The Dealer May Have Broken My Truck!

[fdbyrne]

The dealer has had my truck for a week to replace the head gaskets. Much of that time was waiting on the machine shop to process the heads which ended up only being cleaned and tested as they were in good shape. I don't blame the shop for the time delay up to this point.

I just got a call saying that it's being "weird". They say that it's in 4wd and actively trying to switch into 4LO even though the drive selection switch is in 2HI. They were asking me questions that make me think they are trying to pin it on me. They said that they think it's the actuator and that it looks like it has been modified in some way but didn't elaborate.

I advised them that I've had it for a year and have had no problems with the actuator or selector. I exercise both 4HI and 4LO monthly with no issues. I also reminded the service adviser that he personally drove the truck into the shop and would have noticed if there was a 4LO light blinking and a beeping sound and he did admit that he remembered driving the truck into the shop and nothing like that was going on. He said that the tech told him he was getting some "weird" readings from the ECU but the service adviser didn't know what was going on with that enough to tell me anything specific. He did emphasize that they weren't working on anything on or around the actuator which makes me think they might be trying to blame me for it.

I've had no issues with the 4x4 system or ECU at all. I think they probably knicked a wire on the harness or shorted the ECU or something. All they will tell me is that they don't really know what it is yet but are still looking. He said I was welcome to pick it up since it runs fine but is in 4HI. I flatly declined to accept it until it was fixed.

I don't see how it could be the actuator given what they were doing to the truck and it working fine beforehand. I'm trying to stay calm and let them fix what they've obviously broken but I've been without a vehicle for a week already and may patience is slim at this point.

 

[Walkenvol]

As irritating as this is, your best bet is to keep your cool and document all your interactions with the dealership. Remember your goal is to get your truck back in good working order and do not allow this to become personal nor emotional. Be persistent in asking them to repair the vehicle. Obviously its not something common and they don't know what the exact problem is ATM.

Like yourself, I'd not take the truck back until its in proper working condition. Defective actuators get stuck, not switch back and forth like they have a mind of their own so it does sound ECUish but that's probably difficult to diagnose? Most dealerships conduct themselves with a decent level of professionalism as long as you do the same.

Good luck!

 

[fdbyrne]

Thanks. So far I have not lost my cool. They're being nice about it but I'm really worried about it.

 

[Sungod]

a 4runner is not a truck. Just sayin...

My money is on the chance that the tech didn't disconnect the battery before getting started and grounded something out. That will be hard to prove, but very much possible.

 

[snowboardwcu]

a 4runner is not a truck. Just sayin...

:mad2: YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH :hug:

 

[2003-4x4runner]

My insurance company lists my 4 Runner as a truck.

Found some info on Wiki.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_utility_vehicle
North America[edit]

There are a number of definitions for an SUV.[6] Most government regulations simply have categories for "off-highway vehicles," which in turn are lumped in with pickup trucks and minivans as light trucks."[6] The auto industry has not settled on one definition.[6]

Nevertheless, four-wheel-drive SUVs are considered light trucks in North America (and two-wheel-drive SUVs up to the 2011 model year[7]) where they were regulated less strictly than passenger cars under two laws in the United States, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act for fuel economy, and the Clean Air Act for emissions.[8] Starting in 2004, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to hold sport utility vehicles to the same tailpipe emissions standards as cars.[9]

Many people question "how can an SUV be called a truck?"[10] Although the original definition of the "light truck" classification included pickups and delivery vans, usually SUVs and minivans are included in this category because these vehicles are designed to "permit greater cargo-carying capacity than passenger carrying volume.[10] Manufacturing, emissions, and safety regulations in the U.S. classify "an SUV is a truck"; however, for local licensing and traffic enforcement, "an SUV may be a truck or a car" because the classification of these vehicles varies from state to state.[11] For industry production statistics, SUVs are counted in the light truck product segment.[12]

 

[wyanrard]

my insurance company lists my 4 runner as a truck.

Found some info on wiki.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sport_utility_vehicle
north america[edit]

there are a number of definitions for an suv.[6] most government regulations simply have categories for "off-highway vehicles," which in turn are lumped in with pickup trucks and minivans as light trucks."[6] the auto industry has not settled on one definition.[6]

nevertheless, four-wheel-drive suvs are considered light trucks in north america (and two-wheel-drive suvs up to the 2011 model year[7]) where they were regulated less strictly than passenger cars under two laws in the united states, the energy policy and conservation act for fuel economy, and the clean air act for emissions.[8] starting in 2004, the united states environmental protection agency (epa) began to hold sport utility vehicles to the same tailpipe emissions standards as cars.[9]

many people question "how can an suv be called a truck?"[10] although the original definition of the "light truck" classification included pickups and delivery vans, usually suvs and minivans are included in this category because these vehicles are designed to "permit greater cargo-carying capacity than passenger carrying volume.[10] manufacturing, emissions, and safety regulations in the u.s. Classify "an suv is a truck"; however, for local licensing and traffic enforcement, "an suv may be a truck or a car" because the classification of these vehicles varies from state to state.[11] for industry production statistics, suvs are counted in the light truck product segment.[12]

****mic drop****

 

[xxaarraa]

I would do the following things immediately:

1. Call Toyota corporate and 'log' the issue. You don't have to make it a complaint, but just tell Toyota you are concerned for your truck in the hands of so and so dealership and explain why.
2. Call the dealership's GM (not service adviser or even service manager, go straight to GM) and tell them you are concerned and that you have logged the issue with Toyota corporate.
3. Be polite, but be firm. Burden of proof is on them, not you. You don't have to prove it was running fine. They have to prove they didn't cause the issue that now clearly exists.
4. Do not accept any deals or 'drive it for a few days and we'll see' type bs. Do not accept bs oil change coupons. When they say its fixed, get the shop foreman to take a test drive with you. Take your time. Drive everywhere, stop and go, highway etc. Make sure you are convinced.

 

[wyanrard]

Have they tried switching it into 2HI unplugging the battery and the plugging it back in? may sound stupid but I've fixed dash light irregularities like this before, sometimes you just need to fool the computer into reverting back to normal.

 

[fdbyrne]

It's likely a regional thing like how a soda is also called a pop or Coke depending on where you are.

Around here a truck is anything that is a cab on frame construction with primary rear wheel drive and selectable four wheel drive or a. 4LO option. The distinction is that it isn't a crossover.

Not that the semantics of it really matter that much. Right now it's hard to think about anything other than getting it fixed and back without having to pay for someone else's mistake.

 

[fdbyrne]

Have they tried switching it into 2HI unplugging the battery and the plugging it back in? may sound stupid but I've fixed dash light irregularities like this before, sometimes you just need to fool the computer into reverting back to normal.

I honestly don't know what they've tried yet but I got the feeling that it was actually in 4HI and the only thing preventing it from going into 4LO was that it wasn't in neutral. I decided to give them until tomorrow to find their mistake and make it right before I escalate anything.

I did call corporate and get a case number for the head gasket before they started just so they knew and might eventually do something about it. I'm sure I could tack this issue to the existing issue number but I want to see how they handle it on their own fifirst.

 

[wyanrard]

It's likely a regional thing like how a soda is also called a pop or Coke depending on where you are.

Around here a truck is anything that is a cab on frame construction with primary rear wheel drive and selectable four wheel drive or a. 4LO option. The distinction is that it isn't a crossover.

Not that the semantics of it really matter that much. Right now it's hard to think about anything other than getting it fixed and back without having to pay for someone else's mistake.

I agree, I usually make my decision by cab on chassis construction and is either RWD or 4WD.

 

[kevinpt]

I agree, I usually make my decision by cab on chassis construction and is either RWD or 4WD.

agree any suv with a frame i call a truck. also anything thats an suv without a frame(crossover) is not really anything you want to take off road so they are good for the soccer mom type vehicle people. really if you look at the rav4 its fwd and is really just a big car

 

[xxaarraa]

I honestly don't know what they've tried yet but I got the feeling that it was actually in 4HI and the only thing preventing it from going into 4LO was that it wasn't in neutral. I decided to give them until tomorrow to find their mistake and make it right before I escalate anything.

If that proves to be true, it means those dealership chimpanzees do not know how to engage 4LO in a vehicle they sell/sold. I would be EXTREMELY concerned about them having done your head gasket.

If you can't spell your name, you really can't do brain surgery and that sort of thing...

 

[Ralph Blake]

Your first mistake was taking your 4runner, to your Toyota Dealers stealer non service Dept. It would have been better IMHO to have found a good private repair garage to do this job.

As you are finding out Toyota Service Dept.s do not have qualified people, that understand many problems.
And they sure don't have really qualified people to do many jobs their asked to preform.
If you read the many threads people have written in this forum over the years,you will see it's not just a fluke that they fail many time to get things correct.
Since you took your 4runner to their service Dept. signed the form to allow them to preform the work,you are pretty much stuck paying for their work they preformed.
As far as this new problem with the 4wd,take your 4runner to another garage and get it corrected.

 

[fdbyrne]

Don't be a tool. I'm not an idiot. I did my homework and the toyota shop was the same price as my two other independent quotes. The difference is that I have toyota corporate to fall back on if it goes wrong. With the independent, they could just shrug their shoulders and do nothing.

The independent wouldn't have been better quality work and there was no financial incentive to go independent. Mistakes can happen wherever you get the work done.

 

[av8ter]

Don't be a tool. I'm not an idiot. I did my homework and the toyota shop was the same price as my two other independent quotes. The difference is that I have toyota corporate to fall back on if it goes wrong. With the independent, they could just shrug their shoulders and do nothing.

The independent wouldn't have been better quality work and there was no financial incentive to go independent. Mistakes can happen wherever you get the work done.

I guess I'll ask... How many miles on the truck?

 

[fdbyrne]

131k now, but the first signs showed up at 121k. No codes or misfires, just constant air bubbles in the coolant system that ended up being combustion gasses.

 

[Ralph Blake]

Don't be a tool. I'm not an idiot. I did my homework and the toyota shop was the same price as my two other independent quotes. The difference is that I have toyota corporate to fall back on if it goes wrong. With the independent, they could just shrug their shoulders and do nothing.

The independent wouldn't have been better quality work and there was no financial incentive to go independent. Mistakes can happen wherever you get the work done.

You "hope" you have Toyota to fall back on,and I also hope you do. But it's my feeling your going to find Toyota will not get involved and it's not a warranty or safety issue.
You had them do a head gasket job right?, now they are saying "you" have a new problem with your 4wd.:violin:
I do wish you good luck getting Toyota or your Dealer to except it as their problem and fix it for free.
But if history of the many people who try getting help from the BIG Toyota God in the sky,it is just not going to happen.

 

[fdbyrne]

Again, don't be a tool. I didn't ask where I went wrong, or how this is my fault. Actually, I didn't ask a question at all. There are times in life where you can do your homework, make the best possible choice, get unlucky, and just need to vent to a community of like-minded people when you're frustrated.