Service issues.

I got over the transmission feeling like it slipped, and that tapping noise, and even the electronics that almost stall the motor if your left foot is on the brake while accelerating-like when pulling tree stumps or towing on a steep incline. The dealer numbed me to just accept the quirks. BUT

I had an oil leak in the cam box, covered by 100,000 mile warranty. When they tore down the engine in a 3 day job, they put it together and found something else wrong so they tore it down and rebuilt it again. That was 10,000 miles ago. Seems to be ok. Based on your experience , is this cam box leak something that reoccurs ? I’m trying to decide whether to unload this and eat the loss or do what I’ve done forever and run it till it rusts out. Any other major service issues with yours?

I got on a letter-writing campaign about the two engine rebuilds, but they wrote me off as a disgruntled owner.

 

Have not tried to brake torque mine, but ya I’d imagine modern vehicles probably have a feature preventing gas and brake applied at the same time.

No idea on the engine. I’d ask for extended warranty on the rebuild. Not an issue in general though. This engine is proven reliable. I just wish my Tacoma had the tune that my wife’s Sienna minivan has (srs). The minivan has the same power plant and definitely feels like it has more power around town.

 

I've driven a loaded 2015 Tundra and a 2017 Rav4 Platinum. I intentionally tried it on both, and No issues with power braking from either. Now that I know about it, I compensate otherwise. But when I complained to the dealer, instead of owning it as an intended modification with the 2016 drive train they just noted, 'Performs as designed'--they never even acknowledged hearing me. I think there's a 2016 Tacoma complaint script they follow. But it is not something I'm concerned about since its such a rare thing to deal with.

 

If you're that worried about it, make think about unloading it around 100k. If you're already close to 100k, and there's no obvious problems, drive on. If you don't trust the mechanics' job, then you'll never ever feel good about driving it.

I'm curious what your angle was in the letter writing campaign. If they performed the repair successfully and there's no issues through 10k miles, what's your beef? From Toyota's perspective, they honored your warranty (with 2 free engine rebuilds), and the repair has held through 10k miles. So, what were you asking for? They honestly don't owe you anything more...

 

Was the fix successful? Or are you still having issues? If its the fact that you are worried because they dug into your engine, i wouldn't worry too much about that. You had a warranty for a reason, its a machine they aren't perfect, thats why manufacturer warranties exist. Just be thankful it was covered.

 

Agreed. Yes it was covered and will be until 100,000 which I bought. But based on what was done by the dealer, yep, I do not have a warm fuzzy feeling about the future. They fired the first guy, but still gave it back to me after a second rebuild with a secondary oil leak, wire bundles exposed, and seriously, the list is too long to post. For instance: They broke a wire attachment that attaches under the thermostat housing, and instead of replacing it so the wires are held away from the hose, they used a cable tie and strapped the wires directly onto the radiator hose. It was a nightmare. I had it back 5 or 6 times after that second engine rebuild. Didn't intend to whine about it, just answering a question and elaborating on the specifics.

I was asking if this oil leak is common among 2016 owners on this forum, and if you had it repaired, have you had subsequent issues? Also I am curious if there are any other chronic problems with the 2016s.

 

I thought if you hit the brake and throttle at the same time you get a warning screen in the dash about Brake Override?

 

I think that's what he's talking about. It chops the throttle right? Stemming from the Prius court days?

 

What's the cam box? The leaking timing cover is pretty common.

 

Yep, and if you are looking at the dash when you do it, you will see the display. I never saw it. Its not like all the lights come on as if you stalled out. Now that I know it, the couple times I've done it since, I see it. Its not an issue for me now that I understand it. It just seems odd that when I complained about it, nobody in the service department ever told me why what I described was happening. They never mentioned a dash display. weird

I'd have to look at the paperwork but I thought they called it the cam tower or the cam box. The timing cover has to be R&Rd during repair. On the 6 cyl it was a 16 hour job that takes skilled mechanics 30. The engine was pretty much torn all the way down into the block. The cam comes out and goes back in. But I'd have to dig out the records

 

Interesting, from what I know, it's not common. But weird shit always happens w mechanical contrivances.

 

There's nothing for them to own, as it IS performing as designed.