UPDATE: As previously writen above, a Toyota "Field Service Engineer" and the service manager drove the T4R and were able to replicate the shimmy. On the invoice it states, and I quote verbatim:
"FSE performed inpection--verified concern. Drove comparison vehicle (VIN JTEBU5JR6C5100730 MILES 4) Comparison vehicle performed identical. Concern is a normal characteristic of this vehicle. No repairs recommended.
Ok, the FSE wizard
drives it and because he is so knowledgeable, he is able to diagnose there is no problem in a 6 mile drive--mind you it's probably 1.5 miles of surface roads each way to get to the freeway, so in 3 miles of evaulation, there is "no problem."
This about set me off. I requested to the service writer that we talk with the wizard and the service manager. The wizard is gone...probably out fixing blown engines and twisted drivelines by uttering the words "Normal characteristic...no repairs recommended." The service manager was apparently "out to lunch" at 4pm when they close at 6pm...yeah right.
I speak with the service manager and ask him questions he didn't have very good answers to. This is a basic jist of the conversation
-So what you're telling me here is I've got a shimmy which the service writer and you initially agreed was a problem, correct? Service Manager, "Yes."
-You guys did a balance and the problem was still there, so you called Toyota who agreed there is a problem and they said to do a GPS 9700 balance, right? Service Manager, "Yes"
-Ok, so you've confirmed there is a problem with Toyota backing you telling you to take further action, you do this, the problem still exists. Now the FSE comes and drives my truck for 6 miles, verifies the issue on mine and another truck, determines and proclaims this is Normal, right? Service Manager, "Well, yeah, they all do that."
-Do you have any documentation from Toyota saying this is normal, because I looked in my owners manual and couldn't find anything saying intermittent steering wheel shiimmy at 60-70 mpg is normal." Service Manager, "Well, yours does it and the brand new one on the lot did it too."
-I can assure you they all don't as my mother in law has one, same year, make, model and hers is smooth. Should I tell her something is wrong as hers doesn't have the normal vibration which is a characteristic of the vehicle? Service Manager, "Well, hers might do it."
-Ok, so if they all 4Runners do this, why does Toyota even bother to balance the tires from the factory if a shimmy is an inherent and desired design charateristic which I think any reasonable person would disagree with? I feel and it's apparant I'm getting brushed off here. Service Manager, "Well, there isn't a repair available that Toyota is telling us to do?"
-Ok, I understand your position, but I have a gut feeling things might not have been done correctly or looked at thoroughly, so hear me out.
-Did the FSE
personally check or oversee an alignment check to rule that out? Service Manager, "Well, um, no, it's the tires vibrating and we did an aligment a while back."
-You're right, you stated you checked the alignment, but I never saw a printout sheet, anyway. Did the FSE personally check, oversee or look for rim runout or potential tire defect? Service Manager, "Well, no, we did the balance the other day and then took it to the Ford dealer across the street and they did the GSP9700 balance and they balanced out fine."
-I'm sure they balanced out fine, but that's the issue...they balance out fine but drive poorly. You can balance a brick with enough weight, but that doesn't mean it's going to roll smooth. Service Manager, "Ha ha, yeah, that's true."
-What type of force readings did you guys get from the GSP9700, a printout or some data from them?" Service Manager, "We didn't get a printout as maybe they have one of the old ones that don't have a printer."
-Did you request a printout? Service Manager, "I'm not sure."
-Did the tech at Ford use the HAWEKA adapter as recommended by the TSB? Service Manager, "Well I think he must have."
-Does the Ford service center have a HAWEKA adapter? Service Manager, "I'm not sure, but I'll check on it."
-How would a Ford technician know about a Toyota TSB unless someone personally told him to use it? Service Manager, "Um, Uh, Um, Uh, I'm not sure but I'll check on it."
-You see the reason I'm asking about the printout, adapter and such is so you could provide the wizard with all the information he needed in which to make an informed decision that there is an acutal issue here. Instead, the wizard comes in and doesn't see you have data and facts...you don't have a printout, you're not sure if a HAWEKA adapter was used or even available. See my point? Service Manager, "Yeah, but at the point our hands are tied because there isn't a fix out there."
Needless to say, I got nowhere with this cat. The excuse matrix these service managers have is absolutely incredible. Do they go to school for this?
Service Manager said I could call the Toyota number and submit a trouble ticket...I'm floored...isn't this his job to resolve problems?
So after this is all said and done, the service writer is again asking about giving him a good grade on his report card!! Ha ha
I then go across the street to the Ford garage and talk with the service writer chick over there. The tech who did the GSP9700 wasn't there and I couldn't get any resolution on the question if they had a HAWEKA adapter or not. The girl told me to just bring it back tomorrow afternoon and we'll do it again. She said if they didn't have one, they'd get it from Toyota. Shockingly, I got (initially) better service at the Ford garage.
More to follow tomorrow when round 2 on the GSP9700 happens.