Taco Down:(

any update on this?

 

Still at dealership. No update since they confirmed blown head gasket. No new news on why, why over heated, why temp gage was normal. Service contact claims they’re still digging into it..

 

I had an issue with my 2nd gen with my rear brakes locking up (not anything as bad as this) but in order to repair the dealership had to go back and forth with some corporate part of Toyota to get permission to repair.

I didn't know this was part of the process but it was interesting to learn. Dealership had to send pictures and information and couldn't do anything until authorized.

 

Good luck OP. Hoping it gets worked out agreeably.

 

Good luck!

 

Update#2

Dealer has had the truck for 1 week now, and still no further on diagnosis because they say it “over heats too fast to see anything and there isn’t anything obvious” (hole in radiator, blown hose etc.)
I asked if they check the thermostat or the temp sensor and he said no..

I do have extended warranty, but they are requiring the dealership to do an engine tear down to diagnose the issue and determine if it’s covered by them.. meaning if it’s not I’m on the hook for the $3100 tear down. I’m trying to get Toyota corporate involved but haven’t found the right folks yet. seems like they (Toyota) make it harder than it should be and they should be as concerned about this as I am.. Extended warranty company wants the tear down because according to them “it is highly unusual for a Toyota, specifically this engine with only 65k miles on it to have this type of failure.” The warranty rep talked through what they’re looking for and based on my story and situation it is extremely unlikely that they wouldn’t cover the repair. Also learned that the extended warranty company may recommend putting a used or refurbished motor in it which I’m not good with, but won’t know the options until the diagnosis is complete and cause identified….

service tech said he’s going to give me the # to the right folks at Toyota corporate in order to get them involved, and that it’s very rare that they give that # out.. we’ll see where that leads.

All that to say still trying to figure it out and more to come.

Thanks to this forum for giving me support, a voice and folks to brainstorm with to try to figure it out.

 

Wow! What a headache? What are you driving while they have your truck? Did they give you a free loaner?

 

nope, they didn’t offer and when I asked said they don’t do that. Extended warranty I got when I bought the truck offers max of 10 days of rental at $35 a day but only after they confirm they’ll cover it and has to be an approved rental company… real pain in the ass! My Dad is out of state on assignment so I’m borrowing his truck but real pain in the butt!

 

Bro why the F not???

 

no clue.. seems sloppy like they aren’t concerned with the cause and just want to push it to extended warranty and move it through. Hoping I can get corporate to do something to help get to the bottom of it. Extended warranty guy said the tear down will tell the story and “head gaskets don’t lie” which sounds legit..

also not sure why the tech would be driving it to figure it out? Clearly it’s f*ed up, and next logical step would’ve been to check function of key related components???

 

Nah... why check the obvious points of failure, when you can pass the buck. They must not have an actual mechanic, just technicians.

 

They are probably trying to get toyota to just cover the engine swap, but corporate actually wants to know what happened for once. so they are having it out behind the scenes.

 

The fact that they have driven it, means the engine probably runs ok, they just don't know why it overheated/overheats and ate a head gasket. They need a tear down to find out why and that's alot of work. Toyota probably thinks the engine can be fixed, but thats alot of work for the dealer who just wants to swap engines for you.

 

Clarification: the extended warranty folks (MPP) are the ones that want the tear down. I’m still trying to get toyota to come to the party and help figure it out, but they could be watching in the background I guess? I’m suppose to get the contact info today to call and get toyota corporate involved. I’m going to approve the tear down but want toyota corporate # before I approve so they can hopefully get there and put the right eyes on it.

 

Did they even pressure test the coolant system? Is it loosing coolant currently.
It sounds like the dealership is not wanting to do much of any diagnostic unless they are getting paid. Which is understandable, I mean the tech needs to get paid for time. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

 

Ya third party warranties are always trouble, they will most likely try to weasel out of paying up. All I can say is as long as you DEFINETLY didn't do anything screwy to your truck they should have no choice but to pay up.

 

1. how come you didn't tell us you had extended warranty earlier? Or did I miss it?

2. it's been debated here, lots of people talk trash about Toyota extended warranty and go for the third party warranty. This is the trouble.

3. At least Toyota hasn't kicked you to the street yet. There's some hope there...

 

Reason the thermostat is not being tested is because a stuck closed stat will send the temp gauge into the red zone within 3 miles !! A stuck open stat causes the temp gauge needle to stay below the 1/2 way up the dial point.

 

that makes sense. If thermostat failure would’ve shown on temp gage, but why not check function of temp sensor, water pump etc?

 

1. Didn’t remember if I bought it or not (normally don’t) then when I found it in glove box not sure if it’s worth a shit and will cover anything. Some people disagree but it’s my opinion toyota should cover this anyway..
2. This is my first experience with extended warranty and so far it’s a pain in the ass, but MAY end up covering me making a bad decision if Toyota turns out to be a shit (I wouldn’t have guessed this and am not there yet)
3. Kicked me to the street?? Not sure what you mean here, but I haven’t even been able to get them (corporate) to talk to me yet and the dealer said from the start they weren’t going to cover it under warranty. I’m not giving up on it though