Automotive Forums  Where Car Enthusiasts Go to Discuss Cars Online

I just dropped my 2003 Highlander off at a Toyota dealership in VA for its' 30K maintenance.  The car has 34,500 miles on it.  The dealership just called and then are recommending a transmission flush and decarbonization service at $130 each.  The service manager said they recommend both of these services at 15k-30k.  I called another Toyota dealership to confirm if these services are really required.  The second dealership said he definitely did not think the transmission flush was needed at 34K particularly if I am getting the transmission fluid changed.  He said the decarbonization service was a bit "if-y".  He said if am doing a lot of city driving he may suggest this preventative maintenance but that it definitely should not be needed if at 34K for highway driving.  I called the dealership back and told them to hold off for now.  However,I am preplexed. Should these preventative services be performed or not?  All thoughts are welcome.

Thanks,
Betsy  

Betsy, you did a good thing by getting a second opinion. You were lucky the second shop didn't recommend the same questionable service. I recommend that you take your vehicle to the second shop for warranty work, an independent for regular maintenance (keep your receipts), and keep your suspicion monitors "on" when a service manager upsells service items beyond the owner's manual specifications.  

Just change tranny fluid and filter about every 30 to 35,000 miles, forget the flush. If you would use "Beryman B-12, Or if you have it in your area "SEAFOAM" cleaner afew times a year, foget about decarbonizing it also, the stuff works that good. Foreign car dealers are worse than American dealers at wanting to "take you for a ride", in my oppion