2021 MT with 38K dealer says I need new short block?

Yes, Long Beach CA, they didn’t know about it (the enhanced frame warranty), so I had to educate them, then once they learned more about what they had to do they did NOT want to do it and started trying to throw up exceptions and limitations and lots of costs they wanted me to pay to try to dissuade me and get me to just take my truck and leave without a new frame.

I get it, they had never done one and it was a total PITA to work on a rusty truck disassembled and occupying a bay while they waited weeks for parts.

For the OP’s case, I’m guessing they checked availability of a block and came to the same conclusion, they would wait weeks for service parts from Toyota and then break even (at best) financially. If they can get you to pay market rate they meet their internal $$$ targets. If you go away then they use their already full shop to work on full-pay jobs.

 

Definitely not your fault here.

Bought a Mazda 323GTX when I was 18. Had to have the motor rebuilt to drive it. Well needless to say that rebuild lasted 7 months. One day she just gave up, and had no power. So I took it back and found out that it was rebuilt using an incorrect thickness of thrust washer on the end of the crank. So needless to say, I drove it for 7 months like that. The whole time, I was shifting, I was moving the crank and pistons back and forth. Wasn't much at first. Never saw any glitter in the oil changes. Which I had to do every 3 months driving for school and work, and just done one about a week prior. Ended up that the bores had turned from circles to ovals. And the crank has ate into the rod bearings and block faces. Everything was trash. Even the turbo.

Sure seems that is this is a manufacturing defect...

 

Fixed! Typo: SD 455. Thank you for the heads' up sir.

 

Yup: SD 455. Another member caught it as well and I corrected it. I remember it only got about 12 MPG when you were having too much "fun" with it.... (13 if you took it easy.) lol Thank you!

 

Yup, not sure what the situation was with my friend exactly re the process though at least they did the job and acted with equity once apprised of it all. The truck spent most all its life here so it wasn't like just one year and then went to NC.

 

Any updates?

 

R I D I C U L O U S ..... and you wonder where the word STEALERSHIP came from. Sorry fight for your right ...thats a factory defect

 

Still waiting to hear back from corporate, the claim processor wanted to talk to the service tech so I wait another day…

 

First I want to thank everyone on here who was supportive. This really is a great community and a helpful resource.

I heard back from Roseville Toyota today and corporate has approved the short block replacement under warranty 100%, they are even going to cover a loaner until my truck is ready next week! Tried to get them to cover a new Tundra loaner but got stuck with a Corolla

Advice for others on here who may have to deal with something like this in the future.
Stay calm, remember you are taking to another fellow human, ask questions, gather your facts. Then do your research, be ready and stay persistent. If you talk to them, send a follow-up email to confirm/ document what was discussed. If it is an option that cannot be proven it is irrelevant.

Good luck and thanks again!

 

Glad the solution is going this way @Jplaxco2. The dealer's tech response is ridiculous.

 

threads like this gives Toyota such a bad wrap. yeah, stupid response but they did exactly what you'd expect a good company to do.

 

Not surprised..
When they weed out the morons, things can get done. Never should have gone that far to begin with. Good for you.

 

Congratulations and good advice. You certainly highlighted the weak links in the preliminary concern. Quite glaring that there is huge level of mistrust between the 3 parties right from the get go. Reasoning wins the day here.

 

That's awesome that they are going to cover it as they should.

 

Things like this always amaze me . Glad your good and they are fixing it . I can’t believe a so called mechanic would actually say that . He must have made that scenario up in his mind .
Insane

 

So they are replacing the entire block?

 

I don’t understand.

you can reach higher up or go to a different dealer.

that being said, this makes no sense on their part.

1. dealers benefit from warranty work. They are paid for it.

2. your truck is under warranty. Period.

3. there is no smoking gun proof of outside influence

4. id like to imagine an enthusiast who cares about their vehicle and drives stick isn’t straining their leg clutched in at an unknown time red light. You’re not supposed to as it wears the pressure plate and TOB. I’ve never heard of it causing an engine problem

5. 3.5’s blow regardless

6. brand and dealer reputation is on the line. Declining a repair is bad.

7. Dealers and brands have the ability to help a customer out at their discretion based on various factors

8. any work is better than no work and Toyota is not known for a shit ton of CP work coming in. It’s not a German car that breaks all the time and complex enough that DIY isn’t popular

9. this is either common (and therefore normal to fix) or uncommon and therefore not a big deal to fix