Another Toyta dealership service scam!

[NJshadow93]

Ok so a few weeks ago i tried to listen very carefully to hear ticking in case I had a cracked manifold. I thought I heard a very slight ticking noise so while I was going to the dealership for maintenance anyway the next day, I had them take a look. My mistake was probably having them specifically check for a cracked manifold. I also mentioned to the service manager that i wanted to make sure everything was fine while I was still under a power train warranty (aftermarket warranty, was part of the deal when I bought the truck in July from a used car dealer). They called me and confirmed the manifolds needed to be replaced and quoted it at over $2000. The service manager contacted the warranty company and they sent an inspector out 2 days later (this is now 3 days without the truck). The inspector says the only way he can authorize for replacement is to physically see the crack in the manifold. This means the truck would have had to be taken apart, have the inspector come out to look at it again (1-2 days). i decided to use a shop that the warranty company recommended to me. they thoroughly checked and said the manifolds were fine no exhaust leak. because of the dealer, i could have been out over $1000 to cover the labor to get to the manifolds and put it back together. just crazy! has anyone else experience something like this?

 

[flnycus]

That just really pisses me off. I wish we could sure for that! Good luck anyway.

 

[Sungod]

You should call Toyota customer service and share your love of your local dealer. I am in the middle of a case myself.

 

[snowbrdr033]

^^^ x2!!!

 

[MikeInNH]

Sorry...but I'm NOT convinced this is a dealer scam...Sounds to me like it's a after-market warranty scam.

The caveat is that you actually do have a cracked exhaust manifold and the mechanic the warranty company recommended is saying they're NOT just to appease the warranty company so they don't have to pay out $2000 to fix the exhaust manifold.

Time and time again after-market warranty companies have proven to be a total scam. I've NEVER EVER bought an extended warranty plan (either after-market or from the dealer)....and I NEVER EVER WILL. They are nothing more then a very very very expensive insurance policy.

 

[jirehn]

How did toyota come up with this?

 

[CookieRoe]

Sorry...but I'm NOT convinced this is a dealer scam...Sounds to me like it's a after-market warranty scam.

The caveat is that you actually do have a cracked exhaust manifold and the mechanic the warranty company recommended is saying they're NOT just to appease the warranty company so they don't have to pay out $2000 to fix the exhaust manifold.

Time and time again after-market warranty companies have proven to be a total scam. I've NEVER EVER bought an extended warranty plan (either after-market or from the dealer)....and I NEVER EVER WILL. They are nothing more then a very very very expensive insurance policy.

I agree. I see no dealer scam. You took it the dealer for a diagnosis, then gave it to you and informed you how much it would cost (that shouldn't have been a surprise). Because of your secondary warranty, THEY are the ones who have to physically see the crack (which in some cases is impossible....when the manifold heats up, the very same small cracks close). THEY are the ones who are obligating you to take the motor apart for a what seems to be a common problem to 4Runner's V8 engine. This is why people shy away from secondary warranty companies b/c most of the time, "the are full of it". I'd be cursing THEM out, not the dealer...............

Still, hope it all works for ya.........

 

[blaniac22]

How about taking it to an independent place on your own? Could another place diagnose it? It just might give you another bullet in the chamber so to speak to determine the problem.

I would also think that the dealership would be willing to somehow fight for you - it means money to them.

Or a mediator of some sort?

Just typing out loud...never had a manifold crack, and never had to deal with an extended warranty company.

 

[Sungod]

The way I read this is that the OP asked them to check the manifolds and they said they did and they were cracked and wanted $2k for the work and the warranty company said they needed proof and the dealer wanted $1K just to check. Then he got a second opinion who said they were fine.

I agree that the after market warranty companies are a pain, but in this case it sounds like the dealer was trying to get over on him by telling him that parts were bad, but couldn't prove it, and then wanted $1K to actually look. I would ask the dealer if they were so confident that the parts were bad, why they would want anything just to check.

 

[MikeInNH]

but in this case it sounds like the dealer was trying to get over on him by telling him that parts were bad, but couldn't prove it

OR...the warranty company is making the dealer jump through hoops.....thus forcing the owner to drop the claim....sorry but it happens all the time.

I would ask the dealer if they were so confident that the parts were bad, why they would want anything just to check.

Because even if the manifolds are cracked..the warranty company could easily say they are fine.....THEN WHAT??? And trust me..that's happened a lot too.

I know a few mechanics who use to be one of the preferred mechanics for a few of these warranty companies....After a couple of years they had to stop...The warranty companies were denying claims on EVERYTHING...Even legitimate claims. These guys were small operations...and couldn't afford to spend the time trying to figure out the problem...and then have the car owners warranty company deny the claim...When that happened the customer thought the mechanic was trying to rip them off...so took the car elsewhere to get it fixed....They were LOOSING business.

 

[Sungod]

OR...the warranty company is making the dealer jump through hoops.....thus forcing the owner to drop the claim....sorry but it happens all the time.



Because even if the manifolds are cracked..the warranty company could easily say they are fine.....THEN WHAT??? And trust me..that's happened a lot too.

I know a few mechanics who use to be one of the preferred mechanics for a few of these warranty companies....After a couple of years they had to stop...The warranty companies were denying claims on EVERYTHING...Even legitimate claims. These guys were small operations...and couldn't afford to spend the time trying to figure out the problem...and then have the car owners warranty company deny the claim...When that happened the customer thought the mechanic was trying to rip them off...so took the car elsewhere to get it fixed....They were LOOSING business.

While I agree with your position on the warranty companies, the point is that the dealer was quick to condem the manifolds with very little inspection just because the OP asked them to look at it. If the dealer really thinks there is a problem, then they should stand behind their diagnosis and not back pedal and still try to make money off the situation. A cracked manifold is a cracked manifold. There are no two ways about it. If they thought it was cracked when they presented the $2k estimate, then they shouldn't need to request $1k just to prove their point.

 

[MikeInNH]

I'm NOT saying the dealership is right or wrong...just that other people were jumping on the dealer...and they may be right here...and the warranty company may be the bad guy.

I suggest having the manifolds checked by a trusted independent mechanic not related to any of the warranty companies.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

My question here is, when you asked the dealer to inspect them and they came back with their diagnosis, what did they say?

Because there is a difference between, "We are fairly sure, based on our inspection without teardown that the manifolds are cracked. We want to do a full tear down to throughly inspect them and verify the problem."

They can't completely verify the problem because it most likely will need to be torn down and unfortunetly most dealerships and shops will not just go ahead and do a $1000 tear-down on their dime to satisfy a customer's worry. Its why they charge you diagnostic fees.

Now is the Dealership right or wrong? Depends on what they said and how their doing their diagnostics. Many times at our dealership the service writers have ignored our diagnosis because the vehicle was still under factory warranty, hell even the techs just look the other way on some problems sometimes because the warranty pays so much worse than customer pay. People tend to have the wrong idea about warranty work with dealers...

In any case, I am curious to see what the result is, because both sides of this story are valid in different contexts.

 

[crashman]

I had something not as extreme but was a shock to me.
I brought my 4runner in about 500 miles before the extended warranty was to expire I had a few things that I thought I would have them fix, the light in the climate control was flickering, the upper radiator hose has pink crust around the end, and other stuff.
the service writer called me and said the above two items were not covered by the extended warranty and the cost to fix the upper hose was $154.00 and the light replacement was $95.00! I asked why the upper hose was so much and he said the clamps were $40.00 each I said HOW MUCH? he changed it to $40 a pair I said to pass. I went to Toyota for the replacement light and it was less than $6 a bulb. that was a rip off I think or the guy was new and didn't have a clue:wow:

 

[NJshadow93]

the dealer was just trying to get money. the shop spent so much time on it. they checked every part. they even blew smoke up through the exhaust and everything was fine. and this shop is not the warranty company's shop. they offered to do it but they said everything is fine and i would end up losing so much money on labor. the dealer told me the manifolds are cracked and they need to be replaced. look, ive been going to this dealer for service for years, they are very nice and i will continue to go there for oil changes and maintenance. but this bull. also, i should mention i walked into the shop and told them the dealer thinks i have a cracked manifold and would like a second opinion. and if you ask me, a shop wouldn't be covering for a warranty company. they are the ones making money. they were sure to leave the truck in the shop for a few hours until it the engine was cold. i have seen many scams from dealers just trying to make a quick buck.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I had something not as extreme but was a shock to me.
I brought my 4runner in about 500 miles before the extended warranty was to expire I had a few things that I thought I would have them fix, the light in the climate control was flickering, the upper radiator hose has pink crust around the end, and other stuff.
the service writer called me and said the above two items were not covered by the extended warranty and the cost to fix the upper hose was $154.00 and the light replacement was $95.00! I asked why the upper hose was so much and he said the clamps were $40.00 each I said HOW MUCH? he changed it to $40 a pair I said to pass. I went to Toyota for the replacement light and it was less than $6 a bulb. that was a rip off I think or the guy was new and didn't have a clue:wow:

I agree we charge way too much for some stuff... $40 a clamp was probably an accurate number. I am amazed by what we charge for some of the most pointless crap... :wow:

As for the light, keep in mind they are going to charge you to actually take the climate control unit out and replace the bulb and put it back in. Parts AND Labor, its how the dealer will nickel and dime ya...

the dealer was just trying to get money. the shop spent so much time on it. they checked every part. they even blew smoke up through the exhaust and everything was fine. and this shop is not the warranty company's shop. they offered to do it but they said everything is fine and i would end up losing so much money on labor. the dealer told me the manifolds are cracked and they need to be replaced. look, ive been going to this dealer for service for years, they are very nice and i will continue to go there for oil changes and maintenance. but this bull. also, i should mention i walked into the shop and told them the dealer thinks i have a cracked manifold and would like a second opinion. and if you ask me, a shop wouldn't be covering for a warranty company. they are the ones making money. they were sure to leave the truck in the shop for a few hours until it the engine was cold. i have seen many scams from dealers just trying to make a quick buck.

I'm sorry to hear that, sounds like the other shop did a very good job on the diagnostic work. Yeah, honestly I am always annoyed and upset by the politics that go on in a dealership, the system is as broken as our education and financial systems and just like the aformentioned two its not getting fixed anytime soon. :dammit: