Eddy replied:

If I have my vehicle serviced by someone other than a Toyota Dealer, will this void my warranty?

If a licensed vehicle repairer services your Toyota vehicle in accordance with Toyota's servicing guidelines, then normal warranty coverage will apply.
It is however important to note that if a non-genuine part is fitted to your Toyota and that part's failure or the incorrect fitment damages your vehicle, then that damage may not be covered by your Toyota Warranty.
For peace of mind servicing, we recommend you visit your authorised Toyota Service Centre who uses Toyota Genuine Parts and has Toyota trained technicians.
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I will take this as a qualified yes
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This should have read "NO" it won't void your warranty
Sorry not shouting, just trying to make my mistake stand out!

Eddy

Pajman Pete (SA) replied:

Mind you, going to a major dealer to have work done on your vehicle is no garuntee of good service.

We were on our way back from Riverland through the Barossa a couple of years ago when the Paj blew a head. The nice RAA chappie towed us back to his major brand dealership (non-Mitsi) where we left the Paj and bussed it back to Adelaide.

The resultant decision was to fit a second hand motor. Picked up the Paj two weeks later, drove out of town and got only 5 km when there was a loud BANG and a chuff chuff chuff sound from under the bonnet. Not good. Stopped and had a look. Number three spark plug is hanging from it's lead down near the bottom of the motor.

I called up the dealership and asked them (nicely) to come and get me which they did. A week later I picked it up again (turned out they had left a thread adapter for the compression tester in the head then screwed the plug into that!)

Within 2 days the idle speed started to climb. I had a look under the bonnet and found the following things not screwed up tight:

All the cable mountings.
Alternator bolts and bracket.
A/C compressor bracket.
Oil filler bracket.
3 of the 4 radiator bolts.
Starter motor mount.

I didn't dare look at the engine mounts!

Back it went again a coule more times.

This was a workshop at a major brand dealership!

Cheers

Pete

Voxson (Adelaide) replied:

Find me where it says the actual words "QUALIFIED MECHANIC" in the fine print of servicing a vehicle under new car warranty.....
It definately says "Genuine Parts"......

Member - Roachie (SA) replied:

Eddy,
You're many many times better qualified than me as a mechanic (I've been a bank johnny since I was 15....now over 50!!!). I bought a new GU in 2000 and after the 1st service (freeby) was done by the dealer, I did every other service myself. I did take it to Berrima for a tune-up etc at one stage early on.
At around 80,000klm, I moved to SA and did not immediately have access to my ramps etc as they were back in Yass with a mate. GU was due for a service so I reluctantly booked it into Nissan where they promptly picked up that 5th gear was about to let go (a known fault in my model). I was dumb-founded cos I didn't even expect them to do anything other than drop the oil and whack on 2 new filters....but they went to the trouble of checking other fluid levels etc. The gearbox oil was a coffee colour and they OFFERRED to change the 5th cog under warranty for me......(a $3,500- job if I'd have had to do it myself). There was never ANY question about my servicing record, although I do keep meticulous records in a book that I could have shown them if they'd asked.
If it were my Corolla, I'd be doing the normal services myself; for sure.
Cheers
Roachie