Bloody Toyota Dealerships

[shodown Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shodown]

They sent out a guy to my house to replace the bolts and dust caps first thing Monday. Got a call from the service department manager who was very embarrassed by the situation - apparently, bolts were only put back finger tight and forgotten to torque to appropriate setting. The tech has been given a formal warning (didnt say whether apprentice or not) and note into his HR file (who knows if it is just lip service or not). I reviewed my dash cam footage and it was taken for a road test by two different people. There was definitely no knocking / squeaking noises etc. until later that night.

I was offered tickets to the 20/20 cricket for new years as a sweetener but already had plans with the family - he is going to sort something out for me in regards to a whining coming from alternator - suspected bearing.

Havent written off the dealer just yet, previous service from them has been some of the best. I think as someone mentioned, tech's mind was elsewhere given they were shutting early NYE.

Never again will I book my car in so prior to a holiday period !!

[SOL Find all posts View Profile Close SOL]

Shodown, Sounds like a good out come for what it could have been. The world is full of people whom make mistakes it is how you react to those mistake that will make or brake you. Sounds like your dealer has stepped up. Well done.

SOL.

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

Shodown, Sounds like a good out come for what it could have been. The world is full of people whom make mistakes it is how you react to those mistake that will make or brake you. Sounds like your dealer has stepped up. Well done.

SOL.

Agree with that, some of the best lessons come from mistakes. Great to see the dealer step up.

[D4Dforme Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4Dforme]

Yes that sounds like they have done what is reasonably practical in your situation.......theres not really much else they could have said or done.

Dan

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Never again will I book my car in so prior to a holiday period !!

That's right - book it in right after a week's partying immediately following Christmas and NYE celebrations. You're bound to get the best performance at the start of the new year. (Yikes, mine is booked in on 13th).

[MDS69 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDS69]

They sent out a guy to my house to replace the bolts and dust caps first thing Monday. Got a call from the service department manager who was very embarrassed by the situation - apparently, bolts were only put back finger tight and forgotten to torque to appropriate setting. The tech has been given a formal warning (didnt say whether apprentice or not) and note into his HR file (who knows if it is just lip service or not). I reviewed my dash cam footage and it was taken for a road test by two different people. There was definitely no knocking / squeaking noises etc. until later that night.

I was offered tickets to the 20/20 cricket for new years as a sweetener but already had plans with the family - he is going to sort something out for me in regards to a whining coming from alternator - suspected bearing.

Havent written off the dealer just yet, previous service from them has been some of the best. I think as someone mentioned, tech's mind was elsewhere given they were shutting early NYE.

Never again will I book my car in so prior to a holiday period !!

Not too bad a result. Was there any damage to the inside of the rim.

[shodown Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shodown]

There might have been a minor nick or two, but nothing worthy of replacing a rim. If anything, was probably caused by the Mrs driving me around the block hanging out the back door listening to where the noise was coming from.

Would have looked odd with one brand newie. If they wanted to sort me out with a set of fuel rims I wouldn't say no

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

Best result you could ask for then really.

We all make mistakes, it's how the mistakes are handled that makes the difference. Not excusing the mistake, and hopefully the tech/apprentice has learnt a lesson and double check his/her work. Ask any mechanic honestly if they have made a mistake, I have and I can guarantee I won't do it again!

[mackayvx Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close mackayvx]

Wow Shodown, all I can say is HOLY SHEET...

Im glad you were switched on enough to simply look under your car and spot the defect, as 90% of Toyotas customers wound not simply have a clue at what they are looking at.

On the other side of this, yes mistakes are made... blah blah blah BULLSHIT. That standard of work is unacceptable.

I have trust issues with people touching my vehicles because of similar situations that I have experienced first hand. These days Im lucky enough to draw on my skills as a mechanical fitter and take care of my vehicles myself.

At least this way I can call on myself in the middle of the night to check the work I did that day - but Im finding I don't need to do that as I triple check my work as does #### and probably every other small scale mechanic.

Only recently I have found and A1 diesel mechanic who is local who owns the exact vehicles that I own, after inspecting his own family cars I was happy for him to touch mine.

I so happy that you or you family members did not get hurt and there seems to be a good outcome.

Find your self an A1 small time mechanic.

[Mattfunk 120 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mattfunk 120]

Never again will I book my car in so prior to a holiday period !!

X2. I had a deluxe bar fitted on the 24/12/13 and was asked to come close to midday as they wanted a half day . When the salesman took me outside to show me the car and and their work he asked me to pop the bonnet and I looked down and asked why the bolt I was looking at was not tightened as the spring washer was not compressed & there was thread between the washer and bolt head. Car was swiftly taken back to workshop to tighten. Anyway a couple of months later my air con stopped working . Turns out the bar was pushed against the a/c pipe when installed & had taken that long to rub through from friction. Dealer came to the party to rectify this but was a hassle to get car there around work etc. Next time I'll wait till after holidays instead of being too keen to get it done , or take the option of doing it myself which I've managed to do with the help and advice from this site.
Cheers Matt
Lift was done the same day & I'm getting that checked on Thursday cause the left hand side has dropped 14mm in the front & 17mm in the back since the 500 checkup .

[shodown Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shodown]

Find your self an A1 small time mechanic.

Yeah, I use to used a mechanic who works from home - the type of setup most of us dream of having. He is fantastic and very honest and reasonably priced. In fact, when I first started using him I thought he wasn't charging enough. He's got a good customer base now and doesn't take on new customers as a result.

Unfortunately, its a bit of a piss around dropping cars off to him and getting to work etc where I am and now with kids, though it appears I may have to do just that now!