Bay Area Tacos

I couldn’t help but laugh at the unincorporated Castro Valley picture and thinking to myself that’s not the Castro Valley I know. But then I noticed Mt. Whitney in the picture which reminded me that I have a Whitney overnight permit for the 26th of this month (looks like I have 3 slots available if anyone is interested). But I’m so unprepared for the trip, not the hike but what to do for the almost 2 weeks I have to spend along the 395.

Btw, love the picture. Looks like it’s just north of the Alabama hills or am I way off? I'd like to visit there?

 

It's somewhere in Alabama Hills. Too many places to visit along Hwy 395 Beautiful area...

South Lake Bishop Creek Canyon

Lake Sabrina
Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Lakes

 

New to Tacoma. New to forum. New to thread. Tracy checking in.

 

Sort of a tangential post but I think this might help a lot of "Bay Area" Taco people. So recently I had a weird issue of ABS + traction + PCS lights on my dash (but no CEL) and for that I couldn't engage my 4H/4L anymore (expected). While I thought it was just a simple problem, little did I know what I was about to get into. The code that showed up was C1407 i.e rear speed sensor open/short, 3 different shops took a look at it, changed my rear ABS harness and speed sensor (all OEM replacement parts) but nada, the lights would come back right away. I am an engineer myself and I literally traced the wiring as per the service manual and even hooked up an oscilloscope to the rear speed sensor to see the wave generated when the wheel rotates and no issues. My biggest fear was that the Skid sensor ECU was fried and that's when I went into a rabbit hole. None of the shops would want to do the ECU replacement and asked me to take it to the dealer as apaprently it involves programming (with TechStream?). I took it to Hayward dealership and this guys told me that the diag fee is $230 but it will be waived if the whatever issue is covered under warranty. Trusting them I let them work on it along with the rear axle bolt recall. The service advisor called me in the evening saying that apparently my rear ABS wiring harness was stretched because my truck is lifted and to take it to a 4x4 shop and they can fix it. Mind you that I literally had a new rear ABS wiring harness installed and that's why their diagnosis didn't make any sense to me. But not knowing what to do, I paid the $230 and I didn't say anything and picked up my truck. After reaching out to my contacts, I was able to get hold of someone at the Santa Cruz Toyota and he looked at my truck. They had to replace the sensor again but the guy explained to me that he had to do it anyway to follow the service manual but I guess I didn't care much because he did it under warranty. Anyway the lights came back up again after like 60 miles so he took the truck back and then replaced the wheel bearing which seems to have solved the problem finally! Again, everything covered under warranty. Oh and while at it he confirmed from vehicle history and also visual inspection that Hayward Toyota did NOT perform the recall which he had to do it again.

The point of my post is that be careful of Hayward Toyota, I have lost all kinds of trust in them. I have a meeting with the service manager next week to get a refund for my diag fee. Meanwhile if anyone here has a problem with their truck that you think should be covered under warranty but the dealerships are not taking a look at it because it's lifted, just send me a DM and I will give you the contact of my guy in Santa Cruz Toyota. I can personally vouch for his work because he talked to me directly and kept me informed at every step including sending me pics of the issue he would find. While this doesn't make me bring trust back to any of the dealerships (I lost trust in them long time ago) but I guess top notch mechanics do still exists that are willing to diagnose real issues instead of just throwing a blanket "truck is lifted so not my issue to deal with".

 

Yea. Don’t go to Hayward Toyota. Went there for the recall to replace high mounting brake light gasket. One look at my truck they said theres too many mods and not wanting to touch it. Its a brake light..
I told them I’ll remove the light for them there. They said no.
Took it to Fremont Toyota and they did it no questions asked. Even offered me a rental of any new cars on the lot.
Hayward is butcha lazy bums dont know or want to take off a brake light.
Just want to second your distrust and confirm your opinions valid.

 

Plus 1 for Fremont Toyota

 

Thanks a lot @TacoBe11 and @FunknNasty! This is good, when I was looking for a dealership I couldn't find much info on the Bay Area dealers that are "lifted truck" friendly. I guess Fremont dealership was the next one on my list but my (bad) luck took me to Hayward because distance wise they are closer (I live in Union City). I mean I almost reached a point where I was going to go to different dealers and waste $230 each time for diag fee to see who would actually want to diagnose and fix the issue. But this is really good to know, hopefully other Bay Area folks can benefit from this info.

 

Is Hayward Toyota even a dealership? I remember going there to look at tacos and 4-runners and they had zero. I think they're just a used car dealership.

 

I live in Hayward I would go to Fremont. Then again I don’t trust any dealer as long as they work off of commission.
I would only go to dealer if they will do free work like recalls or warranties. Otherwise stay away. Theres nothing a good mechanic cant figure out that you have to go to the dealer. I worked at body shops for 18 years and insurance for 5. I see what goes behind those closed doors.

 

Hayward Toyota is a joke! lost my business 20 years ago, seems like nothing has changed.

 

Then you know everything works off commission or spiffs/bonus

 

Visited Poker Flat over the weekend.

 

Can either of you recommend a place for regular maintenance and repair near Berkeley? Thanks in advance

 

Is that a BBK I see peeking out from behind those ???" tires and ???" wheels?

 

Yessir! Stoptech BBK. Puts my worries of not stopping quick enough and rear ending someone a bit at ease. Still, knock on wood.

 

Wow. With all the accessories its a must. I added DBA rotors right away but, I may invest in this kit while I have some extra coin around. Stopping is importanter. What size wheels and tires you running? Just thinking about unsprung weight, etc.

 

That trail has been on my list but I haven't had the chance to run it yet. Nice Long Bed!

 

Agreed, especially if you tend to brake late like me or carry some weight. I'm running 17x9 on 35" tires.

Thanks! It's a fun trail for sure, I entered from Downieville (Saddleback Rd) and exited at La Porte (St Louis Rd). There are several other trails in the area that I'd probably check out next time.

 

I've been looking at Stoptech's offerings. Guessing you went with a larger caliper because you have the 17's. I will be on the stock 16's so there is only the SP40 base kit available. Better than nothin'! Thanks for the info and badass truck dude!

 

Dublin San Ramon area