Dealing with dealership over transmission issues
 

So I've posted in various threads here about the 5th gear grind (lots of threads about this issue) and I was hoping for some feedback and advice.

I purchased my 2013 Scion FR-S in March of 2013. A few months in, I began noticing a quick, short grind when downshifting from 6th to 5th at highway speeds (usually above 65 mph). My fuel pump started chirping too.

I took it in to the dealer (Bob Smith Toyota in La Crescenta, CA), and they told me they were unable to replicate the grind. They ordered a fuel pump and sent me on my way.

While I was waiting for the fuel pump, my 3rd and 4th gears started making a noticeable crunch, but did not feel like they were grinding. I mentioned this to the dealership when I took it back in after the fuel pump had arrived. They said they were unable to replicate it as well. I requested that they perform a tranny fluid swap, as some of the threads here mentioned that the fluid was pretty bad from the factory. They said they'd have to charge me $180 for that. I said no and took it home.

Finally, after a few months of this going in, my 5th gear grind became intolerably loud, but I didn't want to take it back yet again and have them state that it was unable to be reproduced.

Luckily, @way too fast motorsports got in contact with me over these forums and said that he'd do a fluid swap for cheap. He recommended Amsoil, so I went ahead with it. I took a look at the old fluid, it looked like brown-green puke.

Immediately after the fluid swap, I noticed that my 3rd and 4th gear issues went away, but the 5th gear grind was still there. I took it back to WTFMotorsports and he told me it sounded like a synchro issue.

I took it BACK to Bob Smith Toyota, and they sent a mechanic to ride with me while I tried to reproduce it. I was able to do so, and I mentioned the entire above story to him. However, the moment I mentioned the fluid swap, his whole attitude immediately changed and stated that I had "voided my warranty by performing a fluid swap". From the way he talked, he made it sound like I had slapped in a turbocharger or something.

I went on Amsoil's website and on their warranty page (http://www.amsoil.com/warrantysecure.aspx) it specifically states that using their product does not void my warranty. I mean seriously, it's a fucking fluid swap.

What should I do? I'm going back to the dealership on the 16th (they didn't have any rentals for me to use while they documented the issue), should I print that out and show this to them? Is that dealership just incompetent? And have any of you run into dealership issues like these?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

It would seem to me that if the transmission fluid that was put into your car's transmission was within the spec range of the manufactures recommendation, the warranty should stand.

I'll go with the theory that it's a bad 5th gear synchronizer.

humfrz

Too bad your not on the east coast, I have a perfectly good oem transmission you could have.

How come ... ??

Or is that a sad story ... ??

humfrz

Some dealerships don't do shit until they know corporate is keeping an eye on them. Phone SOA or Toyota or whoever and open a case number, and as stated, aslong as the fluid is recommended specs they can't void warranty, and I'd mention that to corporate that they even implied it.

I have an invoice that states that wtfmotorsports used 75w-90 fluid so I'm not worried about the fluid not meeting recommended specs. I will definitely contact scion of America. Thanks for the advice, I also contacted amsoil as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My gut would be go to another dealer, post in your regional sub forum asking for suggestions. You're in an area with a fuckton of options, use that.

The quickest solution is definitely to contact Scion customer service, corporate headquarters don't fuck around because they know what they can and can't get away with, the dealership is definitely trying to get you to go away. Problem is that the corporate phone zombie will just dump you back to the same dealership you started at, and if you request a different dealer they'll just send you to the next closest location. It's not a good situation to be in, good luck.

http://www.scion.com/contact/

here was the link i forgot to send you Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles...ne-maintenance

Your warranty is NOT voided. As long as the transmission fluid MEETS or EXCEEDS OEM Standards you're fine.

The DEALER has to prove that the fluid caused the failure. YOU don't need to do ANYTHING. This dealer is shady as hell... I wouldn't even step back to that dealership at all. Their yelp reviews aren't doing so good either.

Take it to Longo Toyota. They'll take care of you.

I hate shady dealers, I used to work at one and I quit after 3 months. I'd help you as much as I can.

Two things:

1) please go back and tell the mechanic to not throw the word "void" around. Unless he's a lawyer, he has no idea what the word "void" means. They can deny you warranty service, but they cannot void you anything since they are NOT Toyota Motor Corporation.

More importantly, 2) talk to the service manager, and/or the GM of the dealer. If they throw more BS at you, take your business somewhere else. You're in SoCal, you have tons of Toyota dealers that are more than willing to take your business.

And trust me, this is business. May not be full retail labor charges, but they get paid.

-alex

After researching, I've decided to cancel my appointment with Bob Smith and take it to Longo Toyota. Thanks for the advice, guys.

Also, Amsoil got back to me with a newly published pdf of their warranties.

Hopefully everything gets resolved and I don't get treated like a piece of shit.

Let us know how it goes! :)

Good on ya, G.I.Choe .....:thumbsup:

humfrz

While you're at Longo, I would go ahead and contact Toyota or Scion corporate/try to get in touch with the regional manager. Complain, complain, complain about this other dealership trying to screw you.

Yes it is.

I'm honestly not one for complaints, but if it helps someone else not get screwed, I suppose it's my duty to do so.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Take it to another dealer and call Toyota / Scion and bitch up a storm about Bob Smith, because fuck Bob Smith.

I don't even get why they'd want to give you a hard time: dealers love warranty work...

Because it's a business, and warranty work is paid AFTER the fact, not before.

Examples are:
1) Dealer got burned by previous warranty claims to corporate, because of aftermarket mods.
2) Dealer got burned by previous warranty claims to corporate, because of not properly writing up/diagnosing problem.
3) Dealer has insufficient training to service staff.
4) Owner/management has a "no service for modded cars" policy, from #1 or #2 above.

In the end, the key difference is that the dealer is paid after work is completed, often weeks or months. They cannot come to the customer to get the service cost back.

Each scenario is different, but in the end it's about building a good relationship with a dealer willing to provide you reasonable warranty service. Once you reason with business sense, they'll "see the light".

-alex

I had problems getting mine taken care of too, there's a whole thread about Subaru fucking me sideways on my tranny replacement calling it a one-time courtesy replacement and blaming it on abuse or modification despite there being zero evidence of either on my car (I haven't modified anything performance wise, just aesthetic crap). After a lot of time on the phone with SOA they set me straight, but dealing with the dealer and their "could not reproduce" nonsense I took their service rep for a drive and for the 3rd gear to grind every time.

Sometimes you just have to out-asshole the dealer. It's not pleasant, but cars are a BIG investment and they owe you a fix for this. I hope Longo takes care of you, growing up in the area I know they have a great reputation.

I really don't see why in an area with a crap ton of dealerships why one would decide to be shady. That only means that people who know they're getting screwed will talk and your reputation will go down the drain and all that lovely business will go to your competitors.

Yet, they still do it. Idiots.

Two words:

Poor management.

-alex

This...

This x 11 billion. Some dealers are just straight up ass hats. This shit of someone in the service department acting like his words carry weight is a direct representation of how the entire dealership operates. If the owners are shady it is more likely than not how the entire place is from top to bottom. Good dealers don't let morons like that stick around for long. I had a good friend in Massachusetts that their family owned a couple of dealerships, chevy, gmc, caddy etc. I grew up with the kid, best friends for years but would never consider buying from his family because they were shit bags when it came to running their business.

To the op, there is no way in hell a fluid change will "void" a warranty and it MOST CERTAINLY is your duty to call this place out on it. Think of how you felt getting ****ed around, save someone else the headache of this bs down the road. Good karma for you.

Just wanted to post a quick update.

Took my car to Longo Toyota. Was taken care of immediately. The service manager knew of this issue, and the mechanic told me "yeah, we don't need to take it for a test drive, we know what's going on". They gave me a free rental car, and a few hours later, called me to inform me that they're going to replace the transmission, all in warranty of course.

God, it's like night and day compared to Bob Smith Toyota. Longo's an hour away, but you know what? Fuck it, the drive is worth it for this kinda service.

Also helps that the rental they gave me is a Fiat 500 haha

sweet man, I was surprised you didn't go to a different dealership sooner but yea it was prob just out of the way.

Feels so good when the dealer provides good and legit service.