well this is what happened, yesterday i went to toyota to get my oil changed. During the process one of the mechanics walked up to me and told me "your power steering fluid need to be flushed" and i looked at him and replied "no its fine because i just checked it 3 days ago (which i really did do)". when i got my car back i went home to check the power steering fluid and it was black, it looked like as if they dumped some oil in there to make it look dirty or something. When i checked it 3 days before i went to get the oil change it was nice and golden. Could it be possible that they were trying to sabotage my fluid that way i would of gotten it flushed and they would gotten more $ out of me?

 

Tech's would never sabotage a vehicle. 1) He would be knowingly putting your life at risk if he did. 2) He could lose everything. 3) He could be blacklisted from just about everywhere.

Some place may not do services that they're paid to do (Jiffy Lube is known for this), but they'll never intentionally damage things just to get more work.

 

^^X2 they are putting their jobs at risk and setting themselves up for huge lawsuits. if i were u id go to an independant shop and get it done

 

Power steering is red in color isn't it?

 

factory power steering color is a yellowish color.. similar to brake fluid in color.

Pennzoil is purple, I know one of the brands is green, and some brands are red/pink.

 

yeah i highly doubt toyota would go that far just for a measly power steering flush. like others said, they would be setting themselves up for huge lawsuits and bad publicity, something toyota cannot afford.

 

Guys i understand that it would be stupid for them to do this but i higly doubt that if his Power steerign fluid was goldish in color an now its black in 3 days time something dont seem right. Now im not saying that the techs did anythign or maybe the OP imagined it. But its soemthign to think about if the OP is correct on the color change of the fluid.

 

The fluid can be contaminated with particles that separate out if allowed to stand for a while so that when you checked it, it was clear and then when driven it stirred up the contamination again. If you have not changed it and it is 2 years old then it should be changed since it does break down in about 2 years of driving. I changed my xB PS Fluid after only 3600 miles and it was getting dark already.

 

Are you absolutely sure that what you checked was power steering before you went in? And that it was actually golden? And it wasn't maybe the brake fluid you were looking at?

I would just find it THAT hard to believe that a tech would do ANYTHING to your fluid just to try to get you to get it flushed. There would be so many other things to make money on for a dealership.

 

Which is what the dealership would WANT us to think!

 

yeah like i said i checked the PS fluid 3 day before, the fluid was gold. Then after the oil change, the PS fluid was black. i can take a picture of it so u guys can see it. Look at it this way my 98 toyota corolla has never had its PS flushed and its still golden. Now im supposed to believe that just in 3 days my tc's PS turns black. i dont think so

 

I had a Toyota tech & service writer threating to void my warranty if I didn't agree on doing a 15k maintainance package; all because I disagreed on doing the 35k package.

I'm starting to think if I ever need Toyota tech work done to my tC; I'll fork the extra cash and take it to a Lexus service shop. I can have close look in the tech area while waiting. Remember Lexus service quote is "Lexus will treat each customer as we would a guest in our home." I am aware that I will sit in service area with corporate CEO's & presidents wearing business suits. I would have to bring out my business suit. LOL I shouldn't laugh because I would.

 

Just because its lexus doesn't mean everyones got money.

I see more soccer moms and normal people in lexus' than business people. It's a fancy toyota, not a Bentley. lol

Also, LOL @ a tech not setting that up. I wouldn't put it past them, and i worked in a shop. I seen ____ like that all the time. Or tranny flushes, and the car kicks it untouched on a lift for 3 hours and then is lowered and put out for pick up. <3 it

 

Take it to some small mechanic and ask if you can watch because you want to learn more about your car. That's what I do.

 

Guess there are nothin' but M_______ Techs up there. Never any shady practice unless you're dealing with a shady business. Not all dealerships are the same. Go get opinions from other dealers, even if they aren't Toyota.

 

not to say that the op is lying but i do first time oil changes on damn near brand new cars with like 5k on them and the power steering looks dirty already. i highly doubt that the old corolla still has "golden" ps.

 

I'm sure you were looking at the brake fluid, it is in front of the brake booster on drivers side and is a golden color, I had changed my power steering fluid last year and is defiantly a red color dextron type.

 

I thought so...

 

In any case it sounds like you need to change the PS Fluid now so . . . getter done!