My warranty runs out in a few months so I thought I'd get all the problems with my '2 sorted out in one go. The list included:
1. When I pull out of my drive first thing in the morning, the steering judders and makes a graunching noise on full lock. This seems to go away after driving for a bit.
2. I can hear a clonking noise from the front when I go over potholes (I've already had a power steering pipe replaced)
3. One of the hard top catches doesn't lock.
4. The glovebox STILL rattles.
5. The general handling is very skittish and tramlines all over the place. I suggested it might need the tracking checked.
I took the car along yesterday morning to my local Toyota dealer and picked it up last night. Basically, the only thing they'd done was look at the glovebox. They said they couldn't find anything wrong with the steering and couldn't hear any noises. They also said the dodgy handling was because the front tyre pressures were down to 20psi (total bollocks as I always check them regularly – I checked them again this morning and they've pumped them up to 30psi now). When I mentioned about the tracking they told me to go to the local tyre fitters. Oh and they couldn't do the hardtop catch as they needed to order a new part – why didn't they do that after the I'd booked the car in, they had 3 weeks?
Has anyone experienced the same problems as me? And can anyone recommend a good dealer near the south coast – I live about 10 miles from Portsmouth.
Thanks for listening!
Paul
Unfortunately I can't recommend any dealers down South as I don't know any; but I can say all dealers aren't like yours - mine are continually surprising me with their excellent service, even fixing problems like your suspension issue at service time without me complaining about it in the first place! s:D :D s:D
Take the car back, tell them that the front strut top bearings are in need of immediate replacement, and to check the alignment on all four wheels. Not just tracking, but a proper 4 wheel alignment...
Alignment is critical to this car. and if the suspension compnents are worn out it wont stay in alignment...
GSB - I assume i have a similar suspension problem as Paul. My car has gone to Toyota today to be checked out.
When i pull away on full or nearly full stearing lock, i get a creaking noise also. This only occurs after the car has been sitting around for a few hours.
It will be interesting to see if Toyota come up with a solution.
The solution is to change the strut mounts - this is an official Toyota fix, I can't understand why dealers are messing people about s:? :? s:?
Quote from: "Slacey"The solution is to change the strut mounts
I have a better solution - The Sportivo s8) 8) s8)
I've just phoned my dealer and told them that the steering juddering on full lock appears to be a common problem, to which the solution may be the strut mounts. They said that according to the Toyota service website there is no known fault or remedy. I asked them if they could order some parts in advance of my car going back but they refused and said they would have to witness the problem themselves before getting the parts. Which is going to mean booking it in again. It's just as well that I allowed a few months before the warranty expired to get this looked at.
Paddleman, can you let me know what your dealer says about yours?
With regard to tyre pressures, what is best for the front? I always set mine to 26psi but the dealer reckoned they were too low as the tyres had worn on both sides
I shouldn't bother with these monkeys at all and go to ANY other dealer.
As I said previously, there IS an official service bulletin in reference to the suspension; the reason my dealer did my car was that the technician had received the bulletin.
As for the tyres, the manual states 28psi, I had no trouble with my stock wheels at that, and I run my front 17's at 28 too.
Hmmm I've got this creaking too and they changed the power steering pipes. It's still there and I haven't complained again yet.
But now I've changed my springs from stock to Eibach I wonder if they will try and blame it on that. Time to contact my dealer......
Either get out of dodge before they bugger your car up for you, or, Talk to the service engineer, tell him you have spoken with 3 seperate owners from across tth country who all afree the following:
It IS a known problem, Toyota GB have issued a bullitin about it.
The problem lies in the 2 bearings at the tops of the front struts. the lubrication dries out and the bearings fail.
The bulletin states that the dealership should first try lubricating the bearings and replace if the cutomer complains once again. (Make sure you do...)
If he still fails to assist you in any way, tell him you will name and shame him on the Owners Club forums, and you will take your business elsewhere.
These piss-poor dealerships need to be reigned in, and owners clubs like this are the places to start pulling...
Incidentally, the label in the glovebox says 26psi...
Quote from: "GSB"Incidentally, the label in the glovebox says 26psi...
Am I getting numbers mixed up again? s:oops: :oops: s:oops:
Remind me not to quote numbers on here again please s:( :( s:(
Quote from: "Slacey"I shouldn't bother with these monkeys at all and go to ANY other dealer.
As I said previously, there IS an official service bulletin in reference to the suspension; the reason my dealer did my car was that the technician had received the bulletin.
I agree totally.. my dealer has been excellent, although it's in Farnborough, which might be a little inconvenient for you to travel to.
I had my suspension mounts changed without question, and the clonking/creaking has completely gone. I also had all new disc and pads all round due to mild cosmetic corrosion, no questions asked!
As for your glove box rattle.. they did swap the whole lock assembly over for me, but unfortunately the rattle was worse, and I had an enormous seperate key just for that lock! I got them to swap my old one back, and now it's actually rattle free... so I suspect it's just an adjustment issue.
Tim
Hmm -I just noticed the creaking yesterday too.. I was wondering whether it's because I park half on a garden, and half the road (up a kerb every night)..
Something to add to my list of stuff for when I get round to getting to the dealer I suppose!
Mine tramlines like an absolutely evil thing too, worse than my old 300ZX that had masses and masses of -ve camber - if the top mounts wear, presumably this induces play, which could throw the geometry out?
Aaron
This is getting interesting.......
My dealer has just phoned me and said they have contacted ToyotaGB and have looked on THIS site at this thread with regard to the juddering. They are saying that ToyotaGB know nothing about this but said if the person metioning the bulletin has got the number, they would look into it. Over to you, GSB.
Re the glovebox rattle: the dealer replaced my lock the last time it was in and I did the same and swapped it back as the new one was worse!
Quote from: "paul russell"...and have looked on THIS site at this thread with regard to the juddering.
Well, if they care to look on here again and perform a search, they will find lots of info re. the strut problem, as well as many other recognised warranty problems s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
Quote from: "Tem"Quote from: "Slacey"The solution is to change the strut mounts
I have a better solution - The Sportivo s8) 8) s8)
The sportivo re-uses the stock top-mounts, and won't fix the problem s:( :( s:(
Quote from: "paul russell"This is getting interesting.......
My dealer has just phoned me and said they have contacted ToyotaGB and have looked on THIS site at this thread with regard to the juddering. They are saying that ToyotaGB know nothing about this but said if the person metioning the bulletin has got the number, they would look into it. Over to you, GSB.
Re the glovebox rattle: the dealer replaced my lock the last time it was in and I did the same and swapped it back as the new one was worse!
Rattles are a part of life with these cars, and generally you are far better off sorting little things like these yourself
As for the bulletin number, Sorry, I'm not a Toyota Dealer, I dont know it. But my own dealer sure didnt have any problems finding it when I described the problem to him, so perhaps they missed this one... However they are a Toyota dealer, and regardless of weather they know the number or not, they're now reading the accounts of a whole load of people with the same problem, which is surely one of the best resources of information they are going to get on this subject...
So, a message to your dealership, and the guys in the workshop:
The Mk3 MR2 suffers from a problem, the symptoms of which are tramlining and general bad handling, rattling steering, creaking on full lock, and noises on moving the steering after a prolonged spell of sitting still. This problem will be cured by careful inspections and lubrication of all steering joints, and particular attention to the bearings at the top of the front suspension struts, which suffer form poor lubrication. These bearings carry the wieght of the car, and with no oiling they entitled to grumble a little. Bear in mind the golden rule that if you can hear a bearing making a nasty noise, you are long way past the point where it became unservicable. The replacement of these bearings should ideally be followed by a 4 wheel alignment check, The suspension on these cars is very-very sensitive to disturbances and minor misalignment,so it pays to make it right first time...
carry out the above work and 99 times out of 100 you'll ahve cured the problem and your customer will write a glowing report about you here, for 350 other fanatic MR2 owners to read. Thats free advertising for you...
Quote from: "paul russell"This is getting interesting.......
My dealer has just phoned me and said they have contacted ToyotaGB and have looked on THIS site at this thread with regard to the juddering. They are saying that ToyotaGB know nothing about this but said if the person metioning the bulletin has got the number, they would look into it. Over to you, GSB.
You are having a laugh right?
I know this place has plenty of members who know shed-loads about their cars... but really, this is just taking the michael.
Both Toyota GB and the Dealer should be the people who know the most about the car they designed, built and maintain.
I'd never dream of going to my doctor and telling him what I have wrong with me, and the course of treatment.
To have to come to us to find out what the problem is is laughable, and makes the garage look, not only incompetent, but wholly unprofessional too.
NAME AND SHAME, NAME AND SHAME! s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted:
I won't name and shame YET, I'll give them another chance to sort it out. I have to say though, that I'm not at all happy with the situation at the moment.
On the subject of warranty problems, are there any others that I should be looking at before my warranty expires? I've had the discs and alloys done.
Quote from: "SteveJ"The sportivo re-uses the stock top-mounts, and won't fix the problem s:( :( s:(
I'm sure it fixed it from mine...could be that I did something I shouldn't have (like NOT use a torque wrench at all), but the problem went away with the install...
Edit: I guess I greased it after cleaning it, so it was probably that...
Quote from: "phil4"You are having a laugh right?
I know this place has plenty of members who know shed-loads about their cars... but really, this is just taking the michael.
Both Toyota GB and the Dealer should be the people who know the most about the car they designed, built and maintain.
I'd never dream of going to my doctor and telling him what I have wrong with me, and the course of treatment.
To have to come to us to find out what the problem is is laughable, and makes the garage look, not only incompetent, but wholly unprofessional too.
The first thing you do when you go to the doctor is tell him whats wrong with you, thats how he diagnoses the problem. If you've done a bit of research and know a bit more about what it might be, thats good too. It shows your not some malingerer out for the hell of it, but you are taking the situation seriously, and thus stops him/her fobbing you off with some tired one liner because he thinks you're a time wasting hypochondriac, or because he simply cant be bothered...
The same goes for the Toyota dealerships. The guys who work on your car had bugger all to do with the design and build of the MR2, they just have to fix it when it goes wrong. And as the MR2 is generally very reliable and there's not many of them around, they dont get to see them very often. Hence they dont know about all the little quirks, bugs and fixes that we do, and thats why the first thing you do when you pick your car up from a service is drop the front tyre pressures down to 26psi again...
Unfortunatley these guys spend their every working hour up to thier armpits in bit's of Corolla, so it stands to reason that a reader of these forums is going to know a hell of a lot more about the quirks of the MR2 than the guys working on it at the dealership. The Manuals are very good, but they dont tell you what an evil bastard the '2 is when the suspension alignment goes out, or how annoying the glovebox rattle is...
Personally, I believe that any dealer who comes here for info should be commended, applauded, and given a pat on the back. Its a fantastic resource for owners, maintainers, and total anoraks alike, and lets face it, the only other people he could ask are the guys who designed it, but they all speak Japanese...
SLIGHTLY off topic, but I had my suspension struts changd under warranty after the same problems as reported in this thread. They were replaced no more than 8 months ago, but the sound has come back and I am getting the clicking and grauncing noises again, as mentioned here and as before the replacement. Do you think that Mr T would be willing to replace them again as they are not 1 year old yet, even though my car is now actually out of warranty? If the problem was known and yet the replacement parts have not fixed the problem long term, then it is a part, not a whole car problem and I think that they have a duty to replace them again, IMO. Does anyone disagree with this? Interested to know what the concensus of opinion is before I contact MrT again and would like some ammo to fight my case........
Help please guys! s:D :D s:D
Did they replace them, or did they just lubricate them?
Its not the struts themselves that are the problem, but the supporting bearing at the top of them...
No, they were replaced and it WAS the strut tops that was replaced. So, advise on people........ s:) :) s:)
Pop your bonnet, and remove the black plastic liner. (c'mon, it only takes a minute and you've always wondered what was under there...)
Get someone to turn the steering from lock to lock and then put your ear to the top of the struts, if it sounds like a coffee grinder/cement mixer, then your strut top bearings probably weren't lubricated properly. If the noise isn't coming from there you have a slightly different problem...
Ok, will try that, but it definately sounds like the same sound that was there when the tops were replaced back in April. But always worth a check and if it sounds like the sounds described here, I am fairly sure it was the strut tops........
But good advice all the same. Will have to do the weekend now though.....
Also, I forgot to mention the clunking sound on full lock when coming of my car park. The same as it did before the strut tops were replaced. Even without listening to it, the evidence is building that it is them that are to blame again. Hence my original question, do you think MrT would replace them after only 8 months, even though my warranty has expired in those 8 months sinse? I think they should...... s:) :) s:)
as a lowly workshop monkey that has worked on this product for many years i have obviously been referring to the wrong place for my technical advice and should have come to you guys or the guy in the pub or my mate next door for some help. s:D :D s:D
I beleive, although I might be wrong, that any work carried out by your dealer has a seperate 12 month warranty.
Thats what I thought GSB. Thats EXACTLY what I wanted to gear from someone. Thank you GSB. Nice one! Right, I am off to phone Mr T......
Cheers geezer!
s:D :D s:D
Quote from: "big dave"as a lowly workshop monkey that has worked on this product for many years i have obviously been referring to the wrong place for my technical advice and should have come to you guys or the guy in the pub or my mate next door for some help. s:D :D s:D
Roughly what I said earlier.
So how come we never get you when we take our car to be sorted with a problem like this, but instead get someone who's never heard of the problem, and can't hear the rattle you're on about etc. etc. ?
Good to have you here BTW.
err i think he was being sarcastic....? s:? :? s:?
Quote from: "krisclarkuk"err i think he was being sarcastic....? s:? :? s:?
Certainly how I saw it.... so who do you work for then, big dave? s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Could be the dealer in question as he said they had come onto the site...
That's what I was wondering. Are you located in Hampshire by any chance, Big Dave?
Quote from: "krisclarkuk"Could be the dealer in question as he said they had come onto the site...
Again, what I figured... just wondering if he'll admit it s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
Unlikely he'll admit it, probabley better not to, lest the all powerful, yet ball-bustingly frustrating overlord that is Toyota (GB) Ltd. get to hear of it. Cant have the staff fraternising with the customers etc...
Anyway, Dave, if you have something to bring to the debate then by all means feel welcome. You've seen how we as customers can be somewhat frustrated by some service managers dazzling ignorance of the painfully obvious, so it would be nice to hear the views of one of the guys who actually has to work on the cars.
Judging by your quote earlier ("lowly workshop monkey"), I do hope you havent read all this the wrong way. As enthusiastic owners who take extraordinary care of our cars, we feel its only right that the people to whom we are forced (by the warranty) to entrust the maintenance and repair of our cars should treat them along similar lines. Whilst some Gems in the Toyota main dealer network have been found, the sad fact is that for only 350 members, we have an awful lot of experience of the laziness, ignorance, and downright incompetance on the part of some of the technicians entrusted to work on our cars.
You however, are the first that we know of to wander in this direction so your input, good or bad, is decidedly welcome...
Ref strut mounts.
Having had mine off to install the sportivo, and Comer's, Phil Dye's, Steve J's e.t.c to fit lowering springs, it's amazing just how much grit and crap can accumulate in the top of the strut mount. This is what causes the early stages of the noise and starts the bearing failure.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to pop the fron t plastic liner and blow the cr*p out with some compressed air evrey so often as a precaution. The best way is to remove the strut, but obviously that's a bit like overkill.
Ref Tramlining
The potenza RE040 is horrible in thsi regard, to anyone who has this tyre I can't recomend enough you try something else when they wear out.
I don't understand why Toyota fits the RE040. It was originally designed specifically for the R34 GTR VSPEC which requires very thin side walls in order to maximise it's HICAS rear steering, amongst other things. I can't understand how this was selected for a light, RWD roadster?? Maybe they are in fact different versions? i digress...
i think i shall add to this little discussion.
the dealer by me is crap.i wont name then until my warranty runs out but i had exactly the same problem with the knocking.
i took it in after reading a couple of posts and told them that i thought the top strut mounts were faulty as its a common faulty amongst us owners.i was told that there is no know problem so they will check it.to cut a very long and boring story short, 4 trips to the dealer later and after being told there was nothing wrong,then having the suspension modification changed
then being told it was fixed,to complaining again that it hadnt to 'yes youve guessed it' having the top strut mounts replaced as that is the fault.
then just this week they had the cheek to tell me that the seat belt wear was also not a common fault and it was the first case they had come across.
the only problem with the car is the dealers and there failure to admit when there is a problem in my case,but its nice to know there are good dealers about.
Quote from: "Mikeharper2"I don't understand why Toyota fits the RE040. It was originally designed specifically for the R34 GTR VSPEC which requires very thin side walls in order to maximise it's HICAS rear steering, amongst other things. I can't understand how this was selected for a light, RWD roadster?? Maybe they are in fact different versions? i digress...
If yo think the re040 has thin sidewall don't ever try the Goodyear venturas s:cry: :cry: s:cry: horrible.
I always thought the re040 had quite a stiff sidewall, and as such in the oem sizes there wasn't a huge choice when the roadster came out.
Its ok my dealer is crap as well, what makes it worse is that ym best mate started work there 6 months ago as well.
They almost refused to sort the "ears" problem out with my hood.
They refuse to even look at my rusted discs/hubs.
The other dealer near me refused me a test drive, stating i am too young to be seriously considering an MR2 - lol proved him wrong.
So i am kinda buggered.
I hate that Bigun...how old are you by the way? One of my local dealers refused me one as well..I think that is the worst thing a salesman can do. IT's not up to them to decide if you can afford one or not. Maybe if you were looking at a 360, Pagani or something then yeah. I remember going to a honda garage and they couldn't have been better let me have a go in S2000 and CTR for the day!
Culvers in Macclesfield I could highly reccomend as a dealer, they have been great with me there, fixing paint problems as soon as i got the car, and lending me a Yaris Tsport for 2 weeks whilst being fixed. Nice guys, real sort of small garage (dare i say family) atmosphere.
Quote from: "bigun007"The other dealer near me refused me a test drive, stating i am too young to be seriously considering an MR2
If you're serious about it and a salesman does that, give him £5 (or whatever you use to tip "servants" over there) and tell him to go get a salesman for you. Guaranteed to work! (at least it did here twice)
Quote from: "Tem"Quote from: "bigun007"The other dealer near me refused me a test drive, stating i am too young to be seriously considering an MR2
If you're serious about it and a salesman does that, give him £5 (or whatever you use to tip "servants" over there) and tell him to go get a salesman for you. Guaranteed to work! (at least it did here twice)
Nice one Tem. I used to buy brand new sports cars at a young age and got the same crap. They used to say you can have a test drive after you've ordered it. How sensible is that? I just made sure I never used them again and several manufacturers have lost out big time over the years from their salesmen up their own asses... I have bought loads of new cars s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
s:lol: :lol: s:lol: thats tremendous TEM I liked annoying Mr "your too young" by going to his dealership a few weeks back..parked right outside the window.. walked in and started looking at a celica 190 with the GF in tow. The "YTY" as he will be known came over and said can i help sir, and i said " I'm just looking thanks My wifes BMW Z3 needs replacing and we need more space and a roof, but i'm just showing my wife as this is the closest garage, i would never buy from here" My gf just looked at me s:shock: :shock: s:shock: "oh and why is that Sir?" Well i said a salesman was very rude to me blah blah.. "well i can't appologise enough..it is our intent not to judge..blah blah." " so i said well to be honest it was you.. thanks anyways bye for now. HE didn't say a word. s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: My GF hit me with her bag when we walked out..still makes me laugh.. s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
I am 20, was 19 when got the car though mate.
Tem - i just went to another dealer and me and a mate BOTH bought one from there.
Went back, told the other dealer, thought he was going to cry lol.
I phoned the dealership up and asked if they had a car there to test-drive, before I went. Granted I wasn't in my teens, but my kid sister was, and they let her take it for a spin too.
your dad has far too much money s:( :( s:(
Quote from: "bigun007"The other dealer near me refused me a test drive, stating i am too young to be seriously considering an MR2 - lol proved him wrong.
Don't worry many dealers are like this.
Before I had the 2 (and when I was only 22....with a baby face s:oops: :oops: s:oops: !!) I was considering the Elise. I went into the local Lotus dealership and was browing the latest version. It took a while before a salesman came over and when he did it was just a rough "Can I help you?".
"I was wondering if I would be able to take one on a test drive" I said.
"We don't just let people test drive our cars matey. Only those who can buy one!"
"I am interested in one. A work collegue of mine bought his from here and he reccomended you to me"
"And just who was that?"
I then went on to mention who it was and the company I worked for.
"Oh yes Sir. I believe we can book you in, in a couple of days. The weather should be a lot better then and should make for a wonderful test drive. Let me get you a cup of coffee and we will take down your details. Don't worry about having to contact us, as I promise we will contact you this afternoon."
He then started handing me booklet after booklet and running through optional extras etc!!!
A for Toyota, this was funny as well as I had learned from my Lotus experience.
I walked in. Nobody really took much notice of me. I had a look around the 2 and still nobody took much notice. People who came in after me were being served by salesmen, so I decided I would just walk up to one.
"I would like to take an MR2 on a test drive"
"You know they are over £18k?" he said
"Yeah, I know. I not too fussed about that"
"We'll need to see your driving license and it will probably be a couple of weeks after that before we can get you a test drive"
"I was hoping I would get one sooner"
"How much sooner? We can't do much better than that"
"Well put it this way. I work for xxxxxx, I have an hours lunch break, I'm on my way into town and when I come back I will be putting down a £1k deposit on [pointing] that MGF in the Rover showroom next door. Unless you can give me a test drive and convince me otherwise"
Within a couple of minutes they had a blue Roadster waiting for me.
When I got back they asked me how it had gone. I asked them for booklets and said that I would be back the next day (as my lunch break was ending) with a cheque for a grand as my deposit.
They still didn't believe that I would return. But obviously I did!!!
Yeh, my local Elise dealer was like that. They charge EUR 300 for a test drive (!) which they refund when you buy. Fair enough. So I said I wanted to book a test drive.
They refused. So I walked out and complaind via a public Elise forum her in Germany.
The dealer replied that I didnt fit their customer profile. Well I guess a mid 40 man with a sports car already, no kids and the money in the hand isnt worth their time.
I later found out another person, who put the cash on the table and said "I want to buy that car", was also refused. Customer service.... Not with that dealer. The guy picked up his cash, walked next dor and bought a porsche instead, for cash.
I cannot believe they charge you that much! that is criminal, and just to see if the car suits you? You could go on a supercar trackday for that much; drive an elise, 911, and 360! Csutomer service is exaclty that..serving the customer they want to. I know Mercedes/Porsche used to be like this but they've even bucked they're ideas up. In Lotus's present situation they should be trying to entice people into their cars rather than push them away..or maybe they just think "we need money either way, if they buy or not which is prob not too far from the truth"
Quote from: "Mikeharper2"I cannot believe they charge you that much! that is criminal, and just to see if the car suits you? You could go on a supercar trackday for that much; drive an elise, 911, and 360! Csutomer service is exaclty that..serving the customer they want to. I know Mercedes/Porsche used to be like this but they've even bucked they're ideas up. In Lotus's present situation they should be trying to entice people into their cars rather than push them away..or maybe they just think "we need money either way, if they buy or not which is prob not too far from the truth"
Well I have to say that "customer Service" in almost an unknown term in Germany s:x :x s:x normal custermer service is "WHAT YOU WANT WHAT!!!"
I dont think Lotus is to blame here but the garage (Auto Konig). They are the only delaer for Lotus around here, the next being i Stuttgart and Nueremburg I think. I did think of complaining to Lotus about it, but in the end we decided not to change the roadster so it is unimportant now. If later I get a Lotus, I will go via another dealer and arrange to collect it from the factory.
-----
oooo
Its interesting reading about peoples experiences with deals, I am 27 and went to a large coventry based dealership (you know who you are cos i complained bitterly with my dad, who was there to buy a new landcruser) and was not taken seriously as a prospective purchaser s:cry: :cry: s:cry: even though I was fortuate enough to be able to pay in hard cash (wish I had taken it in a breifcase s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: ).
Anyway, does anyone know if the suspension problem is only on pre 03 and what mods were done on post 03 cars?
post 03 has stiffer shocks, but I bet the top mounts have the same problem.
colindanks
The "you know who you are" dealer had a massive falling-out with MrT and are now Saab dealers in Birmingham. I'm glad I never used them because they broke loads of promises to their customers.
s:D :D s:D
Quote from: "Roger H"colindanks
The "you know who you are" dealer had a massive falling-out with MrT and are now Saab dealers in Birmingham. I'm glad I never used them because they broke loads of promises to their customers.
s:D :D s:D
Toyota have dumped a few later including Camdens
The only time I have been turned down for a test drive (in a car) was at the Chrysler dealer in Leamington Spa... they weren't too keen to let me take the shiny new Viper out s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
And on the subject of ex-franchised dealers, Toyota seem to have had a bit of a purge - the Hylton group in Telford and Shrewsbury lost theirs last year.
Quote from: "Paddleman"GSB - I assume i have a similar suspension problem as Paul. My car has gone to Toyota today to be checked out.
.
Paddleman, what was the result of your visit to the dealer?
Quote from: "Slacey"And on the subject of ex-franchised dealers, Toyota seem to have had a bit of a purge - the Hylton group in Telford and Shrewsbury lost theirs last year.
Yep - my local - Sturgess - is now a Nissan dealer, but they are still covered by Toyota to do warranty work/services etc.
I took my motor there the day before yesterday for its first MOT... it passed with flying colours! Well the car has only done 7000 miles...! (yes you read that right!)
I also managed to get my front brake discs replaced as they were looking a bit rusty - the dealer also threw in some new pads for me which was nice of them under warranty s:D :D s:D
However, on the way to the garage it was bucketing it down with rain, and to my horror I noticed that droplets of rain were coming through the top of the window s:shock: :shock: s:shock: It wasn't exactly a deluge of water - just a few droplets drip-dripping on my arm! The dealer took a look at the same time they did my MOT and have decided that I need some new rubber seals as the old ones are knackered...
I should hopefully be getting these fitted next week - which is just as well as this is when my 3 year warranty runs out! Has anyone else extended their warranty? I wonder if its worth going the private route rather than the Toyota route - if it works out cheaper and there is no real benefit in sticking with Toyota for it..... s:?: :?: s:?:
FYI we also have a new official Toyota dealer in Leicester now - Farmer & Carlisle. I may register over there but to be honest the customer service that I've received at Sturgess has been very good so I'm in two minds about it... s:? :? s:?
Roll on summer....! I'm sick of this wet, icy and windy weather....! s:cry: :cry: s:cry:
Sundance s8) 8) s8)
I extended my warranty on ym old Astra - its was underwritten by the RAC and was nothing but trouble.
The gearbox went - so i called them up and they said that its fine, just bring service record with me, so i did, now i had the 50 000 mile service 2000 miles early as the car was feeling rough, i had the 60 000 service at 60 000 miles.
They wouldn't honour the warranty, apparently it had to be every 10 000 miles and that the service intervals didn't count for anything.
Wasn't impressed at having to shell out for a new gearbox that was PROVEN to be a mechanical defect by an expert witness (was thinking of court action but was cheaper to get it reconditioned in the end)
Back on the ol' top mounts subject..
I just called my dealer, and the conversation went like this;
Me: "I'm getting a strange horrible knocking noise, and a very bad jolt through the steering when 3-point turning out of my parking space on a morning. Some other owners have pointed out the top mounts as a possible cause"
Mr T: "No, no there's no problems with the suspension on the Roadsters. The noise you can hear will be power steering fluid going down the pipes. Toyota have a new design pipe to clear that up. Oh, what kind of surface is your parking space? Tiles, tarmac?"
(It's funny, I've never known power steering fluid to make it feel like my wheels are falling off!)
Me: "It's just a tarmac carpark"
Mr T: "Ah well, you see you can get some strange noises on some surfaces, it'll probably be that."
Me: "Er, well it didn't do it when I picked it up"
Mr T: "Probably the pipe then. How many miles are on it?"
Me: "28 thousand or so"
Mr T: "Ah - have you checked the tyres then?"
Me: "Yes.. I only picked it up 2000 miles ago, they're fine, and it didn't do this when I got it"
Mr T: "Ok, we'll have to take it in, it'll be that pipe though, but we'll need to order the parts. We can look at it on the 6th of Jan if you want a courtesy car, then bring it back for the work"
I really really regret buying a new car now - I should have just stuck with the 300.. At least when things went wrong, I could fix them because I don't feel the need to lie and be evasive to myself! s:evil: :evil: s:evil: s:cry: :cry: s:cry:
Grr.. I hate garages..
Aaron
Theres no need to lie, you just have to remember that although its your car, they're picking up the bill for the repairs, so you have to let them make the diagnostic decisions (hes fullly trained to diagnose a steering problem over the phone dont you know!) and let them fix the parts they want to fix... When the new PS pipe fails to cure the problem, they'll keep going until they get it right.
Sorry - maybe it didn't read right.. I wasn't lying to him (it is a tarmac carpark, and concrete at work - and does the same both places, and it does feel like my wheels are falling off..), but I felt like I was being given the runaround..
Really, a simple 'Bring it in on the 6th, and we'll have a look at it' would have been much better than "It's probably the road surface", followed by, "It's probably your tyres".. I can handle the fact that it's a while before they can look at it, because I need a courtesy car (unless the godawful handling causes me to end up in a ditch! it's a fight just to keep it in a straight line at the moment) - I just hate being given the runaround..
Working on my own car was much easier - I just replaced parts until it was fixed (although generally I knew which part was faulty, so just replaced that bit).
The overriding impression I go though was that it'd be loads of hassle to look at it, and they'd rather I just went away.. Which bugs me - I paid over the odds on the price of the car to get dealer 'backup', afterall.. (Which was pretty stupid in hindsight, I know s:roll: :roll: s:roll: )
If thats the feeling you get when talking to them, then perhaps its time to try a different dealer. I use Jemca Metro in North London, and not once has the service guy tried to bullshit me, and he listens intently to my suggestion of fault cause every time. I only ever use 1 point of contact, and ask for him by name every time. I find it helps reduce the number of people in the chain between me and the guy with the spanners. The less links in the chain, the less chance of any particular requests I have made being mis-understood.
I know where you're coming from with regards to the "what sort of surface" nonsense, I dont want an over the phone diagnosis from the service guy, who'll then simply put a work order through to change the power steering pipe with no explanation to the mechanic of why its being done. I want to listened to and then have the trained mechanics do the diagnosis using my input as one of the tools. Its not much to ask for, but its surprising just how far out of your way you have to go to get it sometimes.
aaronjb, your symptoms sound exactly the same as mine. As you say, even in a straight line the car feels unstable. Twice the other week I was going around a bend at very modest speed and the back end felt like it wanted to let go. And that was in the dry, before this cold snap. Mine is booked in again on 23rd Dec for the dealer to look at it again. The service guy phoned me last week in response to an email I sent him prompting him to read through this thread. He said Toyota are still insisting they are not aware of this problem, other than the power steering pipe, which I have already had replaced.
Strange aint it - my dealer told me they are aware of the problem and its not the first roadster he has had in with the problem. He said he is expecting a mod to come out soon from Mr T early next year and that he would just let me know when it comes out and fit it to my car.
Kris, which dealer do you use?
Steven Eagell Toyota, Milton Keynes.
They have their bad moments, but if you catch them on a good day they can be quite friendly & helpfull (see this thread: m http://www.mr2roc.org/viewtopic.php?t=1836 (http://www.mr2roc.org/viewtopic.php?t=1836) m ).
This is getting a bit frustrating. My MR2 is back in with the dealer to have the supension juddering sorted out. I left it there overnight so they could witness the problem after the car had been parked up for a while. They've just phoned me and said it's the front tyres not gripping the tarmac properly. It feels much too severe to be this and why does it clear after driving a few hundred yards? The tyres can't be warmed up that quickly.
Advice, chaps?
Quote from: "paul russell"This is getting a bit frustrating. My MR2 is back in with the dealer to have the supension juddering sorted out. I left it there overnight so they could witness the problem after the car had been parked up for a while. They've just phoned me and said it's the front tyres not gripping the tarmac properly. It feels much too severe to be this and why does it clear after driving a few hundred yards? The tyres can't be warmed up that quickly.
Advice, chaps?
Have a read of this: http://www.mr2roc.org/viewtopic.php?t=1928
More and more strange.
Quote from: "paul russell"They've just phoned me and said it's the front tyres not gripping the tarmac properly.
Funny, that's almost the exact same words that my local Mr T used initially.. I wonder if there's a Toyota bulletin to that effect that they're all reading out? Either that or you went to the same dealer as I did s:) :) s:) (Octagon, Slough)