2016 Tacoma Radiator Issue leads to engine Issue

You guys and your straw man attacks. Never once disputed the OP is out of warranty but somehow I'm confused on that point? Not everyone is on the same level in reading comprehension and I get that but honestly.

 

If there is no liquid over the temp sensor, it will not register the correct temperature. So that could be the flashes of the light and why the temp gauge isn't going up to peg out. If it were mine, I would do a compression test at a reputable shop, not OEM. Look for any leakage from head gasket area, fix radiator if everything looks good, oil change and for being real proactive, do an oil analysis. see what happens.

 

Have you noticed yet that you are arguing with multiple people? Usually when a bunch of people are saying one thing and one person is saying another that one guy is wrong or has unrealistic expectations.

I noticed you were "grossed out" by the concept of upselling. What you don't know is how many good deals happen when a customer, say a single mom working two jobs, gets when she cannot afford the repair she needs. Over the years i have seen this happen time and time again. There is bad out there but there is also good. You just don't see it.

 

Misleading people into paying for repairs they do not need is bad, period. You can rationalize however you like but if you're fine with that then that speaks to your character.

 

Hey brother, I get what you are trying to say but you are not going to get anything arguing here.

Whatever is going on with OP's truck is pretty fu*ked up, but I am waiting to see how it is resolved.

Like many threads i read, it is knowledge for future reference, since the same thing could happen to me someday

Take care.

 

No, i understand business.
So, you tell me - what should be done in this case?
Fact... it's 12K out of warranty.
Fact... it's got a hole in the radiator, either from a rock or internal corrosion or something. It made it for 72K miles tho.
Possible... he may need a new engine.

What should Toyota do in your mind?

Also, crap like this happens all the time in all walks of life. Everything going along fine and boom... your hot water tank busts and you have to shell out thousands because your insurance doesn't cover flooding. Or your engine blows. Or someone gets sick and needs thousands. Basically, life happens.

 

All true, but a $6k new engine for a 2 year old Tacoma is slightly more "getting hit by a lightening bolt" than just "life happens", lol.

 

Jesus, the amount of people thinking that this is a design flaw is crazy. Get a 2nd opinion. This isn't the first time a dealership has tried to upsell a problem.

 

I think we tend to think of it too much as the customer and not what the dealer experiences. I’m sure people try to scam them every day. I traded in my Tundra and I may have taken out the new battery I had just put it and replaced that will an old crap battery. This was after we had made the deal. They didn’t call me up and bitch about it.

 

By my count its one person. lol

 

Ehh, I was skimming through the thread and didn't pay attention to who posted.

 

Yeah but 72K in two years lol. You gotta pay to play. Most i ever done was 65K in two calendar years. Now i do about 22K a year or so.

 

Yeah, and with all the electronic gadgets in the 3rd gen, I am not believing the engine would suffer catastrophic heat failure without any real warning.

But will wait for more information, it is interesting regardless if how many miles on it.

Like others have said, a 2nd opinion is in order.

Good luck OP, hope it is an easier fix than a new engine.

 

Vehicle Temp sensors don't work like that, they MUST be immersed in fluid.

If a rock did damage the radiator, there would be obvious damage to the fins which are extremely soft, there is no way a rock or debris is going to hole the core runs without fin damage.

OP, do you have skids and all factory shields and covers in place under the vehicle and fender wells? Damage to the back of a radiator is rare, usually it'll involve the fan or a tool, not road debris.

 

get your truck out of there. nothing good will come from them half ass working on it regardless of who pays.

 

I can’t for the life of me understand how anyone here can give you any type of guidence in regards to your problem op.

All I see is that you “heard” something coming from the engine. Might as well not even post.

If you want something at least give us a pic of the radiator a service invoice, something go on.
Its hard nuff for a tech who has your problem in front of him to come to a conclusion, but we have nothing!!
Nothing to see here.

Exept that this is gonna cost major

 

Was all it took was a gallon to fill it up when you seen it was low, if thats the case i doubt it melted the engine down because it didnt have water in it. Maybe you can turn it in on your car insurance if you can get a statement from the dealer that it was damaged by road debris.

 

what the hell is an invoice gonna do for you....unless you are a psychic......what diagnosis can you draw from a copy of the invoice.....a tech is better off because he has the truck in front of him....really dont understand your issue or question

 

Just to give everyone an update-Toyota would do nothing but my insurance company USAA did-"collision with a flying object." They're paying for new engine (not exactly new 21K miles, new radiator and new compressor). The insurance adjustment was $7700 and Toyota accepted. I didn't get to talk to the adjuster so I don't know why he believed the scenario other than the dealer saying-"shit happens" which is what they said to me. I will try to get pic before they start work. Also, I asked service manager why there aren't better alarms or safety locks. He said sometimes you have just enough coolant not to get any alarms but still ruin the engine. I asked isn't the loss of coolant a pressure switch and also there is a thermocouple? They both had to fail. That one stumped him. I also asked if they could do a full electrical and sensor diagnostic.

 

This is where your insurance needs to tell them to put 4.0 engine in it. Lol good luck, hope it all works out.