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Toyota Sienna Maintenance and Repair (2003 earlier)
Please continue discussing and posting your Sienna
problems here.
Past Toyota Sienna Problem topic:
Problems with Toyota Sienna Van
KarenS
Vans host
problems here.
Past Toyota Sienna Problem topic:
Problems with Toyota Sienna Van
KarenS
Vans host
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Comments
holding the button. It worked! No more annoying
idiot light.
Speaking of idiot. I suppose I could have read
the manual to see the fix, but I'm the kind of
guy that doesn't read the manual.
Oh...And Yes...The dealer DID take the original
tires. I caught them in a lie! I checked the VIN
and it showed that my LE came from the factory
with the rims. I got it with CAPS...It cost them
$500 in negotiations! SIX hours worth! But I got
our van for $18k with 24k miles! It's in MINT
condition, too. Lease returns are the way to
go in MOST cases. We lucked out.
never posted it, so I'll make it short:
The Hand Brake only adjusts 2 out of 4 brakes.
When you engage the reverse gear and press the
brakes, it clicks to adjust them to spec level.
Toyota Service does not go into detail. They
are right. The hand brake does adjust brake
level, but not for ALL brakes. Just the brakes
it's attached to. (rear). So the fronts click
when you reverse as normal operation.
If you are EVER suspect of your brakes though,
it's safer to simply pay $15.00 to any place
(Midas, Winston, Good Year, etc) and get your
brakes inspected. Brakes are the only system
on your vehicle you DON'T want to fail! Be
safe and get them inspected.
As a rule, I get my brakes checked when I get
the oil checked. It's an additional $15 at my
shop, but that small "investment" is peace of
mind. They give me the % stats on wear, so I
know when to replace the brakes before costly
rotor damage.
When we returned from our vacation, we got a call from the dealership. They now tell us the rear brake drums were "out of round." They said the brake shoes were rubbing and this caused the vibration. My question is, is this a common problem? Can it cause the severe vibrations? Could the symptoms be caused from the problematic rack and pinion? Thank you for your information.
cblake@erols.com
(Mostly city)
I hear that 92 octane leaves less deposits on
the piston walls and valves, but that could
be good advertising to the oil companies credit!
We had a 1996 Saab that started with the same sort of problems, although Saab never claimed a computer error, and had trouble with the car for four months... the amount of time it took my husband to convince them that we had a Lemon and threaten to sue them (yes, he is a lawyer). Finally, four months later they gave us a 1997. So, I am not so psyched about this... we will see... maybe we will all end up with 2001s!
My wife and I priced one out about three weeks
ago here in Southern Calif. It was a maroon
5 door CE with dual air, tach, tow package,
security, tint, rack, keyless and more. All
for $22,500. He SHOWED us the invoice. We didn't
go for it (Wished we had). Instead, we got an
LE for $19,400. It's a '98 lease return with
26k miles. It's not bad at all, but it's not new
either. However, we're very happy with our
Toyota overall.
Usually, the new models cost about $1000 more, give or take a few dollars.
This board certainly helped me on buying this car.
Thanks.
Problem is with American CD's only, and according to regional Toyota office, if you request a special CD eye "repair" the units can be modified to work with American CDs.
Anybody else have skips? This radio is also in other model toyota's by the way -- in fact the Toyota dealer's head mechanic has the same problem with his (and after being replaced once).
Thank you fkell@neo.rr.com
Do not leave out this letter after the appropriate number of repair visits are made. You ensure your rights under the lemon law once this notice is given. The clock is ticking for Toyota.....time is on your side. Read the details of your state law carefully. Get a copy of the law on the internet or your local consumer affairs office.
Consumers often wait too long to document and thus, they lose the edge under the law. The writing may be on the wall with this torque converter problem. **Take nothing for granted.**
While it is nuisance, document closely and fully now. Add quotes which may support that Toyota does not have a valid "fix" for the problem. Communicate with others similarly-affected and stay in touch to see how their situations are resolved. Expect equal treatment and accept nothing less.
Good luck.
cblake@erols.com
P.S. Don't forget to elicit the help of the Center for Auto Safety in Washington, D.C. They look for trends after owner reports are filed in writing.
I recently was told that my van would have an "open work order" because I *might* bring it back in for the sticking door latches. I didn't ask that the work order be "left open." This is totally unacceptable!! I got no work order after pickup of my van after a routine service visit. I experience severe vibrations and after the van goes back in (via a flatbed towtruck), the service manager says I will get a "consolidated" work order.....EXCUSE ME!! I want separately dated work orders. I attribute the second problem to the first visit. To show on paper that repairs were *all* done on the same day is ridiculous. It does little to help support a cause-effect relationship in events. No doubt, it is advantageous to document this way for the dealership.
My recommendation is to decline an "open work order." Do NOT leave the dealership without a dated repair order which is complete. If additional work is expected, ask the dealership to specify this in writing on the order that you take home *that day." This is especially important for those in the throes of the "Check Engine Light" problem in the 2000 model year. Lemon law relief is based on the *number* of repair visits or days out-of-service usually. One long work order where the van has been "repaired" several times is NOT going to work to preserve your rights. Toyota is well aware of this, IMO.
cblake@erols.com
to GM when I had a Malibu with front end troubles.
They tried to keep open work orders on me. I
stated "NO WAY" and stuck to my rights. I ended
up with a nice "paper trail" that burned them.
After a threat of arbitration under the California
Lemon Law, they backed down and refunded me 100%
of my money AND my insurance!
Obviously, Toyota has a big problem with the
torque converter assembly. These things happen,
folks. It's not your fault. You are not alone.
Toyota has to correct this problem on a national
level, not per individual complaint, so that is
going to take some time. If your car is usable,
then drive it until they can remedy the situation.
Otherwise, begin your paper trail and establish
that your van is a lemon. Get your money back in
a timely fashion so you can get a Honda or wait
until 2001 Siennas come out.
A computer chip in the torque converter of the Sienna is bad on about 2% of those Siennas manufactured roughly from May through July 2000. Toyota cannot tell which specific vans are affected in this manufaturing period. So their goal is to get enough torque converters to each dealer so that they can be swapped out easily. The St. Louis dealer I was talking with claimed they have 4 of these new torque converters in stock, and they have sold two Siennas that need this part replaced. The dealer said Toyota at first thought it would just replace the computer chip but decided to replace the whole torque converter for "quality control" reasons. The dealer says this problem does not affect safety or drivability, although it is a pain (my word, not his) to have to bring in the van for swap. He said models being made in the past 2 weeks or so are being fixed at the factory.
Just one observation to all of you having this problem repaired, make sure your alignment is OK once you get the van back. They apparently have to remove the "rack" when they replace the converter. I noticed my steering wheel was misaligned when I picked the van up, they realigned it in 15 minutes.
PS. Why don't these beautiful (and expensive) vans have power antennas??
Why don't the vans have power antennas?
Every car I've had for the last 10 years
has had power antennas!
I suppose I can install my own, right?
JCWhitney?
Take, for instance, the anti-lock brake failures on the Chrysler minivans. Thousands of owners began to complain in the mid-90's (though many had the problem on the earlier models, too) of sudden brake loss with no electronic warning. Still others had the dash lights come on intermittently and were told by the dealers not to worry. Chrysler said any problem was *DRIVER ERROR* related to the proper use of ABS. IMO (and that of many others, too), it denied, lied, and defrauded owner after owner over the course of several years. The repair to the slow leak in the hydraulic assembly portion of the ABS cost most owners from $2000-3,000!! Many (myself included) only owned their vehicles a couple of years.
To make a very long story short, after hundreds of owners banded together first on the internet and then in a class-action lawsuit (supported by oodles of documents from the NHTSA), Chrysler finally had to succumb to a major recall of the 1991-1993 minivans with ABS (my personal feeling is that many more years should have been included). Owners were reimbursed for the earlier repairs (IF they knew about this) and given a warranty to 100,000 miles. The problem was KNOWN but MINIMIZED by Chrysler for several years. The Chrysler executives fought the facts tooth and nail and made their "Customer Ones" scapegoats for a major defect in manufacturing!! It was a fiasco.
To make matters worse and get to the point of my post, Chrysler put in either new or remanufactured parts which were **no different** from the original. They simply did not know how to fix the problem, and many owners continue to have repeat ABS failures from the parts used. THIS is why I caution you about the new torque converters. HOW do they differ from the original components? IS Toyota buying time by simply putting in the same variety? I trust that no manufacturer could stoop to Chrysler's former conduct (but I am still naive). We will know when those with replacements report their findings after several months. I am hoping that Toyota will come forward and RECALL these vans so that they do not alienate customers the way Chrysler did a few years ago. Honesty will help Toyota's bottom-line. Ask Chrysler what secrecy (and fraud, IMO) did to them....with owner collaboration on-line, manufacturers are wise to come clean very early in the game. A few owners with a bit of simple frustration can finally get assertive and very vocal when met with an unresponsive manufacturer.
Good luck to all affected.....start your database of e-mail addresses and symptoms/repairs NOW....
cblake@erols.com
I never had that happen until this weekend, when I was in a hurry and folded them up without taking off the headrests. Hope this helps.
and for more details see "http://boardwatch.internet.com/mag/96/jun/bwm34.html"
To get a perspective on what other owners of other makes have had to deal with and to get good consumer rights information, visit the "Chrysler Products' Problem Web Page" created by Brian Gluckman. He did a phenomenal job in helping owners get a start on getting lemon relief. Be certain to read the St. Louis Post Dispatch article about the ABS problem and get a look at the automaker's response (or lack thereof).
For further tips on the preservation of your auto rights, visit "http://www.autosafety.org" and be sure to file all complaints with both the Center for Auto Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (of course, make copies for your files).
While one owner can do a lot of research and settle an individual issue with the automaker, it is much better in the long run for owners to unite and speak up together. The message is, give us this poor quality at a high cost and you *will* hear from us if there are major problems!!" Go quietly away (just as the automaker wants you to do) and you will continue to purchase vehicles with inherent defects.
The "battle" is not easy or pleasant, but with the internet, you can reach a lot of people quickly. If the automaker is responsive, good for you! If not, seek the help of the media as you unite. Proceed to seek **fairness under the law** and do not be bothered by those who try to strike you down for your actions. Go with your gut instincts on this one......
cblake@erols.com
These, of course, are just sugestions. Good look in finding a good price on what you are looking for.
We just bought and will take delivery today on a CE that supposedly was manufactured in March. We are hoping to escape that problem, but our fingers are still crossed.
The dealer cleared the light after resetting computer code. Now there is no this check light.I found the shift is not smooth like before resetting the shift soinod. BUT told me the torque converter still needs to be replaced. They ordered the part for me and takes about one week.
If any 4-door Sienna owners have the insulation rubber installed on the front edge of BOTH sliding doors, please be so kind to let me know. I have to be armed with evidence when I go to the dealer's. Thank you very much for your assistance in advance!!
Kai
When we turn OFF the A/C in our car and have just
the VENT on, IT STINKS BAD! LIKE A MUSKY ODOR!
Is there a filter somewhere that I can change?
WHat gives? When the A/C is on, it's not bad at
all. But when it's off, it's STINKY!!
WHEW!
Help !
Next, the rear brakes...What would cause my brake drums to be out-of-round this early? I was told that the severe vibrations I felt after routine maintenance was caused by my brakes, NOT my alignment problem. One suggestion was that a brake shoe may have been sticking....isn't this dangerous?? I mean, I don't want to think that I am driving around with my brakes intact! Can anyone help on this issue?
I want more information on the rack and pinion and how this ties in with the alignment. At first, I was told that I might need a new R & P assembly, but later learned only the inner rack rods were replaced. Why would this be? Like with the solenoid before torque converter issue, I am wondering if I will need other parts of the R & P replaced later.
I still have a pull to the right after all the brake work, the rod replacement, and the new tires. I noted it clearly after testing it many times under different road conditions. It isn't my imagination. I feel the road bumps a lot more now....I *thought* this would be the opposite. Is the alignment problem causing suspension parts to fail? I would like information if you have it.
And, one last weird thing is that it feels like the van isn't going into OD like it should. I wouldn't expect any transmission involvement unless the speedometer failure is in some way connected. I remember back when I had the Dodge Caravan that the speedometer failed a few months before the transmission did. Can you explain that connection?
Since the sliding doors were repaired, they are MUCH easier to open. I know one person who had a repeat problem. I HOPE we don't!! The kids would complain that they simply couldn't open the doors. I had to struggle, but managed after pulling several times.
Additional observations in my van are at times I do smell the "mold" on the recirculation mode of the A/C. I see paint being scratched off VERY easily on the hood after I bumped into a bicycle a couple of times gently. I really like the seating with the bench in the middle because of all the room on the right side. My kids complain of no leg room in the third row, though.
I do like the looks of the van much better than others out there. It is roomy enough. I just want to be confident in the van's long-term reliability. I will post the outcome of an upcoming long trip, and I would appreciate the same from others. Thanks in advance.
cblake@erols.com
Many people have been posting that they have this problem, but very few have been telling us what date their car was manufactured. I would ask anyone posting an engine light problem to also check the driver's side door tag for the date of manufacture.
I only ask because I have heard differing stories on which vans are affected... anywhere from May to July, to just June. My dealer assured me my van is "safe" from this problem, but hey -- I only trust you guys
(Mine is a July 2000 LE, and no engine light problem as of 150 miles.)
Scott
Also, my Sienna LE was manufactured in June 2000 and the engine light came on at about 150 miles.