toyota tacoma nightmare

what is a reasonable price to pay to have a shop replace the fuel pump? just curious.

i once had a radiator develop a small leak right near the end of the warranty. i called the dealer and they hemmed and hawed, and said bring it in, it'll be three weeks until we can get to it, and it may or may not be covered under warranty.

for less than $400 i sourced an OEM radiator and changed it myself. i needed my truck for work and couldn't be down and without it. so for me, it was a business decision.

my point is, sometimes the cost and time dealing with a car dealership isn't worth it, and it may be better to spend the money and move on. everyone is different, i understand, but it is something to think about.

 

I'll do a summary translation.

• OP recently bought a low-mileage 2017 this previous June. (21xxx miles). About a week or so ago she got a CEL.
• A friend pulled the CEL codes for OP, cylinders #2 and #5 misfire. She had it towed to the dealer.
• Dealer gave repeat phone calls to OP with an ever confusing list of diagnoses. First it was ignition coils, then signs of rodent activity, then a nevermind, wiring is good. Then they said the valve (?) was bad. And after that, it was injectors.
• Dealer handed OP a quote of repair for 6k. OP had it towed to a reliable garage, but not without escaping the bill of $1000 for work performed to date.
• Reliable garage diagnosed it as fuel pump.
• OP had it towed to another dealer to address recalled fuel pump.
• OP received several phone calls from second dealer who seem to be in disagreement over whether her truck is covered under the recall.
• OP is hopping mad and feels taken advantage of, obviously.

I think that's where we are at now.


Hell of a week, OP.

 

Maybe a short class in automotive repairs and maintenance would be good for everybody who drives a vehicle. Going on a forum to complain and or check up on a dealer/ repair shop isn't going to get you very far. Internet rabbit holes are real.

 

You are a hero sir ! Ty

 

Thank you Rock Lobster for the summary in bullet points, much easier to read

 

Goes to show that low mileage is not always a good thing.

Assuming the truck is not heavily modified, Toyota corporate typically makes issues like these right. Patience required.

The purpose of a forum such as this one is to help those in need. This community does a great job assisting those who need guidance in these scenarios. (at least it’s not a WILL MY TIRES RUB?? thread)

Your point is correct, but really this thread should be more focused on assisting than pointing a finger.

 

I'll bite. A 6 year old, 22k mile Tacoma shouldn't need a fuel pump. There's a recall for fuel pumps starting the same year as OP's truck. Clearly Toyota has a problem with their fuel pumps of that time frame.

My 2001 Lexus truck has it's original fuel pump, 225k miles. Old shit doesn't break, poorly made parts do.

 

Totally agree shouldnt need one at 22k miles

 

it's 100 % stock except for bug deflector, tonneau cover and rain deflectors

118,700 miles currently

 

Just change the stupid pump and go from there

 

Shit happens. No one cares how long cousin Billy’s friends wiper blades last. Barking up the “they owe me a fix tree” is clearly not working and causing a shit ton of stress

 

Well even with well made parts base on 6-sigma quality standard, 1 out of million parts can fail.
At this point, we don't really know how much damage the rats nest has done...
This particular dealership seems to be incompetent in diagnostic, I hope that garage has narrow down the root casuse to be the fuse pump itself...it could be the electrial to the pump

 

I think all of us that have read the very first post have missed a big piece of the pizza.

“Purchased from a family member”

^^^ we have zero idea where this truck has been

However we do know(allegedly)a mouse nest was discovered.

This is a key ingredient to the vehicle’s condition.
Makes me wonder if it sat for a long time and parts started to rot.

Pics of vehicle, how long was it sitting and where was it sitting?

Regardless I think the original diagnosis was way out in left field, but I’d like to see pics of the truck on the day it was purchased used.

 

That’s what I figured. Thanks .

 

unfortunately, there aren't many real mechanics anymore. just "techs" that follow instructions in a service manual. they don't actually know what they are doing a lot of the time. they will continue to throw parts at it until you leave. it's due to labor shortages.

 

Low milage doesn't always equate to being in good shape + buying from family is messy AF [usually].

Letting a vehicle sit for extended periods of time does its own kind of damage and if there was truly a rodent nesting in there then the sky is the limit on what could be messed up.

It is hard to read OP/s communication - both for how it is written and the lack of paragraphs.
I am not knocking OP at all - but clarity in communication is key to getting to the bottom of things. If I don't understand what you are complaining about, it is gonna be hard for me to help you out.


The initial problem - suddenly barely moving when the throttle was applied - was [probably] not the result of misfires, even if that is the only code that was thrown.

The first dealer/stealer sounded incompetent - they took the bad code [misfires] and just ran with it, threw parts at it and made OP eat the bill. Again, I ask - did you authorize those charges, b/c if not you shouldn't be liable for them/should not have paid them. There are laws to protect you on this. [I think OP is in Conn]

• Connecticut law requires that a repair shop obtain your written authorization that provides an estimate of the maximum cost of parts and labor before performing any work which must be signed by you. In fact, a repair shop must get your consent before charging you for an estimate or diagnosis, and your consent must be in writing if the charge for estimate or diagnosis is $50 or more. The repair shop must also keep a written record of the specific repairs you requested or a brief description of the problem that requires repair. [https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Consumer-Issues/Auto-Issues/Automobile-Repair-in-Connecticut]

Shop #2 [allegedly good] charged you 400$ to diagnose the fuel pump - seems steep.
Did OP authorize this too?
Did they show OP the recall notice?

Running the VIN will quickly determine if the fuel pump is covered under a recall or not; didn't need to tow it to stealer #2 to sort this one out.

ONLY recalls are covered by corporate, everything else [TSB/s etc] is on you.
Threatening the stealer with calling corporate is worthless and just inflammatory - the person answering the phone does not have the knowledge or power to help you, the stealer knows this and will happily let you spin your wheels.

Here is to hoping OP calms down, takes stock of everything said here, runs that VIN and lets us know what is up.
Everyone here is trying to help you get to a resolution.

 

Not to add fire to the flame, but this type of stuff doesn't just happen to 4'11" 62 y/o women. Best not to assume people are misogynistic assholes when they are simply incompetent and/or dishonest.

 

I would second this -
Most people are just stupid and selfish, not malicious
It is alot easier to deal with the random crap life throws at you from this perspective -
IF you always think people are trying to f**k with you, then it is super easy to get upset/angry which just makes it all worse, mostly for you