Spiral cable and cruise control question

[MarkEdm]

I'm not very mechanically minded so hopefully this question doesn't sound too stupid. I have a 2010 SR5 and it's been great until last week. I started it one morning and the left turn signal was making a funny "fast clicking" sound. The front left turn signal wasn't working either. When I went to turn the cruise on it didn't turn on (i.e. no indicator light).

I took it to the dealership and they replaced the cruise control switch at a cost of $400 (Cdn). However, when I drove it off the lot the cruise wasn't working again. After they worked on it for a day they told me the spiral cable in the steering column needed to be replaced at a cost of almost $1,000. I got them to do this and the cruise is working again.

My question is, is there a reasonable chance that the reason the cruise wasn't working in the first place was because of this spiral cable and if they had fixed this first they wouldn't have had to replace the cruise switch? I'm a bit suspicious that they are saying that both broke at exactly the same time.

Of course they no longer have the cruise switch so they can't swap it back in.

Thanks for any comments. Sorry for the long posting.

 

[Bossman]

This was the only similar thread I could find on your issue … but it sure seems like a diagnosis of / repair to the spiral cable first would not have necessitated a cruise control repair.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/224369-cruise-control-only-works-when-wheel-turned.html

 

[Jeremy556]

The cruise switch was a misdiagnosis.

Cruise switch has a US$ MSRP of $135 and should take under 10 minutes to install (0.3 hr book time). Clock spring is $750 and 1.1 hr book time.

 

[Superjet]

It's just part of a normal repair process nowadays. Throw parts at it until the issue is resolved instead of troubleshooting.

 

[MarkEdm]

Thanks for the helpful comments.

What about the funny sounding turn signal? I have bulbs burn out before and this never results in the turn signal sounding strange (fast clicking) when I turn it on. Could this also have been related to the spiral cable?

 

[Bossman]

What about the funny sounding turn signal? I have bulbs burn out before and this never results in the turn signal sounding strange (fast clicking) when I turn it on. Could this also have been related to the spiral cable?

This fast-blinking feature indicates that one of your turn signal bulbs is burnt out. You mentioned the left front turn signal was out - I'd check on that bulb first.

 

[Superjet]

The spiral cable (clockspring) is the connection between the steering wheel itself and the vehicle. That would effect cruise buttons, radio buttons and airbag. It would not effect the multi function switch for turn signals.

 

[MarkEdm]

Thanks for all the comments. Based on what people have said, along with some additional web searching, strongly suggests to me that the dealer did not have to replace the cruise control switch. I will be going after them to refund me for that. I do a lot of business with this dealership and have only had a couple of issues with them over >15 years. This has been the most serious.

 

[EddieV4runnin]

It's just part of a normal repair process nowadays. Throw parts at it until the issue is resolved instead of troubleshooting.

I concur with this statement, too many technicians/mechanics in the field that lack the knowledge to properly diagnose the issue. Ahh the things I’ve seen..... :noidea: can’t blame people for not trusting mechanics/technicians.

 

[Superjet]

What sucks is you get charged usually 1hr diagnostic before even the repair. This time is supposed to be used to troubleshoot, like metering the trigger wires to see if it's outputting. Now you pay 1hr diagnostic to pay for the tech saying "i'll start with the switch" and that time also goes to the high paid service writer.