Toyota servicing questions

littlestar1981

Clueless girl who wouldnt have a clue what to do if she broke down :-)

Got a Yaris, 3 years old at the end of the month. Just had it's MOT and end of warranty check, all fine. Few Q's:

- Apparently it still needs a service next month, £124... what will that do that they haven't done today?
- They've said I need 4 wheel alignment at £80+VAT. Can I get it done anywhere cheaper... the warranty is about to expire so it's not like it can be invalidated. Same goes for aircon service (quote £80+VAT) and 'replace coolant' (£63+VAT)
- Do I have to have it serviced every year by Toyota?
- Are extended warranties worth it?

Thanks

McKneff

They are touting for business, you can take your Yaris to get it serviced at any gargae nowadays and it will be half as cheap and wont invalidate the warranty.

Take it to an established garage for its service, they will tell you whether the wheels need aligned.

Same with the air con. have it done only if you want it done.

No, you dont have to have it serviced every year by Toyata, as long as you have the service history when you sell it, its fine.

I have never had an extended warranty, i was offered one by Toyota in
December when my Toyota Aygo Sport ran out of Warranty but the cost was extortionate around £35 a monthwhich equates to £420 a year, Its a gamble i wasnt prepared to take.

keith1950

Hi, firstly you don't need to use Toyota but you should still have it serviced at the stated service interval. The warranty check is more of a visual inspection. You should have the oil, oil filter and air filter changed.You should be able to get 4 wheel alignment done for around £45 at your local tyre fitters.You don't really need the air con service unless you have a problem with the air conditioning and I don't think I have ever had the coolant replaced, just topped up to ensure correct strength. Most dealers give you a list of jobs and a lot of customers assume this work needs doing, if they are doing their job properly these items should be pointed out as 'advisories' .

Red_Cat

Littlestar, a few tips:

Make sure that whoever services your stamps your service book/service record or whatever Toyota call theirs.

Tis proves you have maintained the car which will help when you come to sell or trade in.

If you get the car services elsewhere from the Toyota garage, make sure they use the right ratings for lubricants and coolant. Some cheap garages shove the same type in different motors, not recognising that different manufactures specify different oils etc.

jeannieblue

Third service is a small one. Air con service? Rubbish! Wheel alignment? Are your tyres wearing unevenly? Probably not. Coolant? Again it is probably fine!

Don't let them rip you off! I would say £100 tops for this service, using genuine parts (obviously oil and filter and possibly pollen).

Just out of interest, what is your mileage?

jeannieblue

By the way - I work for independent garage, we are Toyota and Lexus specialists, we are very busy and service many many cars that are under warranty without any problems at all.

We do not dramatise and I think that dealers do and frighten people into having more done than is necessary.

When a car is under warranty, we service accordingly so that the warranty is unaffected, after that, we are more flexible and service accordingly and only change/replace what really needs to be replaced and not waste our customers hard earned money!

Air con service? If it is working properly and the pollen filter is changed when it needs to be, then there is nothing else to be done.

Its the wheel alignment that has me baffled!! Unless you are cutting out your tyres etc., I really do not know what they are going on about - and if the alignment was that bad, then it has probably been like that from day one and should be sorted under warranty and to no cost to you.

Still curious re your mileage...

littlestar1981

Mileage is 20242 and its 3 years old this month. I think the oil, filters etc is in the service and it's £124 for the third year service.

The tyres say on my sheet (hope this makes sense to you!)
2-3-2 and 2-4-2 for front
5-6-5 and 5-6-5 for back.
Then it says 4 wheel alignment due to 185/60/15 H (that's my tyre size??) Clear as mud!

Keith1950, they are listed as advisory, but the guy said they aren't urgent or dangerous but need attention...?!

Just_Incredible

I'm sure Yaris's only need a 2 wheel alignment, either way take it to kwik fit and they'll do it for £27.95

4 wheel alignment are for cars that are rear wheel drive, but check your rear tyres for uneven wear

Horace

I have had a toyota yaris since 2001 - at the end of my warranty period my dealership offered me an extended warranty which was a complete waste of money,

Your service book will tell you when you need a service and what will need to be changed or checked. You do need to have the car serviced every 12 months (try and have the MOT at the same time) but some services will be full ones and others will be intermediate ones (intermediate is more checking and less new parts). I no longer visit the Toyota dealership preferring to use a local garage (acftually one they used to use themselves before they got their own MOT testing station), I get a courtesy car without having to book one out and my service is considerably cheaper than Toyota.

HTH

McKneff

Hope that has helped, littlestar, and has saved you some pennies.

We'll have a large red each and a pint of lager for the gents please.:beer:

Isnt this site just great:T

ni' night all

keith1950

Hi, from experience with my own cars, more wear on the inner and outer edges of the tyre wear e.g. 2-4-2 is usually due to either tyres inflated to incorrect pressure or hard cornering.If it needed alignment I would have expected 4-3-2 or 2-3-4 being reported .As far as some of the other items , if they are working ok leave them until they aren't. (air con/ coolant/brake fluid etc.)