Big Island Toyota

[hotinhawaii]

On Toyotas a tire pressure monitor is usually located in the spare also. I had my dash light go on because of a flat spare once.

[Chuysmom]

Someone I know is a Master Tech for BIT. He is the most honest person I know. His first response was to pull out the owner's manual and have a look at it. (Very funny, Obie!)

Ten minutes goes by pretty fast to get a car up on the lift, diagnosed, paperwork, repair...not gonna happen in 10 minutes.

There is a diagnostic fee (which is standard) of $105 per hour, 8/10 of one hour is $85.

The Service Department regularly has customers come in who have had their vehicle serviced elsewhere and then come to Toyota to have it fixed. If you had your oil changed there in the first place there would have been no charge for the service light diagnosis and repair.

Nothing is free anymore and people have to pay their bills. Can you imagine how many people would want to mooch free services if they didn't have a standard diagnostic fee? Who's gonna pay for the tech's time, the electrical usage, yes - the people who do the paperwork, etc.

The other thing people regularly do is have someone else replace a part with an aftermarket part thinking they are saving some money. Then when it doesn't fit properly or breaks before too long, they get mad. They come in and tell the Service Department how awful the mechanic they used was, when it was most likely a bad replacement part.

It's expensive to maintain vehicles and the days of free service is no longer.

Thanks for listening.

Carrie

[ishkabibble]

Obie. Sorry to here about your parents. tech comment on invoice check tire pressure TPMS light still on in dash. Spare tire low, inflate to 32PSI. Now who fell silly.

[Chuysmom]

Ishkabibble, I remember my father and grandfather working on their cars way back when. It was easier...cars didn't have computers in them like they do today - anybody could learn to turn wrenches.

Now everything has computers and they make vehicles safer for everyone, but they break too - only you need a tech who has been schooled to scan and repair the problem. Jim Bob's at the corner doesn't know from sophisticated software in vehicles.

Maybe buy a beater or older car that anyone can fix.

[ishkabibble]

Carrie. I know thinks move slow here. A oil change shop can put a car on a lift change the oil do a diagnosis, paper work and be done in 10 to 15 minuts and cheaper than air.

[Chuysmom]

Ishkabibble, they may forget a sensor or service light, right?

Carrie

http://www.sapphiresoap.etsy.com

"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future..." Galadriel LOTR

[ishkabibble]

Chuymom. With all the trouble I have with this toyota I think I did buy a beater and it only 3 years old.It seems that toyota don't know how it fix either. They know how to put air in a spare.

[Chuysmom]

Haa Haa! Fair enough. Be well.

Carrie

http://www.sapphiresoap.etsy.com

"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future..." Galadriel LOTR

[ishkabibble]

Carrie do you make that soap. My friend had some. Cool stuff.

[spunky]

Once took my vehicle to Firestone for a $20 oil change. They handed me a $2,000 estimate for other repairs. More than the value of the old car! I declined. I wanted the estimate (thought the folks at DCCA or BBB might be interested in their tactics), but they took the estimate from me and ripped it up.

Ishka - instead of venting your frustration here have you thought about writing a letter to Toyota's District Manager or Toyota Motors Customer Service? They may appreciate the feedback and offer you a refund or a discount on future service. Or send a letter to the DCCA - that's what they are there for.

But I caution you to engage spell check before you send the letter. You may not have liked Obie's comment about not being able to read but you definitely need help with spelling. And no company is going to take you seriously if you write a letter similar to your posts. Just saying. Not trying to get down on you. Just saying.

Somewhat familiar with writing letters to car dealerships as my boyfriend has been dealing with a defective paint job on a vehicle he bought from the old Chevy dealer. He has documentation from the dealership (the one that closed down), the District Manager, and the dealership's rep that the paint job was defective and should be repaired but the manufacturer is refusing to cover the cost of repainting the vehicle.

Does it suck that BIT went ahead adn did the repair without consulting you? Sure, but it was less than $30. Yes, money is tight (I dont want to waste $30 either), but like someone else said - is it really worth getting your undies in that much of a bunch? Be glad it wasn't $290 ot $2900.