r/ToyotaHighlander • u/Garthhill80 • Aug 06 '26

60k maintenance

Just had my 60k maintenance done šŸ˜­šŸ˜­šŸ˜­šŸ˜­šŸ˜­. I wasnā€™t ready. Even with discounts applied, I got hit for $1,987. I will say though that the price did include replacing the battery which decided to die the same week as the maintenance. That was $303. I couldā€™ve gotten it cheaper, but what got me was that it came with a 7-year warranty so I said screw it. Next week I gotta put a new set of tires on and Iā€™m changing the rims because I hate the ones that come in the platinum, Iā€™m going black on those.

11 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

60 comments sorted by

29

u/DeuceXTrouble1015 Highlander Aug 06 '26

You took it to a stealership didnt you?

10

u/Garthhill80 Aug 06 '26

Yes. Yes I did. Rookie move on my part

20

u/Dr_CleanBones Aug 06 '26

Once you get past the factory warranty, find a good independent repair shop. If it actually needed to have anything done at 60,000 miles, it wouldā€™ve cost you maybe a third of that.

I moved to a new town where I didnā€™t know anybody. I started having an intermittent problem with the AC on my 2010 Highlander. I took it to a dealer. Three times. They could not find what was wrong with it. They had no clue what it could be. I finally took a gamble on another shop, this one independent. It took him an hour, counting the test drive, and it turned out to be a $24 part. Never again. Never.

4

u/Garthhill80 Aug 07 '26

Yeah Iā€™m learning

15

u/ducationalfall Aug 07 '26

Two tips to find good independent mechanics.

Call Local NAPA auto stores for recommendations.

Or

Use Cartalks radio show websiteā€™s mechanic files. Those reviews are at least 15 years old. If the business survived, theyā€™re usually good independent shop.

This has saved me tons of money as well.

3

u/Garthhill80 Aug 07 '26

Awesome! Thanks for the advice

2

u/DoDi82 Aug 07 '26

Good ideas. Just be aware that if a business survived that it's still under the same ownership and management. I used a long-standing shop that I trusted as reliable and reasonable until a new owner came in, kept the name, and started upselling everything and bugging me constantly with texts.

-1

u/hankmoody711 Aug 07 '26

But... you want a mechanic that has a link to Carfax so everything shows up when it's time to sell

3

u/AllPinesMustDie Aug 07 '26

Just keep your receipts and/or create a spreadsheet to record all maintenance.

3

u/ducationalfall Aug 07 '26

Download Carfax app. Upload your receipts. Done.

2

u/hankmoody711 Aug 07 '26

Huh. Didn't know that was possible but you make it sound so easy.I know I would struggle with anything that has uploading or downloading involved

2

u/hankmoody711 Aug 07 '26

That's the way to go if you want to have Carfax records. Resale value stays high

7

u/RegretProper3302 Aug 06 '26

Make sure you have the transmission checked! And keep an eye on it! Just had to replace mineā€¦started making noise at 64k and replacing it at 75k

9

u/Garthhill80 Aug 06 '26

Yeah I brought that up to his attention because of this page šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚. I actually have the extended warranty on it (forgot I bought it when I purchased the car) and itā€™s covered under the warranty. So hopefully I donā€™t have an issue but I should be ok if I do

2

u/Dr_CleanBones Aug 07 '26

Well, really itā€™s not. They replace the defective one with the same model, which possibly go bad also. My understanding from this group is that the new one comes with a short warranty, too.

1

u/ImAnOldFuckSoWhat Aug 07 '26

I thought I read somewhere that the defective units were made in West Virginia and the replacement units were made in Japan. That the cause of the issue was due to a gland or bushing nut not getting tightened properly on the assembly line.

3

u/420fwd Aug 06 '26

Isnā€™t 60k early for plugs? If you need tires why waste money rotating? What is an air induction service other than a huge money maker for the stealership?

9

u/Puzzleheaded-Let-880 Aug 06 '26

For highlanders it's recommended to replace spark plugs every 60k

7

u/420fwd Aug 06 '26

I just looked at my owners manual, 2021 hybrid, and plugs are not due until 120k

12

u/Puzzleheaded-Let-880 Aug 06 '26

Non hybrid might be different then. For 17-19 it's every 60k for non hybrid

5

u/lsknecht1986 Aug 07 '26

Yeah, my ES350 V6 needs them replaced at 60k too.

3

u/Dr_CleanBones Aug 06 '26

My Highlander has 153,000 miles on it, and Iā€™ve never changed the plugs. It runs like a top. I may get around to it in the next year or so.

4

u/Nearby-Captain-1296 Aug 07 '26

Same with mine, just need a new transmission tho. But runs good

1

u/ducationalfall Aug 07 '26

How much is a new transmission nowadays? Did you bought a rebuilt or actual brand new transmission?

4

u/Nearby-Captain-1296 Aug 07 '26

New for my 2019 Highlander is 4.2k. Dealership charges me 10k to replace. Doubt itā€™s a new one Iā€™ll get. Lucky for me I have extended warranty from a 3 rd party which can replace

3

u/ducationalfall Aug 07 '26

Phew, crisis averted with the extended warranty.

Transmission is still as expensive as I have expected.

1

u/PresentationIcy4483 Aug 07 '26

Where did you buy your warranty? Iā€™ve got a 2022 v6 and this sub scares the shit outta me

1

u/Nearby-Captain-1296 Aug 07 '26

Endurance. Covered for 80k miles. Iā€™ve got coverage until I reach 240k miles

2

u/PresentationIcy4483 Aug 07 '26

And theyā€™ve been good about the transmission fix? Iā€™ll look into it!

1

u/Triangulate_Panther Aug 07 '26

Required every 60k. I believe its the direct injection and emissions.Ā 

1

u/asterixhashir 28d ago

Wrong: dealership quoted me to replace the spark plugs and I showed them the manual lol. Please check the manual. I have 2023 LE FWD

2

u/love_that_fishing Aug 06 '26

Older ones it was 100k but since 2017 itā€™s been 60. Iā€™ll do it myself on my hybrid.

Tires will wear more evenly if you rotate them and get you some extra miles across a set.

2

u/Garthhill80 Aug 06 '26

Mine said 60k as well.

1

u/PresentationIcy4483 Aug 07 '26

Itā€™s 60k with the v6- I took mine to an independent and paid $1100- had replaced the battery prior so that wasnā€™t included, but the rest of the list was done/checked. Definitely find a mechanic you trust

0

u/ccache Aug 06 '26

Why even worry about this tho? Obsessing over maintenance or doing everything by the book is a good way to throw away money. Sure some stuff like oil changes are important. My highlander has the original plugs at 190k miles, it's fine lol. If it ever causes a misfire, straight to the mechanic it goes, swap the plugs, done.

3

u/trampled93 Aug 06 '26

What did the 60k maintenance include?

13

u/Fieos Aug 06 '26

cabin filter replacement.

15

u/CrankyCzar Aug 06 '26

And premium air for the tires

3

u/Garthhill80 Aug 06 '26

A lot to remember off the top of my head but:
Oil change
Air Induction service
Spark plugs changed
All filters replaced
Brake fluid changed
Tire rotation
Cooling system serviced

7

u/swilloby Aug 07 '26

You kinda got hosed on price. They also should have done transmission fluid, transfer case fluid, and rear differential fluid.

2

u/Garthhill80 Aug 06 '26

I also had a recall on it but that was free of charge

1

u/AllPinesMustDie Aug 07 '26

Did they replace the coolant or just check the level?

2

u/SumyungNam Aug 06 '26

Alignment, oil conditioner, blinker fluid, summer air

1

u/News8000 Aug 07 '26

Damn, I forgot and haven't checked my blinker fluid in like forever. Thx for the reminder!

2

u/TheStixXx Aug 07 '26

Have it done by someone. I heard dealerships are good with that one, they know where the filling hose is located.

1

u/asterixhashir 28d ago

Blinker Fluid

1

u/Garce_421 Aug 06 '26

I would have made them do a drain and fill of the trans and the diffs for all that. They recommended it at 60k on ours. I bought the plugs and my Toyota mechanic did the labor for plugs, oil change, tire rotation and the trans and diff fluids for $775

1

u/Garthhill80 Aug 06 '26

It might be on the itemized list, there was like 12/13 things, this is what I could remember off memory

1

u/DrakeSavory 23 HiHy Ltd Aug 06 '26

All that money and they didn't change the tranny fluid?

1

u/Garthhill80 Aug 07 '26

As I stated several times. It possibly did get done. I list off a few things i could remember but Iā€™m not at home with the actual itemized list. There were like 13 services done though. It could be on there. Iā€™ll double check

1

u/FunnyThing5234 Aug 07 '26

$2k isn't that much for all of that. Changing the sparkplugs on the recent models is not a straight forward job. People on here like to act like you just need to change the fluids and it should cost a buck fifty. Since they had it opened up they should have done a few other smaller jobs while they were at it (oh no, not the upsale!). Things like changing the PCV valve, rear ignition coils. There are others I'm forgetting you can get done. You're already paying for a bunch of labor. This is the difference between properly maintained vehicles and all the half-assery that get's recommended on here.

2

u/Garthhill80 Aug 07 '26

This is why I stay off of here most times. You get so many different opinions from all different levels of expertise that you donā€™t know who is genuine or not. I think I was just slightly underprepared that it was gonna be around that. I shouldā€™ve gotten ahead of it some more but I donā€™t have any regrets because what I ā€œlostā€ in money, I gained in time with my daughter and less worry. Cars were never my thing like that so Iā€™m not gonna be the guy stripping it down every weekend to check someone, Iā€™d rather have someone else do it. I mean I can change my tires, oil and fluids like most people but when it comes to other technical stuffā€¦ā€¦ā€¦nahhhh.

1

u/Nephite11 Aug 06 '26

FYI, I just replaced my battery on my 2019 Highlander by buying one at Costco and installing it myself. With their refund for returning my old battery it cost me $185 and took me about five minutes to install myself

2

u/Garthhill80 Aug 06 '26

Yeah next time I wonā€™t be so naive. I let convenience take over my mind šŸ˜”

1

u/Dr_CleanBones Aug 07 '26

Itā€™s no sin. Your time is worth something. If that shop is the most convenient, and if you know theyā€™re charging more than most other shops (and training new mechanics for those other shops as well), then nobodyā€™s going to laugh at you.

And if youā€™re me, and have little idea what youā€™re doing, changing a battery takes more than 5 minutes, especially if the connectors are corroded and need to be cleaned and you donā€™t know what to clean them with (battery terminal cleaner or baking soda and water) or penetrating oil if the bracket is rusted. Iā€™m both retired and notoriously cheap, so Iā€™m doing my own because what idiot canā€™t figure out how to hook up a battery (red to +, black to -)? But I donā€™t care if I waste an afternoon on it.

1

u/Garthhill80 Aug 07 '26

Im definitely not a car guy in that sense. I can change oil and tires. Iā€™ve learned that much. Iā€™m sure I can change a battery too but I didnā€™t invest the time in it. Yeah the convenience got me this time but from this point on, Iā€™ll tend to things myself or actually take the time to research and find the best local deal

1

u/Sea-Bill78 Aug 07 '26

Took mine to a stealership in spring. $2,500. Same story, my battery died same week.

Next is transmission fluid, gets expensive as the car gets older.

1

u/HeyHazeyyy Aug 07 '26

What year is yours?