Caulleen Gillette

Review of Mark Miller Toyota

I bought a used Toyota about a month ago from a pr...

I bought a used Toyota about a month ago from a private party. The check engine light came on (not shocking considering its age), so I took it to the dealership to have the light diagnosed (as my local mechanic does not have the correct reader). The Mark Miller service team said they couldn t find the issue because it was throwing multiple, contradictory error codes and that I had to give them more diagnosis time. So I did. $400 later, it is a sensor they fixed it and I am on my way annoyed, but understanding.

2 DAYS later, I had to bring my car back in because it wasn t downshifting properly. I did a lot of research (including talking to 3 mechanics) and had a list of possible issue with the car (mostly sensors: throttle placement, O2, temperature, etc.), they immediately dismissed all that swearing up and down that it would throw a code (I had only driven about 11 miles since leaving the dealership earlier that week). They took a look and told me that my transmission is shot and that they will need $2,000 to replace it.

I was suspicious because a) my tranny fluid was still pink when I checked it about 10 miles before they did and b) my car is not acting as if the tranny is shot and c) because they were vague about the issue and could not clearly define it. As I am leaving the dealership to take it my local mechanic, the engine throws a code again .not 5 miles down the road. So, I left my car at my mechanic's shop. He takes a look at my transmission and says it is fine just needs a hose replacement; he also looks around and tells me he thinks the error is my O2 sensor, but that I should take it to dealership to double check since he can t read (or clear) the error code. He then replaces a couple of hoses and it drives great (for $200, not $2,000). In the week since, I have driven about 300 miles and it is going great and my fluid is still cherry red.

Yes my check engine light is still on. No I will not be taking it back to Mark Miller Service Center. I may need to find another dealership to diagnose and clear the code, due to the age of my car, but I will not be giving any more money to this place. I AM SURE that this code is related to the first time I brought my car in and they either lied about the condition of my transmission to get money, or they were too lazy to properly diagnose it.

Added later: It has been about a month; I have driven about 1500 miles. My transmission is still fine; the fluid level is great and the color is still clean and red. The hose fixed my problem.

The dealership commented saying my tran. fluid was burnt and low when I brought it in. I would like to note that at the time I was told my transmission was shot (and they need $2,000 to fix it), they told me that my fluid was low, but NOT BURNT at all. I had also checked it shortly before had--it was pink. That is one of the reasons I got a second opinion--dying transmissions to not generally have clean fluid like mine did.