Does This Differential repair done at Toyota done right? It was on recall!

Long story short. I took my Tacoma into dealership Friday for service, 12000 miles, They found weeping around differential and noted Vin was part of recall, 2016 Double cab SR5 4x4 and told me I had to leave truck due to rears locking up. They did set me up with enterprise but I did not accept because I have no desire to drive a corolla for 2 months, This is the time table for repair I was told due to 78 Tacoma trucks in front of mine with same problem. I spent rest of Friday searching for a truck with none in my area. I called dealer on Saturday wondering how I would make it to work on Monday. Saturday evening a message was left that my trucks recall was completed. only one day, Wow I was thrilled. I went and picked up truck and was giving paperwork showing completion. When I parked truck I wanted to check out repair. It seems they did not follow Toyota recall sheet and instead just loaded down rear with RTV. No where on paperwork does it show using this as supplement to gasket. It looks terrible and my concern is throwing off angle of driveshaft based on thickness. Is this what toyota had in mind for a fix. Is it proper fix? It looks like bob's backyard did the work. What should I do? They RTV is uneven and on top is not even evident. I'm concerned

 

That's a sweet color though.

That's probably how I would have fixed it.

I doubt that's how a dealer should of fixed it if they make gaskets.

 

I guess it will be ok as long as it doesn't leak .

 

Pretty common for dealers to use sealants like that.

 

I had my rear diff assembly completely replaced. It never had this red stuff on it. Did you take it to Pep Boys?

 

So they offered you a rental through enterprise, you refused, and then asked them how you are going to get to work Monday? They offered you a rental and you refused....

Anyway, not sure the repair work they did is the actual fix for the recall, but as long as it doesn't leak then you're good to go.

 

Might not be proper by the book but it works very well. I never used a paper gasket on any of my Toyota trucks when re-installing a 3rd member, always fipg and never had a leak.

 

Again, Toyota would say this is normal.

 

Toyota service did the repair. But will it last. My invoice does not show any use of RTV nor does the recall advise on anything other than the Gasket and new bolts with proper torque. Regionally I have been informed dealers here are only receiving 4 or 5 kits per week. Will it fail in the future? I'm afraid it will and toyota will deny they did this work.

 

Came here to post this. You refused a rental and rushed them to finish it and this was probably the result of that rushed job. I dont know if thats the actual procedure of the recall but I dont see the difficulty in putting two and two together.

 

If that work is just a temporary hold-off until your turn comes up for the actual recall work to be done, then you're fine--so long as they documented this temporary workaround.

However, if that is what the dealership is considering an "official fix" according to corporate approved standards, you have cause to contact Toyota Corporate with your images and interaction details with dealership representatives.

 

I didn't refuse rental of a truck or use of truck. I have a farm and a truck is important. I refused a corolla. They had none available. Neither did Enterprise. Toyota said I did not need a truck. I told them salesman did not tell me that when I bought it. Two months without truck is unheard of.

 

I'd be ok, if you had a Red or Inferno Tacoma!

 

While I understand you actually need a truck, no where have I seen the dealer or enterprise needing to rent you the same vehicle you came in with. They may make accomodations and help you but its not guaranteed.

Either way, cars have had RTV based gaskets forever. Someone can chime in if thats the actual procedure, but I dont see an issue if it fixes the problem you were having.

 

1) they can't keep your truck. It's yours, and you are free to drive off. What are they going to do, call the cops?

2) I think your dealer was at least creative, and got you back on the road. You do realize that tons of oil pans and other components across various marquees are sealed this way (no cork or rubber gasket) right? That it is a well known industry standard?

3) who cares what it looks like where it squished out around the edges. Its a farm truck. You'll never see it again. But if you don't like it, razor trim the excess. Then shoot it black. Maybe the cows will be happy.

 

Is this repair inline with the Recall per Toyota? My neighbor had theirs fixed and it looks just like factory. No RTV showing. I am not saying RTV does not work but truck did not have this on it from factory. The recall is for the same gasket but with different torque requirements on the new bolts. They, dealership, considers this permanent fix.

 

You didn't have any red RTV because your tech probably was clean enough to take off the excess. Not the case here. It's easy to peel off the stuff that oozed out when it's dry, but if OP was pinched for time they turned it around quick because you needed the truck.

My worry is if the tech used THAT much that it's all oozed out like that, how much oozed to the INSIDE and is now possibly floating around in the rear end? This is a problem with poor oil pan or valve cover gasket jobs, they use too much and it gets inside the moving parts and can wreak havoc, like blocking oil flow...

Also, FWIW, red RTV is advertised for "high temp" uses. Black RTV is for oils. Blue for water. Maybe a gimmick, but I don't want to find out. I'd have used black. Also not sure why they didn't use FIPG...that stuff is the BOMB.

When I split my front diff at the dealer to install the ECGS bushing, the Toyota tech helping me put just a little RTV on it to seal it back up. RTV is not evil, but if there's a gasket installed there's really no use for it, except to hold the gasket in place for install.

 

This is a problem. I would be pissed if they "installed" a gasket and instead gave me back 1/2 a tube of RTV oozing out everywhere.

What dealer is this? Let everyone know!

I'd be back there complaining in a second. Tell them to show you the TSB (and the step by step instructions contained within), or print it out and show them how to follow instructions.