about 14 months ago (norther california), I had my front/rear diff changed. I was filling up my spare tire and noted the fill/drain bolts.

The fill bolt doesn't look like it has been removed in years. Should the filler bolt look like this after only 14 months?

The drain bolt is a bit better but you couldn't obviously do the change w/ just the drain bolt.

 

Any reputable service tech would have replaced those plugs....they were not touched

 

Has the truck been in NorCal for the past 14 months? Or Illinois? Looks like Chicago rust!

 

I lived in Chicago (with the truck) for the first 8 years of its life. The last 14 months though has been in norcal. I honestly can't believe that it was changed with the fill bolt looking like that. :/

 

Those bassords have taken you my friend.

 

Agreed. 14 months in CA shouldn't corrode your fill-bolt like that. I would open the fill bolt and inspect the fluid and change it asap if it wasn't done.

 

Are they stripped/rounded or something? Why would you replace drain/fill plugs over a bit of surface rust? They'd look out of place on a northern vehicle.

Agreed with NTH, pull the fill plug and dip a finger in, check the condition of the fluid and proceed from there. That fill plug does look like it hasn't been disturbed in years IMO.

 

Phil- if you decide to pull this plug yourself, hit the bolt and surrounding areas with a wire brush to knock the rust off. You'll have less of a chance rounding out that head. Let us know what you find.

 

please remove the fill plug first. it will let it drain easier (without chugging for air), and most importantly you then know you will be able to refill it once you are done, cause those look like they may put up a fight.
I would PB blaster it the night before even.

They don't always replace the bolts, a good dealership should though. suspicious but hard to tell either way.

 

This kind of thing happens all the time at stealerships. I agree it looks fishy.

My other Lexus had impeccable dealer records, nothing makes you madder than pulling the spark plug and can obviously see it's original to the car. they know most owners are never going to check until years down the road.

Another time, my wife's car had the front and rear pads replaced because I just didn't have the time to get to them, I heard some noise about 10 months later and decided to take a look, clearly they skipped putting on rear pads altogether. Ended up doing them myself and haven't had an issue since.

You almost have to do things yourself if you don't want to get cheated in this day and age. Everybody is looking to cut corners.

 

So I had the pull the work order which stated that they performed the transfer case and differential (singular). The parts assigned to the work order were a single quart of diff oil. So even if they did the front, they probably short filled it.

Annoying as I drove 15k extra miles thinking it was done. He probably noticed the rusty bolts and said F it.


@alisc3 - good advice.

 

you would need about 7 quarts for all 3 changes

 

Drove a company leased vehicle for awhile. Our company had a maintenance agreement with a new car dealership. We figured something wasn't right when we brought in a car for new shocks and when it came back, the shocks were different but did not 'look' new. So before bringing in a car for an oil change, we put a little dimple in the oil filter with a punch. When the car came back, it had fresh oil and a shiny oil filter - but the dimple was still there. They just wiped the filter with a rag and of course charged full price for a new filter. Who knows what kind of oil they put in there. We found another place to service the vehicles.

I did the transfer case and differentials last year. Used all new plugs and gaskets. The parts are really not that expensive.

 

there is a newer type of bolt also for the replacements, it looks like the front diff one that uses the large hex bolt. they call it like a higher clearance bolt but really its just a good replacement bolt the dealerships may use if they know what they are doing.

 

I've never understood why people like hex head bolts. Around here they get filled up with road grime, and corrode, and round out.