Service or ripoff?

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

Service or ripoff?

My favorite was back when I to my WRX serviced at central coast motor group. I got a call about 10:30 am from a woman who claims the mechanic recommended i do some upper head cleaning BS. I questioned her because I could tell she was from a call center, not at the dealer. The dealer was up selling me via a call center under the pretense that the 'mechanic' recommended the procedure.. What BS. I was fuming and ripped them a new one when I picked up the car.

[Unruly Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Unruly]

I have a 20k km old Prado 150 I have had from new. This is the first new car I've ever bought. I need to know a definitive answer whether or not I can service the car myself and still retain the warranty?

I am a qualified mechanic and work for Rio Tinto in the light vehicle workshop in a Pilbara mine. I service 150 prados everyday. I too have a severe distrust of dealerships and workshops that I dont work for.

Only problem is I cannot stamp the book with a legitimate stamp etc.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

My trusted mechanic left, the new guy seems ok, but we are warming up to each other. So far so good...
Meanwhile, Wife's Ford was bought new. Just dropped it in for one of it's fixed priced services at the dealer (not my usual place). Get a call today. "We've noticed your wipers aren't cleaning the screen very well. Would you like us to replace them?"
"Really? I replaced them two weeks ago" (No, I am not lying here,I really did)
"Oh. Would you like us to replace them?"
"No. Just the service thanks"

That's why I always ask, they can easily get dirty & be doing an average job, or sometimes owners replace them with some crap quality ones, ( not saying you did) when it comes too seeing in the dark & rain it's a matter of life & death, I only use trico (oe)
They cost a bit more but they last longer. I often replace the whole arm as they get wear & tear also.

My favorite was back when I to my WRX serviced at central coast motor group. I got a call about 10:30 am from a woman who claims the mechanic recommended i do some upper head cleaning BS. I questioned her because I could tell she was from a call center, not at the dealer. The dealer was up selling me via a call center under the pretense that the 'mechanic' recommended the procedure.. What BS. I was fuming and ripped them a new one when I picked up the car.

Interesting because all subis need an upper engine cleaner every service 12,500klms!
It's a Subaru product booked out as part of the service. Because of the flat 4 design they are prone to more carbon build up.
Only $20 odd a can & when used correctly its well worth it!

I had a couple wrx's, I'm not sure what was my fav, was it when they left the tail shaft bolts finger loose? After a gearbox fix.
Or another visit when they welded the exhaust bracket & burnt hole in my turbo impeller?
Neither was fun, but 0ld Brian was the best service manager I have ever dealt with & the warranty service was unbelievable!

I have a 20k km old Prado 150 I have had from new. This is the first new car I've ever bought. I need to know a definitive answer whether or not I can service the car myself and still retain the warranty?

I am a qualified mechanic and work for Rio Tinto in the light vehicle workshop in a Pilbara mine. I service 150 prados everyday. I too have a severe distrust of dealerships and workshops that I dont work for.

Only problem is I cannot stamp the book with a legitimate stamp etc.

Check the trade practises act. On a manufacturers warranty they can not make you take it back.
They can make it hard for you, they can & will blame other things, but they do that anyway.
Keep receipts for genuine filters, use correct oil, which is easy.

Your choice in the end. I think you need to speak to the right person in your local dealership, & see if you can get comfortable with it, they will only use the words we really reccomend you bring it back etc. the right person should tell you as long as you are qualified & use the correct parts & do it as per the book you should be fine.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

That's why I always ask, they can easily get dirty & be doing an average job, or sometimes owners replace them with some crap quality ones, ( not saying you did) when it comes too seeing in the dark & rain it's a matter of life & death, I only use trico (oe)
They cost a bit more but they last longer. I often replace the whole arm as they get wear & tear also.

Yeah - I understand what you are saying - they were sourced from my local autoshop and cost more than Ford would have charged me LOL. But they literally are two weeks old. Parked under a pine tree and got resin on the old blades. Got a nice big blob smeared over the screen when i went to use them.

Generally my local guys are good for the usual stuff - even telling me to go directly to their specialist to save coin rather than going through them for a issue with a previous car.

[Prado44 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado44]

Hi guys, I hope this is ok to post this question here, I'm trying not to open another post for no reason.

My 120 2008 is due for its 110,000km service and is going in tomorrow for it at Toyota. ( as part of my warranty program it MUST be serviced at Toyota ) , but here's what I'm concerned about... It's only just hit 93,000km.. Is this ok?

I'm only doing maximum 8000km a year, and probably at best 2-3000 between services...

Do I continue like this , or should I be doing or saying something else

Thanks for your replies

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Not much you can do as its generally either 6 months or every 10k. Is it genuine toyota warranty or after market warranty ?? Genuine Toyota extra care warranty is the same as from new BUT these after market warranties can be a total rip off. If its after market read the fine print, your probably only covered for the first $1000 or some thing along these lines. If this is the case Id take it else where as your going to be paying premium pricing through the dealer. If its genuine toyota warranty then I believe it has to be done through toyota for the extra care warranty. I know when I bought a new toyota years ago I had to take it to toyota for servicing for the extra 3 years warranty to continue. Cheers Steve

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

Ah yes, the fine print. In order to satisfy a claim against Toyota for a warranty item you will need to be able to show that every scheduled service (6 months or 10,000km) was in fact carried out as per the Toyota schedule. If you get your local mechanic to service your car you better hope that he services it as per the requirements of Toyota otherwise they may refuse the claim. Then you will be faced with a big challenge unless your mate coughs up for the repairs.

[Bear63 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bear63]

Bushbasher , i just had this conversation with one of the head honchos from Mitsubishi warranty , he told me it is Australian law that the Manufacturer has to prove that it has been incorrectly serviced and that this caused the fault, not that the owner has to prove it has been serviced by the book, this is not well known
He also told me the manufacturers know this so they will eventually buckle

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Bushbasher , i just had this conversation with one of the head honchos from Mitsubishi warranty , he told me it is Australian law that the Manufacturer has to prove that it has been incorrectly serviced and that this caused the fault, not that the owner has to prove it has been serviced by the book, this is not well known
He also told me the manufacturers know this so they will eventually buckle

That's also my understanding & experience.

The dealership extra rip off warranty is the one that is conditional of you taking it to them.
Top price minor services to cover in the unlikely event of a claim.
Again check the fine print on what's covered & to what limit. Not near as good as the manufacturer extended warranty.

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

Yea I would never go a dealership extended warranty. A genuine extended warranty yea definitely


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[Prado44 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado44]

Yeah the warranty plan I have is the Allianze Mechanical Warranty Plan... I bought my car second hand , through a car yard, and Basically they fix any component ( other than things like brake pads , air filters etc etc.. Consumables) to the purchase price of the vehicle. There's no capped price per claim.. So if I was to break a gearbox or diff, they would fix it , so long as I never went over the purchase price..

It does sound good, and it hope it's not a lame arse cheap one , but hey... I could be wrong!

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

When my engine blew up, the insurer wanted every service detail before they would consider the claim. That was Swan Insurance, sold to me by dealer as dealer extended warranty. The car only ever been serviced at the one dealership throughout it's life.

[Gypsy4wd Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gypsy4wd]

When I took my brand new triton to Mitsubishi for it 20k service, I happily drove off into the wide blue yonder, until 15 min later all he'll breaks loose, smoke pouring out of the engine bay, rattles and bangs from the engine, as I turned back to the stealer ship,BANG, dead stop and smoke, opened the bonnet and found no oil cap, wondered at first why no oil over the bonnet , looked under no sump plug, dipstick out, no oil, walked back to dealer, he didn't believe me until we both walked back and looked, back at the DEALER workshop is my cap and plug,
So anyway 6 months later after Mitsubishi ummed and arred about warranty I got a new engine, 2 days later it was sold,
Summery... I don't trust dealers or mechanics in general, and I know the crap that went on, I was a mechanic at a big multi badged dealer,

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

When I took my brand new triton to Mitsubishi for it 20k service, I happily drove off into the wide blue yonder, until 15 min later all he'll breaks loose, smoke pouring out of the engine bay, rattles and bangs from the engine, as I turned back to the stealer ship,BANG, dead stop and smoke, opened the bonnet and found no oil cap, wondered at first why no oil over the bonnet , looked under no sump plug, dipstick out, no oil, walked back to dealer, he didn't believe me until we both walked back and looked, back at the DEALER workshop is my cap and plug,
So anyway 6 months later after Mitsubishi ummed and arred about warranty I got a new engine, 2 days later it was sold,
Summery... I don't trust dealers or mechanics in general, and I know the crap that went on, I was a mechanic at a big multi badged dealer,

#######, there is the kind of reason some people check that maintenance work is carried out.

Basically, it's not because they hate mechanics or workshops, it's because it causes the consumer no end of hardship once something falls in a heap because of an error during the service.

Once you or someone close have had one of these experiences, you tend to do a bit of checking. It's just self defence.

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Summery... I don't trust dealers or mechanics in general, and I know the crap that went on, I was a mechanic at a big multi badged dealer,

Yes, I agree totally.

Once, I bought a cheeseburger from Macca's and it was cold. Cold I tell you. Dont trust any of em!

Every Macca's is a shonk I tell you. Cant trust any of them. And that freakin guy with the big red boots and afro - he's the worst of all.

And the red light that shows low oil pressure. What was that doing?