It's funny when you are trying to fix up your ride but at the same time trying to get support from a company who doesn't want you to, hehe.

I was talking to the dealership where i bought my 07 auto tc at and was asking if they could convert my engine oil to synthetic after i have a turbo installed on it. They said sure, but they have to use Mobil 1 synthetic, i said ok... No worries...

Well today, i asked them if they could convert my tranny over to redline synthetic if i gave them the fluids and explained to them that it meets the requirements that the T-IV uses. He said they couldn't because they are only allowed to do work that involves retaining the warranty on the car.
Now, i understand that but after talking for a while, he said somethin that doesn't seem to be a "fair" statement to auto enthusiasts. He said that they can't support aftermarket equipment because ALL cars that start having aftermarket equipment installed on them always last the least amount of time compared to cars that were kept under the warranty.

That just didn't seem like a fair statement to me.
Yes i know what he means but someone like me, and I HAVE read of a LOT of users on here that are not 100% aimed at keeping their car 100% as reliable as it was before they started modding it, wants to retain the longevity of the car's life cycle. I end up paying almost double for a F/I setup just for safety equipment (gauges, extra precautions, etc...)
I just hate it when the dealership classifies someone like me as someone that they view their car is not gonna make it after they deem it void from warranty because i am suppose to be locked into some contract or else.... as how they should put it.

It's like talking to someone playing mind games over there.

When it comes to asking if they can do something or recommend something, it's either it will work or impossible. there is never a - it will void the warranty or unsure.

So, how do others feel about this?
Do you get treated like that by dealerships (if you have asked for their help physically or just advice) or the fact that he thinks any aftermarket installed part(s) installed is a guaranteed premature failure?

 

yeah. I bought a TRD clutch from trdsparks, and i brought it to the dealer to see if they could install it. It's a genuine toyota part!!! And they absolutely REFUSED to install it! I hate them! Then i told them, what if i get the warranty? they said it wouldn't make any difference. Once they sell you the car, your on your own....

 

Im not sure thats all true. i bought some trd springs and asked if they could install them on my tc (after having it a year) they said yes but after i found out how much they wanted, i went somewhere else. Maybe its certain dealerships that have "their own policies"

 

no, they said only parts bought from the dealership they would install. If i buy elsewhere, and it's STILL a toyota part, they won't install it. ____ me off!

 

Well, all that is is pure liability issues. What if who you purchased that part from came off an 18wheeler that had turned over on the road and may have slightly damaged product? They still were able to sell the products to a B class company who resold them to anyone as brand new, because they are.

That's how they look at that. Now, if that happened to them and if they had parts like that in the dealership's inventory, then they who have it replaced ASAP because the markup in price covers a lot, but normally too much.

 

your car should be running synthetic oil anyways straight from the manufacturer...

 

i'm actually unaware if it is. I've only let the dealership do oil changes. I'll check just to make sure. I don't know about the tranny though. I do not know if T-IV is synthetic or not. I doubt it is if "someone else" i have talked to told me to convert it over to synthetic.

 

yea. if you check your owners manual, they say to use mobil-1 full synthetic.

 

it all really just depends on where you take your car. they have policiies about whether or not they will install parts that haven't been in their control.

my dealership has installed lots of parts i have bought from sparks, not questions asked. it is a toyota part, brand new in a factory sealed box. they are cool with it.

one time i asked a local garage to put on in my new split fire spark plugs and nology hot wires on my old ford explorer. and they said no, even though they were new and good parts. he refused to install any parts that didn't come through his hands. he doesn't want the liablility.

 

yea i hate dealerships 2. whenever i go there i never come home happy. but its like what drax said it all depends on where u go.

 

same for me
talking to them is like talking to a brick wall.
they think you dont know anything, when its actually the other way around. Most of the dealership people i talk to are all old farts with big egos, and the mechanics seem like they only graduated from high school..
good job toyota america..

 

My question is, why do you want the dealership to put the parts in? I think it would certainly cost a lot more to have them do it, then some other auto shop...

 

because if anything goes wrong, there is no question of warranty coverage.

 

i hate the dealer.......

 

dealers around here wont do anything unless the parts are bought from them. kinda weird.

 

I never let the stealership touch my car, and I never have them order parts. I research prices myself, and place orders myself. The only person I'll let touch the guts of my car is my paint guy, my fab guy, and myself. I learn more about my car that way.

 

all i requested was to have the tranny converted to synthetic. He acts like i'm swappin the engine out and wantin to know if i'm still covered or somethin.

After this experience, i can't depend on the dealership for anything unless they suggest it for the car...