Sand in the tank, headlights, or electrical issues, the saga continues for the 4th time? (10/9/18)

Exactly - nobody that's inspected this truck has done so in a straightforward way. All this talk about the fuel system is ridiculous. How would sand instantaneously get from the filler tube to the engine when that wave hit or when the car is pressure washed? It makes no sense since there's a lot of line and a filter between the tank and the engine. If the people investigating this issue at the dealership were allowed to be engineers we'd have bridges falling down and cars exploding when you hit the brakes.

 

The coded are injector circuit short codes.

Occasionally TPS codes. And ive had an Evap code like once or twice.

 

So how does an injector circuit code lead them to look in the gas tank??????
You need to visit a different shop, this one you are using is bogus.
An injector code will not show up if the injector is clogged, so it must be an electrical issue.
If an injector was clogged due to ¨sand¨, then it would be a misfire, not a circuit code.

 

Electronics are funny... 100% the issue came from the wave and the dealers not replacing/finding the issue. Wave shorted something out. Only works intermittent. Dirt gets into every tank no matter what. You just happened to only see it not work after power wash. That part is all in your head my friend.

 

Chuck, it's happened 3 seperate times, and it's been well over 6k miles since the initial wave incident. After the wave, the truck corrected itself and ran fine, until the wash. The second time, there was no water at all, until the wash, and this third time, it ran a week after my trip, until the very second I washed it. I severely doubt that "it is all in my head."

I am tempted to agree that this is indeed an electrical issue and that the dealer is focusing in the wrong direction... they have tunnel vision and are clearly done with me as a consumer/customer. The manager has me labeled as a liar, and a "heated customer." As others have pointed out, I appear to be rather patient and calm. I have not once yelled, insulted, or cussed at the staff, however I have been treated with shortness, rudeness, and raised/frustrated voiced when I asked questions about the diagnosis and processes.

When this happened again, I will be going to another dealer. It is clear that Fairfield Momentum Toyota no longer respects me as a customer, or an honest individual.

Rainy season is upon us in California... I'll be spraying the body down one last time to strip the clear coat of the old sealer, re-sealing for the winter, and I wont be washing it much. We'll see. Stock lights will remain in until I physically can't handle the crappy output.

Next time I wash the truck, I'll consider leaving the truck running, especially when doing the rear. I suspect that the rear half of the truck may be the target somehow, only because when I went absolutely nuts on the engine to try and prove toyota wrong, NOTHING happened.

These incidents only happen when the underneath of the truck gets wet, I.e wave, or thorough washing.




I got a call yesterday, my truck is "done" I will pick it up tomorrow and see what more they screwed up. Already it is missing a relay box cover, rubber gap flap in wheel well wasn't secured right, rear inner fender well wasn't bolted right, and the fender flare was coming off, flapping in the wind, the plastic tabs for the wires under the hood are broke, multiple blemishes and scratches, all over the truck,and a scratch on the interior of the truck (they tore my dash apart the first time, and threw all the pieces in a pile on the back seat).

 

Take pictures.

Take pictures.

Take pictures.

Take pictures.

If you have before and after dealer visit pictures, they pretty much HAVE to fix it. Shit, when you drop it at the dealer, take all the photos in the lot, make sure they are time stamped.

 

At this point I would completely cut my losses and leave Toyota and that dealer all together. I'd be looking at another vehicle. I know you have a manual transmission and if you are like me, having a new 4x4 truck with a manual transmission is the best thing Toyota did for the Tacoma. It makes it hard to look at other new options knowing a 4x4 manual truck leaves you with basically the frontier or tacoma. You can wait it out and see if the new Ranger will come with the option, but I'm skeptical on whether or not Ford will make that move, but I sure hope so. Anyways...if you aren't in a financial position to cut your losses then....

Once it is "done" this time, I think you seriously need to invest in a dash camera (less than $100). Start building a video log of everything you do, how you drive it normally, if you do trails, all of it. A dash camera is a safe investment anyways for other reasons, but this will start helping you build time stamped, video proof. Film yourself washing the truck, turn it on before and show it starts fine, wash it, then video you turning it on after. Make sure all of the video is time and date stamped. Keep a log of everyone you talk to, what they say, emails, make sure all service orders are documented in full and not an obscure one line summary of the work done. You will really be on your own here for building a case if Toyota or dealerships refuse to help.

Have you talked to your insurance regarding the outcome of the job and how to proceed now if they are telling you the same problem exists?

Also, have you tried going through the automatic touchless car washes that gas stations typically have? We have them here in Socal. When you drive into one slowly at first it pressure blasts the undercarriage. You should see if using one of these washes provides an issue as well.

Good luck with this nightmare...

 

The employee using terms like liar and heated has not been speaking in professional terms. These people do not have your best interest as a priority. If you cannot get out of your lease then I think you have quite a bit of evidence from the codes not being used as the primary to the poor quality service you've been receiving.

You need to take pictures as VolcomTacoma said which I believe will be time stamped if you use your phone - my iPhone will have the date and time included in the picture when it's opened up on a computer.

Whether this body of evidence is used against the shop legally or simply as leverage on your part it is important that you have someone look over anything you write to them in the future so it can't be used against you. It sounds like that email you sent may have been too emotional - understandably, but it won't help you make them communicate on a professional level. If nothing else, try to reread it the next day after you write it if you're anything like me and tend to get emotional while dealing with this kind of situation. Sorting out that kind of speech is tough. It will make them answer back in the same manner however and it's a lot harder for them to use personal attacks if they are addressed in a professional manner. If they continue to do so then you can add this to your case and continue to respond professionally. I recently did this in a situation I had and noticed its benefits.

Stating the facts plainly and clearly will make a story that will help you the most. I hope you can get out of your lease and let bygones be bygones. The truck is repairable - it may take a lot of time to find the issue with the electrical system which seems to be the real source of your engine problems. However, the lack of professionalism, ability, and potential dishonesty of the dealership seems to have eclipsed the issues with the truck as being your biggest obstacle in reaching a solution.

I hope you are able to come to a speedy solution to this problem as the dealership is not only being unprofessional in their decision to cite the sand in your gas tank as the source of the issue when there are trouble codes that indicate that is not the failure in your vehicle, but negligent in that if your vehicle were to lose power at speed your life and the lives of your passengers could be in danger as well as those of people on the road if your vehicle were to go out of control. Hopefully your insurance can help you in your case against this dealership.

 

When you spray down your truck keep it running best of luck and thank you for your service!!!

 

And don't ever put those headlights back in!!!!!!!!!

 

The TuRD is back. They drained all my gas, (nearly full tank) and gave me my truck back on empty. Beyond "zero miles to empty" it was on please refuel....

Anyway, it runs for now.

 

What's your plan now?

 

^ I say reinstall HID's and take a trip to Pismo!!

 

oh the suspense..........did the hummer swim back out? It has a snorkel. Clip too short.

 

Made my morning. Many thanks.

 

HIDs are on the wall. Staying off for a while, but will go back in eventually. I doubt that it's the lights. I will continue to drive the truck normally.

 

*rimshot*