HELP!!!! Head Gasket & Relay Rod Recall Problems

[Gtrain]

EDITED WITH WHOLE STORY HELP!!!! Head Gasket & Relay Rod Recall Problems

I brought in my 94 4Runner for both those recalls. When I got the truck back, I have no heat and the car doesn't enage into H4 or L4. They told me that the H4 and L4 had to do with a vaccuum line leak so they sealed it so it works now and the heater problem they said that now that the head gasket has been replaced, there is more pressure provided to the Radiator and Water Pump and these two parts now are unable to handle the pressure to put out heat, therefore the truck now can't defrost or provide heat. Is this true? What can I do? Before when the truck had the recall, both functions worked like a charm. Now they are tagging me with a $2057.33 bill to fix both items and they said they are willing to give me a 25% discount. If I were to trade in the car it's only $2000 approximately, What can I do now? THanks EVERYBODY.

 

[genlrony]

I would be looking at flushing the radiator and replacing the thermostat first.

 

[Gtrain]

They are saying it's the compression rate of the head gasket is causing this problem, I called corporate and they told me that the radiator and water pump are independent of the head gasket. They did tell me that I need to replace the thermostat as a maintanence. Does anyone else have any input? Does anyone know the number for technical support for corporate? thanks

 

[captwalker87]

i would just try a new thermostat first, find out what the factory thermostat opens at, and get one that opens at like 15 or 20 degrees hotter. that should give you some more heat.

 

[Gtrain]

I was told that if the water pump is broken then my engine would over heat but since it's not then that's out of the question. I was told that it was probably a valve problem so I shook it a little and heat came on but goes away and comes on and goes away so it's not a thermostat problem. Well basically, does anyone have an idea for how I could get the problem resolved by the dealership instead of having to figure everything out myself? THanks.

 

[regularguy412]

here's a copy of the Factory Service Manual. You might find something in here. There are a few diagonstic flow charts.

http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-buchanan/93fsm/

Mike in AR

 

[Quakefire]

Thats a load of crap. The heating system in your truck has engine coolant running to a small radiator inside the car called the heater core. More pressure would not cause the vehicle not to heat, if anything it would increase the heat. I'd talk to the service manager about them trying to scre you over, if that doesn't work, call or email the toyota regional office and complain.

 

[Gtrain]

The service Manager did tell me those things. I did complain to the regional office and they told me to call the customer relations manager but the service manager there is the customer relations manager's boss so it kinda still boils down to the service manager. What can I do now? i'll post the whole story next.

 

[Gtrain]

Complete story

Here's the complete story guys...


12/16/2005
I spoke with Michelle and was told that the dealership would be able to do the head gasket campaign recall and the relay rod recall and I would receive a free rental truck. I asked Michelle what rental trucks they had and if I could get a solara to drive due to my interest in that truck.I brought in the truck at 7:30am for the recall to be done. I received a complimentary Corolla as a rental truck.

12/30/2005
I called the service department of the dealership to make sure that the truck is ok. I was told by the mechanic Bob, that they are waiting for a part to come in and if the part came in, they would be able to finish the truck on time. Hours later, at approximately 4:30pm, I received a call from Bob stating that the truck is complete and that I had until 8:30pm to pick up the truck that same day or by 12/31/2005 by 2:30pm.

12/31/2005
At approximately 1:50pm I arrived at the dealership to pick up my truck. As I drove away, I noticed that the truck had no heat nor was it able to engage into H4 or L4. The truck had its front wheels aligned according to the service paper but when I step on the brakes, the steering wheels steers to the right, even when I am driving, it seems as if the truck is steering to the right. I called the dealership back and the secretary of the dealership picked up and told the secretary the issues I was having and she recommended me to leave a voicemail for the service department which I did.

1/02/2006
I received a call back from Michelle and scheduled to drop off the truck at 7:30am on 1/03/2006 for servicing the three issues.

1/03/2006
At 7:30am I placed in my truck to be serviced and was given a solara as a rental truck. Later that afternoon at 4:30pm I received a call from Larisa and was told that because the head gasket was replaced, there is more compression and pressure from the head gasket and the water pump and radiator cannot work properly to provide heat. The thermostat was also recommended to be replaced as a maintenance issue. I was told that all items needed to be replaced and as a courtesy to my inconvenience, I would receive a 25% discount on the services. I declined the services and was asked to bring back the rental truck and pick up my truck the next day within 24 hours of my rental out time of 7:30am. I was told by Donna that I had to bring the rental solara back by 1/04/2006, if the truck was not returned, I would inquire a charge of $35 per day for not returning the truck.
I called the Toyota Customer Service 1800 number at 6:15pm approximately and spoke with a representative to document the issue. The representative Kevin replied to me that the head gasket has nothing to do with the lack of heat and that I should speak with the Customer Relations Manager which is Michelle.

1/04/2006
I arrive at the dealership at 7:40am to return the rental truck and spoke to Donna about exactly why the heat was not functioning. I was told by Donna the same thing that Larisa told me which was that the water pump and the radiator could not handle the compression and pressure of the head gasket therefore they are working inefficiently to provide heat. The truck will now engage into H4 and L4 but the instrument panel now won

 

[genlrony]

Is it a vacuum line that operates the heat? Sorry to hear of your problems with that particular dealership. I would be taking it elswhere even it if cost me and then turn the whole thing in to Toyota factory and see if they dont just cover the cost themselves.

 

[Gtrain]

Actually it seems like a valve issue but I am not that technical about cars to be playing with everything. But I think that the dealership should be responsible and I want them to be so I would like for them to correct everything they've done. I just don't know how to get them to do that.

 

[Quakefire]

This is the way the heater works. The water pump pushes coolant through the vehicles engine block. This heats up the coolant. The thermostat open when the coolant reaches a certain temp and allows hot coolant to flow to the radiator and the heater core. Now when your truck wasnt shifting into 4wd its because when they dove into the motor the never reconnected the vaccuum line to the solinoids which engage the front diff. Replacing the head gasket can improve compression, but its main function is to keep the oil, coolant, and combustion chambers seperate. So your being given the run around. They screwed up and are hoping you give up and pay instead of swallowing the couple hours of labor to fix the problem. Inform the service manager that you are in contact with the regional toyota office, and if nessicary contact Toyota USA till the problem is resolved.