Thanks from new owner

[eschak]

I've been reading this board for more than a year. Based largely on my recommendation and information on this board, a friend had bought a 03 V6 LTD which I've also enjoyed driving frequently. This Monday I went to the dealership to look for one with nav, couldn't wait till Nov for 05. Turned out they had one sitting on the lot, in the color I wanted. Test drove it and the steering wheel wanted to jump out of my hands! It was oscillating about 10 degrees on either side - the salesman was very embarassed. They rotated the tires - drove it again, and it had reduced but was still there. I drove another LTD from the lot and it was rock steady. They decided to balance the tires - I had to go back the next day to test it and it turned out to be far worse. The shop decided to use MVH sensors to identify the source of this severe vibration which they thought was the tires- I told them to go do research on their own time and insisted they simply swap the wheels from the other LTD to take care of my problem. They swapped wheels the day after and the ride was smooth as it can be.

It took me three days of test driving, but now I'm the owner of a 04 V8 LTD with nav, in the dark blue with the exhaust tip and 6-disc changer.

It is amazing how people on this board diligently research and collaborate. For example, I've used the 'washer' fix illustrated in the maintenance sticky for the sunroof rattle on my friend's 4R - it worked great. Hoping I don't but if I have problems I know where to look for help!

Thank you all.
Cheers

 

[kglueck]

awesome...you'll love it. welcome!

Kevin

 

[alpha]

Welcome to the forum! and Congratulations!

 

[bulldog-yota]

Enjoy your new baby!

Let me guess the problem tires were DUnlops and they swapped them with Michelins or Bridgestones and all was good.....

 

[eschak]

How did you know?!

Yes, the original ones were Dunlops and the new ones are Bridgestones - noticed it this evening when I looked at the warranty papers (Dunlop) and checked tires.

The CD changer - it arrived at the dealership today, getting it installed in the console on Sat. Was told it's a Toyota part and will be integrated with rest of audio controls - didn't think to ask what that really meant. Read the nav manual just now and it seems to recognize just a single CD. Hope I don't have to use a separate remote - will find out soon.

 

[bulldog-yota]

Lets just say, I had the Dunlops and most people with the vibration problem had Dunlops

 

[eschak]

Toyota CD changer doesn't work with NAV

The dealer installed it in the console where it fit nice, but then they could not get the audio controls on the Nav screen to recognize the changer. They called Toyota tech and were told the changer and Nav won't work together. The dealer tried sending it to an aftermarket specialist who couldn't get it working either. So looks like my options are to either forgo the changer altogether or get an FM modulated one - a kludgy solution.

The following post by ToddG mentions his '03 Runner with NAV getting a dealer installed changer which integrated with the audio controls.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=193&pagenumber=2

I went to his dealer and they were clueless too - nothing in the documentation says it won't work. I called Toyota corporate and even they keep saying it should work.

Anyone else has had my experience with the OEM changer and Nav incompatibilities? Are there any workarounds such as adapters etc. to make them work together? Sounds silly that the company would deny its customers such a basic car accessory as a changer.

Appreciate any help.
Thanks