Died and Limped Home - 2023 TRD OR 4x4 w 15k ODO

I think a small percentage of people would forge ahead and take it upon themselves to root out the cause. (I know I would since I hate waiting on appointments if I can take an hour to double check the plugs) The OP may not be that type of person or not ready to do that.

 

^^^^^
Yea, that would be me. I’d be troubleshooting myself at this point just so I’d stop wasting time.
But sometimes the “My pain is their pain” approach may apply.

 

I would probably try one more time with the Toyota dealer because if you find something on your own they’re gonna have even more reason to deny coverage claiming that you messed around with it

 

That's my fear - On the one hand the warranty is close to done. I think I have until May of this year. That's when it hits the 2 year Lemon Law time limit. Part of me wonders if Toyota knows that and is pushing hard to get it over the hump. Wife is already decided she will never ride in it again and I'm not allowed to off road in it or go places that cell phone won't reach so the plan is to get it fixed as best as Toyota will do and then trade it in.

Already started shopping Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators and considering a Bronco - But the reason I'm in the Tacoma is because of a flaw in the engine and transmissions with the Ford Rangers. Then there is the Chevy Colorado. Might even up to a Full Sized Truck. Goal is to start a business soon as a side hustle I can transition into to during retirement. I know there is a difference in how a business can own a vehicle based on weight. Full Sized Trucks might be the answer.

For starters on the MPG issue - several have commented that I'm not doing that bad. And some of that is based off of some pretty slow driving but they may also be right. I set my expectations based on the last few cars and trucks I owned getting 4 to 5 MPG better than the vehicle was rated for. The Tacoma gets on average around 5 less. So maybe it's just a brand issue where they set the MPG limit and expectations and I need to just move on and accept that 5 MPG loss over the rated MPG. But that means I'll not be adding the off road tires or a mild lift or a camper in the back because I just can't take a hit in taking it down to 10MPG.

Driving it the other day I noticed (I run ETC off) That at around 70 it shifts into 5th gear and stays there. At 75 it shifts between 5th and 6th ping ponging back and forth but at 80 it stays solidly in 6th gear. I think my MPG issue is one of where I'm running the RPM and the vehicle speed. I seem to hover in a zone the transmission doesn't like. I have wondered if the MPG issue wasn't caused by the transmission in the past.

Adding up my 18 months of owning this truck and I think I have to come to the conclusion that I might not be cut out for a Tacoma or it might not be cut out for me.
At the end of the day, the one thing that puts this truck light years ahead of any other truck I have had is the suspension. It floats over these Arizona Dirt Roads and Trails. Makes better sense to get a rig that's good in all of the other areas and then upgrade the suspension to something like the Tacoma. That's the easiest part to replicate on another truck.

 

Called Toyota Corporate this AM and spoke with Jennifer. Let her know that I had a repeat of the same issue on Saturday and the P0300 code.
Immediate change in the timber of her voice. I might be reading into this but I got the feeling that they are realizing that backing Todd was a mistake here.



She's getting with her tech and they will formulate a plan to have him come out and look at the truck.
More to come. Always more to come.

 

This whole situation really backs the belief that you basically have to return your truck to stock when trying to get warranty work done. Such a rip.

 

Hopefully we will get to read a happy ending soon.

 

That's interesting, i was just testing this on my truck today driving in to work, it's about a 15 mile trip.
I set my CC @ 65mph with ECT on and cruise in the right lane (i'm in no hurry to get to work).
My RPMs at that speed were just below 2K. I popped the shifter into S / 4th gear and saw the RPMs jump up to 3K, Looked about right, bumped it up into 5th, RPMs dropped to around 2.3 - 2.5K (I don't remember exactly) Then i popped it back into D, RPMs went back down under 2k and it was in 6th gear at that point, the whole time the CC was on.
I don't have a tune, the truck is stock, 2016 SR5 with 105K Miles.
I wonder why your truck stays in 5th gear at 70MPH?

 

And this is precisely why I take a vehicle to 3/36 before doing anything to it, but by "do anything to it" I mean suspension, wheels, exhaust, intake, tune, performance fluids, etc. Things that actually TOUCH the engine or body/frame. Never in a MEEELION years would I have guessed that this was going to go this route.

The More that is Coming....
Jen called today. We talk so much I think I can shorten her down to the casual Jen. <\Shrug>

Any way. She got with her tech. He's surprised. She got with Todd. He's surprised.
I feel like Oprah just handing out Taco(ma) Surprises...


We are going back to Bell Road for "continuity." I told her continuity is good. Also fresh eyes are good too. Ultimately I'm being flexible here and pursuing resolution over ego. They did give me the choice. What ever - is what it is. They either fix it or this gets uglier for every one but much more so for them.
When I get the Appt Scheduled I'll let her know and then she will let the tech know and they will see when he can make it out there.

So minor update but at the very least it feels like they are starting to take this serious.

As far as I see it, I have 3 options.
Let them take a shot and pursue Moss Magnuson and Lemon Law.
Let them take a shot at it and then dump it.
Let them take a shot at it and then drive it.

 

You could always just ask them for a buyback price and take your money elsewhere… if it is an issue they will bandage it up and put it in the certified pre owned lot for a premium.

 

I could but if I do I lose out on the sales tax on the replacement.

I paid roughly $44k for the truck.
Replacement with comparable is $50k
Trade in on mine (KBB) is $35k

Sales tax is roughly 8%ish around here. Some places a little more or less.

If I sell to one dealer and buy from another dealer then I pay the full sales tax 8% of $50k is $4000 in tax
But if I trade the truck in and buy a truck at the same dealer in the same transaction then sales tax is only assessed on the difference.
$50k
$35k-
$15k amount of sale for tax

$15K at 8% is $1200.
That's a $2800 savings. Negotiating $2800 off of a car sale isn't always easy. I'm not about to give it up in tax and hand that money over to the Man!

 

Depends on what vehicle you want. It's not hard to get big discounts on Tacoma's and Tundra's now. Shoot, with interest rates I'd imagine most dealers are full of cars to choose from unless you want a Lexus. Those seem to be picked clean down the bone.

 

Ugh, dealer docs fees in AZ. They're borderline criminal. Bell Road wants $595, Right Toyota wants $649.90.

 

Go to Florida. $649 is reasonable I’ve seen some as high as $1299, lowest I’ve seen is $199.

 

I'm glad you chimed in, those guys have no idea what it's like in the Southeast, haha

 

I somehow had it in me to stumble across this thread early this morning and read through it in its entirety

Two things:
-Demand some answers about the cut fuel line. Both of you are just going to sweep that under the rug? Its very obvious, whether your ham radio had any influence on the issue or not (doesn't matter at this point), Todd made up an issue entirely, gave no documentation of proof when requested multiple times (even from Jen), provided no documentation of a repair being made on the fuel line, and has shown a pattern of just BSing his way out of things. Aside from Todd generally just needing accountability/discipline, its entirely safe to say that you're driving around with an unrepaired fuel line (even though we all know it was never damaged/issue never existed). Push this, act like it was a real issue, and it was never resolved. Keep this issue fresh, ask why the case was closed when the issue was never addressed; who cares if you drove the truck x-amount of miles afterwards with no issue, you (Todd) has no documentation the issue was resolved, and thats a problem for him. Continue to address the things that are problems for him; fight for him to be held accountable. Its not personal, its just shitty and shady service, and he's a liability to his company and customers.
-Remove the radio entirely until this is resolved. We all know it has nothing to do with it, but they'll obviously shift blame instead of properly diagnosing at any chance you give them. Limit those chances, which also means don't try and diagnose/replace parts yourself/take it to a 3rd party; yes, we know its annoying and at some point you're fed up enough to cut all losses and fix it yourself, but you paid for the warranty.. Its going to be a burden either way, just see it through and best of luck to you.

 

Try buying a house in Arizona. All of the fees at the title company. UGH! No way it costs $250 to courier documents any more. You can uber to Tucson and back for that much money.

Little known fact - those fees are all negotiable. Sorta.

After buying my first house here off the 101 and Cave Creek I commented to the Title Company about their fees. So many and so much and they felt very predatory the way they were presented. Our Title Agent said "Oh those are completely negotiable. You just have to let us know up front." Made one HUGE mental note in FAT RED SHARPIE!

Went to buy our second home and told the Real Estate Agent that we were going to be negotiating the title fees down. It was the first thing out of my mouth, "Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm going to negotiate the Title Company fees!" He said great, that's out of his league, work it out with the title company. When we agreed to go with his title company, I called them and told them I wanted to enter negotiations for their peaceful surrender (fees). They said wasn't time yet since there was no transaction / house wasn't sold and we hadn't put in an offer. Asked to see the fee list and they said it's for customers and we couldn't see it until we had a real estate deal.

Finally got a transaction, called them up and they sent the fee schedule and it has ranges on it. Said I wanted to negotiate, marked down my proposed fair fees and drove by and dropped it off at their office. Title Agent said it was too soon, we do that after all of the other stuff is done because there isn't a sale if the title report doesn't come back clean. It was clean, I asked to negotiate and they said later in the process. We went to sign, I asked to negotiate, they said we had to sign the papers to buy the house first, we did and at the end of it was the paper you sign agreeing to the ridiculous fees. I again reminded them I wanted to negotiate. NOPE - It was too late. They wanted that done before they did all the work. Once they printed out the house purchase the fees were locked in.

And in AZ it's illegal to cooter-kick some Title Agent out of the blue for gifting thousands of dollars in fees on you. So I let it go. Like Leo Getz said "They F-You in the drive through..."

 

Already done. Answer is "What fuel line? I never said anything about a fuel line. This is your problem right here ,pointing at picture of fuse panel on screen>." #Gaslighting

I'm told they are addressing room for improvement at this dealership around "communication." I hope that includes communicating blatant lies.

I intend to bring it up again when this truck goes back. If it wasn't the fuse block and the ham radio then maybe it's that fuel line he was talking about then later recanted.

Oh the radio, the dash cam, my iPhone cable - all out of the truck. The only "after market mod" in there is the glove box organizer and the little Toyota branded cup holders. There is no shade left to hide in on this truck.

 

101 & Cave creek is a pretty nice area.
I used to clean windows with a few different companies many years ago and we had several residential clients in the Desert mountain area. Some really beautiful homes there.

 

I think you're setting yourself up for failure by bringing the truck back to the same guys that held it for a month+ and did nothing.

I hope I'm wrong, and they do a better job this time, but don't be surprised if nothing changes.