OIL LEAK

Idk if anyone’s still watching this thread but here’s the update:

After having it towed to the dealer 12/11 I waited till this morning 12/15 for my “service appointment” and texted the salesman asking if he had a loaner lined up as promised, to which he replied yes. When I got down there he said he checked on my truck and it was on the lift and would be a half hour wait. So I waited one half hour and then another, till some doe-eyed kid came and got me. When I asked about the diff he looked at me like I was speaking another language, so I figured it wasn’t worth probing any further. He handed me the service report and I was on my way. The first thing I noticed when I got to the truck is that it looked like someone spilled their dip spitter down the passenger side door, not that I really gaf but it’s annoying when I got it washed two days prior to it getting there. My major concern was that the cv was properly seated, and it was… but then I noticed they didn’t bother tapping the drivers side the eight of an inch it needed to go to be all the way back in, again no biggy, I’ll do it myself. So the last thing I did before I left the dealer was put the truck into 4wd and made sure everything worked as it should. It did. At this point I’m about a half hour late to work, so I boogie outta there and when I get to work I find out that my client is even later than me. So I decided to take another (closer) look at the service report now that I had a little extra time. That’s when I see that the tech changed the cv boot, and that was it. I don’t think you can see it in the pictures I posted but there was nothing wrong with the cv boot. So I texted the salesman again and told him there’s nothing on this service report saying that they refilled all the lost oil from the differential- the whole reason the truck was there to begin with. His response was that the tech that worked on it was a “master tech” and that I should contact him. Classic run around.

What I think happened is the salesman told the techs to get it done right away so they didn’t have to give me a loaner and the techs rushed thru it without taking the time to pay attention to detail or even address the problem. I’ve reached the point where I don’t really care to talk to the tech(s) bc I don’t trust that I’d get an honest answer anyway, but mainly bc the little voice in my head won’t stop saying “if you want something done right, do it yourself”. So I think I’m just gonna change the oil in the front diff and tap the other cv all the way in and find a new dealership to service the vehicle from now on. Other than that idk what else I should do, I’ve thought of everything from leaving a nasty review to getting a lawyer involved and getting my 18k down payment back… probably won’t do either. If you read all of this, thank you, I needed to get that rant out… but I’d also really like to hear what you would do in this situation. Lmk TW, thanks again!

 

Grrrr.

If it was me, I wouldn't do a damn thing just about.

I'd get in touch with Toyota and explain the experience in detail with the service and aftermath on the phone.

I'd find another dealer who wants to do the job right, maybe ask around here for a reco.

I'd be furious about the stain all over the door, though not the most key thing that's just disgusting.

 

Maybe look in the regional thread here closest to you for a reco. If you're in the MA area by chance I know a good one.

 

Yeah man I was bummed enough to take a photo but not enough to go back inside a yell at people lol. For all I know it could’ve been the tow truck driver but still I’d like to think if I was in their shoes I would’ve taken the 45 seconds to scrub it off

As for the reco are any of yall central New Yorkers? This was Romano in East Syracuse but there’s burdick in north cuse and nye in Oneida that aren’t much further from me.

I’ll get on the horn with Toyota tmrw morning

 

Couple things:

-normal to have a small gap between CV and diff. Your driver’s side may be perfectly normal.

-so the oil leak was just the diff? Going back to your first post you said the frame was soaked and dripping. I can’t imagine the diff/CV flinging off that much oil. Did it smell like gear oil or like engine oil?

-I can’t figure out what the CV boot even has to do with anything. Other end of the CV. Weird. Did they knock the passenger CV back into place? Any explanation of how that could’ve happened in the first place?

-I’ve never been told by a service writer to “ask the tech”. That’s literally their job.

 

CV boot “ replacement “was a way to get extra money for dealer for basically doing nothing other than knocking the axle all the way in.
The “tech” ( better known as a thrower of parts at vehicles to make extra money )saw a way to be able to bill for some extra money and no one would be able to tell the difference if the part was changed or not because it’s a new vehicle.
Chances are good there’s a new axle boot with clamps somewhere in his or her toolbox that never got installed.
They saw a excuse to bill extra for the time and the leak gave them a excuse to be able to bill Toyota extra $$$.
It also sounds like the shadiness is prevalent throughout the dealership when the original poster said initially the dealership had no loaner vehicle either.

 

I think what I would do at this point is check a new crush washer and check the diff fluid level myself , since you seem like a do I your self person . You really don’t need to change the fluid when this new .
Keep checking for re leaks and if good use the truck, and make sure everything is good . It sounds like it will be ok.
As far as that dealer . Who knows what they have on there plate during the holidays. I wouldn’t write them off just yet . But you can let the service manger know about what’s on your door and also let them know if your diff oil does turns out to be low .I’m not saying just below the fill cap where you finger can feel the oil, I’m saying stick your finger in and you don’t feel oil at all.

 

Unless the salesman is a close friend or relative you like, I'd NEVER use them as the intermediary for service work.

If you'll take the trouble to find a good independent mechanic for your normal service work, you'll save a lot of $ and headache. Also, that good mechanic will tell you when your problem is warranty related and send you to the dealer. If they won't do that for you, they're not good.

 

Thats the route I'd go. Sic Corporate on their ass. It's worked for me in the past with other companies. They don't like hearing from the Big Boys that they aren't getting it done. After this debacle is over, I agree with Clearwater Bill. Find a good independent shop whose mechanics aren't pressured to work so fast that they crank out sloppy work. The only time my truck has ever been to the dealer was for a couple Toyota recalls. Even then they were bullshitting me that my truck needed all kinds of service after their "safety inspection".

 

Yeah the cv just need to be knocked back into place (which they did) and the oil topped off (which they may or may not have done). It was definitely gear oil. My first post was before I got under the truck. Within a few seconds of being under it I noticed the cv was out of the front axle. I put my finger in where it was supposed to be seated to confirm that the oil coming from that spot, the oil coating the underside of the truck and the oil stains in my driveway were all the same.

From here on out I’ll most definitely be doing things myself, and/or contacting a friend for anything not covered by the warranty. Thanks for the pro tip Clearwater!

 

No doubt. If I was a betting man I’d say you’re right in the money

 

I almost forgot to mention that they also left 90% of the oil that had coated the bottom of the truck. And again not a huge issue but that’s just one more thing that lets me know they have no consideration or attention to detail. I’ll have to try and remember that when I get ahold of someone at corporate.

 

Sorry about the ordeal OP, that would also frustrate me.

It’s things like that which cause me to be hesitant about trusting the dealer to do big jobs. I have a 2016 I bought last month and it has a weeping timing cover. They would pull the engine to fix. I am just going to watch it for now as I am afraid of bigger issues if they pull the engine. The Toyota service manager with 40 years experience also discouraged me from doing the repair, even though he trusts his guys, still a risk.

No one cares for possessions as much as you do yourself.

Looks like a nice truck!

 

Yep,
I'd definitely not touch it and sick Coperate on them, and let them know what happened.
As you mentioned, as soon as you personally try to fix things on a brand new truck, they have possible "ammo" to try & turn it around and make it your fault somehow.
I'd also be demanding another dealership look at it after getting Toyota Corp involved.

Good luck!

 

This sounds all too familiar to my Toyota dealership experiences since 2016. I no longer go to them and do my own maintenance. I know it’s tempting to take your vehicle in for warranty, but if I can fix it myself I always do now. In my experience they fu*k up more than they fix. Calling corporate will do nothing to help your situation.