Dealer Screw-up - Anyone Surprised...?

So I had the Tacoma in for it's semi annual rear differential replacement. That would be #4 I am on now. At the same time I had them replace the rear bumper again, as it is rusted, again. And the blower fan, because it never stopped squeaking. And finally, wiper motor #3, not sure what that is all about, but it was whining like gut shot deer.

So first, the good news......The fan blower motor is silent! It is actually fixed, as in no jet engine sounds or squeaking or anything. Part of a noise reduction kit from Toyota. (I'm sure some of you will be happy to know that after 8 years in production, Toyota has finally fixed this.)

Wiper motor #3 is also silent, good stuff.

Ahhh, shiny new chrome bumper! Wait a minute..... I have my 7pin relocated to the bumper where the license plate light would be. So I told them how to get the harness out, and just leave it, I will put it back. Well the tech broke the harness, glued it back together, gluing it shut in the process. Then he ripped it open, tearing the gasket, and forever rendering it uncloseable. So I get the service writer, pictures etc. No problem, I'm sure they'll just order me a new harness. (which they did). No help getting the scratches fixed the tech put on my tailgate while installing the bumper. Oh well, it's a lease, they scratched it, their problemo.

So I take the home. Seems to be rattling more than usual, an odd thumping on stops & starts as well. I choose to ignore it, forget about it whatever. Next day running errands with DW, she comments "what the hell is all that rattling". I look under the truck......Driveshaft bearing carrier bolt holding on by one thread.
It is only by fluke that DW and I canceled our plan to tow our RV that weekend. Literally, a last second cancel. Might have saved a us from having a HUGE accident.

End of this story is the dealer towed the truck back to the city, and inspected the whole truck.

 

Not surprised! I got ass ended about 2 months ago. The dealer removed the box and made the repairs. Paint job looked great! Everything was straight. The next morning my son went to gas up the Taco and when he opened the gas door he saw the tire!
Well if you want it done right do it yourself. I released the bracket and reinstalled the tube assembley to the neck.

One right turn and one cigarette and BOOM! Now I am waiting for the box to slide off!

 

2010 is just not your year, isthatahemi. Haven't had any problems with mine (knock on wood). Just curious .. does your VIN # start with a 3 or 5?

 

5

 

I only bought my truck a couple of weeks ago. I've been in asking a couple questions on parts from two different dealers, also it went in to get parts ordered for the rear TSB. Each time I felt like I needed to pull out a drawing pad and pen ... I just get the feeling they don't really know anything about the vehicle we are talking about.

 

Must have been built on a Friday at "beer:30"

 

Not repairing the issues correctly the first time is more than half the problem.
I think the rear diff housing is distorted from the first kaboom. But hey, if they want to throw a $1200 3rd member at it every six months, it's their dime.

 

Dealerships get those UTI retards.

 

What is that with the 4th diff? Are you towing 12,000lbs, LOL? Or what happened / is happening there? This sounds like beyond bad luck ....

 

OP is in

 

I think the first failure, which happened under moderate off road use, buggered up the rear axle. My theory is that is what is wrecking the new 3rd members. I've never seen anything like this before. But if you are wondering, this truck has seen minimal abuse. Compared to the 2 Dakotas I owned in my early 20's which were both badly abused for thousands of miles, which never broke. (let's stay away from the brand loyal stuff though, as I have no brand preference, I buy whatever I think will do the job, F150 next)

No lemon laws here. I could definately go to arbitration and win a buyback, but because it's a lease, I would lose. (<short story)

 

Sorry to hear that. Sounds like you really had bad luck.
Generally, those Tacomas are pretty tough though. One failure on that rear axle / diff is hard to compare in terms of the level of abuse. You could have had this one hard hit at the exact right (or wrong, however you look at it) angle .... you never know. In general I would not think the Dakota is a tougher truck than the Tacoma, but I have no data to really back that up.
Hey, good luck anyway, seriously. Hope you get it all fixed!

Edit: no lemon laws in Canada? I though you were living in near socialism? (kidding)

 

Not to get too off topic, but the Dakota's built back in the 90's were un-sophisticated American iron. Better frame and axles hands down. 9 1/4" rear end versus 7.8", Nuff said. Nothing comparable in sophistcation or refinement to the Taco. But hey, I want a truck, that is a real truck!

lol. Ahh my friend we have a Conservation Prime minister, undoing the nanny state bit by bit. But in Manitoba, we can go to arbitration, and it does work. But the settlements are terrible.

 

The youngins now adays have no ambition or anything. I am scared to take my truck in to get a Head unit installed because they will mess my shit up some how

 

I have never met a *mechanic* at a dealership that knew how to work on cars. If the computer can't tell them what is wrong, and their service manual doesn't walk them through step-by-step with pictures they get a glossed over look and say "I don't know". Fix it yourself or find a good brand mechanic. Only take it to the dealer when you are ready to trade it.

 

Free is free. And a new rear axle, (that is inherently too weak anyhow for the truck) is over $2500 new.

 

This.

I remember Petersen's 4WD doing a tear-down on a toy 8" axle and the mechanicals were essentially equivalent to a light duty D60 or heavy duty D44. Either way, strong enough that it won't be the first thing to break.

The gears, on the other hand...Toyota really fucked up by not putting a bigger diff housing on the e-locked trucks...the locker assembly just takes up too much room in there, the gears are shrunken as a result, and they can't handle the stresses of the heavier, more powerful 2gen. Worked fine for the 1gens, but they're lighter with less twist.

 

The only way to not have repeat diff repairs is to complete disasemble,new bearings and steam clean axle housing.If not cleaned ,small metal particles keep recirculating.