1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Check Engine light came on after dealer 'fixed' it

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by justintaco18, Jul 3, 2019.

  1. Jul 3, 2019 at 9:45 AM
    #1
    justintaco18

    justintaco18 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2018
    Member:
    #266983
    Messages:
    52
    Gender:
    Male
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tacoma Base
    Hello All,

    2004 Tacoma 2.7. Check engine light came on so I got it scanned. 2 codes both showing small evap leaks. I take it in to Toyota and they tell me it needs a new tank, gasket, a few lines on top, etc.

    They do the fix and I pay a $2k bill (steap, impulsive, I know). I'm driving it today, 2 days after getting it back, the light comes on again. SAME codes come up.

    I know I am going to take it back to Toyota, but what are my rights here? It clearly was not the tank. They assured me it was. What do you all think is fair?
     
  2. Jul 3, 2019 at 10:30 AM
    #2
    Glamisman

    Glamisman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2016
    Member:
    #200436
    Messages:
    4,997
    Gender:
    Male
    their tech misdiagnosed it, it happens. See what the service writer says first before you go ballistic. Then ask for an appointment with the service manager, if no satisfaction there, then the general manager, then the Toyota area service rep. Cuss words, yelling and screaming get nowhere... subtle hints like is the service manager available to discuss this? and when with the service manager, is the general manager available to discuss this? and so on. What ever state you are in the customer service protection laws are in the favor of you, the customer.
    Their issue how are they going to convince you that the tank WAS needed... clearly this evap system has more than one leak. What does the repair order say as to the work done? These minute leaks are usually smoke tested and there are occasions where even with a smoke test the leak is so small as to be undetectable to the smoke machine. If they didnt see smoke, then the flow gage should have showed there is a problem still. If they didnt smoke test it then how did they determine that there was a leak?
     
    Wulf likes this.
  3. Jul 3, 2019 at 11:20 AM
    #3
    Fredfifty

    Fredfifty Back in a Mini

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Member:
    #146926
    Messages:
    824
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dave
    Big Island - SF Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    99 5 Lug V6
    DJM 3/4 DJM UCA BJ FLIP CALMAX SHOCKS POLYURETHANE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS POLYURETHANE UCA BUMPSTOPS ROLLED FENDERS DJM 4 INCH ANGLED BLOCKS (STEEL) MINI C-NOTCH FROM ROHDE FABRICATIONS MJBTACO LOWPRO BUMPSTOPS CALMAX SHOCKS ROLLED FENDERS
    hows your gas cap?
     
    lynyrd3 likes this.
  4. Jul 3, 2019 at 12:21 PM
    #4
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2016
    Member:
    #180213
    Messages:
    69,964
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Azusa, CA
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD 3.4l 4x4 5sp manual Xtraca & '96 4runner 4x4 5spd manual
    Usually if a dealership makes you foot an expensive bill for an unnecessary repair that doesn't solve the problem, they take it off the cost of whatever their next move is. At least that was my experience after having that happen.

    Take it back to them and let them try to make it right, but don't let them charge you another $2k for a holy mary fix
     
    Wulf and Rachelsdaddy like this.
  5. Jul 3, 2019 at 12:25 PM
    #5
    se7enine

    se7enine MCMLXXIX

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2013
    Member:
    #102322
    Messages:
    23,442
    Gender:
    Male
    Reno, NV
    Vehicle:
    07 Lexus GX470, 84 4Runner 3RZ, 85 MR2
    You mean a Hail Mary?
     
    lynyrd3 and Wyoming09 like this.
  6. Jul 3, 2019 at 12:28 PM
    #6
    Lawfarin

    Lawfarin Who me?

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Member:
    #167659
    Messages:
    7,953
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Beetle Juice
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2024 GMC Sierra
    How about you let them look at it again before you decide what your “rights” are. My guess is they will end up smoking the system and checking for new/more leaks. Anything is possible. Especially working on a vehicle that’s 15 years old
     
    lynyrd3 likes this.
  7. Jul 3, 2019 at 12:34 PM
    #7
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2016
    Member:
    #180213
    Messages:
    69,964
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Azusa, CA
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD 3.4l 4x4 5sp manual Xtraca & '96 4runner 4x4 5spd manual
    LOL yeah that's what I meant

    It's the repressed recovering catholic in me making it's way out
     
    Wulf, Dirty Pool and se7enine[QUOTED] like this.
  8. Jul 3, 2019 at 12:35 PM
    #8
    se7enine

    se7enine MCMLXXIX

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2013
    Member:
    #102322
    Messages:
    23,442
    Gender:
    Male
    Reno, NV
    Vehicle:
    07 Lexus GX470, 84 4Runner 3RZ, 85 MR2
    HAIL SATAN!
     
    Sebz13 and eon_blue like this.
  9. Jul 3, 2019 at 12:36 PM
    #9
    Winch

    Winch Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2019
    Member:
    #296483
    Messages:
    437
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRD OR MT V6
    None yet
    These issues are tricky. I spent $1K and the CEL came back. Turned out to be a small rubber hose causing the issue. Probably could have saved a crap ton of $$ with a good diagnosis.

    Also.... do not keep on pumping gas once the pump shuts off. This can cause similar issues.
     
  10. Jul 3, 2019 at 12:37 PM
    #10
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2016
    Member:
    #180213
    Messages:
    69,964
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Azusa, CA
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD 3.4l 4x4 5sp manual Xtraca & '96 4runner 4x4 5spd manual
    yup, the charcoal canister is an expensive fix at the dealership
     
    Winch[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. Jul 3, 2019 at 5:08 PM
    #11
    Indy

    Indy Master of all I survey.

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2013
    Member:
    #112518
    Messages:
    2,582
    Gender:
    Male
    Small evap leaks are a bitch. And if you have 1 you probably have 5.
     
    skeezix and Winch like this.
  12. Jul 6, 2019 at 2:31 PM
    #12
    justintaco18

    justintaco18 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2018
    Member:
    #266983
    Messages:
    52
    Gender:
    Male
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tacoma Base
    Yes I get that there are many possibilities here, but I did have a second opinion done at a local mechanic. They said they smoke tested it and the tank was fine and it was leaking from the canister valve. I took it back to Toyota and ended up trusting their opinion instead. Toyota assured me the canister was fine.

    I am taking the truck back in on Monday and will see what they say
     
  13. Jul 7, 2019 at 9:16 AM
    #13
    skeezix

    skeezix Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Member:
    #45512
    Messages:
    2,330
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    1998 Limited
    You might try getting a 2nd (or 3rd) opinion from a different dealer...
     
  14. Jul 7, 2019 at 9:44 AM
    #14
    Glamisman

    Glamisman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2016
    Member:
    #200436
    Messages:
    4,997
    Gender:
    Male
    this ping pong repair is what really angers me about auto repair... especially dealers. This part of why when I left the industry many years ago I never looked back to working for someone else. The constriants of time managment, flat rate efficiency quotas just took the "fun" out of solving problems and keeping a customer. The phrase I used with management was "quality is long remember soon after price is forgot".

    If customer has had a long occuring issue that many shops could not fix, and I found the problem and fixed it, sure it cost a little more but it is fixed, I am sure that in the end that that will describe you and this repair.
     
  15. Jul 7, 2019 at 9:48 AM
    #15
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2016
    Member:
    #180213
    Messages:
    69,964
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Azusa, CA
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD 3.4l 4x4 5sp manual Xtraca & '96 4runner 4x4 5spd manual
    Dealers are the worst with stuff like this. They parts cannon everything without much diagnosis and then leave the customer to foot the bill the whole way along.

    Dealers should only ever be used for warranty work IMO.
     
    El Taco Diablo likes this.
  16. Jul 7, 2019 at 10:06 AM
    #16
    Glamisman

    Glamisman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2016
    Member:
    #200436
    Messages:
    4,997
    Gender:
    Male
    agreed... at the high end dealer I was at refused tech training and only bought the special tools when forced by the manufacturer. Dealers only care about SALES, the service and parts dept are a necessary evil.
     
  17. Jul 7, 2019 at 10:10 AM
    #17
    Matic

    Matic The "OFG" Baby!!!

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2009
    Member:
    #22436
    Messages:
    26,677
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tricky Dick
    Easley, SC
    Vehicle:
    1 owner 2002 TRD, SR5, DC, 2.7. Full OME suspension, STT pro's.
    OME 881 coils with OME nitrochargers shocks up front. TC UCA's OME Dakars with extra leaf in the rear. Warn 8000 winch with 80ft custom braided synth line. Custom 60ft synth extension. All pro tube bumper, Hi-lift jack, Safari Snorkel, Wilco tiregate. 2019 Jeep JLUR.
    I've had an evap code up for over a year.
    Toyota does all my work for the most part.
    Not sure I even want them to mess with this code.
     
  18. Jul 7, 2019 at 10:12 AM
    #18
    Wulf

    Wulf auto dismantling & hoarding disorder

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2015
    Member:
    #147523
    Messages:
    62,104
    Gender:
    Female
    Vehicle:
    rock raisin
    Now say seven hail Marys to be forgiven for your mix up











    :luvya:
     
    eon_blue[QUOTED] likes this.
  19. Jul 7, 2019 at 10:12 AM
    #19
    Wulf

    Wulf auto dismantling & hoarding disorder

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2015
    Member:
    #147523
    Messages:
    62,104
    Gender:
    Female
    Vehicle:
    rock raisin
    I second changing the gas cap and then taking it back for a civil discussion
     
  20. Jul 7, 2019 at 10:13 AM
    #20
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2016
    Member:
    #180213
    Messages:
    69,964
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Azusa, CA
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD 3.4l 4x4 5sp manual Xtraca & '96 4runner 4x4 5spd manual
    Father Ed...is that you
     

Products Discussed in

To Top