For those of you who are happy with your 3rd gen.....

Why do people with "0 complaints" have a "but" and a complaint that follows?

I imagine the people posting about problems certainly don't think of their issues as "crap"

 

I can find a complaint about anything if I really tried, doesn't make that item have issues, just that there's something I might not like about it.

 

We'll you're just an overall happy go lucky fellow there eh

 

Truth

 

OMG! Look at it this way. If you heard the howling diff when you test drove your brand new truck, would you still have bought it? I sure as hell wouldn't have. Differentials are ancient technology. For Toyota to tell a customer that the noise they are hearing is "normal" is total BS. That would suggest that it was engineered that way which any sane person would agree, is ludicrous. I like my truck. I find the diff howl extremely annoying and the lack of a fix on Toyota's part inexcusable. I am in no position financially to unload this truck, otherwise I would in a second. So as I've said before, I feel like Toyota has me by the balls and I wish they would let go. If you are "willing to live" with a clear engineering oversight and enjoy getting the shaft from a giant corporation who is clearly in the wrong, well I have a bridge Ide like to sell ya.

 

Preach

 

Touché, stepping off the alter now.

 

Looks like we have a crusader here.....

On another note, considering the suspension is the same as a 2nd gen and still subject to squeaking and leaning, people here still bought them knowing full well the same issues would likely migrate.

I guess we're stubborn, stupid or free and willing to spend our own money as we see fit..

BTW, here's a little tip, dont't enter a financial contract that leave's you exposed where a company "has you by the balls". The used market is fluid enough for you to sell to someone if you don't like the truck and are that worried about not getting covered for a failure during the warranty period.

 

Not at all the same thing. Most people wouldn't buy a brand new truck if it squeaked and creaked on the test drive. If it started squeaking while under warranty (as many have) Toyota would address it (as they have in most cases). Squeaking suspension will generally not cause mechanical failure, it's just annoying noise (like a howling diff!) They should address the diff howl!

 

This is my take. We have almost 10k miles and bought it Nov 2016.

Not a big deal/don't care about it category:
1. LCA whistle - only happens on extremely windy days driving below 10mph. Above that I can't hear it over the road noise anyway.
2. Rear end howl - happened maybe 3 times, very slight flute type sound. Meh, whatever.
3. Low diff fluid - Mine was a touch low from factory. Filled it up with

$28 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90. Took 5 minutes. Not a big deal to do, but could be concerning for most people.
4. Transmission - I can press my throttle down, use ECT mode, or S-Mode. Why is this hard for people to understand how the truck is? I putt around town being the slow guy in the right lane, so it doesn't matter anyway.
5. Engine power - Again, I can press my throttle down more. It's not a diesel so why would I expect all my power to be down low? For everyone saying well it's a truck, it needs down low power. Why? The engine is perfectly happy revving 3-4k even when towing. Have you guys ever driven the older Tacos and 4R with no power up top (what most people compare it to)? It's quite aggravating when you're getting blown by on our highways since we all drive 85+ and you're "slow" at that speed. That 40hp more really makes a big difference up top. It's not a V8, or a forced induction engine, so I set my expectations as such - a decent size V6 NA based off Toyota's other cars engines which like to rev out a bit more.
6. Rear leafs squeaking - mine do it. They haven't fixed it since what? 1st gen? or 2nd gen? It sounds funny when you jump up and down in the bed, but not enough for me to actually complain about or try to fix it.

Big Deal/Care about it category:
None that I can think of honestly.

I have realistic expectations for an automobile. I don't expect any product to be 100% perfect out of the box/factory without any flaws. Hell most of what people are "complaining" about is completely subjective in nature (power/transmission) and/or are just extremely hyper-sensitive because these "issues" don't make your car explode or fall apart or break in half or what have you. The low diff fluid is a bit concerning, but it's just as simple as filling your own if you're worried about it.

 

Show me where the howling diff symptom has led directly to premature failure.... not just that there are diff that have gone bad but that every instance of howl is leading to excessive wear and a direct result of failed diff, not including those that didn't bother to check for loss of fluid.

 

Read more carefully. I said, "generally not cause mechanical failure, it's just annoying noise (like a howling diff!)"

Yet they willingly address squeaking suspension so why not a howling diff?

 

Agree with all of that except #2: My diff howls all the time at that 50-60 mph range which is exactly the speed I travel 60 miles a day to and from work and it's not subtle it's loud and annoying. I can't drown it out with the radio. If it only happened once in a blue moon it wouldn't bother me so much.

 

Talk to your service manager, have him check your fluid level and offer to pay for it if the level is correct. If it still howls then it's documented for replacement if it fails.

If you are really worried, have them open the pumpkin and inspect for excessive wear, again offering to pay for the service if there is no evidence of prematute wear or failure. If refused then get it documented that they refused and go elsewhere.

That's how YOU address it, don't wait on them to take care of you if you're so worried.

If it still makes noise and you're bothered by it, turn your radio up.

If you still can't deal with it, sell it.

 

I can't comment on how annoying or not ours is as it's only happened to us maybe 3 times and it wasn't loud at all. If was that loud like you're saying, I'm sure it would get annoying. What I'm saying these "issues" shouldn't be exaggerated to the point where hyper-sensitive people or complainers just to complain go "OMG HOWLING DIFF. I PAID 35K FOR THIS TRUCK. CAN I GET IT LEMONED????" (ie: smitty, but he cant see this as hes blocked me) type responses are just annoying and offer nothing to the end consumer. I get it's a public forum and wasteful posts are everywhere, but come on.

Also, have you tried talking to your dealer service department to see if they can offer any help? New diff? Low fluid? Gear wear? etc?

 

Price should not matter, if you buy a new $15k vehicle or a $115k vehicle, the diff should not be howling.

 

Besides the annoying noise (subjective), what scientific or factual basis does a howling diff have in regards to debilitating functionality?

 

Obviously that is an unknown.

 

so why is it such a big deal?

What is "known" so far is an annoying noise - which any car can make from any part (interior, exterior, mechanical etc); why is this any different?

 

The correct thing would be to open the diff and check for excessive wear. If none found try different weights in oil to see if it remedies the noise. Might not even be the gears themselves but harmonic resonance at certain frequencies. If so that would be annoying but not lead to a diff failure.