HELP!! Is my transmission done!

[leftyguns21]

he returned from their test drive. they installed all new plugs and coils. '100% no water made it past the plug in to the engine'
said they checked tranny fluid electronically and it threw no codes
ran the car for test drive with their diagnosis machine hooked up and it threw no more codes

still pretty suspicious

 

[Legender]

[MENTION=86859]djkurious[/MENTION] i kind of agree. ive had some pretty crappy cars in the past with bad plugs and wires. they drove rough and idle was not smooth. up until Thursday when check engine light finally kicked on the idle was smooth. it accelerates smooth too. i would just feel that little slip every now and then. all of their diagnoses from the now two different mechanics/advisors have been pretty different.

they just left me a message saying "everything is installed and now doing a test drive" what do they need to install if its a water issue?

You're going to need to ask for detailed explanation on the failure mode and the repair process.

 

[Legender]

Trying to understand why it worked fine for 3 days and then decided to run bad.... it just doesn't make sense. They need to explain this in a way that it makes sense and why it worked fine for 3 days then started to mess up.

 

[leftyguns21]

Trying to understand why it worked fine for 3 days and then decided to run bad.... it just doesn't make sense. They need to explain this in a way that it makes sense and why it worked fine for 3 days then started to mess up.

i was wondering the same...mon-wed it had sporadic issues but ran. thursday afternoon went bad.

 

[99Runnr]

So this is all fixed apparently. I suspect you will no longer be taking your vehicle here?

Sound's like they tried to do you a courtesy, or clean off something they spilled maybe, caused some damage (water can sit on/by the coil an cause a misfire condition after a short time period), then you called them back. Representative B encounters the vehicle, saw the misfire code (the one they said "wasn't there" yet was stored in the ECU cache), told you head gasket. Tried to pass moisture/residual water on top of the plug as reasoning.

So they used AWFUL diagnostic "expertise" to try an strong arm you into a major service bill. Still probably had to back pedal and realize it was low on transmission fluid, use an air compressor on the coil, throw it together, and magically it's "fixed".

Glad it worked out in any event it sounds like. This thread prompted me to go ahead an replace my water pump, radiator, an do a remote trans cooler, haha.

 

[djkurious]

So issue is resolved? Received truck back? Running smoothly?
I would like to see what "all" they did!

 

[4by4runr]

If you want to find out the facts, talk to the actual tech, in person.
Ask who did the repairs, then when you get there, ask to speak with them to thank them for their help, then grille the shit out of the svc tech about what was actually performed step by step. If they throw up any bs about well hes on lunch, hes very busy, ie not letting you speak to the tech RED FLAG. if they let you speak to him and anything sounds different from what the svc advisor is saying RED FLAG. Watch for any eyes drifting, pupil dialation, fidgety, or anything that says that the service tech feels uncomfortable. Im a pretty good read on body language ymmv.
Then id request they give me a refund for the prior work done for all your trouble, trying to bs you into a $5000 bill and the FACT THEY PROBABLY EFFED UP YOUR VEHICLE IN A WAY THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE SEE FOR A WHILE.

If they try to null on that, tell them something along the lines of, im going to go ahead and leave my vehicle here while i contact my attorney to see how to proceed under the consumer fraud protection act. This whole thing smells like cover yo asss.

AT A VERY MINIMUM THE LABOR FOR THE PRIOR WORK SHOULD BE REFUNDED. But personally, i would consider actually speaking to the your legal rep or the Atty general. and consider small claims court if they refuse to refund.

Dealers are required to have the competence to perform the repairs without negligence. Clearly, the were negligent in that one of their idiots got water in the engine during their process, and now they have Admitted to fault by repairing the additional work at no cost and by admission. Now as a result you have suffered a loss.

Heres a great link,
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/small-claims-book/chapter16-2.html

 

[YotaDriver]

i replaced the radiator cause it had a small leak. very small. seems pretty common on these to leak from bottom drivers side corner.

I think the radiators get damaged when the coolant lines from the transmission to the radiator are wrestled off, because I recently had to replace mine for the exact same reason.

 

[4by4runr]

he returned from their test drive. they installed all new plugs and coils. '100% no water made it past the plug in to the engine'
said they checked tranny fluid electronically and it threw no codes
ran the car for test drive with their diagnosis machine hooked up and it threw no more codes

still pretty suspicious

If they said it didn't throw any MORE codes, that would also contradict what they said initially that there were NO CODES.

 

[leftyguns21]

i spoke with them the night before i left town. he said they replaced all the plugs and coils and its 'good as new'. apparently the original mechanic who did the repairs saw water in the plug. if it was just this, why didn't the first tech figure it out. instead he said its a bad head gasket and threw a $5000 charge my way. if they would have figured it out i could have gotten my car back 2 days earlier and felt better. i am going to find a way to the dealership tomorrow and talk to the service manager. until i get a warm and fuzzy that my car is good and i am covered for future issues.

originally i wasn't going to push for anything more, just be happy they admitted it and fixed it. plus i was due for new plugs anyway so i got that taken care of. but they put me in a huge bind and possibly big future damage. now i think i am due some compensation

 

[leftyguns21]

got my car back finally.
i am even more frustrated though. sat with the service manager and he could have cared less. tried to explain the bind they put me losing my car for 4 days due to their negligence. i had to hitch a ride to the airport and to get my dog to doggy day care. he is sticking to it was due to water in the cylinder. claims the coil pack was loose (says it was due to me from changing the plugs 25k miles ago) and allowed water to get in when they cleaned it. i am not buying it. i asked him over and over again why it took a few days for car to see major issues. i've had water in my plugs before and you can tell right away. not 4 days later. he had no answer for me. i asked him why first mechanic who looked at it on Friday/Saturday couldn't figure it out but Monday they knew. he said "they didn't have time to dig in". I guess my time isn't important to them. they were quick to hit me with a $5000 quote for a new head gasket though. i said no, its cause the mechanic working Friday and Saturday didn't want to fix original mechanics issues for free. he said they kept getting codes for mis-fires and didn't see any transmission issues or any other issues. but Friday and Saturday they didn't have any codes. i don't know if there was water or not but i don't think that was the main issue. water would have evaporated over time getting better not worse. he said "our main thing is integrity and we wouldn't lie". you also wouldn't tell the truth if it means you did long term damage to my car.

not sure what ill do next. either just drop it and figure i got new plugs and coil pack out of it. then any thing related to this i have it in their papers so they will cover it. or get a hold of dealership manager not just service. this was a pretty pi$$ poor experience. it didn't sound like they knew what they were doing at all and haven't made any attempts to compensate me for lost time or make me feel good about their fix.

 

[bob3dsf]

If you want to find out the facts, talk to the actual tech, in person.
Ask who did the repairs, then when you get there, ask to speak with them to thank them for their help, then grille the shit out of the svc tech about what was actually performed step by step. If they throw up any bs about well hes on lunch, hes very busy, ie not letting you speak to the tech RED FLAG. if they let you speak to him and anything sounds different from what the svc advisor is saying RED FLAG. Watch for any eyes drifting, pupil dialation, fidgety, or anything that says that the service tech feels uncomfortable. Im a pretty good read on body language ymmv.
Then id request they give me a refund for the prior work done for all your trouble, trying to bs you into a $5000 bill and the FACT THEY PROBABLY EFFED UP YOUR VEHICLE IN A WAY THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE SEE FOR A WHILE.

If they try to null on that, tell them something along the lines of, im going to go ahead and leave my vehicle here while i contact my attorney to see how to proceed under the consumer fraud protection act. This whole thing smells like cover yo asss.

AT A VERY MINIMUM THE LABOR FOR THE PRIOR WORK SHOULD BE REFUNDED. But personally, i would consider actually speaking to the your legal rep or the Atty general. and consider small claims court if they refuse to refund.

Dealers are required to have the competence to perform the repairs without negligence. Clearly, the were negligent in that one of their idiots got water in the engine during their process, and now they have Admitted to fault by repairing the additional work at no cost and by admission. Now as a result you have suffered a loss.

Heres a great link,
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/small-claims-book/chapter16-2.html

I agree with this. The "mistake" of identifying a blown HG when it seems like it was wash water shorting the plugs (misfire symptom), seems to be a basic failure to apply the simplest of diagnostic methodology. I get that everyone makes mistakes, but the progression of the problem seems like either incompetence at least, or choosing to point the OP in the direction of a high dollar repair for profit motivation at worst. Definitely push to speak to the tech. The service manager is clearly trying cover his ass and act as a shield.

In a more general sense, why is it so hard to do things honestly? I understand that admitting a mistake was made can be hard. I don't like eating crow, but I've always felt that keeping my integrity intact will "pay off" better in the long run. Imagine a dealership service department that us known far and wide as a reputable outfit and who is known for NOT gouging prices or pushy service up-sells, add to that the value of touting factory trained techs with all Toyota's special tools, etc. That service manager clearly doesn't understand how the wildfire of a bad rep spreads these days.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[miagi]

Hi Chris,
I see you are near Denver. Next time you need service, give ATLR in Wheat Ridge a call. I've used them in the past and found them to be very honest. Slee recommended them to me a few years back. Good luck man.

 

[99Runnr]

Your very first post had something about "slipping" feeling, that to me is indicative of only transmission. Whether they lost fluid and added it, or who knows, can you get any confirmation the transmission isn't low on fluid?

Too bad they cleared the cache in your ECU now, so you can't really see the codes it had when they received it.

 

[leftyguns21]

[MENTION=20478]miagi[/MENTION] trust me, id rather have gone to Slee. they are always booked 3+ weeks out and not open on the weekends. i trust them way more.

today my car almost stalled upon starting it up. engine turned on then RPMs dropped almost to a stall before it recovered. it still feels like its driving funny, not sure how to explain it but not the same as it was.
the water in plugs still makes no sense to me, it would have evaporated not intensified.

i hate that now i am worried about my car. i have had it almost 10 years, previous to them doing work on it i would have had no hesitation to drive it across the country.

i checked on BBB, there are numerous complaints against Auto Nation. mostly for sales. i am considering filing a complaint here. i still need to get to dealership to talk to GM since the service manager is useless

 

[leftyguns21]

update. yes its taken this long to get one. funny how I finally contacted corporate auto nation this morning, and I have been getting blown up from them today. yet didn't hear anything from them last 2 weeks.

they are sticking to it was water in the cylinder from their pressure washing. when I asked how water could remain in the cylinder for 5 days. their answer was condensation and its sealed tight so water couldn't escape. water some how could get in there but not escape. they said the coil pack was 'cockeyed' letting water in. it can only fit one way, there are two bolts holding it in place. I don't fully buy their explanation.


anyway. they are offering $250 compensation for my time and their pi$$ poor customer service skills. I didn't accept it yet, I feel my time and damage to my car is worth more than $250.

 

[22redub]

hey lefty, I have read your post about the issues you are having with your t4r, and that totally sucks. anyway, I recently experienced problems kinda like what you experienced with my 2003 t4r v8. I recently replaced the battery (old one died) and when I went to start it, my t4r started idling rough and kept stalling out. I couldnt keep it running without keeping my foot on the petal, so obviously I couldnt drive it or else it would stall. I was thinking that it might be a sensor or Idle Air Control Valve. I took apart the throttle body thinking I was going to clean the IAC, but the V8 does not have one, since it is electronically controlled. Since I had the throttle body out, I decided to clean it. Good thing too, because it was caked on with dirt on the inside. After a good cleaning and a new air filter, my t4r started up fine and has ran flawlessly ever since.
I know that when you disconnect the battery on most cars, the car's computer resets and needs to re-learn your driving. In my case, my throttle body was super dirty, so I think the engine wasnt getting enough when at idle. My brother has a 04 t4r v6 and he also experienced the same rough idle and stalling when he replaced the battery. I told him to do the same thing I did and his t4r ran fine after cleaning the throttle body and driving around.

I hope this helps your situation and good luck!