Denied waterpump replacement

[muffin_top]

First off, I'm glad another dealership was able to handle your problem properly and replace the bad pump. It was without a doubt the right thing to do.

Couple of questions: The first dealer stated that a regional technician (actually called a field technical specialist) looked at the vehicle and called it ok? I find that hard to believe. Was the car written up and in the shop on a legit repair order or did they just take a peek undocumented? An FTS will not inspect a vehicle without it being on a legit RO and likely wouldn't look at something as trivial as a water pump. Just smells fishy. Always get the names of these people as they are not closely guarded secrets.

Always insist that the car is formally written up and you get copies of results of the inspection. No technician that I know would have shipped that car with the described condition and called it ok. Granted, as someone else mentioned earlier the time paid by his Platinum contract is the same a conventional warranty, it is considered a taxable, customer pay type transaction and the dealer is fully reimbursed on the next months statement.

Also keep in mind that calling Toyota is the best thing if you can't get proper recourse from a dealer. They open a case that the dealer has to respond to quickly. Failing to do so is not a good thing for the dealer. It has been my experience that if you call them an plead a reasonable case, Toyota will help. They really have gone above and beyond to take care of some of our customers problems when the need has risen.

Loyalty is also a good thing. For those that have a dealer nearby, get your car serviced there. I know not every dealer is super friendly or a good deal from a price standpoint, but do your homework and find a dealer you can work with. That relationship would have come in very handy for Hershey. Many people have had bad experiences at dealerships and feel that they are crooks etc.. I'm sure this stuff does happen, I've seen it first hand and that's why its best to do your homework. Find a dealer with a good rating and build a relationship with them. Many times taking it to the people that know your car best is cheaper and or less time consuming in the long run. Had the technician discovered this leak during the inspection, he may have repaired this concern without intervention on your behalf.

Hopefully the dealership that repaired your car gets your future service business, sounds like they are trying to earn your trust.