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Big Red 82 · 02-16-2012, 10:37 PM

Where do I start? I try to avoid any repair shops like the plague, considering the number of idiots I have come across when I am forced to take my runner in for tire swaps and the like. My air bag light came on in my 99 4Runner Highlander Edition during the install of my Code Alarm 4051 remote start system. I let it go for a few months before I decided to finally take it to this fore mentioned dealer to have it reset along with the ABS light. The ABS light was due to an LED 3rd brake light I installed, but when I removed it, the ABS light went out. Anyway, I'll try to keep this as succinct as possible. I scheduled the appointment, told them I want the light reset, and a full diagnostic write-up that they charged $150 for just to make sure everything was in good working order. Big mistake considering I do all my own maintenance and pretty much knew everything was perfect. Truck was finished around noon and the service manager said they mistakenly changed my oil

. I informed him that I just changed my oil the weekend before and that I have been running Mobil One synthetic for 40k miles. He apologized and offered me free oil changes to which I declined. I go to pick up my truck, pay and they pull-up my car. Naturally, I do a walk-around, crawl under, and engine inspection. I first notice the nice grease smear on my 2 day old Coverking neoprene covers, which fit perfectly btw. Next I open the hood, and there is conventional oil running down the belts, valve covers, and my formerly clean blue NGK wires. I crawl under the truck and there is more conventional oil all over my freshly brake-cleaned and painted skid plates. They didn't remove the skid plates. Shocker. To top it off they didn't wash my runner as they are supposed to do with all vehicles. Figures. I do an about-face, finger gesture the service manager out of his office and calmly explain to him how incompetent his service staff is. I demand they order me a rental car while they re-change my oil with Mobil One, issue me a check for the seat covers, and wash my truck. I didn't think to check the plug in case the dip-**** oil man used a pipe wrench on my drain plug. Plausible considering he didn't think a funnel was necessary. I came back the next day and the oil was changed and my truck was clean. The service manager was very professional and apologetic, but I never did get a chance to speak with the "mechanic" that worked on my car. Live and learn I guess. I would hope that I would be in good hands at a dealership, but I was wrong.

Kung · 02-17-2012, 10:27 AM

Wellll....I gotta be honest on this one.

As far as the actual technicians go, yeah, I'd say they kinda hosed you over.

HOWEVER...it would appear that the service manager not only was apologetic, but made things right. Yeah, I wouldn't say that experience was the best, but based on the service manager's actions alone, I personally would probably give them a second chance.