New P/S pump

[FlyNavy]

For the last 10,000 miles my 2010 TE has had an annoying squeal coming from the power steering post cold start. Once you turned the wheel it was noticeable over the loud fan noise of the motor and even more so in a parking garage. I suspected a faulty p/s pump.
After several trips to the dealer and having to deal with the standard lines, case numbers, and them telling me to warm it up prior to turning the wheel I was finally able to get the lead tech out of the shop for a 1 on 1 session.
End result was a new power steering pump. So far after 2 days the truck sounds great (normal).
Hopefully this was an isolated event, but I thought I would share with the forum in case anyone ever has a similar issue.

 

[joneseyyy]

I am curious, was it Alexandria Toyota that gave you the run-around? I am thinking about lifting my TE, and am wondering how they will be to deal with if any warranty claims arise.

 

[Johnny Utah]

hey, thats my dealership too! haha. Good question, i'd like to get a slight lift, like 1.5 to 2 inches, i'd be interested to know if that would cause them to blame the lift when problems arise.

Speaking of Power steering, I had some issues with my xterra for the last year or so, and, it was a power steering pump issue too. The reservoir was full of power steering fluid, just none of it was getting in the lines! I think i needed to replace the pump. It was very annoying and made me feel/sound like my xterra was a POS!!

 

[khopem5]

This is very interesting ...I know have 18000 miles on my 4runner and I have been complaining to my bf about a loud noise coming from the steering wheel that almost sounds like a high pitched buzzing like electricity is going through it when I turn it. I can here it over the stereo and air. I will have to get this checked. Is this kind of what yours sounds like...It kinda of hard to explain

 

[Johnny Utah]

This is very interesting ...I know have 18000 miles on my 4runner and I have been complaining to my bf about a loud noise coming from the steering wheel that almost sounds like a high pitched buzzing like electricity is going through it when I turn it. I can here it over the stereo and air. I will have to get this checked. Is this kind of what yours sounds like...It kinda of hard to explain

try especially turning it the the far left or far right and you should hear a little noise. def. sounds like power steering to me

 

[FlyNavy]

I am curious, was it Alexandria Toyota that gave you the run-around? I am thinking about lifting my TE, and am wondering how they will be to deal with if any warranty claims arise.

It was Alexandria Toyota that finally fixed my TE. I had dealt with a dealer out in Santa Barbara, CA that was terrible. I had to drive XC to DC or my TE would have become a permanent fixture on their lot until the problem was handled.

You know the gatekeeper service advisors are always a little difficult to deal with. I was fortunate to speak to the lead tech directly. After that conversation they became very accomodating and ordered the replacement part. When the part arrived I scheduled the appointment and my rig was in and out in one day. Overall I can't complain.

I would rate my experience with this dealership as above average compared to the others I have dealt with. I still don't understand however, some of the the things that we as customers have to endure when going to a dealership, no matter what manufacturer it may be.

I can't speak to your warranty issues with the installation of a lift, sorry.

 

[FlyNavy]

This is very interesting ...I know have 18000 miles on my 4runner and I have been complaining to my bf about a loud noise coming from the steering wheel that almost sounds like a high pitched buzzing like electricity is going through it when I turn it. I can here it over the stereo and air. I will have to get this checked. Is this kind of what yours sounds like...It kinda of hard to explain

Mine was different, unfortunately. After a cold start I had a high-pitched squeal coming from the power steering pump that would go away once it got up to operating temp. It was not noticeable over the stereo/air.

If I was able to hear anything other than the increasing RPMs of the motor over the stereo/air I would certainly have it looked at.

Can you tell where the sound is originating from (under the hood, inside, under the dash, etc)?

 

[joneseyyy]

FlyNavy,

Thanks for the feedback. I have generally had good experiences at Alexandria but thankfully have only been there for routine maintenance (in the 4runner and the GF's Corrolla).

On another note, let me know if you are ever interested in doing some of the fire roads/trails in VA/MD/WVA; there's a couple of guys that go pretty routinely.

 

[Johnny Utah]

You know the gatekeeper service advisors are always a little difficult to deal with. I was fortunate to speak to the lead tech directly. After that conversation they became very accomodating and ordered the replacement part. When the part arrived I scheduled the appointment and my rig was in and out in one day. Overall I can't complain.

Hi FlyNavy-

can you tell me why the gatekeeper service advisors are difficult to deal with? I want to know what to expect. I just put my 1,000th mile on my 4runner a few days ago. It would be nice to know what to watch out for or what to avoid, or what to say when i go there in a few months..

 

[FlyNavy]

Hi FlyNavy-

can you tell me why the gatekeeper service advisors are difficult to deal with? I want to know what to expect. I just put my 1,000th mile on my 4runner a few days ago. It would be nice to know what to watch out for or what to avoid, or what to say when i go there in a few months..

I guess I was making a generalization not specific to any dealership in particular.

Service advisors represent the best interests of the dealer, not you. Whether it be recommending add ons during routine services, or playing hardball when it comes to warranty work, Its a business aimed at making money and definitely not losing it.

I try not to blindly go into dealerships. Educate yourself on what services you need, be polite, yet insistent if need be.

 

[homeyclaus]

It was Alexandria Toyota that finally fixed my TE.
[snip...]

I would rate my experience with this dealership as above average compared to the others I have dealt with. I still don't understand however, some of the the things that we as customers have to endure when going to a dealership, no matter what manufacturer it may be.

I am happy for you. Alexandria Toyota was by far my worst dealer experience, twice. The first time the mechanic left his greasy hand print on my white passenger side fender. The way the valet there gives the vehicle back is that they park it out back to best block traffic so you don't do a walk-around. The "inspection" and "fluid top-up" parts of the work weren't done. A call to the service manager at the time was "that's impossible!"

The second time they:

1. missed a leaking tire
2. didn't top up the fluids
3. ignored the request to hand-torque lug nuts (and wrecked the locking nut key in the process)
4. damaged the screw covers in the door trim to the point that they would not stay put when doing the power window recall.

The service manager got really really huffy, telling me that it's impossible. Then he claimed that's how it's done and I don't know what I am talking about. I asked him whether he wanted to see my ASE or my VW mechanic's certifications in return.

Great place. That car never saw a dealer again.

Oh, and when I happened to stop by this Feb to look (and actually buy) the silver 4Runner TE they had in stock, the sales guy asked "why do you need something like that?" That's pretty classy.

 

[Johnny Utah]

I guess I was making a generalization not specific to any dealership in particular.

Service advisors represent the best interests of the dealer, not you. Whether it be recommending add ons during routine services, or playing hardball when it comes to warranty work, Its a business aimed at making money and definitely not losing it.

I try not to blindly go into dealerships. Educate yourself on what services you need, be polite, yet insistent if need be.

alright, thanks for getting back to me. I appreciate you taking the time to write that. See ya!:cheers:

 

[Johnny Utah]

Oh, and when I happened to stop by this Feb to look (and actually buy) the silver 4Runner TE they had in stock, the sales guy asked "why do you need something like that?" That's pretty classy.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Looking forward to my 1st scheduled maintenance appointment...NOT. Did you end up getting a silver TE?

Also, did either of you guys do that new owner meeting thing they want you to do?