You are not going to believe this! Need mechanics input on 2014 engine issue!

I was hoping the dealer would do something besides tell me it's my problem... They are not seeing it that way, they are claiming they are doing everything they can and if I went to anther Toyota dealer I wouldnt be getting the excellent service "I am" getting. Would hate to see their bad service.... Geeze.

One has to give the dealer and manufacturer some accountability of putting together a $35,000 truck properly and not have to worry about it having issues at 1,400 miles.

However, if it is remotely possible to have been damaged by road debris, then so be it. As several have pointed out, we will never know it happened and therefore no one is to blame... (I did like the camera comment below though)

After reading these posts, I've begun to realize it could have been something other than the dealer or manufacturer. Looking at the truck and where the damage occurred, in my untrained eye, it just seemed like a one in a billion chance of happening, but I guess not according to several people on this thread.

 

I'd rather not disclose the dealer at this point until everything gets sorted out. We'll see how it goes in the coming days. If Toyota warrantys the truck till 125k starting ASAP, I will be fine with that. (as they said they would do originally, but then wouldn't confirm they'd do it on thursday after the radiator went in...back peddling)

 

I completely agree with everything you said! I don't want to automatically blame the dealer, but please understand I was fuming about this at the beginning as the original diagnosis seemed too far fetched. But after absorbing everything, I guess it could possibly have happened. It'll be interesting to see how they handle it though... If they do anything at all.

 

It's dealer prep.... They screwed up and left something laying on the top of the radiator assembly and won't admit to it.


I, on the other hand, am admitting that I have done this.... It broke one of the blades!!! A Ford, decades ago when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and lead was still in gas.....

 

Sorry to hear this happened on your 2014 just out of the gate...whatever the cause, either dealer prep leaving a tool under the hood loose, or customer at the dealership leaving their cell phone on the engine or whatever while looking under the hood (while truck is still at the dealership, by the way), or some object miraculously finding its way under the truck, up into the fan, and thereby being projected into the radiator, causing coolant leak, and subsequent overheating, however slight or not, will probably never be determined beyond a doubt...

The sad thing is there ARE dealerships out there that will take the initiative to get this situation rectified for the customer, especially a long time, returning customer, but it appears this dealership is not one of those. Even going to the level of replacing all the damaged parts, including the engine, while costing the dealership those replacement costs, it is nothing to them in the end, considering what they take in in sales over time. I hope this dealership takes that initiative in the end, but it may be the extended warranty, if they go through with it, might be all you get from this, sorry to say.

 

Taco Delight, based on what you have said there is simply no way to tell who or what is at fault here. From a dealers standpoint it is reasonable to think you are at fault even if unknowingly.
One thing that would cause them to point to you as the cause of the damage is that you continued to drive the truck even after it was showing in the red from overheat. It is reasonable to think that kind of damage had to make a noise at some point.
If they accept any responsibility then you have a better dealer then most. If not they are doing what you or I would do and suppose the owner is the problem since there is no clear cut evidence.
I hope your engine is not damaged from the heat. I wish you the best.

 

X2

Bought my truck today and the hood has been opened twice today. Checking over at the dealer then also when I got home.

 

That sucks because most of us here know you didn't run into debris or whatever they told you it could be.

I just looked at mine and find it incredible to do damage in that area.... and while driving in the snow.

Sorry about the mess you're in.

 

sorry to hear about your 2014 issue. Sounds extremely rare to me that any object could come up from underneath and do this type of damage.. I have to look at it this way, how many tacoma owners out there that go off roading and run through mud holes ,gravel,sand pits and don't seem to hear of any of them doing this damage to their tacoma's.

I had a similar incident with my 2011. Had a engine code come up at 2300 miles, run like crap. Took in to dealership. Cam sensor code.??? Dealer found nothing wrong other then they said it might of got a wrong reading or something. Cleared it, runs good.???? got half way home. cell Phone rings. Its the dealership, said they forgot to install my engine plastic shroud. I said I will come get it and put it on myself. Got home ,popped the hood and just happened to be looking things over with my shop light and saw that my serpentine belt had a slit all the way across the grooves, like it was cut , but not on the seem where it is joined together. Called dealer and they told me I had to buy a new one . I said this is not normal wear and with only 2300 miles, i feel as if it was a factory defect and that they should go good for it. Nope. Had to buy out my own pocket. This will be the last tacoma I will by from this dealership.

 

1. Open a file with your State Attorney Generals Office. Keep a list of dates/times, names of people and a brief summary of what was said (just the facts)

2. Do NOT tell the Dealer you are opening a file with the AG... be nice. Let them hang themselves.

3. Wait until the AG pays them a visit.

4. Don't get mad. Get even.

 

What evidence does he have to give the State Attorney General's Office that pertains to how the radiator and fan got damaged?


There are no facts to give on how.

 

You can't in any way shape or form have 100% positive proof of this! You were not there. Can't lay blame when you have no evidence to support it. Seriously.

To the statement in bold, yes, plenty of us off-road through mud and crap, but we are not doing it at 70 MPH down the highway either. Apples and oranges there.

You are recommending that a guy "get even" with a dealership, when there is no solid proof or evidence that they are at fault?

 

Sucks to hear but I bought a new demo model from lakeland toyota in fl and it was just serviced before I bought it. I popped the hood a couple days later and noticed I had no oil cap. Called the dealer pissed since I've been driving without a cap for 500 miles on some hwy and dirt roads. Found it while on the phone behind the battery. Sorry to jack the thread for a bit but they can f up but don't want to take the blame

 

damm bud, best of luck to you. One thing I would suggest if someone already hasn't is speaking with a attorney and consumer protection, dealers do anything they can to avoid paying for things.

On a side note, this is one reason why toyota can keep their "free oil changes " . Im going to pass on that with some of the clowns they have working at some dealers.

 

Guarantee it was a Toyota tech fuck up. I recently had to replace my radiator for a near identical issue. Before I bought the truck used, it received all of it's service from a Toyota dealer (full receipts to back this up). At some point, a mechanic dropped the oil filler cap into the fan shroud between the radiator and the fan...and NEVER FISHED IT OUT. They just put a new cap on and forgot about it. However many years and 10's of thousands of miles later, as I'm bouncing down a dirt road, the oil fill cap bounces up and gets slammed into the radiator by the fan enough times to puncture it.

Here is my thread talking about my experience.

If your engine is running, I cannot conceive of any possible way of a foreign object getting into the space between the shroud and radiator. The shroud completely encloses the engine side of the radiator except for the hole for the fan...which has extremely tight clearances.

 

Very interesting. The very first thing I did was search everywhere, including this fur, as well as others. I didn't find anything but maybe it was my search keywords. Do you have any specific links or keywords you would suggest. Thanks.

 

That suck! Sorry to hear. I feel ya though.

 

My thought is that a screwdriver or something was left in there. It is possible for a rock or something to work up in there somehow, but I seriously doubt it, considering the damage.

 

At this point as some have said, I can't prove anything other than know what I did and did not do. At this point I can not blame the dealer or manufacturer since there is not enough evidence, unfortunately. However, I was hoping that the dealer would step up for a new Tacoma owner (well, not new since ive owned several but you know what I mean) and at least assist in something. We'll see how they handle the extended warr they offered, then didn't offer... I think that would be a good gesture. We shall see...

Anyone want to buy a 2014 Tacoma??? It was a special order sport w/ nav.... Supposedly can't get that in New England! I had to have it reallocated from Cali!