One of Tucson's Toyota dealers is extending hours and the other has hired more mechanics to handle demand for service on recalled models, but both said they've been able to keep up with demand so far.
Starting Monday, Precision Toyota will extend hours, staying open Monday through Saturday to 9 p.m., and handling only recall work during the extended hours, said Brett Maxwell, Precision's fixed operations director. There are no immediate plans to open for service on Sunday, Maxwell said.
Desert Toyota hired additional employees to handle the recall workload during normal hours, but is prepared to adjust service hours if that's needed, said Brian Bradley, Desert's service manager. He said the dealership stayed open until 7 p.m. Wednesday. Desert's normal hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
The workload could pick up next week, after the latest Toyota recall letter goes out today. Some of the recall letters went out last fall, and other models were added, including some Lexus models that share Toyota platforms, since then.
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Spokesmen for both dealerships said customers, even those who seemed concerned when they called or came in to inquire about recall service, were generally relieved.
"People that call over here settle down very easily; there's been no panic," said John Barrera, Precision Toyota's general manager.
Required work varies depending on which of two gas pedal systems - made by either Denso or CTS - are involved. Some models require modifications to the carpet padding or gas pedal, or both; others require a new part.
"When the car comes in, it take us five seconds to determine whether it's a Denso pedal or a CTS pedal," Barrera said.
In some cases, Barrera said, customers have come in concerned about the safety of their vehicles, and after learning more about the recall on their particular vehicle, have said "they'll come back in a week or two."
Although Toyota temporarily shut down its U.S. manufacturing plants pending changes in the recall-affected supplies, the local dealers said they have some vehicles in stock that were built with Japanese-made throttle assemblies that are available for sale.
Desert Toyota general manager Bob Rockov said Desert has 120 cars in stock not covered by recalls that are available for sale.
Barrera said Precision has more than 200 cars available for sale.
for more info
For more information from Toyota on the recall, including affected models and years, visit Toyota's Web site: www.toyota.com
Contact reporter Dan Sorenson at dsorenson@azstarnet.com or at 573-4185.