How does a TSB WORK

So I feel I have an issue with the vibrating drivetain at 2.5 rpms. How does the TSB work. Is it free to fix? How do I prevent them from performing certain tsbs like the gas pedal deal

 

The gas pedal fix is not a TSB, it's a safety recall. A TSB does not apply to all vehicles, you have to prove to the dealership you need the work done for a specific problem in order them to perform a TSB. A safety recall is automatic, you'd have to specifically tell the dealer you to NOT want that work done and would have to sign a waiver.

 

A tsb is just what the name implies. Toyota techs figure out that a complaint is due to a problem that can be fixed in a certain way. It gets submitted so othe techs can address the problem without having to troubleshoot. Unfortunatly for them people get wind of them and look for problems instead of actually having them... See spring tsb...

 

It's basically and unpublished recall. They only perform the repair if you complain about it. They don't tell everyone it exists. Most people find out about them through boards like this.

 

No not at all. Some may be so frequent and irritating that they seem that way, but first, a recall must be a safety issue, and second, they have TSBs on anything that needs doing frequently, be it changing oil or re-soldering something that might be hard to do or diagnose. Things like the rear spring TSB that actually requires a part that MAY not be quite up to some customer expectations. Fixing things that are maybe annoying to some, may happen to some, may fail earlier than typically acceptable. Published by the company, but often come from the technicians initially. They can be as simple as "it is important to torque the oil drain plug exactly to specs or it will leak"

It should be just part of their repair reference library, but people hunt down the problems and try to get the TSBs done regardless of need, then get all pissed off when the dealer tries to protect toyota's money from frivolous warranty service. I don't know if toyota did it, but we were prone to warranty inspections. THe dealer had to keep the warranted parts to show that they did the work they charged toyota for. That's why you generally don't get your parts back on warranty work.

 

So if my warranty is up I cannot get the work done?

 

There may be better options that cost less if you are out of warranty...but you can get the TSB work done on your own dime. And it never hurts to ask for it and make they tell you no...

 

You just have to pay for it. A tsb is just a way of fixing a problem.. an addendum to the service manual. If its under warranty it warranted regardless if its stated in a bulletin or in normal shop manual.

Some things are such a concern that they'll extend warranty on just that item to save their reputation, make you happy. But that's fairly rare.