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Unfortunately, now I can hear rattles from the B pillars and the center console squeak!
While I am happy with the car as a whole, I too am disappointed with Toyota's quality control. I hope Toyota watches their backs because they're going to be passed by Hyundai!!!!
tom
GH, Pennsylvania
Thank you for this detailed info. I have been having the squeaks and was wondering what to do about these..
More importantly, the OEM tires on my car wore out at 19,000 miles, and I am completely baffled. I had replaced OEM tires on my last camry (2000) at 44,000 miles, and I own a 2005 Sienna with 33,000 miles, and still another 10,000 miles to go on the tires before they need replacement.
Additionally I was getting my maintenence work done at "the largest toyota dealer in Wisconsin" and a few weeks earlier, I went for a tire rotation, and noticed they did not rotate the tires as thay claimed they did, and charged me (one of the tires have crub rash-part of winter driving). I also noticed all the tires are more worn on the outside, than the inside, and the dealer (who has been rotating these tires) never mentioned anything ever.
At this point, my question is is there any oint in going back to the dealer and complaining, or I should just suck it up? Also I would like the thoughts of other members of this forum as to what they think aobut writing to Toyota about the poor quality of these tires..
Anyoned else had similar experiences?
Thanks SJ
Sure, write Toyota about the OEM tires. They didn't get to be #1 by ignoring their customers.
Called them back and said if you can drop the price $60 I would have them install it... they agreed.
I have 22K on my '07 Camry SE, Michelins in great shape and still have many miles to go on them. I rotate every 5K miles.
I have a ~7k mile Camry Hyrbid purchased in 5/08. It's been doing well until two days ago when I stopped abruptly (ABS engaged) but no accident and all of a sudden the car makes a new noise.
The noise is a higher pitched whine ONLY when the gas and electric motor are both engaged at higher RPMS (I'm guessing around 3000-4000 as there is no tachometer).
I've run it by the service tech who says it is a "normal" sound. I've been driving my car for 7k miles and I can tell you 100% for sure this is not a normal sound. I"m at an impasse with the dealer and would like to escalate it to the next level as I'm extremely frustrated.
Does anyone have a good resource for contacting Toyota on a more corporate or regional level other than the "Customer Experience Center" at 1-800-331-4331? I'm in Philadelphia, PA.
Thanks!
And while I understand your concern that it's not a normal sound, you have to consider the possibility that it is and that you're simply now aware of it. I have the same sensitivity to changes sounds in my vehicles and it drives me crazy at times. Get the car checked out and it gets a clean bill of heath, so I eventually come to grips with the need to not focus on it. (Although I still worry a bit)
From your description of "running it by" the service tech, it sounds like that was on the order of taking a ride in it and him saying it's normal. Since you said the event involved the ABS, that would be my starting point.
What you need to do is schedule a road trip with the CERTIFIED hybrid technician, not the service manager! You do the driving and point out exactly what you hear, when you hear it and tell him or her that you did not hear that sound until the day you had to do a panic stop. Then if he says it is normal, find out if they have another hybrid on the lot and prove it one way or another with a road test in it. This is the only way you will get any service done if you believe there is something wrong. Just keep in mind, warranty work does not pay the bills at the dealership, and most are reluctant to spend the time needed for a repair of this nature.
Now for My car, 2009 TCH, I get wind noise on the drivers side, does anyone else have this? I also have a sticky sun roof.
I looked under the hood and couldn't find any obvious problems (belts, oil level) however I also didn't really know what to look for.
Later that day I tried turning the car on and this time we recorded it. The same thing happened. We were pretty concerned and had it towed to the dealer. Of course once it got to the dealer service, the problem had disappeared! They couldn't find anything wrong...no error codes and no mechanical problems after 2 days and apparently 3 technicians checking it out. They said come pick up the car, but we are worried if this poses any sort of safety problem.
So here is the video...and you'll want to focus on the audio...any idea what is wrong that the service center wouldn't be able to find?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoxZGQzSD5o
Thanks!
Yes the service department watched the video and they were pretty surprised by the sound, enough so that they forwarded the link to various folks in their department and apparently to Toyota.
Looking back, I wish I had opened the hood and then turned the car on (instead of looking with the car off). Our thought process at the time was we didn't want to create more of a problem having it running.
The car is still at the dealer waiting for a response from Toyota. If they don't have any other ideas, I'll pick it up and know to pop open the hood while running if it happens again.
Thanks for documenting your issue...
I love the car. It is smooth and quiet. I think it is a brilliant invention. But the fact that you could make a video of exactly what happened with my car makes me think there is a problem that I hope Toyota will help us fix.
I have been driving it for just about 2 weeks now and the issue has not returned, but my wife doesn't want to drive it and I keep wondering if and when it will resurface.
I have considered trying another service center (there are a few different Toyota dealers around here), but wonder if it is worth the hassle. Is there anyone at Toyota we should contact?
That's easy, the noise it made, if it were internal, there would be parts sticking out of the block by now. Any engine that makes that kind of noise, will never run quiet again if it was internal. Like I said, I blew a few motors in my time, and worked on them for a living for quite a few years, you get attuned to certain sounds. Besides, the second part, the vibration that accompanied the noise, engines that make noise on start up, don't vibrate, they clatter, or blow apart, but never do they make noise and vibrate, then start up and run smooth afterwards, it is just not possible. My guess is an issue between the ICE and the electric motor used to spin up the ICE, if one is out of phase with the other, it can do exactly what was described.
Someone else told me they thought it could be "the starter" (although not knowing exactly how the engine starts in the hybrid) and the explanation that pat85 has of "an issue between the ICE and the electric motor used to spin up the ICE" sounds the most plausible to me right now.
I know it's been a while since you posted this, but if you get this and have had this happen since or ever found out what was wrong, please let me know. I drive a lot for work and now I'm afraid that I'll end up stranded somewhere in a car that is supposed to be one of the most reliable out there. Let me know, thanks.
So I am wondering did you (or anyone else that experienced this issue) previously shut the car off just as the engine was turning on?
I appreciate the response. I'm relieved to hear that it hasn't happened again. I've been going back and forth all week about whether or not to trade this in and get a new car before it becomes a major issue. I love the car and have had no problems other than this and the dealer putting a gash in my leather seat during a service visit(which they replaced free of charge). Hopefully we've discovered what causes it and can avoid it now. A scary lesson, but nevertheless, a lesson learned.
@ikaikamute, It sounds like you let it run and got more symptoms. Had you previously started the car only to shut it off just before or just after the ICE kicked in? This seems to be a common item between my case and at least one other reported in this forum. Besides you and I, I counted three others that reported the issue: user "mcast" had it happen a couple times, "rover13" reported it once, and "tkethumper" reported it once and also had previously shut off car quickly. Also possibly a fourth on YouTube, user "diggitydo41" said they had the same issue.
I have not tried starting it again since reading this and letting it run. I am going to wait until my husband gets home so i can video this with the hood open like pdxsk8 had wanted to do.
Thanks to all who took the time to post about this issue. Even if it does start to run smooth, I think this will be something I will be nervous about until they know exactly what it is.
One question for both of you. Have either observed numerous occurances of engine not being ready (shift to park first message) if you go through sequence too fast. My unit seems to require a very deliberate slow sequence of brake on, push start button, wait 1-2 seconds, shift out of park. Any deviance/simultaneous action/ or failure to wait causes warning message.
Just wanted to know if you ever got this issue resolved. I am having the same problem. Service dept. says they have not seen it before, the panel is rivet in so should not be a problem. At the time I went in, parts from overseas were in short supply and not soon coming because of the earthquake and tsunami.
I've considered using strips of felt to cushion the filter, but thought I'd ask first.
Thanks for your input.
MJM
My 2009 TCH also began to knock and rattle on occasion. It occurred for the first time this past winter. The car sat idle for a day or so. When I started the car, the engine rattled and knocked as though it wasn't getting any oil. It happened again also a cold start after it had been idle for three days and the temperatures were more spring like. I discussed it with my mechanic and he really had know ideas but like me wondered if the engine was getting oil. I might try using a thinner viscosity oil. I currently use 5W-20 which is approved for THC. I may change to 0W-20. I currently have 53000 miles on my TCH.
I've had vehicles that were prone to be a bit noisy at first after sitting without running for a period of time. Not sure that thinner oil is the solution. What's happening is gravity doing it's thing and oil working it's way down to the oil pan. As long as your oil level is OK and the oil pump is functioning properly, it's sort of normal for the sound of the engine to be a little different until the oil pump gets things moving around again. It's usually a couple of seconds for me, maybe longer, depending on the temperature. If the noise doesn't stop for an extended period of time, double check your oil levels before moving on to try and diagnose an oil pump issue.
I would take it back to the dealer but the local dealer has done me wrong so I refuse to go to them.
My vehicle has 243,000 and was running really strong until this problem resurfaced and stayed!
My stand alone OBD2 code reader could not read the code but my BAFX Product Bluetooth (See Pic...Highly Recommended) using The PRO TORQUE APP ($5) easily pinpointed the location of the issue.
My code was P0352... P0352 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY - Ignition Coil 2 Primary/Secondary Circuit
Read more: https://www.autocodes.com/p0352_2007_toyota_camry.html
I had switched the COP to another location but the issue still remain on Coil 2. I then changed the spark plug and still the issue persisted.
It took me awhile but I finally noticed that one of the wire on the COP connector was NOT FULLY seated. I pushed the wire back and the car started right up WITHOUT the shake/shudder!
Hope this helps someone!