I have some basic questions about Lexus mechanics.

- First off, are Lexus mechanics trained above and beyond the training a regular mechanic would get?

- If so, do they know all Lexus vehicles 'inside and out'?

- From the 6 month service on, could our 350's be serviced at a Toyota dealership or a non-Toyota garage and if so, could the service be as reliable as that from a Lexus dealer?

Thanks!

 

I have noticed several people indicate they got their oil changed at a Toyota dealer and buy parts at Toyota dealers for Lexus vehicles.

The transmissions are identical between Camry and ES, the engines to my knowledge are very similar to each other. And the training would be similar too it seems. You'd have to ask about your warranty being valid for other than oil change work at a Toyota dealer.

As for third party shops, while under waranty, I'd think anything other than oil change would not be a wise idea.

 

yes, in addition to the normal ASE certification all mechanics are eligible to train for, Lexus techs go to additional Lexus training in their area, particularly when new models are introduced.

 

Mechanically you have a Toyota Camry with some minor interior, exterior changes.
No, there are no differances between a Lexus, and a Toyota tech, or shop.

Minus people that get in for other reasons.... All Toyota techs go throguh the T-Ten program, the end of which they are ASE.

 

Check the IS350 forum for tales of Lexus mechanics rotating wheels/tires from back to front when the wheels sizes on the rear are different from the front! This may help you determine the quality of the training and the knowledge about each model.

Hope this helps.

 

I would say that the interior differences on the ES 350 are very significantly different, but for the engine/chassis, less so.

 

May want 2 consider who you talk too...


And they're not Jiffylube. They put ATF in mastercylinders...

 

Ouch!

 

Thanks Bob, I think I'll stick with Lexus/Camry shops for quite a while.

 

FWIW - If you own a Honda/Acura, you could have it serviced at either Honda or Acura and they promote this option... I dunno why Toyota/Lexus doesn't do the same?

 

Noise,

Personally, I would not hesitate to let a Toyota dealer service department review my car or work on my car as long as my warranty items were ok too doing this.

I think ons may agree with me here on this:

Not that the local Lexus dealer is dishonest, but Toyota dealer folks know no fear of being totally direct on an issue, including on the transmission issue. In my experiences they are very open and honest about issues, they are not caught up in 60 questions, intimidated or what have you, instead bluntly direct, the way it should be.

 

The NAV system comes preloaded with the location of every Lexus and Toyota service / dealership. Our salesman said it was OK to go to either but I don't know if that was official policy.

 

Okay for non-factory warranty issues/service...but I reckon no such choice if you have a factory-warranty issue that needs to be addressed--i.e., you can't bring your Lexus to a Toyota dealership and expect them to resolve the issue under warranty. Now I don't know if this is indeed 100% correct for Lexus/Toyota, but I do know that other auto companies will not allow this--e.g., I cannot expect to bring my still-under-factory-warranty GMC Yukon Denali to a Chevrolet dealership and ask them to address an issue that is covered under the GMC factory warranty.

 

1)lexus techs are trained on lexus vehicles
2)lexus techs have access to lexus specific tsb's and tip's
3)lexus techs see the common issues on vehicles, so that weird question you ask has probably bee asked already
4)more lexus stand alone dealerships are showing up because they are now financially able to stand on there own.
5)reports on your concerns are forwarded to head office, then to Japan.

 

There also are a lot of parts that are different (obviously) on the Camry/ES350 and Toyota dealers cannot order Lexus parts, even if they have the correct part number. The Toyota parts system will not accept Lexus part numbers.