuff done with it.. I just kept pushing the overlap... I mean really, who leaves the sparkplugs in the head during a rebuild?? Sooo.. If you have to take them out.. Why are you charging me?? LOL.. Then I made them save all the old parts and return them to me (Hee hee.. and I brought them all the new Toyota parts I bought from a dealer at my 30% discount thru the shop!) I then proceded to look at the parts in front of them inspecting them to make sure they came off a 3.0 motor... (No, I didn't catch them there...)

 

I was just quoted $212 for labor on the TSB recall for both the circuit board and the sending unit to be replaced. I didn't check on the price of parts yet though. I was thinking about doing the replacement myself but the last step is to "calibrate" the system, does anyone know exactly what you have to do to calibrate it? I am now thinking about calling that 1800 number to see if I can get it done for free too !

 

Hey PhxTRD,

I talked to the Customer Service Rep at TMS and they didnt budge on the TSB. They said thats how warranties work. But I didnt really push for it since I have this extended warranty that will pay for it.

What calibration are you talkin about?? I think that its just fixed when they put the new sender in. I havent heard anything about calibrating. But if someone knows, please fill us in.

 

vtruong1 - I have had many bad experiences with Kay Jennings Springfield Toyota's service department as well. I stopped going due to all the problems that I encountered with their service department. However, the salesman I dealt with has always been very professional and helped me with the service department before (he is now in the finance department). I will forward this thread to him so he can read how his service department is still falling short in delivering the professionalism of the other dealers in the area.

I have had good luck with Ourisman Fairfax Toyota's service department and their new dealership in Chantilly. Hell, the Chantilly branch washes your vehicle EVERY time you go in there. They are very professional and have earned my business. They fixed a problem that Springfield introduced when they “fixed” my truck