1. 3,000mi. or less oil change, filter, lube without fail: Tacoma's entire life.
2. Tires rotated every 7,000mi.
3. New Tires at 50,000mi. at Tire Center for free rotation on life of tires.
Fall 2007: 1. The frame was overhauled for three months at dealer under recall.
2. Commission writer mentions signing off not to do overhaul.
3. Drove off the dealer lot and hoses not attached: Tacoma spewed coolant 4 miles down the road.
4. Took it back to dealer on a tow bed dealer sent to pick it up in town. Dealer reattaches hoses.
Fall 2008:
1. Tire Center fixes manufacturer muffler on Tacoma with aftermarket parts.
2. Check engine light is on 80mi. from Tire Center lot after picking Tacoma up the previous weekday.
3. Two days after Tire Center works on the muffler, Tacoma is at Dealer for diagnostic.
4. Dealer writer says cable is torqued and aftermarket parts were used: $900 to fix.
5. After Dealer to Tire Center for Tire Center to fix muffler and check engine light.
6. Mechanic is in Tire Center lobby after job and mentions that it was because they used after market parts.
7. Mechanic at Tire Center also mentions that catalytic converter needs replacing.
8. Mechanic also mentions in lobby that catalytic converter is under warranty at 65,000mi/7.5 years.
9. O2 sensor is faulty in muffler as a result of aftermarket parts replaced by on market at Tire Center.
10. A day later, Tacoma is back at Dealer to inquire about catalytic converter under warranty.
11. Commission writer at Dealer says that it is under warranty. Dealer will fix it.
12. Tacoma is at dealer to fix catalytic converter and picked up.
Spring–Summer 2013:
March 1, 2013:
1. Tacoma is at Tire Center for oil change & tire rotation.
2. I sit in a camp chair outside of Tire Center awaiting the Tacoma.
3. Somebody in passing traffic calls police who arrive and say someone called police on me.
4. Tire Center commission writer steps out of front door and says to police that Tire Center has Tacoma.
5. Policeman says to me "you're OK. someone called us. said you looked passed out."
6. I was playing with my camera sitting in a camp chair that I retrieved from my truck before service.
June 30, 2013:
1. 80mi from Dealer and Tire Center, the muffler tailpipe rattles at first, then detaches: hanging.
July 3, 2013:
1. At Tire Center to fix hanging tailpipe. Commission writer says muffler work was done in 2010.
2. M. at Tire Center phones to say there are 487$ worth of repairs besides the hanging tailpipe.
3. I ask financier who says yes and call back M. at Tire Center to say do the work on the muffler.
4. At Tire Center Wednesday July 3, 2013 430PM to pick up Tacoma: $472.
July 4, 2013:
1. Tacoma makes sound five minutes into first trip of the day. Tacoma is stopped at noon on a street.
2. The sound is a 1-1/16 wrench wedged between the suspension and inside wall on the passenger side rear wheel well.
3. Road Service removes the wrench and takes pictures with a phone the which I never receive in email.
4. At 4PM of July 4, 2013, check engine light is on after driving.
July 5, 2013:
1. At 8AM at Dealer for diagnostic. Told it was $117/hr.
2. Dealer phones me later July 5, 2013 and tells me $3300 for two catalytic converters.
3. I ask Dealer about Fall 2008 catalytic converter under warranty service records.
4. Dealer commission writer says there is no record of work on the converters.
5. Dealer says there is a record in 2010 of an estimate for a torqued cable and aftermarket parts: $900.
July 8, 2013:
1. Tacoma is driven from Dealer four miles to "reputable" mechanic.
2. "Reputable" mechanic estimates 998.62$ for two catalytic converters and labor.
July 9, 2013:
1. "Reputable" mechanic calls to say gasket to catalytic converter is faulty in that it affects the flange. Muffler work by Tire Center is brand new and fine. Tacoma needs the two catalytic converters as Dealer commission writer said July 5, 2013. "Reputable" mechanic estimates $998.62 for two catalytic converters as of 10h40 July 9, 2013. "Reputable" mechanic says nothing wrong with suspension or wheel where wrench was jammed on July 4, 2013.
*"Reputable" mechanic was recommended by two friends of mine.
Conclusions/Suspicions/Lessons:Dealer and Tire Center commission writers spoke on phone in 2008 to avert fixing catalytic converter at Dealer and fixing muffler at Tire Center, which is why the date on their records of the service work for the Tacoma's muffler is 2010: after warranty expired for the catalytic converters.
Commission writers are crooks. Find a "reputable" mechanic!
Incidentally, a tailgate handle or door handle for the Tacoma at the Dealer is 132$. An aftermarket door handle or tailgate handle off the Internet is $20 and works fine!
Vehicle manufacturer makes their brand vehicles so that parts are from manufacturer at Dealer.
Picture of 1-1/16 wrench left in passenger side rear wheel well jammed between suspension and inside rubber of tire:
