DRL Failures, Locker Indicator Flashing, and Chasing Electrical Gremlins

For those of you also following along with interest as opposed to just trolling; another interesting legal argument here would be estoppel and/or waiver based on Toyota and their agent’s (the dealership) actions thus far. Haven’t looked deeply into that based on this fact pattern, but Toyota did initially authorize the repair and subsequently denied it without performing any further diagnosis.

 

Sounds good, I appreciate your opinion!

 

I think we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one!

 

In any case, I wish you luck.

 

Thanks!

 

Just messing with you. I think there's a lot more regarding that excerpt, given the context. Such as, a manufacturer can't deny your warranty claim for a head unit going out simply because you changed the wheels.

 

Took the words out of my mouth.

His mods are COMPLETELY related to the issue at hand. If Toyota ends up paying for this, they are extremely nice and just want to get OP out of their hair.

 

I know, and I appreciate that in addition to just having some fun on TW, you actually added some good info!

 

So it is your opinion that if the further scope testing with all aftermarket parts uninstalled shows the same (or substantially similar) voltage/signal noise, Toyota should not repair or at least perform further diagnosis? That would be in spite of the fact that the evidence they are relying on (went looking for to support their pre-conceived conclusion) would have been found to be totally irrelevant?

 

This is covered under the landmark case "Johnson v Ford Motor Company" in 1974 which set the legal precedent of "no takesy backsies"

 

Toyota having a few people look at an Internet forum is not the same as someone specifically looking at your issue with a running light.

 

Yes, because if this were an issue we would have heard about it. As of now, YOU are the only one with a DRL blowing out. Your lighting mods could have caused damage to other components in line. Body modules, relays, fuses, whole fuse blocks can go out. Even if say you return to stock, and the problem is still there, it's likely from one of your mods. It is common sense, you directly modified the system that is broken. Again, If you did lighting mods and your transmission blew out, Toyota wouldn't have denied anything.

 

Thank you for the thoughtful response. I really do appreciate it.

I have had several discussions about burnt out DRLs, with people on this forum but it certainly does not seem to be a “common” occurrence. Interestingly, despite other individuals having documented DRL issues (including at least one with multiple failures), the dealership did mention that the FTS searched their database for the entire country and found no other instances where a 3rd gen Tacoma required multiple DRL (headlight housing) replacements.

That means that either the database has a documentation lag or Toyota (the FTS) was lying again. I have no way to know which it is at this point so I haven’t raised the issue.

Edit: I can only recall one with documented multiple failures. I wanted to correct the mistake right away.

 

Pretty sure this covered in in the first, and many other posts.
No mods to factory wiring. The only mod that wasn't plug and play is raptor lights, which used an add-a-fuse.

 

I wanted to correct the clerical error in my prior post, I can only recall one conversation with another owner with multiple documented DRL failures. Just wanted to clarify ASAP since I know you are following along so intently!

 

Just because you have the attention span of an ADD 8 year old doesn't mean everyone else does. How could you possibly know what other forum members have or have not read?

 

Did that other member have raptor lights too?

 

As it happens I don't know. They reached out to me before this all started. I will ask and see how they have them installed as well and post up here when they respond.

 

Did you make it to the end, where it says, " To be clear, the FTC explicitly said: “the manufacturer or dealer must show that the aftermarket or recycled part caused the need for repairs before denying warranty coverage.”"

OP is willing to PAY OUT OF HIS POCKET for the diagnostic testing needed to figure that out.