Do you take your Taco to dealer for maintenance?

Do you? This will be my first dealership buy, and I'm on the fence about letting my dealer (well known, reputable) do scheduled maintenance. Do you, or if you don't, why not?

 

Well its free for 2 years so why not! But I would keep an eye on the truck the whole time it's there! I stood for an hour in the parking lot watching it till they did the tire rotation and the fluids check on my 5k!

 

First two years free, yes. After that, it really depends on what your plans and skills are. If you want to resell it later, then having all service documented at a dealer may help, or may not make a difference. If you have the skills/ability to do regular maintenance, like they say, If you want a job done right, you gotta do it yourself.

 

No. I have my own shop, lift and haven't had anybody do any maintenance on my vehicles but me for at least 35 years.

 

No - will do it myself. Not worth the hassle and wait at the dealer, even if free.

 

Never, easy enough to do it myself.

 

Thanks for all the responses. My dealer actually does free oil changes for life, but I'm you guys; if you want it done right, do it yourself.

I've always done all of my own maintenance. The main thing I'm worried about it my warranty. As long as use correct fluids, my warranty will stay, correct?

 

I used to believe that by taking it to the dealer for maintenance was a good thing. Once I get my Taco I'm going to start doing and continue learning how to do my own work. I'm already suffering some of the tool buying costs now, but the tools won't go bad.

After my experience with the Ford dealership and telling me they "checked" my vehicle, and everything is ok... then almost immediately after my warranty expired, "oh, and you need this changed, this repaired, etc." my confidence in dealerships and their techs has greatly diminished.

Will I use the dealership for the intended oil changes and other maintenance checks? Initially yes, it's included. With that said though, I'm still going to go behind them and double check it while learning what to do myself. This way I can "trust but verify", and when the warranty/free stuff ends I'll be further ahead. I've already learned a lot from this site, and will continue to use it as a resource. Once I'm more confident in doing the work (and have the correct tools), I'll stop using the dealership.

It's something I should have done previously, but I was too naive/trusting of other people.

 

When I bought my VW I brought it for the first two months for warranty work...

After having them need to fix the same thing 3 times I stopped and went to my independent mechanic.
Cost me $400 to get fixed, which even though the dealer was free, technically cost me more for missing work to pick up/drop off the car.
Paid my mechanic to do it right the first time. 6 years later still no problem again.

So ya, VW has ruined my trust in dealerships. I'll pass on them and get it done by my mechanic.

Dealers are on piece work usually. Which means their techs will rush just to get the job done.
I know my mechanic charges hourly, I've found sometimes they take longer, he'll tell me its an hour job etc give me a price and then do it take slightly longer but still charge me the same as quoted.

His guys don't care to rush because they get paid by the hour. Works better to me. I know I'm paid hourly. To the employer its not always beneficial but it means for my job (electrician) I can take my time and do the job right and not rush and fuck up...and when it comes to hooking up 8000amp switch gear, you wanna be sure everything was done right when it comes to the time to throw that switch and turn everything on. It could be a life or death so ya...

Rather my mechanics take their time as well and do the job right the first time.

 

Always let the local dealership service my Tacoma

 

I'm lucky that I work at a place with around 60 master certified Lexus technicians so I get all my work done while at work!

 

for the 2 year free maintenance, I'd put a paint mark on the two front tires and also on the oil filter. New oil on the dipstick should be lighter than 5K oil. When they try to sell you something, ask why and then say you'll think about it. And check it all before you leave the lot. Anything else not under warantee (transfer case, differential fluid, wind shield wipers, ect.) I do myself

 

I would say if you get free oil changes for life - absolutely take it in for that. Everything else on Tacos as far as maintenance IMO is straight forward and easy enough to do yourself. Even repairs for that matter. One reason I don't mind the Tacomas being "ancient " in comparison to other modern trucks.

Keep in mind though they will try to recoup or at least "up sell" you every time you go in if its a reputibal dealership.
Research what is nesseccery for maintenance and what is a money grab.
They have to pay their techs and managers well and are typically an independent business unit from the rest of the dealership, so in other words rest assured they are very well trained in striking fear and pressuring you into not so high priority items.

I've worked at two dealerships and heard some of the BS service desk advisors say to people and I used to puke a little in my mouth every time i had to listen to it. And even worse 75% of customers agree to the work because they are so good at selling it.

 

Free warranty work, of course. Free oil changes, possibly, but I'll probably do it myself after the first few free ones.

Anything besides that, absolutely not. I have had zero, ZERO, good experiences with dealerships. Granted, this will be my first Toyota and I am coming from a Ford, but the icing on the cake was when the Ford dealership absolutely destroyed my rear differential doing a pinion seal replacement (are you f'ing kidding me?). And of course they won't fix it without me paying for it because nothing proves they caused it to fail even though i brought it back within a week. Not to mention, the amount of false required repairs they try to push on people. They tried to tell me my brake fluid was at the end of its life and in dire need of being flushed....only problem was that I had flushed it myself five days prior. I always wonder how many people they rip off like that....

Here is my philosophy. My truck is my daily driver. If I can do (or am comfortable attempting) and can complete the repair in a weekend with the tools I have and the free rent a tools you can get at Autozone/Pep Boys, I will do it myself. I do have access though to quite a bit of tools. Other than that, out of warranty transmission issues go to a transmission SPECIALTY shop. Out of warranty differential issues go to a DRIVELINE shop. All other issues I am not comfortable with attempting on my DD only go to a very much trusted independent mechanic.

 

so true. on my wife's prius C while doing the 2 yeay free maintenance, the service writer recomended alignment. Said Toyota "recommends" it. I asked to see the written recommendation in the service manual. Then he said that the dealership thought it might be a good idea. I asked what the tires showed to warrant their concern. The car had 15K miles at the time.That was about it for. At least they tried.

 

Thankfully I have nothing but a great sales and service experience with all our dealership brands


I take all our vehicles to the dealer for service. I decided a long time ago saving a few bucks changing oil was not worth the effort. Plus one develops a great repore with the dealer. THAT is how I bought my truck for $500 over Invoice while other paid MSRP or more. I actually see the dealer for reasons other than issues. I purchased 3 of four Tacomas there. Every six months I have my oil changed, regardless of miles. I put on 500 miles a month avg.

We do the same with the wife's CRV. Honda does all the service and MAzda does all the service on my MX5. Harley as well. They do oil changes everyday. I do them once every six months. Their experience is far better than mine plus they check other things .

I have had nothing but great service in sales and service because they know me and see me even when I am not there for service. Everyone on the floor at the dealerships knows my name. I tip the porters and my Service advisor. Even tipped my sales guy $100 for making the deal so easy and good.

Since I usually do not trade, buyers prefer to see routine service done at the dealer and not in someone's garage with "receipts"

One of the many reasons I got out of the Corvette word was terrible GM service and all my services there were PAID SERVICES. $800 for a oil pan gasket. All fluids and hoses changed out a couple weeks before I sold it to the first buyer at my price.

 

I take it to myself for maintenance. But I'm a tech for another brand so I have the tools and rack to do it

 

My truck is serviced at the dealership every time. I have a great interactions with the service reps.

I've had only two problems with my local dealer, one being with a secretary saying they were "booked up" for service until like two weeks out. I stopped by anyway and the service rep took my truck right in with no problem. I also told him about what she said, he apologized about that and rushed my truck into the garage.

I find that as a young person taking my call and just trying to rush out of work instead of taking care of a customer. I wouldn't hold the whole dealership accountable for a 19 year olds poor service philosophy.

Second time a tech drove my truck around and said that one of the lugs on my hub had "pulled" threads. Which is textbook running a lug nut up with a straight impact and not using a torque rod in the process at all. I looked at him and said "well, my truck is only serviced here, so one of y'all "pulled" the thread. They fixed it during my next visit for free and gave me a rental to get around town in for a day.

So over all my local dealership has some pretty decent customer service. I like that the service is tracked in the car fax report too. Some folks like the piece of mind of themselves doing the work. I personally have piece of mind knowing the dealership has a multi-million dollar insurance policy of they jack something up.

 

Not trying to start a war, everyone should do what they feel most comfortable with, but I think it should read a little more like that....

I would agree though that it is highly dependent on the dealership. I am sure some places have great teams while others are worthless.

 

Car forums always crack me up. People act like the dealer is out to screw them over and tear up their vehicles. I treat every car I work on as if it is mine. If God forbid, something breaks or gets damaged, we fix it or make it right with the customer. Nothing is covered up and the owner is always kept in the loop.

All complaints are taken seriously and we do our best to find a repair no matter what it entails.

Labor rates are industry standard with book times used from several well know sources. Parts prices are manufacturer set. We are people too. I know how much money $500, $100, $2000, etc is. Not our goal to make someone go into the poor house