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By Angie Kilbourne, AutoInc. Correspondent
At an Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW) Education Day press conference, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. (TMS) unveiled its new service resources for the independent repair community. These new services are designed to enhance the Toyota/Lexus/Scion technical information Web site, techinfo.toyota.com, with new functionality including:
- Short- and long-term subscriptions to the Toyota Technical Information System (TIS) diagnostic software application, TIS Techstream.
- TIS Techstream Lite – a J-2534-based vehicle interface kit for diagnosis and reprogramming.
- Vehicle calibration updates available as direct download.
- Technical assistance, provided by Identifix Direct-Hit. This service will be available in December 2009.
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| (Photo: Toyota) |
These capabilities are available through a new Professional Diagnostic subscription option, available in two-day or one-year intervals. Two-day subscriptions are offered at $55, and full-year accounts are available at a special introductory price of $995. A special introductory offer is also featured for full-year subscribers, bundling the annual subscription with a Techstream Lite interface kit for $1,345. These introductory prices will be available through March 31, 2010.
“The bundled package provides a great way for facilities to upgrade to full diagnostic capability and expand their service capability on Toyota products,” said Tom Trisdale, Toyota manager of Technical Information and Diagnostics. The Techstream Lite interface kit, as a stand-alone item, normally retails for $495, and the Diagnostic Professional subscription will retail for $1095 after the introductory period ends in March 2010.
Focusing on “Customer First”
“With over 26 million total [vehicles] in operation in the U.S. market, we understand many Toyota owners utilize the independent service community for their repair and maintenance needs. …[And], regardless of the service location, we want owners of our vehicles to have a great experience with the product,” said Bob Waltz, vice president, product quality and service support, in a prepared statement for the press. “Ensuring all of our vehicles can be serviced swiftly and accurately puts customers first and truly enables that positive ownership experience.”
Toyota’s Technical Information System (TIS) is the automaker’s service support source for all its vehicles marketed in the United States.
According to Toyota, TIS includes all of the vital information a shop needs to effectively service most 1990 and later Toyota products. |
TIS is available in three different subscription levels:
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Technical assistance is part of the package
To assist with repairs, all Professional Diagnostic subscribers will have access to the Identifix Direct-Hit library of fixes, as well as one free support call per year to the Identifix Repair Hotline.
Combining factory service information and vehicle diagnostics with tech assistance as a single, economical subscription provides independent facilities with a full set of essential service resources in a single, easy to use Web location, says Toyota.
“We are honored by Toyota’s decision to partner with Identifix to create this unique service offering. Toyota again has set the standard for the industry by combining Identifix experienced-based diagnostics with factory service information, which will provide a best-in-class service experience for Toyota owners,” said Jeff Sweet, Identifix president, in a prepared press statement.
For more information, please review the subscription details and Techstream Lite product description found on the techinfo.toyota.com home page. For more information about Toyota Service, visit www.toyotapartsandservice.com.
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Nov. 4-7, 2009
