Truck broke down today...

Everything needs to be in writing.
I use certified mail for everything.

I don't need to call anyone.
I don't need to speak in person to anyone who will conveniently "forget to document" in their system later.

Lemon law isn't against the dealership. The dealership is just a franchise that sold a product. Your case is against the manufacturer, Toyota N.A. in this case.

 

Correct. Once the paperwork is started, you can call Toyota NA and just tell them you started it. Even that isn't necessary, since they will get it in writing.

It will be forwarded to in house counsel. I was in-house for the other large Japanese company based in Torrance for years, and defended lemon law claims, before I decided I had enough.

 

I weighed my horse on a truck scale. In Washington state they turn the display around so you can see it from outside when the weigh station is closed, you can weigh things for free. They'll weigh you when they're open and tell you the weight too. Taking horse out of the trailer to weigh wouldn't be the best plan when they're open however.

The state scales are +/- 20 pounds.

 

What to Do if You Have a Lemon (Ca)
If the dealer won't help you adequately, turn to the manufacturer. Take these steps:

1. Write a letter to the manufacturer asking it to buy back your car. This letter should be sent via certified mail, with a return receipt requested, to the address listed in your vehicle owner's manual.
2. If the manufacturer balks at repurchasing your vehicle, you have two options: Hire an attorney that specializes in Lemon Law, or ask the manufacturer if it has an arbitration program.
3. Check to see if the manufacturer offers an arbitration program by looking in your owner's manual, or by calling California's Bureau of Automotive Repair Hotline at (800) 952-5210. Request an application form and a copy of the manufacturer's arbitration program regulations.
4. If at all possible, attend the arbitration hearing in person. You can either accept or reject the findings of the arbitration panel. Should you decide to reject the offer, or if the panel votes against you, don't despair. If you are not satisfied with the results, you can always file a suit against the manufacturer through the courts.

What Is Arbitration?
Before deciding to hire a lemon law attorney, you may wish to consider arbitration. In the process of arbitration, a neutral arbitrator helps resolve the dispute between you and your vehicle manufacturer.

You can seek arbitration if:

• You've already attempted to resolve the dispute with your manufacturer.
• The warranty problem has not been repaired and is substantially hampering the use or safety of your vehicle.
• The problem is covered by the original warranty.

Benefits

• Arbitration is free.
• The decision is not binding for the consumer in California.
• It does not require you to hire an attorney.

Potential Drawbacks

• You may end up receiving less than the California Lemon Law allows.
• You may get stuck in arbitration for long period of time.
• The rules of discovery are limited in arbitration, which means it can be harder for the consumer to prove his case through evidence.

Lindsay,
From my experience. I had a dodge dakota. After the 4th documented time in the shop for the same issue I told the Service Manager that I had enough and wanted to envoke the lemon law. He said he would notify corporate. He called back and said corporate would call me within 3 days. They did and set in motion the buyback/new vehicle. An Attorney is the last resort. the good thing is that usually the company has to pay them but... This is designed so that you cando it yourself and if Corporate does not honor your request then you go to Arbitration court.

 

Hopefully things go this smoothly.

 

... ^^^ ... Excellent advice with good DIY instructions too

 

I can't help but think this guy is on to something. It's just too much of a coincidence. How come nobody is mentioning this?

I think you need bring this to the surface so everyone is aware. Toyota shouldn't have to foot the bill for the dealer's $30k f-up.

 

Good luck. The dealer would never admit to it. You really think they want to be on the hook for a new truck.

 

Why would there be oil on the plugs? This is not a symptom of a dry sump.

 

If the rings got fried and then they filled the truck up with oil then the oil would pass by the rings and foul the plugs.

 

Gonna have to do better than that to convince me.

 

We're never going to find out as the dealer would never admit draining the oil and no one outside of the dealership and corporate will have access to the engine to inspect it.

 

Right on Launch. I would put money on that cylinder having a scored wall allowing oil to pass, fouling the spark plug triggering the misfire fault and ultimately causing it to go into limp home mode.

 

Show me a scored crank and I'll believe the sump was drained. blown rings are a poor indicator that the truck was ran dry.

my guess is the oil came from the top end, not the bottom. Notice i said guess. As states, we will most likely never know.

 

Did you ever get the compression test email
Results?

 

It actually is. Without enough oil to properly lubricate the engine the rings get burned out thus allowing any residual oil to pass into the combustion chamber. When the dealership than subsequently adds oil to the motor the now burnt rings still allow oil to pass into the combustion chamber thus getting oil on the plugs.

 

... ^^^ ... Excellent advice in your last 2 posts

 

So many theories, so few answers. As you said, we will never know. It could have been that someone drained the oil and did not replace it( it can happen but hard to believe),
Could have been oil pump failure, could have been injector failure, a ring could have had a small crack in it during installation, there are so many possibilities. Was it the dealer screw up or was it just faulty parts? We will not have that information, the only thing we do know is that Lindsay deserves a new truck, whether it be another Tacoma, Tundra, F150, Colorado deisel, whatever she chooses. I hope it is a fairly quick and painless process.

 

today could yield a pivotal chapter in this book

 

My first step would have been to talk to the dealership GM and tell him/her that if they want to keep you as a customer, they'll put you in a new truck today. Most dealers will take the hit and give you a good deal to prevent having to deal with lemon laws. Plus, a lemon law case isn't going to be solved over night, you'll likely be out of a truck for quite some time.
If they don't want to deal, then call a lawyer.