What my dashcam recorded when I went in for service...

[Grishbok]

This one is a toss-up without actually seeing the video however:

The technician replaced the fuel pump as per the tsb. After replacing the part, I would fully expect the technician to test it out at full load and through the powerband because this is what I do after a new pump is thrown in. I wouldnt expect him to keep it pegged at the limiter or anything, but enough to be confident that the fuel pump is correctly installed and working.

2. The tsb should include after install test procedures which probably do not tell the technician to floor it on the public roads from stop light to stop light.

The technician probably milked the opportunity a bit. But its up to you if you feel like it was excessive and beyond that of reasonable testing.

[dsgerbc]

Report. Preferably directly to Scion, they will relay it to the dealer and you'll have a documented proof that the counter for the number of times the car was bounced off the rev-limiter/redlined (no idea if there is one, but who knows these days) isn't used against you.

I too like to keep an eye on what the techs did, lol. One of recent recordings started with one rep telling the other "this is illegal, so we gotta do it in our lot". :P

[jimmillion]

imho if it wasn't bouncing off the limiter and tires screeching, then I would say he was just doing his job.

7 miles isn't that much considering he's diagnosing the car to see if he can replicate the problem. maybe he was milking it a bit, but if he acted professionally (no racing, no laughing, no hard launches) throughout the drive then I don't see you having much of a case.

[krushin]

Although this is semi off-topic, but i am curious(mainly because im new). At this point if the dealership has receives a car... do they automatically test the FR-S to ensure all *Known* issues are resolved... or do I get to figure it out myself and then send it back.

Just wondering because i will be looking to get an FRS in a few weeks... and it will be enraging if i have a problem with a *Known* issue... and i bought the car~ 6 months after release.

[LostTHEbeat]

Originally Posted by SkitterSkotter

You are not overreacting about that. I would be mad as well, I would take the video to the manager and demand an explanation and a free oil change and to have the car looked over for damage they could have done.

What a bunch of jackasses.

Originally Posted by frosty86

Lawsuit
You can always bring up the fact that user manual says 'don't rev past 3200 rpm' for certain amount of miles. 15-20 minutes? It certainly wasn't a case of 'emergency' if he was redlining and hooning like that from light to light. On top of that they were doing it on a car that wasn't theirs (ie: demo car).

Originally Posted by S2kphile

Because he'll lose all his leverage.

If you're a dealership or a business-owner and you have a customer who wants to bad mouth you to future potential customers, you'll do almost anything to keep your good reputation intact.

OP, DON'T POST INFORMATION TO THE INTERNET JUST YET. FIND OUT WHAT COMPENSATION YOU CAN GET FIRST.

If it's not to his liking or they lag in terms of him getting his compensation then go ahead and tell the information.

Originally Posted by frosty86

Yes
OP, please don't be a complacent beta plebeian about this, follow through with this and set an example so it sends out a clear message to other toyota/scion dealers.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. And my tone was not to sound as if I'm going to back down, I do plan on having my issue known by the service manager AT THE VERY LEAST. If anything - my tone in that first post was only to be careful in my wording as I'm not a car guy, and didn't want to come across trying to talk about something that I don't know enough about.

My girlfriend is the enthusiast, who eagerly awaited this car, enjoyed the First-86 program; heck, she drove to California and back to Vegas just to be part of the Scion-to-Sema drive. She as as livid as I about what happened to her car, but feels as though there is no reparation for it that would really be to her liking, and therefore, why bother with this? While I may be of the same opinion that I don't see anything coming of this besides maybe someone being reprimanded or losing his job, I need to have my voice heard and will go as far up the chain as I can until I am satisfied.

I'm really torn about putting the video up. After watching it over and over, I know that I'm not overreacting. So I don't need the validation. And I will say that it is not thrilling VIDEO footage, as the techs obscured 3/4s of the frame with one of those hanging number signs on the rearview mirror. The audio is just fine, and there is JUST enough view to make out where the car is going and how fast.

Originally Posted by Stevieray

Did you take your FR-S to Desert Toyota, if not, which dealer in Las Vegas? I met you when your girlfriend picked up her "First 86" at Desert Toyota. Please post the dealer so others will be aware that this could happen if they have their car serviced at this dealer. I would contact the service manager first, then the general manager if you aren't satisfied with the way this is handled.

Originally Posted by TuxedoCartman

As a Vegas resident getting ready to take his in for service, I'd REALLY like to know which dealership this was. Could you at least PM me where this took place?

Guys, I won't say for the moment, and I know there's a multitude of dealers nearby, but please give us a few days to figure out exactly how I want to deal with this. If I decide to post the vid, then you'll all know anyway.

Originally Posted by dorifuto

if it's a recall or tsb issue you are at the mercy of a tech you know nothing about.

Exactly this. Regular maintenance is done in MY garage. We won't even take Scion up on a free oil change!

Originally Posted by mact

On a side note, where was your dash cam placed? If it's anywhere visible to the driver, I wonder if the kid noticed it.

Originally Posted by NMMI89

What type of dashcam did you use? This pisses me off.

Originally Posted by Nevermore

This. I'm not saying they need a reason to get away with this stuff, but you'd think a dash cam is pretty easy to notice. If I was going to do something stupid with a car that belongs to someone else that had something like that sitting on the dash I would probably inspect it first and disconnect it. It's good for you that he left it on and gave you the evidence, but pretty stupid on his part.

Originally Posted by Cade01

I too would like to know what dash cam and where you placed it.

Our dash cam is a Mio Driving Recorder, 720p, mounted directly below the rearview mirror (so, if the tech didn't see it, then he surely didn't check his mirrors either!). No GPS or anything too fancy, and it unfortunately shuts down as soon as the ignition is turned off, but it does the job and has a nice wide angle. It breaks up the video into 3:30 increments for easier reviewing.

I found another little snippet of video that takes place in the back lot of the dealer. The tech chirps the tires (TC chimes on), and revs hard through first and second, then coasting towards the garage. Then he pulls up alongside another tech and asks "Can you help me with this pump?" Next, the tech revs HARD in reverse, back out of the garage, turns and chirps MUCH louder, foot likely to the floor, towards and into a different garage bay. It was almost as if to show off - he probably didn't have to drive between the parking spot and the first garage before going to his service bay, and he certainly didn't have to drive the way he did - harder in 20 feet that we have in a thousand miles.

[LostTHEbeat]

Originally Posted by Grishbok

This one is a toss-up without actually seeing the video however:

The technician replaced the fuel pump as per the tsb. After replacing the part, I would fully expect the technician to test it out at full load and through the powerband because this is what I do after a new pump is thrown in. I wouldnt expect him to keep it pegged at the limiter or anything, but enough to be confident that the fuel pump is correctly installed and working.

2. The tsb should include after install test procedures which probably do not tell the technician to floor it on the public roads from stop light to stop light.

The technician probably milked the opportunity a bit. But its up to you if you feel like it was excessive and beyond that of reasonable testing.

Thanks for your insight. But some of the hardest driving came before they fixed it. For a car that didn't need to be diagnosed...

[Synack]

Ask for a new car and Five Axis kit installed

[Grishbok]

Originally Posted by LostTHEbeat

Thanks for your insight. But some of the hardest driving came before they fixed it. For a car that didn't need to be diagnosed...

In that case, i would hop on the report it ship. I had a service tech for my RS4 that decided it would be ok to use my car to pick up a girl for a date and take it into the city for a night on the town.

Talk to the service manager first, quiet and politely and see what he will do. If you still feel unsatisfied, report it to Scion customer service at

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

or by phone at 1.866.70.SCION (72466)

[ipothas]

Definitely not okay. Dealer had my car for 5+ days and only put 10 miles on it. Definitely not hot rodded, either...

I also agree when it comes to withholding the video from the public just yet. See how far you can take this before you draw a lot of attention.

[bestwheelbase]

@LostTHEbeat Your description of the guy maneuvering it into the service bay is enough to tell he was taking advantage of the car.

Report it all. Call corporate. They may not own the dealership, but they want to know how they're being represented. Especially considering Sho was a First 86 winner featured online...

I am so damn tired of dealerships abusing peoples' cars while they're in for service. It's unethical, illegal, and just plain uncool.

Subscribed for justice.

[MSTiFK8R]

sorry to hear that happened

i'd blow up that service knowing someone treated my babe like that

no matter what they have to check, it shouldn't be like that

you dont own GT300, man

[Killerbee]

I would be furious. I'm impressed how well you deal with this, I probably would be emo raging all over the dealership by now :-)

I'd call up the manager of the dealship, ask for an appointment and confront him with what you saw in the video. And based on his reaction deciding on how to go further.

[frosty86]

Originally Posted by Synack

Ask for a new car and Five Axis kit installed

lol

[Moto-P]

Take it straight to TOYOTA HQ Customer Service.
No need to deal with the dealer on this, as Toyota should know, and take appropriate action as licensor of the products and dealership franchise.
Negotiations should occur between Toyota Motor Sales USA, the Dealer and you, appropriately.

I am a customer just like you, and I want to be assured of things like this getting to the proper people.


Phone: 800-331-4331
Fax: 310-468-7814
Mon - Fri, 5:00 am - 6:00 pm PST
Sat, 7:00 am - 4:00 pm PST

Or send correspondence to:
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
19001 South Western Ave.
Dept. WC11
Torrance, CA 90501