Any experience with Toyota dealer service dept?
 

Anybody have anything good or bad to offer about taking your Toyota to either Phillips in Leesburg or Deluca in Ocala for recall/dealer service???

My 5 year old Camry has never needed dealer service but I have a couple of minor recalls to get checked out and a few little things for them to look into. I am always leery of dealership service depts and am not familiar with either of the local establishments. Any advice or experiences are welcome.

I had good luck with Phillips in Leesburg. The only thing they tried to soak me with, they told me my air filter was dirty and it would cost me around $40 bucks to change it. I said "no thanks" I can do that myself.

I’m using Phillips in Leesburg and have found them to be very efficient and courteous. I’m able to schedule my appointment and they take the car right in.

I have a 2010 toyota rav 4. my dealer hit me up for fifty bucks for a small filter behind the glove box part of the heating/ac system. Was this the same filter they wanted you to buy?

That sounds like a "cabin" filter. My wife just had one replaced in her car at a dealer and it was $39.95 for the part plus labor.


.

If you own a Toyota product and you're a do-it-yourself kind of person, you can easily save some bucks by replacing your own cabin air filter. The same would probably hold true regardless of what type of car you have!!

I ordered a bunch of them from a place called Logical-Source www.logical-source.com . I paid right at $50 for 7 of them, no tax, including shipping to my door. I got lucky - we own a Scion xB and a RAV4....and they both use the same cabin air filter. If you drag your feet, the 'Out with the old and in with the new' job on either of these two models will take you 10 minutes max. Real simple - the filter resides in a little compartment behind the glove box. Glove box removal is very easy - no tools required. Pop the lid off the filter compartment, old one out, new one in, pop the lid back on, reinstall the glove box......easy peasy! They even include instructions with helpful photos with the filters. Granted, these are aftermarket filters but they seem fine to me! They're not "mission critical" to anything other than filtering the outside air coming into the passenger compartment.

I was SHOCKED when I first changed ours out - they were filthy! So I change them now every 10-15 k miles.

Bill :)

Yes, I have the 2010 Rav 4 too.

Bill,

Thank-you, thank-you and thank-you. I will order the filters immediately.

Hope it works out well for you!

I don't know what their current pricing will be as I bought these sometime last year, I believe. If you're a real knucklehead like me, you can diddle around with the order quantity and see how it affects shipping charges. You might be able to order one or two more without it changing the shipping charge!

Bill :)

I ordered 5 for 39 bucks. That comes to $7.80 a filter with shipping. Sure beats 5X50= $250 bucks!!!

We've been to Phillips in Leesburg once for the 10K oil change and service. Everyone there seemed very nice. Will continue to to use them for our service needs.

I have not been to either local dealer. I have owned several Toyota's over the past years and have found the dealership service to be a total scam. I love the vehicles, but the service is a rip off.

2000 Toyota Tundra. Gas leak on the filler hose. Toyota wanted $850 as they claimed they had to replace the entire gas tank as a unit. Local mechanic fixed it for $35.

2000 Tundra. Problem going into 4 low 4 wheel drive. Toyota wanted to replace entire automatic transmission at a cost of $2200. Local transmission place replaced a sensor of some type, cost $128

2005 Avalon. A gas sensor on the engine had a problem. Toyota wanted $475, local shop $38

2007 Tacoma. Another gas leak again a difference of $600 and local shop $50

2009 Tacoma. Check engine light, dealer wanted $375, local price was $90

2009 RAV 4. 4 wheel drive light came on and dealer claimed wiring harness issue, cost $750. Local shop $60

These experiences are with 4 different dealerships in Northern Virginia. And in every single case these vehicles were under warranty but they had so many different stories why it was not covered that you just wouldn't believe it. Rock had to fly up from the road and hit something, looks like mice were chewing the wires, and on and on. Very expensive and always no ownership of the problem. I still own two, the 09 Tacoma and the 09 RAV, but they are probably my last. I still really like them, but can't tolerate the service from the dealerships.

I have a 2007 Avalon and have used Phillips in Leesburg for recall and regular oil changes. I have had very good service. They will suggest having "extra" things done, just use common sense and ask questions before saying yes or no. Check out your owners manual for the normal maintenance items.

Mine came in the mail today, and you are right, it was easy to change myself.

Good deal!! Glad it worked out for you!

Bill :)

I have a Prius. I went to Phillips for an oil change, just because my NY dealership put the filter on so tight I could not get it off.
I'm picky about my oil changes, and usually do them myself. I gave them STERN instructions that I wanted the new oil level 1/4" BELOW the top fill line, and if it was higher I was not leaving until it was right. I was nice....but firm.

They did it to my instructions, and they did NOT do what every Toyota dealership seems to try to do ...they did not try to sell me a cabin filter. I think they knew that us Prius owners can sometimes be a "do it yourself, finicky" bunch that many times know more about our wonderful Priuses then they do.

Watch that cabin filter trick. I heard of one dealership who shows everyone the same dirty filter, claiming they took it out of YOUR car......"Really, that came out of MY car..?..I just put a new one in last week myself...Hmmmm."

Frank

I have a Lexus, I've heard the closest dealer is in Orlando but you could take the car to a Toyota dealer - any Lexus owners out there?

Thank-you. It came out all right . I just had a little trouble putting the glove compartment back on. After wifey came to the rescue with a flashlight I seen what the problem was. I didn't seat the hinges on the bottom right. But I saved plenty of bucks for a few minutes work and I have 4 left for my future replacements. Great deal!!!:thumbup:

Hi Bill,

I'm a Toyota owner and a do-it-yourself... if by do it yourself you mean taking it yourself to the dealer. :D

Just kidding, thanks for the tip.

Heck, p - I thought you'd be having THEM come to pick it up from you!!! :pepper2:

Bill :wave:

Well, I have an appt tomorrow morning with Phillips .... thanks for all the feedback here.

I already got dinged for a cabin air filter by the Texaco Express Lube joint in Summerfield 2 years ago .... never again will I go to that place. So, I will be wary of dealer's suggestion to replace air filter.

My 2006 Sienna XLE has 56K mostly highway miles. After a routine oil change I was told that I need a new rack and pinion steering unit. I am still checking this out. Phillips is the dealer. I am trying to get a firm price before I get the work done. So far I don't have one.

A new rack and pinion steering unit? Really? I have never heard that one before. Keep us advised, please.

Hmmm, thanks for the heads up Sam. One of the things I want them to check out is an occasional squeaking in the steering as the wheel is returned back to straight from a turn.

Thanks to golf cart living, I only have 27K miles on my car and I bought a 7 year extended warranty, so, my intent is for them to only do warranty repairs.

For the steering repair; Google secret recalls on 06 vans. My daughter had the transmission fail on her Rav4. She found out that there was a secret recall on Rav4 transmissions, but, she had to ask or it to have it done under the recall.

Hmmm, I think I would rack up another (o)pinion.:smiley:

Honest Auto Repairs at Vaughn's
 

BEFORE you go anywhere else..... Stop in to see Vaugn at Quality Tire and Brake. Located at 216 CR466 in Lady Lake. Phone 352-753-8462. It is hard to reach them by phone. Just show up. On South side of CR466 about a half mile West of US Hwy441...He is honest and compassionate. His place looks like a auto recyle yard under the huge old Live Oak trees. Vaughn's place= No scams and No gimmicks.

Did your mom drop you when you were little or something? :1rotfl: :1rotfl: :1rotfl: How do you come up with some of these?

You are on top of your game today, girl!!!! I still say you should take your comedy routine out on the road...........

Bill :wave:

Bill, thanks. You're a regular riot yourself. Let's say you, Skyguy, GG and I do a gig for giggles.

Of course, we might outnumber the audience. :undecided:

Oops, we interrupt this hijack and return to our regularly scheduled program. :read: