PTSD from Scheduled Maintenance

Beyond the 2 years/ 25,000 miles of no cost maintenance you get with your new 4Runner, where do you take your vehicle for scheduled maintenance?

My dealership I've been going to for years, who I've purchased several new vehicles, crashed one of my new Tacoma's during scheduled maintenance. They did a horrible shoddy repair job and I insisted they replace the panels that were damaged. They did. But to try and pass a shoddy repair job after they damaged my vehicle was adding insult to injury. Too insulting...

Now I'm driving a new 2024 4Runner and will be taking it there while it's free...unless I drive farther out. It's them, 20 minutes out, or another place that's 80 minutes out.

But after the no cost maintenance, do you still go to the dealership for service or elsewhere?

Would it be reasonable for me to ask who their best mechanic is, and then insist they be the only ones who can perform service?

Looking for suggestions to minimize my anxiety, lol.

TIA

 

DYI

 

DIY. So much great info out there for almost everything. YouTube for how how-to and the 4runner forums for part numbers.

Most maintenance you need a basic set of tools that wouldn't cost more than $150. At the very least, you could ...

DIY Maintenance

• engine oil + oil filter
• differential oil (2WD rear; 4WD front and rear)
• transfer case oil (4WD only)
• spark plugs / coils
• engine coolant
• engine air filter
• cabin air filter
• brake pads
  
• battery
• lube drive shaft

DIY these items would probably save you a few $k over the life of the vehicle.

Then you can take it to a mechanic for more critical stuff, such as

• transmission flush
• suspension repairs

Maintenance Info

Part 1- Engine Oil and Filters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdNCnYHhEm8

Part 2 - Coolant and Transmission Fluid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJZLMIl6XPo

Part 3 - Brakes and Spark Plugs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5xFLj5baJw&t=811s

 

Thanx this is good information.

 

Wait til you start losing those 10mm.

Going add up to more than $150.

 

Do the oil changes yourself. So much info out there for this kind of stuff and it is actually rewarding to be able to do something on your vehicle. You will take time and care in doing yourself. Now, if you consider yourself handy, you can do other stuff as well but then buying tools and getting underneath might get old.
Second option, go to an offroad shop, a shop that specializes in Toyota's. They will take care of it with great care but mostly with great skill since they know these things. Good luck.

 

Welcome to the forum.

Time to get personal and dive into performing routine maintenance on your own, if you have the resources to do so.

The stickies have several DIYs to give you a head start. If you have any questions, post up for advice.

 

Lol let's bump that tool cost to $200.

 

DIY only makes sense if the following is true:

Cost of Service > Your cost for parts + Hours it would take YOU * what your time is worth + cost of any mistakes you make + cost dealing with fighting dealer when they claim that you didn’t maintain it right and are thus making sure your warranty claim is denied.

If you go to an independent, at least you can document what was done.

 

Consider finding a trusted independent Toyota mechanic in your area and sticking with them. That’s what I did 10 years ago and no one but them has touched my 2021 4Runner. As you know, “free” service isn’t always free.

And while I admire those who DIY, I’m not that guy. I do a helluva lot of things very well. That ain’t one of them.

 

I'm not that guy either. And like you, I can do, and did, many things...

 

I don’t take mine for “free” 2 year maintenance at dealership ; I have taken it to my mechanic instead. I don’t want a dealership to ever F things up with this vehicle. Same guy that works on my vehicle will work on it till he sells the shop. I have known him for years and trust his judgement when he says “fix this” and “skip that”.

I have also worked on my own cars for a few years. I might still do for large ticket items - brakes, spark plugs etc. but otherwise I’d rather pay someone else.

 

Other than simple oil changes, there is so little actual maintenance, and most of those are easy DIY. Keep in mind that dealer "free" maintenance is usually performed by the lowest skilled tech, so even those services are questionable. Make sure they document everything and check their work afterwards. Start looking for a trusted indy shop now if you plan to keep it more than a few years.

 

How do I look for a trusted indy shop? That's definitely my preference. What verbiage am I using for searching?

 

I lucked out and got to my mechanic by word of mouth. Internal company wiki pages (maintained by employees) had rated local area vendors and I used them and really liked that he didn’t upsell me anything.
Not sure using search on google will lead the best possible choice for you. It’s probably going to take you talking to people who use that mechanic, or trying a few and deciding for yourself.

 

Ask around in your regional forum, pick from here: https://www.4runners.com/categories/regions.36/

Also ask in your regional forum on Tacoma World, which has more members: https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/regions.36/

 

I DIY all things on my 4runner now. Before I had my beloved 4runner (I care about my rig now) I never even did an oil change because truthfully I was scared I'd mess something up. Now I'm at the point of separating the upper ball joint from the spindle and repairing my ball joint boot when the part gets in from Toyota. I've graduated YouTube University with a degree in suspension work. I like to spend an entire day/weekend just working on my 4runner it relaxes me. Plus it's good exesize.

 

Thank you...my search begins! Merry Christmas!

 

even with the free service that came with my 2022, I did my own servicing as I dont trust anyone at a dealership.

 

Many of us can not do our own maintenance!

Kevin

 

There is other places for oil changes than the dealership.

Quicklube and dealers will use the cheapest possible labor for oil changes. Go find a good small shop.

 

I was going to say verify!

Krevin

 

maybe you should learn then..

 

I know how to do it!! I am too old and have heart problems to be getting on ground changing oil, etc. Think before you speak.

 

Think before I speak? thats funny coming from the guy calling people “Kevin”.

 

What are you talking about?

 

I thought you were calling me a “Kevin” : “A boorish lower-class person of low intellect.”

but now I see that your actual name is Kevin from your profile.

 

And where are you getting tthis definition of Kevin from?

 

google. Its slang for the male version of a “Karen”.

 

Never heard of that and I believe you are wrong.

The name Kevin means "handsome." It has Irish roots and is derived from the name Caoimhín, which originated from the elements coém (meaning “handsome”) and gein (meaning “birth"). Saint Kevin was the first well-known Kevin. Since then, many children have been given the name.