My car is finally back to me and 'fixed' after 3 months of hassle, the engine rattle finally fixed, but the dealer were hopeless
inlet or exhaust manifold?
Sorry, Exhaust manifold (got it right most of the time), I have edited the original post, thanks.
Reading James' other post, Mark, exhaust manifold, I believe..
James,
Whereabouts are you? I'd be interested to see if you think my noise sounds liek your did.
Hi Mark,
I am in Taunton, Somerset, but could tell you over the phone if your noise was like mine - well I would probably have to text you as you wouldn't be able to hear me :-) :-) :-)
My noise started out as a bit of a rattle under acceleration, only noticable with stereo off, got a bit louder like a diesel noise, then got a bit louder and more rattly like valve noise.
This was over a period of about 3 months, and very gentle driving of only about 600 miles.
Hope this helps.
James.
Quote from: "jblackmore"Anyway, as I have been told 'mine is the only car in the UK with this problem' as I'm sure loads of others have been told, and I am not convinced, I would very much appreciate if anyone who has had their exhaust manifold replaced in the UK before 12th Nov 03 could let me know
You can put me down for one of these s:lol: :lol: s:lol: Actually put me down for a couple!!!
Quote from: "jblackmore"Anyway, as I have been told 'mine is the only car in the UK with this problem.
You know, Toyota really take the piss.
Sorry, I should state, the claim was actually that my car was the first in the UK to have this problem, which I still think is pretty unlikely.
But as so far only Peter has confirmed this, I am a bit fazed as I expected to be inundated with 'mine too's' !!!
Anyone ?
James.
I seem to remember Benvic (ex member) got through 2 or 3 as well.
Just as a followup, I spoke to soon, I have a new and exciting loud hollow metallic knock when turning left, which I imagine is related to the exhaust being changed by the dealer.
James,
yo have a couple of PMs froma month or so back, might be of help.
Mark.
Mark - Thanks for PMs, just replied - sorry it took so long.
Update, ToyotaGB are at least predictable, I asked to escalate the problem with them as the dealer has been unable to resolve it for over 3 months, Toyota say I should go back to the dealer and their procedure is not to get involved - nice.
I also asked when a ToyotaGB Field Service Manager is next visiting the dealer so i could speak to them and they could inspect the car, and was told this could only be requested by the dealer, so I cannot request this, and ToyotaGB will not organise it for me.
Nothing like a bit of support from Toyota's national presence eh s:-( :-( s:-(
Took the local dealer service manager out in the car on Thurs 15th Jan, he 'accepts there is a noise' but doesn't seem to know what it might be, and won't say if its a fault until he can compare it with another car.
It may be worth sending a letter to your local trading standards dept., especially if you have a list of dates, times and instructions to the dealer for each dealer visit you have made. Suggest you also copy the dealer and Toyota customer services on the letter (as a matter of courtesy s;-) ;-) s;-) ). I find including the words "Without Prejudice" somewhere near the top of the letter can be helpful - if they are savvy they will realise this means you intend to take it further than trading standards if necessary.
At last making some progress, after 3 phone calls and a fax to Toyota customer relations and a couple of chase calls to the dealer, I got a grumpy call from the dealer this morning to tell me the Field Service Manager will see my car on Thursday.
Just an update. The Field Service Manager saw my car this morning and immediately accepted the noise, and has told the dealer what to do.
Quite why it takes 3 months of aggro to locate someone who can actually diagnose a fault is beyond me, but I just hope this actually fixes the rattle !
James.
Quote from: "jblackmore"Quite why it takes 3 months of aggro to locate someone who can actually diagnose a fault is beyond me
Sounds like Toyota only really employ a couple of people who know what they're doing and the rest are just monkeys who follow instructions. Well that's the cyncial view I'm getting driven towards.
exactly.
See my point in the turbo kit thread.
Quote from: "jblackmore"I spoke to Jenny Shipley in Toyota customer relations again, who says the Field Service Manager is booked up till April (does this means they have a lot of dealer problems??), so it is not looking hopeful.
I sent a long complaint to ToyotaGB about this problem on 6th Jan, detailing the dealers inability to fix this problem over 3 months and 15 visits. ToyotaGB just forwarded my letter back to the dealer to respond to, and I have heard nothing, so I wonder if they will ever reply with any explanation for all the problems.
I once had a problem getting a document from Hyundai UK so I could register an imported car in the Uk. So I sent an e-mail detailng the problem to Hyundais head office customer relations in Korea. The document was delivered by DHL overnight express from Korea 3 days later. Sometimes you need to find a contact near the top, and contact them to get things done.
Try to find the e-mail of Toyota Customer relatioons in Japan and send them a copy of Toyota UK's email and CC Japan on any others. I bet things would soon move if Japan thinks they have unhappy customers.
s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
Just an update, car is booked in for 23rd Feb (soonest the dealer can do), and FSM has emailed to say he will check progress daily and will personally inspect the car before it is returned to me so hopefully this should be fixed properly this time.
If anyone has an email address for Toyota Japan I would appreciate a PM.
Oh well, just hope this fixes it, and I guess I go from there.
My missus wants to trade in her Clio for a Yaris and it's this sort of behaviour from Toyota that really puts us off.
James,
I realise that we shouldn't have to do this. But I have come to the conclusion that at £350 a pop for a 1zz engine it's almost a disposable commodity. Toyot should do better, but if sticking a new engin in at that price every 3 years is what it takes, I can probably live with it.
Quote from: "markiii"But I have come to the conclusion that at £350 a pop for a 1zz engine it's almost a disposable commodity.
While I agree the part isn't too costly, any idea what the labour would cost to do the switch? I realise you're pretty handy when it comes to a spanner, but I guess we're not all as good s:) :) s:) hence how much we'd have to pay to get it replaced.
would I attempt it myself? not sure.
If you supply a known running engine it's not rocket science so it shouldn't be too bad. anyone care to comment, I've never had an engone changed?
Ive changed a few engines in cars, usually single handed, and as long as you are methodical and plan each move in advance, its not to difficult. The key is to have plenty of patience, or else you get hasty and break things, and hire a decent engine lift. The MR2 doesn't look to bad, I've seen engine installations that are an awful lot worse...
Quote from: "markiii"anyone care to comment, I've never had an engone changed?
I had...but it was a RWD Celica, where the guy just pretty much unplugged the wires and lift the engine up...that was about 100 euros.
Don't have an idea about how much harder MR2 actually is, but shouldn't be much of a problem to a garage with good lifts...
Whats really annoying is that I love the car, and if Toyota were any kind of professional outfit they would have had this car fixed months ago, and I would still be able to enjoy it !!
Oh well, car is booked in from Monday. Hopefully I will be proven wrong and they will do a great job and fix the car completely this visit !!
I may be wrong but the engine drops out of the car through the botom after the drive train is removed. Also sounds like the dealer you are using are not very clever, I might have tried to hold out for a complete new engine and cats to be fitted, I know this was done for a customer in MK. Good luck I hope it goes well...... s:D :D s:D
Picked up car yesterday afternoon, apparently they needed the car all day to conduct extensive diagnosis, the result of which is they tell me the car has a sensor fault!!!
Anyway, error code is P0175 which Markiii confirms as:
> P0175 System Too Rich (Bank 2)
Car is booked in next Monday, so hopefully this time they will manage to fix it.
Dealer called me on Friday to say they were now waiting for Toyota to authorise warranty work, which when it is authorised they can order, but soonest it would be with them is Tuesday.
Finally the Field Service manager has promised to inspect and roadtest the car to ensure it is completely fine before I get it back this time.
Just had another call from the dealer.
They have put the engine back together (round of applause?), but apparently don't think they can fit this and inspect it by tomorrow, so need the car till next week.
They want the loan car back on Monday morning, as they need it during the day, but say I can have it back for the evening.
I really hope the car has no more problems after all this, as its gone well past ridiculous I think.
Quote from: "jblackmore"They have put the engine back together (round of applause?), but apparently don't think they can fit this and inspect it by tomorrow, so need the car till next week.
Good grief.. It'd be nice to think they'll use that extra time to do the job properly but.. We know what these places can be like! Silly really, I'm sure any one of us could refit & test the engine in less than a day!
Taking the courtesy car off you is just incredible too - afterall, it's not your fault the work is running on!
s:evil: :evil: s:evil:
Quote from: "jblackmore"They want the loan car back on Monday morning, as they need it during the day, but say I can have it back for the evening.
I agree with aaron, tell 'em to f-off. The fact they ain't got a loan car is their problem, not yours.
Quote from: "phil4"Quote from: "jblackmore"They want the loan car back on Monday morning, as they need it during the day, but say I can have it back for the evening.
I agree with aaron, tell 'em to f-off. The fact they ain't got a loan car is their problem, not yours.
Indeed. Or you could tell them they are more than welcome to come and pick it up, its in Aberdeen...
Just wanted to post an update as finally, subject to an inspection this morning by the Toyota Field Service Manager, I should be able to pickup my car this afternoon.
I am pretty disgusted with the duration and hassle, effort and frustration which I have had to endure over two pretty minor issues, a small split in the hood, and a loud engine rattle.
ToyotaGB are a complete joke, have made it very clear that they have no interest in customer problems, and have told me "we are not here to assist with problems, we are only trying to mediate for the dealer". Having said that phoning them twice a day was the only way I finally got a Field Service Manager involved, which was the only reason I think we have even got this far.
Its a damn shame you feel that way James, as the sad truth is that its not just Toyota GB who are guilty of poor customer service... If I didn't know better, I'd say its now a common corporate policy to fob you off as long as possible in the knowledge that eventually you'll give up and go away.
It seems to be very commonplace these days, you buy an item in good faith, but if it goes wrong its tough luck unless you can be bothered to do the legwork and sort it out. Just about every major item I've bought in the last 6 years, from cars to houses to tv's to washing machines, has required some stern letter writing, numerous delays, hours on hold, and never speaking to the same person twice... Real stress raisers.
I have to say though, that of all the aftersales organsiations I've dealt with, including Sony, Phillips, Hotpoint, Zanussi, Wimpey, Toyota, Peugeot, Ford, Karcher, CPM maintenance, and numerous others, My knackered Toyota gearbox was the easiest of the bunch. (The worst has without doubt been Hotpoint - Never, ever again will they see a penny of my hard earned...)
Perhaps given time to cool off, you'll re-consider, or maybe even drop a 2ZZ in instead... s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
I appreciate crap customer service has become the norm, but I still don't understand when Toyota have spent years trying to build up a good reputation, and clearly trade on their reliability, that they can't sort out ToyotaGB (who they own), and the dealers (who they should have control over) so jobs are done right first time, and in the (hopefully rare) cases where mistakes are made, they are swiftly and painlessly resolved.
I genuinely hope I can get over this, as I love the car and there is honestly no other car I would change it for out of choice (I don't like any of the MX5/S2000/MGF, can't afford a Boxster, Elise is too impractical). If I have to change the car due to problems I will probably get some boring hatchback (Leon diesel cupra probably), and drive everywhere with cruise on.
Just had a call to say they will finish the car today, it failed the FSM inspection so they are sorting out the things he picked up.
Hopefully it will be OK and I will breath a HUGE sigh of relief and look forward to some good weather this summer, and getting back to buzzing around country roads with the top down and a huge grin on my face !
Just to update this, hopefully for the last time.
Sounds like the Toyota FSM spent most of the day checking over my car, and after a few small issues were corrected, it has been given a clean bill of health.
I went for a drive last night (first non-esential drive in 6 months) and the car seems fine.
I am extremely relieved to have hopefully got this problem corrected, and whilst I am still angry that it took so long, and with ToyotaGB who basically refuse to get involved despite several phone calls and written complaints, none of which were ever replied to, at least hopefully the car is now fixed.
My advice to anyone else who has a recurring problem with a dealer is to phone Toyota Customer Services twice a day, fax them every other day and barrage them with calls until they get the dealer to request a Field Service Manager to visit, as clearly the dealers do not want to attract any attention from these (they also review all their warranty claims I think).
Good luck !
Error code was P0172 (engine too rich), at 3mph, the Toyota fitter cleared the code and started the engine, error came again instantly. Some pointless head scratching and I suggested they clean the air flow meter as a possible, which they did as I stood over them, and this cleared the error, quick test drive and still seemed OK, so off I trot.
Have only done a few journeys but light is staying off, I really hope this was an unrelated one off, and won't re-occur as it is very annoying to have my new found confidence in the car dented so quickly.
You have to tell 'em which bolts, what to do about the engine code... everything.
Ever thought of charging them consultancy?
Quote from: "jblackmore"Also, my girlfriend found an orange/clear plastic film thing in the passenger locker, which looks like some kind of waterproofing from somewhere.
Yeah, I'm not really what it's supposed to cover, but it's on top of the wires that go behind the plastic panels between the lockers and the side of the car.
Maybe it's supposed to cover the wires from random drips of water. Not sure, but I left it there, cause there must be a reason for it...sorry, don't have any pics to better show the position.
Thanks Tem, I thought it would be something like this. I wonder if this was done when the roof work was done, I have barely used the car since August due to its frequent trips to the dealer, so this could have been sitting at the bottom of the locker since then.
Oh joy, another thing to try to sort out ! I assume if this waterproofing is missing then any problems near it will be refused under extended warranty.
Heres a pic of the aformentioned orange/clear plastic thing in my car, where it fits over the bank of relays and wiring on the passenger side (top right of frame):
(http://www.spydermagazine.com/files/GSBstore1.jpg)
hope that helps... s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
Just to update this, thankfully, I have had no more problems since all this hassle 14 months ago, car has done about 9000 miles with no problems which has been a real relief.
I took the car back to dealer to have them refit the plastic water shield they had thrown in the bin, and checked this was done properly, and they did this without fuss or charge.
I tried another dealer for the service/MOT in November last year, who were even worse than my local dealer - MOT was completed for wrong date, and they refused to re-issue it without the original returned, they hadn't checked the list of 4 things I asked them to (list was left with the servicebook), also had charged me for changing brake and clutch fluid, but I don't think they had done this as brakes were as spongy as before - they took the car back a week later for a day and claimed the fluid was all fine, but brakes and clutch were much better after this 'check' so I suspect they realised they hadn't changed fluids and only did it on this second visit.
As the car has been fine since, I have really enjoyed driving it again, so not sure what I will do in November when the extended warranty expires, I am reluctant to extent Toyota extended warranty again as it ties me to the useless main dealers!!