T4R Dealershp work

[Aquabear]

810moto that was hilarious!!!! HAHA Man thanks I needed that.
GMG2 out of WA- Bremerton USS Rainier - we were BB Stackers! but I was a diver before coming in so I had a much cooler job. Oh yeah and weather getting colder now really does suck- it really is true if ur body is damaged can tell the weather! Maybe its time to move warmer Florida, Mexico, Puerto Rico, TEXAS!

subst4nce- Steve in the service dept is a good guy there, but I also know more about my truck than most in the waiting room and what work I already did on her and what didn't need to be done but much better service dept than Atlantic toyota where I bought my 4R from.

TC4Rnr- thanks. I agree in Pepboys they actually open quarts of the oil you want as I saw them thru the window. But they hmmm honest suck- they beat the hell out of the cars as they work on them- scratches, dents well actually thats the PB in Bay Shore; Commack PB was good experience but ONLY for a oil change. All else I rather do myself.

 

[ilovethedealer]

no offense but you did kind of jump down his throut, as a dealership tech i can say first hand that 90% of independent shops are hacks.. atleast 3 times a week i get cars that have been either rigged or parts not installed correctly... if you find a dealer you like keep with them because they can goodwill major work for you if you have good service history.. and if a customer wants m1 oil they get m1 oil.. and just to let you know they charge the same for a 4 WHEEL AS WITH A 2 WHEEL ALIGNMENT, and do you really think the service advisor knows the difference.. so good for you your a weekend warrior..

 

[810moto]

funny enough, the USS Rainier and us did a few unreps along the way. When where you in?
I was 1996-2000.

 

[TC4Rnr]

no offense but you did kind of jump down his throut, as a dealership tech i can say first hand that 90% of independent shops are hacks..

dude, If you are a dealer tech you should know good tech's make their living by beating the flat rate hours. timing belt, wheel bearings, etc., finishing a 7 hour job in 4 and paid by 7. they don't do jobs like bleed brakes and there are "lube tech's" doing tires and oil change, those kind which the OP had his truck worked on.

quarter of the students in my classes are entry level dealer tech's, those are the guys I'm talking about.

do you really think the service advisor knows the difference.. ..

at lease I know your dealer I should avoid.

 

[ilovethedealer]

hey im not going to tell you im honest.. but i also dont make my money by doing half ass work and never did even when i was a lube tech.. i will turn 14 hours a day and never take a short cut

and he got a fluid flush not a bleed.. i dont even charge for a bleed

 

[FourEyedWilly]

You know, I love my dealer, Findlay Toyota here in Las Vegas. Can I do what they have done for me so far? Yes. Do I trust them, absolutely. Do I blame people for going to the dealer? Not at all.

I do the things on my 4R that make changes like the stereo, lift, spacers. Changing oil? Naw. It's not worth MY time.

As I've gotten older, and started my own business, and have a 20 month old, I don't have time to get on my back to change my oil. The man served his country, came back with some pretty deep scars, and needed a trusted source to work on his rig. So :driving: on, have a few :beer: and enjoy a full :moon:

 

[TC4Rnr]

i dont even charge for a bleed

exactly.

 

[DocMT]

I avoid dealerships whenever possible. Why? Well, because I worked as a tech at a Toyota dealership for many years. And I can tell you from experience that the majority of guys working as tech as dealerships aren't very good mechanics. Most of them think they know more than they actually know. And some of the are simply crooks. The crap I've seen at a dealership would make your head spin. That M1 you give to the dealer for your oil change might go into your engine, but it might go into your mechanic's engine too. Don't laugh, I've seen it happen.

Don't get me wrong, most dealerships have 2 or 3 really knowledgeable guys. Unfortunately, those guys are far and few between. It amazes me that most cars ever get fixed at a dealership. That's why they pay the good guys (the A techs) so much money and give them the important jobs. The guys stuck doing lube/oil changes make very little money and are usually either kids working their way up or guys who just don't have the ability to do any more than oil changes. The guys stuck doing brakes and services (what we used to call "tune-ups") are a step above the lube guys, but they still make terrible money.

When you bring your car to a dealership, it's simply a crap shoot. You may get a good guy or you may get moron. But the odds are in the favor of the moron because they outnumber the good guys by a big margin.

I'm not trying to bash dealerships, but I am telling you guys the truth. I've worked at dealerships myself and I have plenty of friends out in the field. Hell, I went to tech school with half the guys working at dealerships all over my area. The guys that were morons in school are all still pretty much morons now. The only difference now is that they're working on your car now when you bring it into the dealer.

My advice to anyone who doesn't want to turn his own wrenches is to avoid dealerships and find a local independent mechanic who is good and trustworthy. Once you find him, stick with him. For the most part, guys who work at independent shops are MUCH more knowledgeable than dealership mechanics. Car manufacturers do their best to convince people that they know their vehicles better than any independent shop, but that's BS. Don't fall for it.