Do not go to dealership for oil change!

I can almost guarantee they are not greasing the spider and slip yoke joints. And if they are, I bet they don't use the specified greases.

I started doing my own oil changes many miles ago, after having them done at the dealer for at least 100k miles. When I went to grease those joints, the factory black paint was still on the zirk fittings, grease would not go in until I picked it off. Once I got the grease pumping, there was a ton of air in them. Not to mention the cross threaded skid plate bolts. Pretty lame.
 
I'm here at the dealership. They also found out the tech did not tighten the oil filter which was also leaking. Said they have to add a quart of Mobil1 and tighten it up.

As for the tranny, they need to drop the tranny, and fill it all back up because they don't know how much tranny fluid was lost. Said their master mechanic is doing the work.

Jesus Christ, what a F'ing nitemare. All this because I took the runner at the dealership for an oil change.

They're having to drop the tranny to fill it up?
Their master mechanic needs to do a full service and the service manager needs to recheck everything.

You also need to figure out what you want from them as compensation. I could see some bits from the parts counter since I'm not sure you want them to service your car - although I'm sure they'll treat you like a king in the future.

I trust you're in a loaner.
 
what dealer is this?

when I first got my 4runner, I took it to the one in queens. I had an appointment and they still told me itd be 4-6 hours. They also wouldnt disable the seatbelt warning beep, even though my manual said it was an option. After this I noticed 5 sales guys and mechanics in and around my truck checking it out. I told them to get the hell out and left.

Took it to a dealership upstate where I have a cabin and it was night and day difference. Amazing folks at the Kingston dealership.
 
… As for the tranny, they need to drop the tranny, and fill it all back up because they don't know how much tranny fluid was lost. Said their master mechanic is doing the work.

There are posts on this forum that discuss changing ATF. It is not necessary to remove the transmission to top off the fluid. The 2010 factory manual does not specify transmission removal for ATF fluid change or check level.
 
You do not need to drop the tranny to change the fluid, what on earth is this dealer doing? Also, it is not a lug bolt, it's a bolt.
 
Yeah, it's usually NOT the highly qualified guys doing oil changes. Hopefully the guy doing the work now is conscientious.

I will be doing all the servicing on my new 5th gen myself.
 
Their master mechanic needs to do a full service and the service manager needs to recheck everything.

You also need to figure out what you want from them as compensation. I could see some bits from the parts counter since I'm not sure you want them to service your car - although I'm sure they'll treat you like a king in the future.

I trust you're in a loaner.

Yes, master mechanic did the work and it was overlooked. I had to laugh when they offered a free Mobil1 oil change and tire rotation. They also offered to clean my driveway. The job is done. No loaner required.

Dealers you should stay away from:

Island Toyota (Staten Island, NY)
Sansone Auto Mall/Toyota (Avenel, NJ) <--botched oil change/loosened tranny bolt
 
Last edited:
I'm aware of how to do it, but the OP says the dealer is dropping the whole transmission.


Just the tranny pan was dropped. Not the whole transmission. They said the way they tell it's full is from the top of the pan. They have a nut or tube that drains when it's over filled. Once it stops draining, it's full.

Why Toyota removed the trans dip stick is a mystery. It's like they force you to go get it done at a dealership.

My other question is when does a 5th Gen need to get it's tranny fluid replaced via maintenance schedule? 30k miles?
 
Propain IS the OP. I'm sure he knows that, and just misspoke in his justifiable annoyance at the situation.

This has to the be only forum I'm on that does not put "[OP]" next to each subsequent post by the OP. Lost track of that - sorry guys.
 
Yes, master mechanic did the work and it was overlooked. I had to laugh when they offered a free Mobil1 oil change and tire rotation. They also offered to clean my driveway. The job is done. No loaner required.

Dealers you should stay away from:

Island Toyota (Staten Island, NY)
Sansone Auto Mall/Toyota (Avenel, NJ) <--botched oil change/loosened tranny bolt



OP. Thanks for calling the dealers out. My month old truck was purchased from one of them. I now know better off doing my own routine maintenance.
 
propain;3429478 My other question is when does a 5th Gen need to get it's tranny fluid replaced via maintenance schedule? 30k miles?[/QUOTE said:
the transmission fluid change is 120K miles. Toyota tranny fluid and how it is working .. the fluid holds up much longer than a GM transmission. the toyota has a screen.. GM has a filter media like an oil filter. so I do my GM tranny fluid/filters every 40K miles.also I put a strong magnet on the tranny pan.

toyota tranny works very well with not much wear dust.. so that is why 120K miles.. some did the fluid changes at 180K miles ..

what you need to do since your a new toyota runner owner the drive shafts and axle yokes need to be greased every oil change 7-10K miles.. just a couple of pumps .. my runner has no drivetrain sounds 2016 ...
also check the rear diff oil for any dark/gray color ..if its not looking amber brown then change it.. I had to change it @3K miles..diff gear oil still looking good last nov 2019..it has a breakin issue on the diff gear teeth..
good help to inform the dealership location poor work!
 
It's a shame so many dealers (and shops) screw up such a simple procedure. I've bought three new Toyotas in the past 7 years and I've passed on the free Toyota Care maintenance and done the oil changes myself. In fact I have to change the oil in my wife's C-HR tonight.
 
When the dealer "threw in" Toyota Care for free oil changes on our new 2019 4Runner I was not impressed. After reading multiple 4Runner forums I will either do them myself or find a local indie shop, though a local indie shop put new snow tires on my wife's vehicle and 2 of them were not installed directionally proper...

On the other hand, every single service we had done at the Audi dealers when we owned Audi's was exceptional with never a problem - late model loaners, coffee, juice, snacks, fruit, car washes, and always solved the issue, even odd squeeks and rattles that only occurred in certain circumstances.

Audi Care for all maintenance up to 50,000 miles was a good choice then.
 
Last edited:

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
278,317
Messages
3,554,129
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Trending content

Back
Top