2012 Rear drive shaft replaced TC to diff

Called and talked to the service manager and was told that they were done trying to fix it. So I asked to be transferred so that I could return the truck.
They asked me to bring it in again and show them... again. So me that sales manager and a tech go for a drive until everyone is able to feel the vibration- over and over. They are supposed to call me back this week after they do some research on it.

 

to eliminate the torque convertor lock up as a potental source of vibration apply the brakes as you accelerate through the vibration zone. Applying the brakes and sending a "brake signal" to the various modules will unlock the torque convertor or not allow it to lock.

 

I'm confused. The torque converter it's a viscous coupling, is it not? I thought locking up referred to the, "fan blades," inside the torque converter no longer being able to slice through the atf inside.

TCs are controlled electronicly now? Htf do the do that? Inquiring minds want to know. Lol

 

Dealership called and said that the trans mount was 'the only thing still covered under warranty' so they are installing it on Monday.

It is becoming obvious that they have no intention of fixing the truck. So the likely out come is us returning the truck.

 

yes the torque convertor is a fan blade type viscous coupling but there is also a friction disc inside the torque convertor that locks the unit so that there is zero slippage. The image is a general picture not necessarily Toyota.

 

Thanks, I learned something new.

 

Tech called to let me know they were done installing the new trans mount and tells me that he thinks it reduced it but didn't fix it. Said the next item was the damper that goes in the steering wheel, then leaf springs, etc.- but that I would have to pay for any further work.
I told him to transfer me so that I could return the truck since they are unable to fix it.
Sales manager laughs and says they don't have a return policy. Then after a lengthy conversation tells me he will talk to the owner and call me back. Called back and said that they will not take the truck back unless I sell it to them for wholesale.

So I go and pick the truck up- pull out of the dealership and as I accelerate the vibration is worse than before! It also resonates and vibrates the whole truck still. It now vibrates from 10 kph to 40 kph with as little as 30% throttle. Have not had it on the hwy yet to see if it still drones at certain speeds.

Starting to think I should cut the rear half of the frame off and get another rear section from a Ford, Chevy, Jeep- anything that don't vibrate. How could Toyota have gotten this so wrong? Auto makers have been using a rear differential/ leaf springs and driveshafts for over 100 years! WTF.

 

i had this same problem. They finally fixed it after replacing my driveshaft. There's a tsb for it now.

 

First of all it's a used truck - not a mag-lev train. There will be vibes.

That said there is a comprehensive thread or six here on how to measure driveline angles and zero out the vibrations caused by misaligned drive shafts. Any changes to the OEM geometry from lifts, tires etc. will require adjustments to completely remove vibrations.

Retorque the leaf spring U-bolts and check the tire balance. What I thought was a driveline imbalance once turned out to be rear tire that was out of balance.

And of course check the u-joints for wear. Others have found their factory u-joints to be bone dry from the factory and that a few squirts of grease into the zerks reduce or eliminate the vibrations (though the damage has been done at this point and the u-joints will eventually need to be replaced).

Finally when all else has failed and you are certain it's the driveshaft, a one-piece double cardan shaft will set you back $500-600.

Personally I think you have unreasonable expectations of the dealer at this point but that's just, like, my opinion, man.

 

^ Not sure if serious? But funny none the less. Wish you were close I would let you take it for a drive.

It is used with 40,000 miles- but the only stipulation I made when buying the truck was that they would fix the vibration that was experienced during the test drive (I thought it would be a U joint)- I was guaranteed they would fix it. Would not have bought the truck if they were not willing to fix it.

It is not unreasonable expectations to expect a Toyota dealer to be able to fix a Toyota... in and out of the dealer 8 times over 6 months for the same vibration and it is just as bad as it was originally (or close). The tech described it to the service manager as shaking the steering wheel out of your hands. They all know how bad it is they are just not willing to pay for the proper full TSB repair- that is why the drive shaft and trans mount were done under warranty. The tires were replaced bc they will not pass safety inspection in Ontario.

I have driven a lot of trucks over many years and none of them vibrated under acceleration- Our '88 Toyota had no acceleration vibration, nor did any of the Ford, Chevy or Dodges.

We paid for a Tacoma that was supposed to have been certified pre-owned- but during the certification they missed separated belts in the tires and an acceleration vibration that they have a 20 page TSB for that is specific for vibration under acceleration in 2012 Tacoma 4x4 with automatic transmission- from Toyota.

I have read about the fixes and if we don't trade the truck I will eventually repair what the Toyota dealer could not.

But I guess that is just my opinion!

Here are few you tube videos as well;

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Tacoma+vibration

 

I had the "clunk" when stopping or starting. Dealer said it was the core of the driveshaft had separated from the outer part of it...
I've been around cars and trucks all my life and never heard of that. Oh well it fixed it. 2 years and still no clunk.

 

I bought exactly one used vehicle from a dealership, it was a 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 6.0. The truck was a month out of warranty when one of the AFM lifters failed and wiped a lobe on the camshaft and I was told tough luck by the dealer and GM even though I brought it in for the symptom(lifter tick) while it was under warranty only to have them tell me it was normal. I was left with a $3k repair bill. I will never buy another used vehicle through a dealership. My mechanic found a lot of indicators of abuse on this truck, including the frame rails and top of the transmission and t-case being caked in thick mud and a dent in the gas tank.