Taking Lexus to Toyota for Service
Taking Lexus to Toyota for Service
I tried searching for any information about this, but came up empty. IIRC I had read that some members have taken their Lexus' into Toyota dealers as a cheaper alternative for Lexus maintenance prices. So after my starter started to give out, I took my 98 LS400 to my local Toyota dealer. The mechanic said they do not service Lexus because if they mess up, it's not covered under warranty and blah blah. I told him that I knew people who did it and he stated that corporate was the one who made that decision against doing so.
Now was he right? Or did I not read correctly? Any insight is greatly appreciated!
Now was he right? Or did I not read correctly? Any insight is greatly appreciated!
Realistically, any dealership can do work on any car. We do plenty of used car safetys and reconditioning. We often have our Lexus customers who own Toyotas bring their Toyotas to us. I dont see any problem with a Toyota dealer doing work on Lexus vehicles. I can see their position though... if they replace the starter, and it failed within the parts warranty time period (1 year/12k miles), they will not be able to do the warranty repair and get paid for it through Lexus. But certainly the dealer can work on the car.. there are just limitations on their side.
Lexus are actually very basic vehicles to work on. Unlike many German cars and a few other special ones, Lexus are built to be worked on and are relatively straight forward, especially if a tech is already knowledgeable of Toyotas...
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,770
Likes: 15
From: TX, CA
ooh i meant in terms of dealerships..here the lexus service was all booked for like 2 weeks or so..n i need a oil change..( i usually DIY)..but the toyota ppl were free for appointments..so they said they could do oil change and thats about it..they didnt want to take responsibility for other things done on the lexus
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I wouldn't even consider the starter to be 'something major'. Yes it takes time to get to the starter because it's buried under the intake manifold, but it's no different than the 4.7L found in the Toyota Sequoia, Tundra, and Land Cruiser. We're not talking about a complete engine overhaul.
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Rookie
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: utah
2002 ls430 ul
I tried searching for any information about this, but came up empty. IIRC I had read that some members have taken their Lexus' into Toyota dealers as a cheaper alternative for Lexus maintenance prices. So after my starter started to give out, I took my 98 LS400 to my local Toyota dealer. The mechanic said they do not service Lexus because if they mess up, it's not covered under warranty and blah blah. I told him that I knew people who did it and he stated that corporate was the one who made that decision against doing so.
Now was he right? Or did I not read correctly? Any insight is greatly appreciated!
Now was he right? Or did I not read correctly? Any insight is greatly appreciated!
Like GSteg said, it's not like they aren't familiar with the v8. I don't see the problem.
On your 98 LS? Say whatt... They didn't give you a hassle or anything? Maybe I need to try a different Toyota.
On your 98 LS? Say whatt... They didn't give you a hassle or anything? Maybe I need to try a different Toyota.
What hassle are you expecting? They can get OEM parts and work on the Lexus (Toyota) too ya know.
@monrovea - nevermind, i couldnt see your post title on my phone. your lucky tho.
@GS4 - On my original post, I said that my local Toyota didnt want to service my LS400 because according to him, corporate said not to. I was just asking if his Toyota had said anything to him about servicing it there (maybe hassle was the wrong word). I tried at mine and was shot down
@GS4 - On my original post, I said that my local Toyota didnt want to service my LS400 because according to him, corporate said not to. I was just asking if his Toyota had said anything to him about servicing it there (maybe hassle was the wrong word). I tried at mine and was shot down
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: utah
By the way, I have a 2002 LS430 UL.
Last edited by monrovea; Oct 26, 2011 at 02:48 PM. Reason: addition
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: CA
The wife takes her 99 ES 300 to Ventura Toyota.....She been going there for over eleven years because she bought a 2000 Camry new from them(currently my car) and has a good relationship with one of the service rep(Kevin)...He did say that getting certain Lexus parts are a pain but that they can get them....Also cuts her a break because she has been going there for so many years....Sometimes I question the cost of a repair but in the end it is a dealership and they are higher than independents.....Been to a few independents here in town and they've screwed me on little things so just pay a little bit more and go to the dealer....
Frank T
Camarillo CA
99 ES 300 171k(wife's car)
00 ES 300 79k(stepsons car)
Frank T
Camarillo CA
99 ES 300 171k(wife's car)
00 ES 300 79k(stepsons car)
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 333
Likes: 11
From: USAF
I took my LS600 in to my Toyota dealer earlier this year for a 4 wheel alignmnet and I was assured the Toyota techs would be able to do it. (This is the same dealership that does the 4-wheel alignment on my wife's mini-van.) The Toyota dealership is closer than Lexus and as far as I know, they use the same machine to do the alignment. Anyway, after my Toyota alignment, I started hearing clicking noises and brought it back to Toyota. They said they had no clue what was causing the noise. The service advisor said he had his Master (at what) Tech do look it over from start to end and couldn't find the problem.
I took it to Lexus and the tech asked me if I had an alignment done recently and I confirmed that I did. Tech brought back to the shop and did the work. He told me Toyota didn't tighten one nut/bolt down. It took him about 10 minutes to get me out of there. Maybe my case is isolated but I wouldn't trust my Toyota to work on my LS600 beyond oil changes.
PS
I did get Toyota to reimburse me for the $50 bucks I had to pay Lexus to locate the problem and tighten down the nut.
I took it to Lexus and the tech asked me if I had an alignment done recently and I confirmed that I did. Tech brought back to the shop and did the work. He told me Toyota didn't tighten one nut/bolt down. It took him about 10 minutes to get me out of there. Maybe my case is isolated but I wouldn't trust my Toyota to work on my LS600 beyond oil changes.
PS
I did get Toyota to reimburse me for the $50 bucks I had to pay Lexus to locate the problem and tighten down the nut.