Toyota Sienna Maintenance and Repair (2004+)

hopeful8

I was told the Toyota oil, Toyoguard, is Mobil oil. I believe in synthetic oil and I was told the dealer's Toyoguard synthetic oil is Mobil 1 synthetic.

buckeye1

This common wind effect is similar to blowing across the top of a bottle to produce a sound. In a vehicle, the inside of the vehicle with window open is similar to a bottle...the outside wind (which must be up to 25 to 30 mph, is the differential.

The the "olden" days, cars had little front window vents...a triangle window at the leading edge of front door glass on both driver's and front passenger's window. These vents were opened/closed by hand, or in more expensive models, you could manipulate a small hand crank just below the vent. With the vent open, one could smoke and have smoke depart interior through the open vent. The opened vent also automatically prevented the resonance effect since the aperture of vent was relatively small. The open vent on each side also acted as a defroster of front window if outside temps. were not near dew point.

Window vents disappeared on American made cars around the late '50's.

In today's cars/trucks, if you open a window just a crack, you won't get resonance. Or, if little vents existed, same, same.

But, open a window quite a bit, and...wallah...an irritating, rythmic, rapid, womp,womp,womp. Someone please close the window!

pbaxter

Thanks for all the replies.
One antidote mentioned was to open the rear quarter vent windows.

Are the rear vents power operated from the driver's seat? On the phone the sales clerk told me that they can only be opened manually.

If that is true I guess if I want to 'vent' then I will have to drive off into a parking lot and climb out back to open them. Or opposite if they are open and it begins to rain heavily.

aggie76

I know in looking at an XLE today they opened electronically.

kmead

The rear quarter windows are power operated on all LE and above models as standard.

The CE has manual rear quarter windows.

Just opening any other window just a crack will counteract the resonance from the one window being open.

davejp

The LE has 2500 miles on it. Very happy so far. I noticed the van "spotting" in the driveway. The Driver's side rear shock is losing all its oil. Other may want to keep an eye open.

Other minor annoyances. The tranny seems sloppy from a dead start, PS fluid is down, and the driver's side rear door really needs to be slammed to fully close

kingp

Looking for a van. thought about the dodge, too many horror stories. like the toyota reliabilty.
windnoise from open back windows, happens in every make nad model. crack you sunroof if you have one.

Tow truck driver told my friend recently while towing his company dodge, "I hate toyotas, i only tow them when they run out of gas or driver left the lights on and drained the battery.
Your discussion board is very informative and helpful.

danog

Forgive me for posting this before reading the manual but its driving me nuts.

Do the doors automatically lock after a set period of time after parking the Sienna? On a few occasions I've gone down to grab something and the doors are locked. We usually don't make it habit of locking the doors while parking in the garage.

kmead

danog

Is there an option to change this?

gordy6

We also are experiencing a bad shock. The rear passenger shock is losing most of its oil. We have an XLE FWD with approximately 4100 miles.

kmead

You need to buy a harness that is installed between the primary harness at each light and the light hounsing itself. This requires removing several of the rear interior panels to route the wiring around.

The prep package is mainly the transmission cooler and the holes already made in the structure to allow easy bolt on of the hitch.

The harness is about 30 bucks. I know of a how to for this procedure elsewhere, make your email visible (not private) and I will email the location.

tccart

No, not shock absorbers, but static electricity shocks when exiting our Sienna. We live in a dry climate, so we are used to getting static shocks from vehicles with cloth seats, but the shocks from our new Sienna are UNBELIEVABLE. I'm thinking of getting the seats re-covered in leather.

Anyone with the same issue? Has anyone installed one of those ground straps that hang to the pavement from the undercarriage?

Thanks

jm38

I have a Sienna XLE Limited. Before we picked it up at the dealer, I asked about the door locks. I had the dealer change it so the doors lock when shifting from park to drive and then unlocking when shifting to park out of drive. Makes it much easier and then the doors aren't locked when you park in the garage.

danog

Is the procedure listed in the manual? That is the way we are used to having the doors function.

kip

Yes, the procedure is on page 24. My Sienna came with the ignition lock/off-ignition unlock setting.

davenow

my '04 LTD came like that too...

nickles

davenow -
how IS your LTD now that you've had it for a few weeks..
give us a rundown.. found anything you don't like ?

drivenow

I rely on the 12V outlet to charge my cell phone, usually at night when the minivan is dormant...however, when the ignition is off, the power to the 12V outlet is also off. Actually, somehow a reverse draining current occurs and my cell phone depletes quickly, when plugged into this dormant outlet. Can my dealer wire my 12V outlet so it is always hot (like 99% of the other automobiles I've ever owned)? Is this a standard request, or will my Toyota service guy look at me funny? Can I do this myself? I hope Toyota can fix this annoyance on future models...I find it amusing that this outlet sleeps when the car is dormant, yet the map lights will burn indefinitely with the ignition key removed!!

davenow

i took the mini-van for an "afternoon lunch trip" just because i wanted to drive the van again, sooner than after 4:30 pm when i leave from work, just so that i can drive it more .

I love it... i don't even care anymore about how much i've spent on it, because whatever it was, it was well worth it IMHO .

i just wish gas prices come down a little!!!

elizab

We just got a Sienna LE today and love it. However, I am a little concerned about the captain's chairs. The dealership salesman moved the passenger side chair to the center-most position as we requested. When he pulled on the strap to disengage the seat, one side did not properly disengage. My husband thinks it's because he was not pulling straight up on the seat, but had his hand on one side of it. He struggled with it for a few moments with one side pulled up a few inches and the other side still engaged, and then had to put it back down and try again. The second time, it disengaged fine and he moved it to the center spot. Anyway, my question is - can the prongs that lock the seat to the floor bars be damaged if one side disengages without the other and gets lifted up a little? I'm worried that the prong that stayed locked could have gotten bent or something. Has this problem happened to anyone else? Also, I noticed in the manual it says the seat buckle needs to be stowed or it could be damaged. I don't know if it was or wasn't, but it seems okay. Is that really such a big deal?

kmead

I doubt the prongs or mechanism can be easily damaged, especially by what you described as there is some compliance of the hook to the loop in the floor.

When removing a seat, be sure to have the seat in its rear most position (slid back) or it will be very difficult to reinstall. The belt buckle should be stowed so it won't damage the upholstry of the seat while its folded. This is most important when the seat will be folded for a lengthy time period (for a trip, or when you have removed the seat from the van).

hopeful8

did they ever fix your clicking noise? what was it?

cybernut04

Yes, I've had the same experience. The first time it happened, when I got out of the Sienna (cloth seats) after picking it up from the dealer (why do these things never happen on test drives??), the shock came as a BIG suprise. I had never had it happen before (I've always had cloth seats in my vehicles - don't care for leather) and I was surprised that I got a shock and very surprised at the strength of the shock.

It doesn't happen all the time, but it happens enough so that I have changed my routine at the gas pump - I make sure I touch a lot of metal before I get anywhere close to the pump!

Sorry - I don't have a remedy to offer, but you're not alone in experiencing the Sienna shock.

rss68

Within about 2 months of owning it, our new CE has developed a fairly quiet, but yet irritating, creaking or rubbling noise from the door seal nearest to the driver on the left side. The van is only 4 months old.

We took it in and the service manager said they realigned the guides, and that the problem was solved. It is not solved.

As a real quick test, I rubbed some vegetable oil on the area where I thought the noise was coming from, and that worked for about a day. Does anybody know what the problem is and whether it can be fixed?

kenhall64

Have a question of if problem or is that the way it is to work. We have 04 XLE with leather. Over the weekend had kid in rear seat for first time. The pass. side center seat was down in table position. When time to get kid out of rear seat, pulling strap I was unable to get the seat to fold-up forward. The seat would not release from the floor. Only after I put seat-back up to the up position and pulled strap was I able to get to kid in back. Is this the way it works or do I have problem?
Thanks

stever

The Honda owners have been using Shin-Etsu brand grease on their sliders for a couple of years - you might to find some of that.

Steve, Host

kmead

For safety reasons the seat is designed to go through a full cycle to go from folded to upright to folded and tipped up. As the seats are spring loaded I think they chose to do this so you wouldn't inadvertantly and unexpectedly pull the lever and have the seat swing up and hit you. Once you get used to it its not much of a problem.

You can leave the seat tipped up and use the strap in the bottom of the seat to secure it to the handle on the pillar.

Hope that helps.

rss68

Steve, the creaking is not originating from the sliders near the floor or near the ceiling. It is coming from the vertical seal area, somewhere above the door handle--just behind and below my left ear as I'm driving (see why it's so irritating).

stever

Well, if the veggie oil worked a little while I was thinking a longer lasting seal grease may help for six months.

Steve, Host

woodytwo

I had a "Hidden Hitch" installed by a RV dealer. Not sure if this brand is available in the US but it fits up snuggly within an inch or two of the bottom panel and bumper molding. Has never scraped the ground even with the trailer attached.

woodytwo

The outside temperature is 64 degrees and I have the temperature setting at cold and the front centre vents open. But I'm getting warm air. At 64 degrees or higher I need to put the A/C on to cool the inside. Is this normal??

woodytwo

The mystery has now been solved. Apparently Toyota had decided to use US gallons on the ceiling display with the reasoning being that if I went to the US for a trip, I would be all set up. However, I guess that someone forgot to remind them that our odometer shows Kilometers and not miles. Real crazy IMHO.

ideaphoria

Hi, I am having rattle issues on the two front doors, the second row passenger side seat, and the power sliding doors. I am miserable. How are you addressing your problems with your sienna?

dako_tian

Isn't that one of those funny-looking dog breeds? ;-)

ideaphoria

YES! The dashboard noise I had on my xle was in the multi-disk CD player. The bottom tray for one of the cd's "clinks" on the bottom of the radio. I made toyota replace the whole system. But you could dismantle the radio and put felt in the bottom of the changer.... Now i have more rattles - the second row passenger side seat is horrible. I am really hating this car because of the rattles.

happycamper

I became a proud Sienna LE owner on 3/23/04. However, much to my dismay, on April 5, I had to bring it in for service to repair evidence of a leak that surfaced on my driveway. The service department determined that it was a leak from the thermostat housing unit. It was in the shop for a whole week - yup, 7 days. I figured the problem had been solved (on this brand new vehicle). Unfortunately, this morning, evidence of the leak resurfaced...a 12"x8" puddle of pinkish fluid. I am concerned that the vehicle may not have been properly prepped by the dealership that my dealer swapped with - about 210 miles away - that may have resulted in the problem. First: has anyone else had this problem? Second: anyone have any idea as to why this would occur? Thanks for your help!

kmead

This is the first such problem I have heard of. There have been a fair number of bad radiators, but most of them were from September or so of 03 (04 model).

wwest

Yes, Toyota and Lexus used to have a shut off valve for the hot water not to flow into the heater core. Without that valve the incoming airflow temperature will always rise somewhat as it flows through the system.

kmead

Many years ago most all manufacturers (like the mid eighties) changed from adjusting the coolant flow through the heater core to a full flow system that regulates the mix of air in the system. Overall this has created more reliable systems much less prone to leaks or other problems.

One negative is that if the mixing doors are not correctly adjusted, you will end up with slightly warmer air. The old system could also suffer a similar problem if the water valve was misadjusted or corroded so it would not close.

As for the problem you are having with warm air, I suspect its more an issue with how you have the automatic system configured for temperature.

roidelaroute

Hi everybody. My name is Marty, I live in the L.A. area and commute about 130 miles per day to and from work. Also do lots of city driving taking my boys and my teams to practices, games, etc. After owning a Previa for 13 years and 255K miles, I decided to go all out and bought a '04 Sienna XLE Limited, with everything except the Nav and DVD. I didn't want the Nav because it meant no in-dash 6 CD player. Skipped the DVD because I'm going to install monitors in the headrests.

I now have 11 months and 41K on my Ltd. It has been trouble free except for the following items covered by warranty: I noticed a series of hard spots when turning the steering wheel in the normal driving range. It felt like my bicycles do when the headset bearings develop little low or flat spots in their races. The dealer (Longo Toyota in El Monte) said he had heard about isolated cases and once he confirmed my case, installed a brand new steering column. The job took 2 days, but I got a free loan car (brand new Prius fast back - I loved it!). The other thing was my horn wouldn't blow, at least not consistently. It was really getting to be a problem, but it always worked at the dealership! Finally, the guys at Mark Miller Toyota (Culver City) discovered a short in the mechanism. They ordered a new horn assembly which is due in today. It will take a couple of hours to replace, under warranty.

My doors are smooth and quiet, and believe me, they get a work out. That includes abuse from people who yank on them not realizing they're automatic. My rear hatch is a bit jerky on the way up, especially on very cold mornings.

No dash noise either. Everything is tight and properly aligned.

I do have the irritating rattle from the second row passenger side seat. I didn't know this was a wide-spread problem until I found you guys and this site. What's the fix?

I get my oil changed and tires rotated about every 5 to 6K miles. The factory tires are 17" Bridgstone Turanza ELs - they are LOUSY. Problem is, there aren't many 225-60/17s on the market yet and the good ones are $$. I'll have to bite the bullet soon, as these are nearly finished. At 41K, I guess I shouldn't complain. They are scary in the rain, but it's summertime now and you all know it never rains in (southern) California.

Bottom line: I couldn't be happier than I am. My teenage boys and their friend love riding in the van and my oldest wants to use it on dates, which I don't mind. (They do everything in groups these days and the bucnh of them can all fit). It has great safety features and style too.

Last thing: I have a French heritage from Louisiana. My screen name "La Roi de la Route" is French for King of the Road.

momstruck1

for the one year report as I am looking for a sienna and had some worries . The problems here seem a little less major then what i have had for the past 6 years of 2 leases with Gm. Long story not worth going into. Thanks for a good report it puts my mind at ease slightly as we are looking at toyota for the reliability factor .

etalon02

That's a lot of mileage to put on a one-year old van! The fact that you have barely experienced any significant problems is testament to the quality of a well-engineered 1st-year production Sienna.

In case you did not know, a TSB has been issued to correct the jerky rear hatch problem. Ask your service manager to search it for you on your next visit.

I agree with you that the 17-inch Bridgestone tires are really lousy. Not only are they noisy on cement pavements, they are also susceptible to forming flat spots, thus making the first couple of miles driving each morning a rather uncharacteristically bumpy ride.

Anyone have suggestions on what good replacement tires to go for? We've had our Sienna XLE for less than four months, but we're already thinking of replacing the OEM tires.

nickles

Pirellis.
unmatched handling and quality.
Tirerack has them at a good price, in the Sienna's size.

etalon02

Nickles, thanks for the tip.

I went to tirerack, but to my surprise Pirellis have received rather poor customer ratings. The Bridgestones are getting rightly blasted for, among others, poor wet traction, noisy ride, poor tread wear, etc. No wonder Tirerack is selling them at $73 per tire - you get what you pay for I guess.

Not many choices as far as I can tell. There is a Goodyear Fortera tire that has moderate to good ratings but I have not had good experience with Goodyear. I wish Michelin had in its Hydroedge line a 17 inch size. This line of tires has received very high ratings across the board, even though they are quite pricey.

weedshasta

They told me at Costco Tire Center that they could order the Bridgeford EL42 for $81.99 each and the Michelin LX4 for $128.99. These are both listed at Tire Rack for $73 and $99, but of course there is shipping on top of that.

sarniasting

"Etalon02, Michelin does make the Hydroedge in 17" size. However not in the 225/60R17. They do have 215/60R17 and 225/55R17 which I have been considering once my Bridgstones are finished; which should not be long even though I only have about 21000 kM. on them. I am concerned I might have a bit of the toe in problem I have read about on the earlier productions. Mine was delivered just about 13 months ago and I already have over 50 percent tread wear on the front tires. I am going to see if I have a problem with balancing and then will probably replace the tires hopefully with Michelins. I also feel the Bridestones have poor wet weather traction and in any snow they preform poorly. If any of the tire experts out there would like to comment on the tire size to go to I would really appreciate your thoughts as it does not look like Michelin will be making the Hydroedge in 225/60R17.

momstruck1

TOYOTA owners here . Just ordered a 2004 Sienna XLE LTD with PKG 5 . It should take a few weeks to come in but I did it. I was so nervous and still am i hope that toyota lives up to it's reputation as the best Got a good deal in the NYC area .

wildred

Congratulations! You just ordered the best minivan on the market! I have only had mine for a month (Ltd w/pkg 6). I absolutely love it! I hope yours comes soon, the waiting and the anticipation is just too agonizing.

One thing I like to remind you is that don't let the dealer sell you an over priced extended warranty. I bought my genuine Toyota PLATINUM ZERO deductible 7yr/75k for $500 from K.C. Summers in Mattoon, Illinois ($795 for the 7yr/100k). My dealer's finance guy wanted $700 MORE, and threatened that his service dept won't honor it if I bought from someone else. I then called Toyota, and confirmed that IT'S GOOD ANYWHERE IN NORTH AMERICA no matter which Toyota dealer you buy from!

robairto

I am a proud owner of an 04,Sienna. My last one was a 2000. There are many new improvements. Headlights that are actually adequate, a turning radius that is superb in comparison, and much more power. The ride is superior. I must tell you I only have 2500 miles on this vehicle. So far so good. I have the Dunlop 4000 tires, seem to be fine. Love the rear windows that retract a huge plus. For the person with the interior buffeting problem, start adjusting different windows and make sure your back wings are open. Now for the down side...I just started to get air infiltration around the front doors on windy days at 35 mph plus. The driver side rear sliding door takes a good deal of force to shut.(not like the 2000 which would glide to full close). The rear door is a little awkward to raise as it takes a two position move to get up or down. The well created by the absence of the rear seat is a huge plus, sure can hold alot,of course the spaare is midships which I never have to find out how to use it. I am still finding things about the car I was not aware of. That reminds me there is a storage tray under the pasenger seat which became my latest suprise.