Adelaide 4wd / Toyota Hilux servicing

G'day wicket
I suppose you could count me as one of those people who "have the daggers out". Not really. I was surprised by your "you know the all the arguements" statement.
Many people have been burnt by dealers and this problem is Mercedes, BMW and all the common brands as well. The problem is truly an Australia wide issue.
I know of many people who actually protect and defend the dealers who are ripping them off and severlely shortening the life of their investment.
There are dealers who do it ok but you don't know who they are when service time comes around.
I know of some Hilux vehicles which after a few services suddenly destroyed their CRD pump and injectors, just out of the blue, non changing of filters is the glaring thing here. There are Mercs never had an eng oil change in 50,000km, BMW charging for services and not doing them. The Ford, Mazda, Nissan,Isuzu, Mitsubishi all do it too. They hate being found out because it makes them big money to avoid some service items and brings you back because of the failures.
A Colorado Owner in Townsville caught his dealer, no service, but got charged for it, he took it back and made them do it. They put a big dent in the bonnet of his nearly new ute cos he spoke up.
People don't have the daggers out for no reason.
I of course have had the "treatment" but I expected it to happen and therefore was not surprised by a component failure halfway to Alice Springs like a friend experienced in his LUX. I checked local vehicles which had been serviced by the same dealer and found vehicles 10,000km + and 20,000km+ never having had their trans/diffs and tcase oils ever changed. Was the CRD filter also not done???? How long does this go on for before the 10,000km is actually done.
There are good dealers, I hope you find one because the effects of poor ones may not be realised for 60,000km and then how do you prove anything, you can't you just wear it.

Yours in Honest servicing.

Ross M

Ross

Who knows, maybe they are more honest here in Adelaide !? ;)

I don't think so wicket, I have caught CMI Adelaide, on West Tce out and also CMI Southside at Christies Beach. Will never use them again, even if it was free!

Ditto.

No affiliation etc., but it is worth knowing they specialise in 4WD - they don't do anything else. This means they have 4wd stuff in their heads and they work on 'em all day - not on Camry, Dualis, old Pulsars and Lexus etc models as well.

Based on my experience vs dealer and other private workshops, they are streets ahead - they are far more aware of what the heck might have gone wrong or needs to be inspected Vs a cursory glance by the dealership mechanic or apprentice.

In a word - well, three actually - I trust them. And that confidence is a very comforting thing to have when you're miles/km from anywhere.

Cheers

Rick

I gave my GQ Patrol to Alltrac for major engine work which also included replacing everything original that moved. Great work and happy to take it back for other work (which I will be doing getting it ready for a big trip this year).

Hi All
Let me tell you about an incident involving my wife's Mitsubishi GJ Sigma ( long since gone to the scrap yard and not before time either ) The car was booked in for its 80,000km service in 1988 and went to our local Mitsubishi dealer. On getting the vehicle home , I checked the oil, and found to my horror that it was still black. Upon further investigation, I found the oil filter , air filter and spark plugs had NOT been changed. I immediately drove straight back to the dealer, demanded to see the workshop manager and the Dealership Manager and after a complete investigation it was eventually found that the mechanic who "serviced" the car had kept all the part for himself. They were all found in his locker. Result was he was fired on the spot. We were refunded the cost of the service and told to bring the car back the next day, and it would all be done free of charge. Took the car back the following day and they were as good as their word. Car was properly serviced and washed and cleaned. Since then I now service my own vehicles and wont let any mechanic lay their grubby mitts on my 4x4 unless I am there to watch what is going on. I have no faith in car dealerships let alone the multi franchise car repairers as I was bitten badly with my trusty 4x4 . So I work on that, as well as the wife's car, which happens to be her third forty plus rip off car dealerships.