# Tightwad I am for suggested service by Toyota dealer **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 17, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095 "2025-09-17T21:37:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/1 "2025-09-17T21:37:12Z")
OK, tires looked ok for a while, no indication of other maintenance in the list in the manual. Maybe new tires next year, no long road trips. Will try the voltmeter test on brake fluid, your thoughts? 2017 28k miles. Yearly oil change to maintain bumper to bumper Toyota warranty warranty, expires May 2027. Bought it in 2020 before lease expired, and is good for 7year 70k miles from date of purchase. Was $1400 ![toyesst](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/4/a/4a250aa468fc1db31ba148076315158a8f9259aa.jpeg) ![toytire](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/e/9/e90bfe7c2153e7b1bd238590a7802c3a63755b13.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 10:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/2 "2025-09-17T22:09:17Z")
Yeah, those tires look bad…. But clean and adjust rear brakes for $200 ?? Another $200 for throttle body cleaning at 28K?? And diff oil?? And transfer case oil?? $200 each?? $170 to flush out the AC drain?? Horse hockey! Front brakes seem early but I have had a car that needed pads and rotors all around at 32K. I would not consider you a tightwad for refusing most of that. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 11:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/3 "2025-09-17T23:25:55Z")
Tires - Yes Also I would do a brake fluid flush if not been done . ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 12:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/4 "2025-09-18T00:25:22Z")
I pay a little over $200 for trans, transfer case, and differential at the Acura dealer. They’ve never suggested much else except brake fluid change for $100 which I did. ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 12:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/5 "2025-09-18T00:52:40Z")
The tires need replacement Brakes? would need to see them, but 28k miles isn’t much Transfer case? Probably not at 28k miles Diff? Not at 28k miles Throttle body cleaning? No Cleaning out the AC drain tube? For $170, no. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 3:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/6 "2025-09-18T03:45:04Z")
I would have rolled that estimate up tightly, handed it back to the service writer, and told him where to stick it. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 10:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/7 "2025-09-18T10:28:26Z")
I wouldn’t consider Wisconsin to be a “dry” climate, is there really no need to change the fluids after 9 years? Some forum members consider 3,000 miles/year to be severe service because of the possibility of short trips. Anyone preaching for more maintenance today? Many times, I have been surprised by customers who will continue driving on tires that are in poor condition. When a forum visitor asks about minor dry rot cracks, they have been told to drive slowly to a tire store because their tires could blow out at any time. That might be an overcautious reaction. The tires in the picture above have been dry rotting for 2 years. When should he take action? Maybe after telling the service writer to “stick it” they could have brawl and a shootout like they do in New Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 12:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/8 "2025-09-18T12:17:28Z")
I personally wouldn’t drive on those tires. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/9 "2025-09-18T13:11:40Z")
$170 to unplug ac drain tube? That’s 3min with screwdriver. $300 to clean rear brakes? Dubious. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/10 "2025-09-18T13:20:12Z")
I’d do tire replacement and brake fluid flush. Ask them to show you the brake hardware or save the parts. Other than that, drive on. ---
**Author:** ![pokemonyouandme123\_193319](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@pokemonyouandme123\_193319](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pokemonyouandme123_193319)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/11 "2025-09-18T13:37:00Z")
There’s a separate charge to clean and lubricate the brake hardware?? Isn’t that part of the R&R for brakes?? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/12 "2025-09-18T13:38:04Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > $170 to unplug ac drain tube? That’s 3min with screwdriver. Is it easy to reach on a Rav4? ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/2/6/2671bcf6e130d217ae4ad702a47e0da10be59786.jpeg) > [@Cavell](#): > > $300 to clean rear brakes? Dubious. Does this include the parking brake shoes? ---
**Author:** ![pokemonyouandme123\_193319](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@pokemonyouandme123\_193319](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pokemonyouandme123_193319)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 2:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/13 "2025-09-18T14:10:00Z")
So you can now go once a year I stead of every 6 months for oil change as recommended by Toyota for newer cars? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 2:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/14 "2025-09-18T14:18:58Z")
> [@pokemonyouandme123\_193319](#): > > every 6 months for oil change as recommended by Toyota for newer cars? Most Toyota vehicles have a 10000 mile or 12 months oil change schedule unless servere service applies. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/15 "2025-09-18T15:45:19Z")
Thanks for the pic, saving it for future reference. OK, new tires in the works. ---
**Author:** ![pokemonyouandme123\_193319](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@pokemonyouandme123\_193319](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pokemonyouandme123_193319)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/16 "2025-09-18T16:29:27Z")
Hey thanks. I guess mine is to old and recommends 5000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. ---
**Author:** ![cwatkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@cwatkin](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cwatkin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 6:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/17 "2025-09-18T18:55:54Z")
Those tires are TRASH! REPLACE THEM NOW! The rest of the work is pretty much crap, with the exception of the oil change. They are just trying to make money off you. Take it to a regular tire shop and have these two things done. As mentioned in another post, one of my friends spent a couple grand at the local Toyota dealer, only to have them miss the real problem which is a major engine timing component about to let go. an independent shop found the actual problem. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 12:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/18 "2025-09-19T12:58:26Z")
Ironic that part quality seems to be dropping so cars require more repair and underbody rust issues seem to be slightly better so car frame/suspension may last longer. Ya my car is nice and solid but it has 3-4 expensive computer issues now. Wait till ur 24” digital display dies and hvac does not work. ---
**Author:** ![mdixter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@mdixter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mdixter)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 4:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tightwad-i-am-for-suggested-service-by-toyota-dealer/204095/19 "2025-09-20T04:54:12Z")
I’m a cheap old guy. My advice is only go to the dealer for exclusive, proprietary stuff. Any competent mechanic could take care of everything on that list for less. I would agree the tires need to be replaced. I would not drive the one pictured at highway speed for any distance. Brakes would need to be seen. Not sure what the replacement interval is for transfer case and diff on this specific vehicle but many are 30K miles. Sometimes the dealer is the only answer; this is not one of those times. I can’t be too ■■■■■■■ the dealership. They are just passing along their cost of doing business that includes training their mechanics, keeping a parts inventory and paying whatever kickback they do the the brand. Just because they ask doesn’t mean you have to pay for all that.