Power Steering Fluid Leak

Also give the service dept a chance to witness and troubleshoot the problem. As far as they know, there is a claim that fluid is being lost, but no signs of that lost fluid. You've had it in to baseline the fluid level, and from there they can then establish a history and next steps.

 

Yeah, its amazing that people put more faith in some complete stranger on the internet that may or may not know SFA about anything mechanical over the mechanic at the dealership.

 

I just spent 40,000 on a brand new truck and you tell me to continue to drive the goddamn truck. Te you what lets trade places I give you my problem truck for your truck with no problems Talk to me in 6 months and tell me how your ownership experience has been

 

Update:

The power steering fluid was topped off at the dealership this morning. I checked the fluid level after lunch when I picked up the vehicle and it was at the cold max line where it was supposed to be. I also checked the fluid when I got home after work this evening and everything still looked good. I would try the cardboard under the vehicle trick but it's been raining all day and unfortunately I do not have a garage. My theory is this: Toyota f'd up from the factory and did not properly tighten something, i.e. a hose or clamp, the dealer noticed this once I brought up the issue of a possible leak, addressed the issue and did not mention there was any sort of problem to me in an attempt to cover the shitty work from the factory. Just a theory.

And oh yeah the fluid level was full from the factory when the truck was delivered.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/interesting-encounter-with-toyota-hq-personnel.384344/

 

I'd be fine driving because no problem was established. And this was proven in the OP's last post. A big deal about nothing

 

It does not mean there was never a problem. Judging from the sequence of events throughout this debocle one can only think Toyota recognized a factory error in a new vehicle, resolved the issue possibly without notifying me. But this is all just a theory as I stated before. Hell, for all I know the reservoir could be nearly none dry again tomorrow as it was taking typically 24 hours between the first and second time I noticed the power steering reservoir to be low. And the other dead giveaway was the run of the mill whining noise you get from a steering system when you are low on power steering fluid.

 

I don't know about you but, I'd feel better about my dealer if they said, "yep, it was loose fitting, you should be good to go" rather than "we don't see any problem" and leave you wondering what went wrong.

The likely problem was that the system was not full due to an air pocket or something preventing a complete fill. As that air worked its way out the reservoir level dropped. Your last statement would also validate this. But at least you had awareness to look at the level and notice it was low and needed attention.

 

I would have liked to be informed by the service dept if it was something simple like an untightened hose clamp etc, or excessive air in the lines such as several of you have mentioned here. The sound coming from the rack was the first give away and is what made me investigate what was going on with the truck. And I am not sure if it matters, but I actually purchased the truck out of state (CO) since they were willing to deal right about at invoice, unlike the two dealerships I have here in Albuquerque so the dealer I took it to with the issue had never seen the truck before. Regardless, I am under the impression Toyota will honor warranty/service work nationwide as long as the vehicle is under warranty and/or maintenance plan.

 

Do you understand that the service department at your local Toyota dealership does not work for Toyota? You keep saying, "Toyota did this; Toyota is covering up that..."

Toyota isn't doing any of this.

 

lol this thread

 

So please enlighten me then since you seem to have all the answers. Who do the employees at the local Toyota dealership service department work for if they are not Toyota employees?

 

OP, did you find your leak yet?

 

Negative, I am going to check the fluid level in the morning and if it is low again I guess a trip back to the dealership is in line.

 

Have you actually taken off the skids and looked? I can't imagine a leak on a brand new vehicle would be hard to find.

 

I haven't been able to, I should probably try this. I seriously wonder if the service department even tried this or not.

 

They work for the Dealer principle...not Toyota Corp..

 

Out of curiosity...was ur truck built in Mexico?

 

There was probably air in the system when they topped it off in the factory so the reservoir would fill up quicker. When you drove it home..the air slowly bleeds itself out and gets replaced with fluid making the reservoir low.

Just a guess. (13 years airplane mechanic but never worked on cars)

 

The dealership, like I inferred