Dealership hijinks (TRD vacuum pump)

Had my 2016 truck in to the dealer to get the TSB for the rear diff howling done. While I was there I asked about the ticking from the engine sometimes when hot. When they were done with my truck, they told me that the ticking was normal (fuel injectors I think they said) but that they had found an oil leak and that my vacuum pump was knocking.

The oil leak was the timing cover. It’s been discussed on here quite a bit. I had a hard time even finding it. I’m not going to pay them a couple thousand to fix it.

I started searching the web for vacuum pump info and found a TSB for vacuum pump knocking. But! This TSB doesn’t apply to my truck because it’s a TRD with Crawl Control. Trucks with CC don’t have brake vacuum pumps from what I can tell.

Knowing this, when I went to pick up my truck, I asked them to show me the issues. Physically show me the vacuum pump and the oil leak. They hemmed and hawed and said the oil leak wasn’t possible to show me, then eventually printed off a picture of a vacuum pump in an engine compartment. They were going back and forth on which vacuum pump it was at first, but finally settled on it being the brake vacuum pump.

I’m thinking they started looking through TSB’s for things they could tell me were broken even if they weren’t. They just didn’t notice the “doesn’t apply to CC trucks” part on the TSB.

From what I can tell, if I did have this vacuum pump, it would be aluminum/silver and positioned behind and above the engine. Is that correct?

 

Call corporate and open a case with Toyota, see if you can get them to budge on it.

 

Budge on what? I’m looking for confirmation that they are full of it on the vacuum pump knocking.

 

The ticking is most likely the port fuel injection cleaning cycle which is normal. I’d be more concerned about what diagnostic procedure they used to come to that conclusion on the pump if in fact you paid a fee for diagnostic service.

 

They said they were listening to the ticking and heard the vacuum pump knocking. Do you guys agree I don’t have a brake vacuum pump?

 

Easiest way to determine whether or not you have one is to post a picture of what your brake Master Cylinder (where the brake fluid goes) looks like.

 

Yes they have a vacuum pump see photo for clarity

 

You have an OR so you have an electro-hydraulic brake booster. The only vacuum pump you have is for the EVAP system located near the fuel tank. That picture @Ronzio posted, you don't have that - it's for the vacuum boosted brake system on all models except an OR and PRO.

 

Their inability to even know you don't have a vacuum brake booster is pretty telling of either complete incompetence, or deception to trick you into unnecessary and costly repairs. As for the timing cover leaks, they have always manifested by oil dripping down and around the power steering pump; that location is easily visible from under the truck while on a lift. Regardless, they have video borescopes that can take pictures as well. I doubt you want a place like this removing your engine for the timing cover even if it is leaking.

 

They got it mixed up with the high pressure fuel pump. It's on the passenger rear side of the engine.

 

The desk guy was baffled when I asked to see the issues. He went back and forth with another desk guy and they mentioned the fuel pump, but then came back and told me it was the brake vacuum pump.
After seeing pics on here, I was able to see the oil leak from above. It is around the power steering pump and it’s tiny.
I have an open ticket with corporate related to the rear diff TSB, I wanted to be sure I had my info straight before talking to them again.
Thanks all!

 

Any updates, I seem to be having similar issues