Toyota Pre paid maintenance

Hi everyone,

I'm deciding whether buying maintenance package is worth it or not. I can get it at a discounted price from amazing referral from this forum.

However, longest maintenance package seems to be 5 years 75k miles.

First 2 years maintenance is free anyway...so I'm only buying maintenance years 3,4,5


What do these maintenance really include besides the oil changes??? Any big items? I don't see any expensive maintenance items in truck manual until 100k miles...

I see that as per manual, spark plugs must be changed at 40k miles, which I assume is covered by this maintenance package.

Besides the spark plug change at 40k miles, it's just a couple of air filters (cheap) , and oil changes...that's it?

Does anyone know what's the price to change spark plugs on a Tundra? Is it easy and accessible on a 2022 engine? (I know it was a pita to get to some plugs on my old ram hemi engine).

It seems to me that there's not much benefit to buy this Toyota maintenance package. Especially that my Toyota dealership is about 20min drive from my house, while nearby oil change place is 10 min and is more convenient.

Any thoughts?

 

Hard pass…do your own maintenance

 

Don't volunteer for the SSS (So Stinkin' Sorry) Club. Do your own maintenance and relish in the bubbly warm feeling of knowing it was done right.

 

As the others have said, do your own. It’s phenomenally cheaper and gives you a piece of mind as you learn the ins and outs of your vehicle. If you need assistance on any of it, you can find great videos on YouTube

 

My question is, do you want to and are you capable of doing your own maintenance? Some people don’t have the skill, time or aren't physically capable of doing their own maintenance. Some would just prefer to spend their time doing something else. All good.

If any of this is the case and the deal is legit I say go for it. It will all be documented dealer work and if there is ever an issue that may be helpful.
Plus, I’d rather have the dealer do it VS a quick lube joint.

 

Thanks for the perspective, but with the growing family, unfortunately I don't have time nor energy to do my own maintenence anymore ...

My question is in terms of money, is it cheaper to buy pre paid maintenance from Toyota?

I counted, and it seems like it comes out to be about the same price (comparing to doing it at local shop) if all that's included in maintenance package are oil changes, air filters, spark plugs at 40k miles. Do they do anything else for the maintenance?

I guess I would trust dealer more for recommended Oem spark plugs replacement than a local shop...

Anything else?

Thank you!

 

The new Gen's need spark plug replacement at 40k? Did not know that, that seems lame.

 

Thats what the manual says... Regular service schedule

 

Wow, that's crazy. As far as the service goes, do you have a trusted mechanic/shop you know, or is the Dealership your only option for service?

 

I don't have a trusted mechanic... Unfortunately.

I was considering taking it to the dealership anyway as I want to believe they'll do better job.

For oil changes and tire rotations, I would probably take it to a local shop, they didn't mess up anything yet for the past few years, at least that I know of...

I do want to make sure I'm using same kind and brand of oil consistently.

 

For your situation, that seems like the best compromise to me. Do you have a relationship with the dealership you plan on going to?

 

Not really... But 20 years ago they were very nice when I took my mom's corolla for timing belt warranty service

 

Dealerships are for the most part, not well revered around here. I worked for one for almost 10 years and left due to their shady practices, and their refusal to pay their top Techs a fair flat rate. I would say give the Dealership a shot and see how they treat you, you always have other options if it doesn't work out. Good luck.

 

OP, where are you located? Maybe someone is willing to help you.

If you are near Birmingham Alabama I'll gladly help you out.

 

Wow thank you, that's very nice of you to offer! I'm all the way in California... Haha

I did my own maintenence in the past, but as I get older, would rather spend time with my family

So I'll have to get by with the dealership or/and local shop

 

I feel like the reason most people do their own maintenance is so that they have an excuse to not have to spend time with their families...

 

The 2 year maintenance isn’t free. Toyota makes it seem like it’s free but if you look on the website, Toyota Care is $699. Either way I wouldn’t trust a Toyota lube tech to even add water to the windshield wiper tank.

 

If it was 10 years, it might be worth it, but if you look at your service manual schedule, there really isnt any big ticket items that they "recommend" by year 5. So essentially, you are paying for 3 extra years worth of oil changes, a couple of filters and rotations, MAYBE 1 round of diff fluid changes. Not worth it. Plus, could almost guarantee they would fuck something up at least once.

Always remember, if the dealer is selling something extra, its bad for you and good for them. They arent in the business of doing you any favors.

I have been back to the dealer once, to try to get them to cover a paint defect that my son caused. Even then, i didnt even let them drive my truck to the inspection area, i told them i would drive it. I dont care if I have the 2 year maintenance that I paid for, its worth more to me to know it was done right then getting free oil.

 

My little kids love helping me with truck maintenance. Plus, the money i save doing it myself i usually spend taking them to chuck e cheese or somewhere fun anyway. They win twice.

 

Toyota Care is free...what you are mistaking it with is Toyota Care Plus which extends the FREE maintenance that youre give at time of purchase.

 

Even still, they add the "free" into the cost of the car up front. Aint nothin' free, except the dollar bill I get in the mail once in a while from JD power to bribe me to do a survey for them every quarter.

 

The question also is how much are they charging you for it. We offer a package here at my store that we do in house thats probably the best deal that Ive ever seen, also hear a lot of customers say the same thing. For $309 we offer 5 years and 50K miles of maint. including Oil change, State inspections, Tire rotation, & Battery replacement. Obviously since we do ours in house its only valid in our stores but Id find it hard to believe anyone can do it themselves at that price.

Also, Take any advice against a dealership here with a grain of salt. Some people here have had a bad experience with a dealership, some jump on the hate dealership bandwagon, and some like above just dont have the correct information yet still throw it out there as if its the truth. Some dealerships are full of bad people that either dont know how to do their job or just dont care and then there are some that are really good people and places to deal with. Try them out while you have the free Toyota Care and make your decision based on your own experience is my advice. I would do that before I purchase their maint. plan too, be sure youre comfortable with them before you lock yourself into service with them.

 

you're not supposed to put water in the windshield washer fluid tank

 

with that logic then that dollar bill isnt free either, took your time to fill it out unless you dont value your time. Also if you did it on a cell phone then you have to pay that bill for using their data, or internet on home computer. Sounds ridiculous, yes, but it matches the logic youre attempting to use

 

Oh, i dont actually ever do the survey for precisely the reasons you outlined. I snatch out the dollar and toss the rest in recycling lol

 

I think that was probably part of his point lol

 

just be careful and read the fine print on the service plan. what it does and what you expect it to follow are not the same. if i remember, it does NOT follow the service manual recommendations for intervals on what needs to be done.

most just do LOF and maybe tire balance/rotate

 

Nope I am not mistaken. My last 2 brand new trucks & 1 RAV4came with ToyoGuard Platinum. I just got my last oil change, not by choice, whole other story but it was on my window sticker. They all come with ToyoGuard and it doesn’t add on any free oil changes like Toyota claims. So in actuality they add the TG at $699 and tell you you have free oil changes from Toyota but you really paid for them. At least down here in Fl that’s how it is.

 

I am in Miami, no way for the water to freeze. Or is there another reason why not to use water. Been using it my whole life, never an issue.

 

So.....you are mistaken. ToyoGuard isnt the same as Toyota Care at all and they in fact DO NOT all come with ToyoGuard. That is a Southeast Toyota OPTIONAL thing that they offer, it isnt even available in other regions.