Connecting Rod Failure

Z

zetaplus

New member
Hi, my question today is regarding an incident that has left me without a vehicle. I took my car (99 4runner purchashed new) to the dealership for a routine mantenance at 148 000 km. Several hours later after my appointment time, the service advisor called me to inform me that the connecting rod had snapped and punctured a hole in the side of my engine; and that oil was everywhere. Thus I need a new engine and the options was for a new engine including install total $5000 or $6000 for rebuild installed. Another option is that the dealership would give me $5000 for it and I walk away vehicleless. He claims that this occured while the mechanic was out test driving the car.


I basically dropped off my car to dealership for a routine maintenance and several hours later I get a call telling me your car is toast.

My question is, is this type of failure expected at 148 000 km.

Thank you for your input in advance.
 
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No, that is not right. It was left in their care in perfect running condition, during the test drive you have no idea what the mechanic was doing in your truck to cause that kind of damage. I would try and talk to the manager of the dealership and have them replace the motor at no charge to you. They broke it, they should fix it. If they dont, get a lawyer and get a brand new 4Runner out of it.
 
Times 2. :awais: That service advisor is retarded. Take it up with the service manager. If that doesn't work, talk to the owner and smack him around a little bit.
 
I Work at a dealership and he is to tally lieing to you i would fight it if i was you. It happens all the time not locking up engines but when were woking on a car and something breaks the dealership has to pay for it thats just good customer relationship pratice. i hope that this get all sorted out for u and i would reccommend going there again and if u could post the dealerships name so othere people wont go there and have this happen to them!
 
Thank you all for all the positive encouragment. By now, I have met with service manager, and then subsequently the general manager of the dealership; which is destination toyota Burnaby BC Canada. According to the dealership. as long as you sign the dotted line whereby you the owner grant permission for the mechanic to test drive your car, that is where their liability ends. They claim they have nothing to due with the incident and it is a pure fluke. Either the bearing was shot or the connecting rod fatigued. I will try to meet with the VP of the dealership and make one last effort down the gentle road. If this does not work, I guess, I got no choice but to leave it with the courts.

I have talked with a couple of mechanics outside of the dealership. they are all bewillered and claim their is something fishy here. This should not occur to this car.

I have even contacted Toyota Canada, and the way that works is that you basically leave a message with a secretary and they will get back to you. If you don't have a car, they put you on the priority list. They claim that toyota does not like complaints.

Anyways, I am very appreciative of your postings. It is intimidating at times when you go in and talk with these guys and they gang up on you.

But I will keep pushing. Thus, far the pushing got me to the point where the general manager approved me getting the work done at absolute shop cost, all parts and labor. Bascially, if I got to pay 6000 for a new engine they'll take off a 1000. What a great deal. Excuse my french, but I say screw that.

Thank you all.
 
Every shop i've been to has me sign on the dotted line, and what the line is for is you agreeing for them to go ahead with the repairs and you will pay for them or they will kepp your car. Just think of it this way, if the mechanic had hit a telephone poll with your car, would they not have to fix it? of course they would. if they don't pick up the repair tab 100%, I would get a lawyer. But since this is all happening in canada, i would expect you to get screwed over. good luck
 
MARSHALLMAY said:
Every shop i've been to has me sign on the dotted line, and what the line is for is you agreeing for them to go ahead with the repairs and you will pay for them or they will kepp your car. Just think of it this way, if the mechanic had hit a telephone poll with your car, would they not have to fix it? of course they would. if they don't pick up the repair tab 100%, I would get a lawyer. But since this is all happening in canada, i would expect you to get screwed over. good luck
Click to expand...

I agree with what marshall is saying, that just cause you signed on the line, it doesn't meant that they're free to drag race your car! And besides, why the hell do they need to take a car out for a test drive after a routine maintenance?? I assume that this meant you were getting an oil change, lubing the drive shafts, maybe an air filter, and a few other minor things. Their test drive should have been from the back of the shop to the front of the parking lot, that's it!

A connecting rod should not have blown at 150,000 kilos (which for you Americans is only around 110,000 miles) unless that enging was sucking in water while crossing a river! And why else would it take them several hours to do a routine check-up?? Any mechanic worth their salt should have had that entire thing done within an hour. Something sounds REAL fishy there if you ask me. Unfortunately, it also sounds like one of those long drawn out battles too. I hate to be pessimistic, but it will probably get uglier before it gets better.

And btw marshall, what do you mean you'd expect us to get screwed over cause we live in Canada? Do you know something that we dont?
 
If the VP doesnt help you, then call Toyota direct. They will ask you if you have been a loyal Toyota customer and will ask how many Toyotas your family has owned. Thye will ask for VIN numbers as well. If you have owned a few Toyotas, they will help you out even more. I had a problem with my Tacoma a while back, i called toyota USA and they asked these questions, but our family has owned about 7-9 toyotas in the past 10 years. Keep buggin Toyota and they will help you out.
 
Just a side note on this thread, before you sign that dotted line, write "LOT DRIVE ONLY" on the work order. If you don't they have the right to "test drive" your truck anywhere they want to.
 
At the end of the day, I am pretty well on my own. I have spoken with a lawyer as some of you have recommend and according to his comments there is not point. I spoke with Toyota Canada and the dealership I had the mishap and spoke with the dealership that sold it too; No one can do anything, it is outside of the expressed written warranty so that is just too bad.

In the final analysis, I had my car taken out of the dealership and had an engine from the wrecker put in. The wrecker engine was from a 2001 model with 21000km and thus I can't complain about that but still I am out $5000, only after having paid around $55000, 6-7 years ago, if you add the interest and all the fees.

I am pretty choked about it but I guess I can't really do much.
Hope no one else has the same mishap.

Thanks everyone.
 
That's when you stand outside the dealership, on public property, w/ a sign saying This dealershipp blew my engine on a "routine" test drive and blamed me. I am now out $5,000 on a supposedly reliable Toyota with only 100,000 miles. I doubt it will help but if even one person decides to buy from another dealer I say you have done something. Toyota screwed me on my 2000 4runner 2.7. My rear end blew at 42k so they replaced it, it blew again at 67k and they refused to fix it, saying I must drive my truck wrong. In the end they paid $700 labor and I paid a grand for a new diff, so in the end they screwed me the best they could. I still drive a 4Runner but I think their customer service sucks!
 
Complaint Site Development

Hello and thanks again for all the helpful suggestions. At this point I wanted to at least post a site, like a complaint site such as those that are on Forbes top complaint site http://www.forbes.com/2002/08/21/0821hatesites.html.

At a first attempt I am quit disappointed with my one page site which is rather embarrasing(here is its location www.4runnerissues.com. Anyways I was wondereing if I can ask some of you clever website developers and artists to give me a hand. Let me know if any of you are willing to help me out with a complaint site againts these guys. http://www.destinationtoyota.ca/


Thanks for any and all responses.
 
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