ABS wiring split/ dealer won't cover under warranty

[Syr4RinNC]

Just wanted to poll the forum's thoughts on this issue

My wife's 4runner is 2 years old, under warranty.

We got a warning on the dashboard about the ABS system malfunction and took it into the local dealer.

Apparently a wiring into the wiring harness near the rear driver side wheel/ break caliper split.

They felt that this was due to a stick or rock or normal debris from driving ending up in the undercarriage damaging the wiring

Theres no other damage to the vehicle what so ever.

They refused to cover this under warranty and stated that even though this was normal wear and tear this is due to normal hazards of driving.

Do you all generally agree with this that Toyota shouldn't cover this or has anyone had dealers cover this type of problem under warranty?

For normal people this would be a $0 fix of splicing wires together. At a dealership it was outrageous.


You can see the blue wire separated in the middle harness below

 

[Spinnukur]

I had my driver's side, front, replaced under warranty. They did it once and stated it would probably not be approved again as I have a 3" lift.

I think it depends on the dealership and/or the rapport you have with your advisor at said dealership.

Hope it helps.

 

[Syr4RinNC]

I had my driver's side, front, replaced under warranty. They did it once and stated it would probably not be approved again as I have a 3" lift.

I think it depends on the dealership and/or the rapport you have with your advisor at said dealership.

Hope it helps.

Thanks- I appreciate that.

The manager's response was that they have to send pictures/ a report for all warranty requests and that Toyota would deny this anywhere.

Im sure that answer is somewhere in between that if you have a good relationship/ know the dealership they'll cut you a break vs what Toyota should/ will cover

 

[spartacus]

Thanks- I appreciate that.

The manager's response was that they have to send pictures/ a report for all warranty requests and that Toyota would deny this anywhere.

Im sure that answer is somewhere in between that if you have a good relationship/ know the dealership they'll cut you a break vs what Toyota should/ will cover

You can File a complaint with Toyota hq and see what they say could be worth a shot.

 

[phlawx]

Just wanted to poll the forum's thoughts on this issue

My wife's 4runner is 2 years old, under warranty.

We got a warning on the dashboard about the ABS system malfunction and took it into the local dealer.

Apparently a wiring into the wiring harness near the rear driver side wheel/ break caliper split.

They felt that this was due to a stick or rock or normal debris from driving ending up in the undercarriage damaging the wiring

Theres no other damage to the vehicle what so ever.

They refused to cover this under warranty and stated that even though this was normal wear and tear this is due to normal hazards of driving.

Do you all generally agree with this that Toyota shouldn't cover this or has anyone had dealers cover this type of problem under warranty?

For normal people this would be a $0 fix of splicing wires together. At a dealership it was outrageous.


You can see the blue wire separated in the middle harness below

Sounds like a lazy dealership manager with a weak argument (rock or stick??)

 

[SR5Bart]

Call 800 331-4331 Toyota customer support in Plano TX. Long as the vehicle is stock I can pretty much put my job on the line that they will cover it

I just had a customer with a 2010 highlander his rear diff went bad they threw in $2500 good will money towards the repair since he buys only Toyota and services them here as well.

 

[thennen]

Something outside the vehicle broke that wire, and I imagine that maybe a light came on right when it happened?. I personally don’t think manufacturers should be held accountable for road hazards that break things. I’m guessing the warranty is pretty clear on what’s covered.

If it really is a $0 fix to splice it back together, I’d go ahead and do that if I were you. The dealer may be obligated to go further if they do the repairs - splicing/repairing that ABS wire may present a future liability for them, in which case they’ll probably quote you for replacing the harness or something similar. I wouldn’t sweat going after a free repair if it were me.

 

[GripT4R]

Spend 60 seconds and fix it yourself.

 

[Syr4RinNC]

So I talked with the dealership where I bought it

- they laid it out exactly as you all have said. That dealerships that you have a good relationship with will often cover things like this once under good will, but it is not a warranty issue.Thanks for the customer service contact info. I may try that before going back to the service manager here.

 

[Drunner97]

Was the electrical tape around the wire chewed up like that when you took it in or did the dealership do that? If it was chewed up when you took it in, something hit it and split it. Looks like a fairly clean cut though, which is odd. Would have had to be a pretty sharp rock or stick and I'm not seeing any other damage around it. Wires don't typically get cut, they typically get yanked out of the connectors and if that's the one that I think it is, it's tucked up high enough on the frame that you're going to have to try really hard to make it split right there.

edit: that close to the plug you'd expect a lot more damage/scrapes/scratches on nearby components if it was indeed a rock or a stick. That almost looks intentionally cut.

 

[Syr4RinNC]

Was the electrical tape around the wire chewed up like that when you took it in or did the dealership do that? If it was chewed up when you took it in, something hit it and split it. Looks like a fairly clean cut though, which is odd. Would have had to be a pretty sharp rock or stick and I'm not seeing any other damage around it. Wires don't typically get cut, they typically get yanked out of the connectors and if that's the one that I think it is, it's tucked up high enough on the frame that you're going to have to try really hard to make it split right there.

edit: that close to the plug you'd expect a lot more damage/scrapes/scratches on nearby components if it was indeed a rock or a stick. That almost looks intentionally cut.

Its all very confusing to me. I believe the electrical tape/ wrap was cut back by the dealership

 

[Syr4RinNC]

Call 800 331-4331 Toyota customer support in Plano TX. Long as the vehicle is stock I can pretty much put my job on the line that they will cover it

I just had a customer with a 2010 highlander his rear diff went bad they threw in $2500 good will money towards the repair since he buys only Toyota and services them here as well.

The customer service rep I had basically said that they stand by the service submission and support the dealerships. Had the dealership submitted this under good will, Toyota would have likely approved the repair. Because the dealer did not submit it under good will and continue to stand by it is my responsibility then the customer service reps dont have the ability to over-rule them and submit it for good will.

 

[SR5Bart]

The customer service rep I had basically said that they stand by the service submission and support the dealerships. Had the dealership submitted this under good will, Toyota would have likely approved the repair. Because the dealer did not submit it under good will and continue to stand by it is my responsibility then the customer service reps dont have the ability to over-rule them and submit it for good will.

Sounds like a bunch of aholes at that dealer. Sorry man

 

[Syr4RinNC]

Sounds like a bunch of aholes at that dealer. Sorry man

Agreed - thanks

 

[Drunner97]

Solder the wires back together and call it a day. It's simple enough. You could try to fight the dealership, but the reality of it is that this still almost looks like vandalism to me. The cut is too clean, and honestly I've dragged my rig over enough rocks, sticks, bushes, twigs, whatever and never torn an abs wire. I did however easily pull all 4 wires out of the connector working on my suspension. So the wire should have pulled out, before looking like a clean cut. Something sharp did that.

 

[Dillusion]

The amount of time spent on this thread was more than the fix...

Just saying.

 

[Syr4RinNC]

Yea I appreciate that. The problem is that I requested a picture of the repair needed and to speak to the manager. In the interim, they fixed the problem against my wishes and I was left with a bill of $330 For a repair that would be very simple to do myself. I’m not happy for a few reasons

 

[Dillusion]

Well if they fixed without permission tell um to pound sand.

Unless you signed something when you dropped it off read the fine print.

 

[jhguth]

the wiring shown in that photo is on the exterior of the vehicle?