Toyoya Dealer wants three days for Camry Service

[K8Canb]

Hi all (particularly those working with Toyota dealership),

Give me your thoughts about service time for Gen 5 Camry Altise V6.

I bought this car in August last year; the car belongs to WA farmer who has done bit of towing and country road driving. The car had clocked about 97000 km and is in a good condition. 90000 km service was overdue and the farmer took it to K-Mart and got it normal service. The sticker on windscreen says next service 103000 kms.

The car is now 100200 kms and I wanted to get 90000 kms service and as the car has been driven in county roads and towing, I have decided to change the timing belt kit (idler, seals and bearings, belt tensioner etc.), drive belt change and water pump change. The auto-transmission fluid is slightly dark so I wanted to have transmission service as well.

I emailed the local Toyota dealer and after few days I received a reply today stating that they are booked until 15 February and to carry out the service they need the car for three days! I am concerned as I cannot leave the car for three days. I have got similar service (except transmission service) on my Vienta with 3VZFE (100000 km service), it was done same day, that was in 2002.

I am wondering why 1MZFE service with additional transmission service needs three days. Something is not right here.

K8Canb

[trentmeyer23]

Simple, if you are not willing to leave it for that long don't, take it to another mechanic as it should no longer be under warranty; and if you please, get that mechanic to use genuine parts. Toyota may be too busy to get it all done in one day, as you said they are booked up, they might be trying to at least get your car in there, you could always ask them why they need the car for so long.

[K8Canb]

These are the labour estimates given by the dealer for the work needed:

Replace Timing Belt and associated kit consisting of camshaft and crank shaft front oil seals, idler, tensioner and associated bearings. 3.5 hours extra hour if tensioners.

Replace Water pump 1.0 hour

Replace drive belts (I need old belts for use as emergency spares). 1.5 hours

Perform Auto-transmission service (as the fluid is bit dark). 2.0 hours need to drop transmission pan.

Adjust Handbrake as it is too loose and the lever is almost at maximum top position and even at this position it often will not hold the car on slopes. 0.3 hours

Driver side front door makes noise while opening/closing, please inspect and adjust as required. 0.5 hours

90,000km service 2.7 hour

13 hours 2 days work,depending if no further work is required.

I am not sure whether these are right.

K8Canb

Edited January 24, 2011 by K8Canb

[K8Canb]

Simple, if you are not willing to leave it for that long don't, take it to another mechanic as it should no longer be under warranty; and if you please, get that mechanic to use genuine parts. Toyota may be too busy to get it all done in one day, as you said they are booked up, they might be trying to at least get your car in there, you could always ask them why they need the car for so long.

Thanks for your reply, the dealer says the total time required is 13 hours of labour.

Although the car is out of warrenty, this is a major service and there are no known (to me) mechanics who specilise in Toyota Camry. The next best thing is NRMA Service, I am still hesitating to take it to them too. Most non Toyota people will not have special tools required so they use some stop-gap methods I am told.

I visit Sydney often so thinking of getting serviced in Sydney if I cannot persuade the local dealer.

K8Canb

[Ozzcaddy]

Have a look at this website http://www.fixedpricec****rvice.com.au

You may find something in your area for you to check out.

[Adamsy]

wow three days really?

i can't see why if your dropped your car off first thing in the morning and left it there till close of business why the couldn’t get that done, that's a reasonable amount of work for people to do when the buy a car second-hand around this mileage that has towed and when you’re not sure of its service history etc so can't see why that’s too much of a drama day and half maybe but three???

[K8Canb]

wow three days really?

i can't see why if your dropped your car off first thing in the morning and left it there till close of business why the couldn’t get that done, that's a reasonable amount of work for people to do when the buy a car second-hand around this mileage that has towed and when you’re not sure of its service history etc so can't see why that’s too much of a drama day and half maybe but three???

I have got my V6 Camry Vioenta serviced in 2002 and they did it in same day. The additional service of autotransmission is extra and that should not takle 1.5 hour when re[placing the timing belt.

I have contacted the general manager Service at the dealer and waiting for the reply.

I am comnsidering taking the car to NRMA MoterService, Anyone used NRMA for a major service? If so what was your experience?

K8Canb

[Andrew357]

Simple, if you are not willing to leave it for that long don't, take it to another mechanic as it should no longer be under warranty; and if you please, get that mechanic to use genuine parts. Toyota may be too busy to get it all done in one day, as you said they are booked up, they might be trying to at least get your car in there, you could always ask them why they need the car for so long.

Thanks for your reply, the dealer says the total time required is 13 hours of labour.

Although the car is out of warrenty, this is a major service and there are no known (to me) mechanics who specilise in Toyota Camry. The next best thing is NRMA Service, I am still hesitating to take it to them too. Most non Toyota people will not have special tools required so they use some stop-gap methods I am told.

I visit Sydney often so thinking of getting serviced in Sydney if I cannot persuade the local dealer.

K8Canb

Toyota dealers are not Camry specialists either.

Most mechanics will do whatever you want to do with them, just tell them what you want done on top of your regular service.

[K8Canb]

Simple, if you are not willing to leave it for that long don't, take it to another mechanic as it should no longer be under warranty; and if you please, get that mechanic to use genuine parts. Toyota may be too busy to get it all done in one day, as you said they are booked up, they might be trying to at least get your car in there, you could always ask them why they need the car for so long.

Thanks for your reply, the dealer says the total time required is 13 hours of labour.

Although the car is out of warrenty, this is a major service and there are no known (to me) mechanics who specilise in Toyota Camry. The next best thing is NRMA Service, I am still hesitating to take it to them too. Most non Toyota people will not have special tools required so they use some stop-gap methods I am told.

I visit Sydney often so thinking of getting serviced in Sydney if I cannot persuade the local dealer.

K8Canb

Toyota dealers are not Camry specialists either.

Most mechanics will do whatever you want to do with them, just tell them what you want done on top of your regular service.

Thanks Andrew

I have gone to Toyota dealer for all major services and I do my own for the rest of the services (oil and filter change, inspect and topup fluid levels, look after the battery etc.).

My understanding is Toyota need some special tools which the common mechanics may not have.

Anyone likw to comment of NRMA Service?

K8Canb