Grappone Toyota - Service Center

I went into Grappone for a transmission issue with my 3rd Gen Tacoma. While there I asked Sean (States he has been with Grappone for 10 years) to have the service department check the condition of my fluid @ Gen Tacoma. While there I asked Sean (States he has been with Grappone for 10 years) to have the service department check the condition of my fluid @ 80,000 miles. He told me that my transmission is sealed and has lifetime fluid. Of course I had to ask, "Whose lifetime?". I asked again for a Transmission fluid drain and fill and he said that they only offer a fluid flush. I told him my concerns of it disrupting any particles in the pan and that IRA Toyota offers a gravity drain and fill. I was aware that it wouldn’t drain the transmission and transfer case fluids completely, less than 4 quarts as that was his next concern for me. I voiced concern about the condition of the transmission fluid and asked for a visual inspection of it without interest in a flush. While in this conversation Sean consulted with Mark who appeared to work in service and was standing at the desk off to the left. He was asked how the transmission fluid was inspected and Mark insisted that it was checked through a hose or line. This was rather puzzling in a sealed system with only a breather hose. Both of them insisted that everything was computerized including having to “reset” the computer if the transmission fluid level was changed from my suggestion of cracking the overflow or drain plug to get an idea of the color of the fluids if they were so hesitant to oblige my previous request. I guess they thought I was unfamiliar with Transmission services, like most customers. This interaction was frustrating at many levels. I am a Certified GM Technician and understand that there is no computer monitoring of the amount of fluid the transmission has, only the temperature. Using the jargon of a sealed transmission with lifetime fluid in one sentence and then stating that I should do a fluid flush due to mileage in the next showed me they did not want to work with me as a customer unless I did what they suggested and had to make up any excuse to discredit my previous experience doing this work by saying there is all kinds of computer monitoring and it will be so difficult just do a flush we havent seen any issues. What confuses me the most is that Mark wearing his service tech uniform was used to take sides with Sean on this issue and they were both either dishonest or unknowledgeable of the TIS Repair manual steps for ATF replacement.or adjustment. TIS repair manual Doc ID RM100000000VEGQ. This clown show reminded me why I don’t go to repair shops where there is no honesty or integrity. Seeing that Sean stated he has been there an incredible amount of time and was giving me the run around made me write this. Maybe its not his fault, maybe its just the culture of the service department there - pushing customers to do repairs and maintenance that may be unnecessary or make your request seem so incrediblly difficult to acomplish they can avoid it to justify the $165/hr price hike for easy flat rate repair orders and frame replacements. I was interested in using Grappone because it was the largest Toyota dealership in the area thinking it was the most knowledgeable but because as soon as I walked in - the Service Writer, in this case Sean, treats their customers as if they know nothing and push for a service that could potentially ruin my transmission rather than following the Toyota Information System guidellines of drain and fill in the Toyota Repair Manual RM100000000VEGQ I will no longer give them my business. I literally asked for a service that they have a step by step procedure for and got told they wouldn't do it that way and all this other BS on why they wouldn't give me a proper inspection. Lastly I was quoted $140/hr rate and the price was adjusted to the new rate this week. Sean assured me that he would adjust the bill for me. Of course I had to remind the woman I was transferred to handle my RO that I was being charged incorrectly. I guess Sean wasn't willing to do that for me. I probably shouldn't expect a call either for my Tacoma's rust inspection he said someone would reach out to me for. The service department in my eyes hasn't changed in over 10 years. I purchased a 2007 Camry for $10k cash inheritence years ago and it had an issue burning oil. I had no mechanical knowledge at the time. I would bring it in to be looked at and would always be dismissed as oh 1 quart of oil per 1,000 miles is normal...It probably was for all those vehicles listed in the bulletin... I blew the engine and had to pay Grappone another 4k in a used engina and labor. Come to find out T-SB-0030-15 came out and showed multiple vehicles with high oil consumption over a few years due to Pistons and Rings. Mine was over the 60,000 limit. By that time I had my last ever oil change there and there was no oil on stick when I left. So this review is long overdue. More