Power Steering Fluid Leak

You nailed the issue while everyone was analogizing............Good for you....

 

Wouldn't have seen it even if I got under the truck. The dealer had to rip out the old rack and pull back the boot on the shaft too pinpoint the leak. If you read through the posts, I noted the dealership couldn't identify a clear source of the leak after the first time I took it in.

 

Mad kodos to TMMIgirl for basically summing it all up and pinpointing the issue in just several sentences.

 

I thought it was fun...

 

Explain what good that would have done? There was no outward signs of fluid leaking. It was all internal into the boot.
That was confirmed by the dealership.

 

He could have removed the boots. they are accessible while the rack is installed

 

I'm not a mechanic and the mechanics at the dealer couldn't see the leak inside the boot from underneath the vehicle so I'm not quite sure I follow what you mean.

 

Some people would just inspect the "outside of the boot" looking for signs of leaks. If the boot is not leaking, without "looking inside" you would not notice the issue. It is not rocket science nor curing cancer. The "shop" found the issue. Its fixed.

imo, many drivers would not go beyond the outside inspection.

 

and not every one can investigate beyond the basic. This may due to physical limits, knowledge limits, age, etc. It is not so much a willingness to investigate or not. It is more on what a person is comfortable in doing. Some are more comfortable in working on the truck than others.

If I was in the OP shoes and being retired, I might have kept running the truck back to the shop until they fixed it. It is a new truck.

 

Same for me.
Your funny, I haven't purchased a 2016, yet.

 

Seconded.

 

That is the stupidest thing when people say that.
Toyota has the same quality standards at each factory.

You bought one of the first models in a model change obliviously there are gonna be problems...

 

Thank you! New truck, my thoughts exactly. I'm not gonna start pulling rubber boots back on steering shafts. I'll let the dealer do it gladly. Not that I'm afraid or don't know how, I felt like I kinda got somewhat hosed on a brand new vehicle so I decided to let Toyota troubelshoot and resolve the issue theirselves. I know there are a lot of DIY types on this site, as I am in some regards when it comes to my own vehicle, however, due to the newness of the truck I felt taking it to the dealer and letting them see what they could find was my best course of action giving the circumstances. And I'm very happy the truck is repaired, drives like a freakin tank now.

 

My Anti lock brakes are either not functioning or are a crappy system to begin with. I've taken it to Ford 3 or 4 times now. I very seriously doubt anyone has looked.
Good thing I don't really care about ABS. If it costs more than $50 I'm not fixing it. I've lived with it too long to care. It's just annoying no one cares to do their job.

 

I'm pretty sure this is not a new part. It carried over from the 2nd gen.
It had a bed seal from the supplier.
It happens

 

May god give you no more leaks and toilet paper. (people who read the last few pages would understand the TP part lol) anyways glad you got it fixed

 

I wouldn't even think of crawling under a brand new truck looking for a leak, even if I was certified Toyota tech. You shouldn't have to.
If you wanted to do that, would would have paid accordingly for a "fixer upper".

 

Update: Truck is back at the dealer with a low power steering reservoir, again. It's not quite empty but the fluid level is clearly under the hot and cold minimum lines. Also, there are signs of fluid leaking on the reservoir itself as well as the surrounding engine bay. The pic is after driving for about 15 minutes.

 

Great

 

Got rid of my 05 because every seal possible had to be replaced, head gasket & rebuilt pwr steering rack. By then the warranty monkeys had destroyed lots of clips and left brackets unattached and even left the harmonic balancer nut hand tight so it could come loose. I had had enough and jumped ship to the 08 RC when I found it FS in 2011. I feel your angst about having to have the dealer fuck with it. They pretty much suck totally at actually fixing things.