Another dealer fail?

Background: about six months ago took my 23 ORP to the dealer for 5K oil change, the "free" one.

Fast forward to today, have 10k miles, have appt at dealer for last "free" oil change tomorrow. Was looking under truck today and noticed the skid plate that covers the oild drain plug (the one with access door) is gone! Not there!

I assume they never put it back on from first oil change? Which is strange as it doesn't need to come off for an oil change.

Shame on me for not inspecting for so long, but wtf?

After this upcoming service my plan is to replace with RCI or similar to do oil myself with no skid plate removal. I am worried that they jacked up the threads, who knows what they did.

Never been off road so it's not like the skid plate got ripped off by a rock or anything like that.

Could it have come missing from factory? Seems unlikely.

Advice on how to handle this? My plan is to insist it's replaced and that I witness the install to ensure it goes on ok with proper torque so that when I replace the skid plates the new one will, hopefully, bolts on ok.

Again shame on me for being slow to the party, looking for advice on how to resolve.

Thanks in advance.

 

Not a big deal..

Check drain plug if tight.
And check oil level ....

You do not really need it if you are planning on putting a skid...

I would do a new oil change myself to be safe. Maybe they did not bother with the oil filter......

 

Let the dealership know it's missing, and that you expect them to replace it.

 

I do not remember the free service "actual" new parts. Perhaps someone can confirm when you get a new oil filter and when you get new (bulk) oil.
The dealers charge extra for bottled Toyota oil.
The bulk oil can be best price & brand, probably in drums for lowest cost to dealer. If you ask they usually check to give you an answer.
I paid for a oil change (bulk oil) & filter at 1,500 miles.
I gave them a wide mouth clear plastic container with lid. I asked for a pint or so of old oil first catch out of drain plug. And asked to save me the used filter in a plastic bag I provided.
Wow- oil was so dark it was nearly black. Filter had some shiny flecks. Put container on garage shelf (forgot it was there). Many weeks later I was collecting misc. oil & fluids for a recycle trip to auto parts collection. When I poured the oil from first catch into a big jug to take to recycle, I spotted grit-black grit sludge, in bottom of my clear container. So glad I changed it early.

 

6 months ago? I highly doubt they will replace that for you.

 

Toyota Care does not include an oil change at the 5k mile service. Did you specifically request (and pay for) one at the first appointment? Was any other work done?

 

I’m 99% sure Toyota Care give you 1 to 2 years free maintenance meaning 2-4 oil changes if I remember the fine print correctly inside the booklet

 

Toyota will pay for 2 oil changes - one at 10,000 miles or 12 mos from date of purchase, and 2nd at 20,000 miles or 24mos from dat of purchase.. They will also do the tire rotations at 5,000 mile intervals for 2 years.

 

Sorry I wasn't clear: at 5k I used the "10k" service to get the oil change. And I did see the tech working and for sure saw the skid under the filter come off, so they did something down there lol

 

Probably worth asking about, not like you would have gotten an oil change between 5 and 10k and people have busy schedules.

A Honda dealer didn’t put together my SO’s center console back (recall required it to be removed) together right, next time it was around many, many moons later when it was back I asked it to be fixed and it was done.

What likely helped was that there was no other normal reason for that area to be messed with.

 

what an unhealthy idea - dealership oil change. free - huh? no vibrations after free tire rotation ?

 

I found i was missing a bolt on my skid plate, so i told the dealer when they did the oil change they must have forgotten to put it back in. They replaced the bolt at no charge. Afterwards i thought it may have been possible someone stole it off my 4Runner (Neighbor has a Tacoma) for their vehicle, but who knows.

Good luck on a replacement skid plate, i'm going to guess it was stolen or something.

 

Geebus, Cat just left a lower shield off and called it a day. That would be something I would have to at least confront them with. No excuse for any excuse they would provide.
When I was a tech at Infiniti (1990-2005) we all used oil from a bulk tank around 300 gallons that we got from a Kendall provider, Just for reference.

 

Update: resolved! They could not explain, but they dealer was apologetic and replaced the skid. Strange deal to be sure, and I learned to be more attentive. Appreciate all the responses thank you

 

@DIPA I had to laugh when I saw your thread, because the same thing happened to me...

https://www.4runners.com/threads/dealer-oil-change-would-be-laughable.35100/

I'm glad they replaced it for you.