Car dealer "Service"

Payton · 23-10-2011 3:35pm #1

How can you tell that when you buy a car from a main dealer that the car has been serviced? The reason Im asking is that we bought a 09 Yaris from a main Toyota dealer that was supposed to be serviced before we took ownership of it. A friend was around at the house and was commenting on the size of the engine saying it was very small (1 ltr) and opened the air filter and lets say it wasnt snow white but grey and white surround :eek:, we only have the car around a month and approx 1000km done since we got it. Would that be normal?
The mate says dont even bother contacting the dealer as they will fob you off that it was serviced, and can produce "proof" that it was serviced.

23-10-2011 3:36pm

If the air filter wasn't too bad they mightn't have changed it.

Payton · 23-10-2011 3:42pm

Thanks for your reply. What is bad? is there a guide that they go by?, I replaced it anyway for the princely sum of €7.50 which for a dealership would be nothing. Just need to know is there anything else to check?

Avns1s · 23-10-2011 3:45pm

I'd be far more concerned to know whether or not they changed the oil and filter.

mickdw · 23-10-2011 4:02pm

The oil on the dipstick should still be pretty clear if the oil was changed before you got it.

Mandzhalas · 23-10-2011 4:06pm

mickdw wrote: »

The oil on the dipstick should still be pretty clear if the oil was changed before you got it.

^^^
this

mondeo · 23-10-2011 4:22pm

They just blow out the air filter if it's still got life in it, the oil would be my main concern. Some dealers think the public are thick as sh!te and will never know if it's been done or not.

Plug · 23-10-2011 4:43pm

mondeo wrote: »

They just blow out the air filter if it's still got life in it, the oil would be my main concern. Some dealers think the public are thick as sh!te and will never know if it's been done or not.

The thing is, most of the public are thick as sh!te when it comes to cars.

Payton · 23-10-2011 7:47pm

Thanks guys, so if the oil is very dirty it hasn't been changed ?

dr.fuzzenstein · 23-10-2011 8:46pm

on the verge wrote: »

Thanks guys, so if the oil is very dirty it hasn't been changed ?

If it's a petrol, the oil should be golden colored. If it's black or dark brown, it hasn't been changed in yonks.
If it's diesel, engine oil is pretty much always black, so not easy to tell.

Payton · 23-10-2011 8:53pm

Even with 1000 kms on it? Sorry for my ignorance.

knifey_spoonie · 23-10-2011 8:58pm

What mileage was on the car OP, Air filters would be done every 30,000km, It may have been a case that it was no due. You oil should be similar in colour to caramel.

Payton · 23-10-2011 9:03pm

Appropriate 19000 km

Payton · 25-10-2011 5:36pm

Just an update the oil is a "caramel" colour. So all is good. Thanks again guys

Car dealer "Service"

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