IceMan Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 Okay got the Supra booked in with Toyota for it's first service since I got it (about 6000 miles). I asked them if they needed any info to service the car but they said it should be similar to the UK spec car... Now I know that technically some things differ (turbo blades, battery terminals, brake disc size...) but from the purposes of a regular "small" service are there any important differences? I might take along the pages from the US service manual to get them to check underbody bolt tightness. Cheers for any advice, Ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 If it's Toyota then they probably can't read the manual. In my experience, there's no difference in opening the bonnet, p*ssing on the engine, shutting bonnet again and charging a couple of hundred quid, be it jap or uk spec Sorry, Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceMan Posted April 15, 2003 Author Share Posted April 15, 2003 Heh, I've read some horror stories on this board... however they replaced my front brake pads (after struggling with the Japanese microfiche to work out the parts) charging £113.47. So I'll see how it goes... it's quite a new garage and they do service a few of the local Supras so I'll let everyone know how it goes next week. Ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Martin F Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 Microfiche ????????? Haven't personal computers made it to Devon yet ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 Toyota charged me an extra £10 an hour, making my service about £40 more than a UK spec. Personally I'm with Paul on this one, so started servicing the car myself. Only part I will get done is the 60k cambelt change, and I'll take that to a specialist to do. The service is only good if you want to get your book stamped for re-sale imho. Also won't get the tossers going for a joy ride in it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 Personally I wouldn't confuse the issue by going up there armed with a list of differences that you get from this BBS. If they are a Toyota dealer they will have all the data needed to order and fit parts for your car. Tell them that it helps by looking at the chassis and vehicle code, after which they can use the spherical things in the front of their heads to find any parts required just as they would if it was a UK spec. Cheers Nathan TDI PLC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceMan Posted April 16, 2003 Author Share Posted April 16, 2003 Final question on this: are Toyota on the whole good or bad for servicing? Obviously there are horror stories on here that I have read but has anyone had good experiences from Toyota and hasn't been bothered to post as nothing went wrong? Living in North Devon I am a bit concerned as specialist places are likely to be 50+ miles away and I don't know who to trust. To get my alarm fitted I went to a place that Toyota, my family and a friend all recommended and they did an appalling job - the alarm kept blowing fuses as they connected it badly, the dashboard took some damage behind the faschia and the wire to the boot was so badly laid it could get caught in the jack! I had to tape down and tidy the wire and I'm still not happy where it tucks down the side of the seat rather than anywhere neater (but I can't remove the black panelling with the rear speakers in so I can't tidy it further). So can anyone give me any hope?! The Toyota dealership is new (clean), apparently services a few Supras and managed to do my front brake pads okay... Ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 AFAIK more than half BBS members experience of Toyota servicing is not brilliant. The Supra is a rare, so most dealers have very little experience of the car. I asked my local Toyota garage what fluid to use in the auto box, they got the answer wrong. Had I let them change the fluid I might have had a big bill for a box rebuild. About a year ago I was buying some parts from the same dealer, another MKIV was in the fore court with the bonnet up. One of the staff in a Toyota jumper was trying to help the guy with a miss fire. He turns to the owner of the car and points to me and said, "You want to ask him he is an expert on these cars". I offered the guy my phone number but he never called. That convinced me that there is no way they are ever going to get anywhere near the underside of my bonnet. There are some good ones around, so you may be lucky, just because some one has had a good experience does not mean it will be repeated. Staff move on and take their expertise with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted April 17, 2003 Share Posted April 17, 2003 Sorry I sounded negative, just had a bad experience myself. Here's the maintenance schedule if you fancy a stab at it yourself, plenty of help on hand on this BBS. I'm slowly working my way through it. Only down side is you lose the Toyota full service history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C4 SUP Posted April 17, 2003 Share Posted April 17, 2003 Ice, I had no problem at the new Toyota dealer near Truro (Cornwall). When I first got my car, with unknown history, I booked it in for a full service and cam belt change, no extra because it is an import, very friendly people who genually showed an interrest in the car and the price was reasonable. No complaints here but I can understand what the others say. I guess it`s down to luck!! Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cashpoint Posted April 17, 2003 Share Posted April 17, 2003 Only experience of a toyota dealer was when I got a flat while picking up my mat's. They knew excatly where the jack, spare wheel and wheel nut bar were if that's ay help:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted April 17, 2003 Share Posted April 17, 2003 Originally posted by cashpoint Only experience of a toyota dealer was when I got a flat while picking up my mat's. They knew excatly where the jack, spare wheel and wheel nut bar were if that's ay help:D Bet you had to open the boot for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceMan Posted April 24, 2003 Author Share Posted April 24, 2003 The service seemed okay. £158 for an 'A' service. Oh they said something has been eating my air filter (maybe a mouse?!) - anyone got a good source for buying those? Cheers, Ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geezabloke Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 Yeah, try a pet shop....LMAO:D Serously though, if you plan to keep the original box K&N and Blitz do a performance replacement filter. Same fitment but better air flow..........Most good performance shops should be able to source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 Yeah, try a pet shop.... ABSOLUTE CLASSIC.... Concise & too the point.... FULL MARKS GEEZA ! ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceMan Posted April 24, 2003 Author Share Posted April 24, 2003 Yeah I guess I walked into that one I'm not looking to upgrade the car (yet) so I'm looking for a regular air filter really. I expect if I ask Toyota to buy one/fit it it'll cost a small fortune. So anyone got a helpful weblink? Cheers, Ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 The air-filter is REALLY easy to fit (HONEST, and I'm not AT ALL good at fitting things ! ) AND, I don't think the Toyota one's too dear, although I just use pattern (cheapo!) ones - Fram/Coopers etc they really are identical to the Toyota one. >> Toyota, >>any 'Spares' outlet - Partco / Motex etc. The Oil/Air/Fuel filters all IDENTICAL to UK spec (as are OIL / Spark Plugs etc - ie. all service bits other than Brake Pads are same). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geezabloke Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 From memory Justine @ Torque IC sells the replacement filter from Blitz for about £40, they take literally 2 minutes to swop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted April 25, 2003 Share Posted April 25, 2003 Yeah, and I got a new standard filter last year from Toyota and it was around the £30 mark!! Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suprash Posted April 25, 2003 Share Posted April 25, 2003 Just to add on the whole Toyota vs Speciallist, people may like to see a toyota stamp on their books, but you have to remember who works in these places and NOT to judge them by thinking "Its Toyota so their the best". You have to remember theses garages or any garage is only as good as the people doing the work, or working on your car. Take the best Toyota dealership around and compare to a speacialist like Leon. Then consider out of the 2 who will be working on your car, take it to Leon and you'll know he probably work on it himself, take it Toyota and then ask yourself the same question, and if your answer is I dont know, I wouldnt take it, as its probably the local YTS idiot that gets to mess about with your car, but thats ok, because toyota always check !!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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