Things like that bother me. I try to keep quiet about most things I read but if you have a question about your car the answer is not "wait for a letter". Send me an email of your VIN and I can pull the TSB and forward it to you or call your dealer and ask them to enter in your VIN and see what it says. Again, not difficult to do, someone is very lazy.
I found the letter and it states that some early 2005 production Avalons may have a weld defect in the steering column and any dealer can inspect the weld to see if it needs to be replaced free of charge. you need to give the dealer your VIN to see if yours is in the production number. The reason they said wait for a letter is that everyone doesn't show up at the same time but if you called in they should take care of you.
"Has anyone received their steering recall letter yet? I called Toyota and they say my car is on the list. Called the dealer and he says wait until I get the letter from Toyota. "
Several prior posts dealt with this "notice" --> "recall" over the past month or so.
I can think of 3reasons why we were told to wait for a letter from Toyota:
1. Not all 2005 Avalons are affected; only the first 4900 or so,
2. The dealers initially didn't know where to look for a defective weld,
3. Toyota only 2-3 weeks ago sent the dealers a special light and instructions to do this inspection.
My car was among the affected. I took it in for an inspection as soon as I heard about this problem through this forum, on May 25. The service manager had received a preliminary notice, but no detailed instructions yet. He and a mechanic looked up & down the steering column, but couldn't see anything strange. The special light arrived 2 weeks ago, the dealer called me and my car was properly inspected on June 10. It passed. The weld is in the upper portion of the steering column, a few inches below the steering wheel.
Yesterday (June 22), 4 weeks after we knew there is a potential problem that needs to be inspected, I received the official letter from Toyota asking me to contact my dealer asap.
To be safe, I suggest that any owners of an Avalon with serial number earlier than 5000 contact your dealer and have the inspection done now, letter or no letter. Only a small number are expected to have deffective welds-- but one of these could be yours.
Kinzua, I don't have an average speed readout. ( I did in the Volvo, but it did not reset with each engine shut down, only if you manually reset it.) It must be that the average speed is with the Nav. feature on your car. But the distance to go, or fuel range, is on mine. It does not reset each time the engine is cut off. It only resets when the tank is refilled. The same for the average mpg.
You are free to buy the car at another dealer in another city and still have the warranty work done locally. It is not as if you are giving up any massive perks by buying elsewhere.
The Dynamic Laser Cruise Control has three vehicle-to-vehicle distances to choose from: LONG, MIDDLE, SHORT. LONG is about 245ft, MIDDLE is about 165ft. and SHORT is about 100ft. You don't an option to set any other distances. The system in my opinion needs some refinement. It works good some of the time but there situations where it doesn't respond as it should, at least that was my experience on a recent 500 mile trip.
If I had it to do over, I would not have ordered the remote start, it is not worth it. For the price I paid for it, I could have had invisible paint protection professionally installed on the front of my Limited.
havalongavalon writes: "Not all 2005 Avalons are affected; only the first 4900 or so"
That's what I thought until I received my notice a few days ago. The last numbers of my VIN are 23XXX, a large jump from 5XXX. The steering column welds were checked today and all OK.
I'm assuming you have it turned on. If not, turn the knob to the left to the desired speed and press down the button. You should see a green light indicating that it is on. If you put your hand close to the seat (appr 2 cm ) you should feel the air. It wont feel nearly as powerful as your regular vents- its very subtle.
"I may consider buying an Avalon in about a year. Just curious--what is the minimum distance you can set the auto-cruise control device. Can it be set for say 60 feet if traveling at 40mph? If you have to set it too far, I would think other cars will move in front of you causing you to to have to go farther and farther behind.
Another question: those of you who have this auto-cruise control: do you find it useful or is it too much of a gimmick and more trouble than it's worth?"
Lowest setting is about 100 feet. Yes, other cars will slide over in front of you and you'll get pushed further back. I use it extensively on 2 lane roads and on 4 lane ones when there isn't a lot of traffic. Also, it will stop working whenever the windshield wipers come on. I like it better now then I did a couple months ago but I'm not sure its worth what I paid for it.
Please do a search on this subject and you'll find more on this issue.
"I noticed the view out the rear window is slightly distorted."
My XL's rear window is way more than slightly distorted. But for quick glances via the rearview mirror, I don't much notice it. If I stared through it at following cars for about two minutes, though, I'd probably get seasick.
". . .and there is a wind noise coming from the both rear doors over 60 MPH."
At over 60 mph I've got wind noise that sounds a little like a playing card held against the spokes of a moving bicycle rather than a whistling sound. By sitting in the back seat while my wife drove, I located the noise at the vertical section of the small, immobile rear window (driver's side). By holding a folded handkerchief over it, I could stop the noise. I don't expect a dealer would do a thing about this, so I thought of squeezing a small bead of silicon where the rubber seal meets the window. Should I first try the inside or the outside before going for both sides? Or is this a bad idea for either side? Suggestions anyone?
For those still hung up on this, here is Mitsubishi's take. This is from USA Today's Jim Healey review of the new Eclipse. He really likes it and he tells it like it is.
"V-6 is rated 18/27 mpg with manual, 19/28 with automatic. Premium is specified. Mitsubishi says regular is OK; power will drop about 2%."
I am planning to get a 2005 Avalon in the next few weeks, but debating if a 2006 might be worth waiting for. The only reason I would wait, and my biggest hangup, is the sound system - no mp3 option, no iPod option in 2005. Am I missing something? Is there a way to swap out the cassette deck (obsolete in my life) for an mp3 player? Any way of knowing whether the 2006 might have mp3 and/or iPod capability?
Thanks for the info---I installed my detector in a simular manner that retired7 used except that it is positioned on the top of the dash so it can easily be removed when traveling in a state where radars are illegal.
". . .and there is a wind noise coming from the both rear doors over 60 MPH."
At over 60 mph I've got wind noise that sounds a little like a playing card held against the spokes of a moving bicycle rather than a whistling sound. By sitting in the back seat while my wife drove, I located the noise at the vertical section of the small, immobile rear window (driver's side). By holding a folded handkerchief over it, I could stop the noise. I don't expect a dealer would do a thing about this, so I thought of squeezing a small bead of silicon where the rubber seal meets the window. Should I first try the inside or the outside before going for both sides? Or is this a bad idea for either side? Suggestions anyone?
You've done the hard part, let the dealer do the easy part.then you don't have to worry about a warrenty issue.
I agree with kinzua but I would make sure you get a complete explanation from the dealer on how he plans on correcting this. And I'd try to observe what they did to correct it. They should definitely fix it. I wouldn't touch it myself while it's under warrenty. Good luck and keep us posted.
Why would it bother a Toyota Avalon owner that the upcoming Camry would have some styling cues similar to their car? They are both Toyotas after all. I don't see what the fuzz is about. And it won't be a couple hundred thousand, try something like a couple of couple hundred thousand plus! :shades: Mackabee
my 05 XL is a great car on the highway but in heavy traffic it is scary. The hesitation is brutal and when the power starts I have to jump on the brakes to avoid hitting the car in front of me.
My service manager says he hears this all the time and it is related to the 27 computers, the throttle by wire and the 31 MPG rating.
I will be making a decision shortly on which Toyota dealership I will be going to. I decided to stick with what I know. My best friend is a sales manager at a local home appliance store and offered me a job. The hours would be better, the pay maybe not as good, but I would never have to go out in the rain or hot sun. Somehow I just don't see myself coming home and saying to my wife: "Honey, you ought to see that new Maytag dishwasher we got in today!! Man is it a beauty! Washes 20 place settings in just 30 minutes! Maytag's got a home run with that puppy! I'll be selling a ton of those! I got to call Greggs wife and tell her about it" Not quite like: "Honey, you should see the new Avalon! Babe, it's a beauty! We got a 60k Lexus for the price of a Toyota! We got another grand slam on our hands! I'll be selling a lot of those puppies! I drove the first one today and it's miles ahead of the previous model. We are going to crush the competition!"
If the rear glass is that badly distorted, Toyota should replace it with no hesitation. I'd venture a bet that that glass wouldn't have been installed in a vehicle assembled in a factory in Japan..Shame on Toyota for permitting such shoddiness in a car this expensive. On second thought, it's not acceptable on anyone's car at ANY cost !
I haven't been out on the highway lately to notice wind noise, but when I was washing my car yesterday, I noticed that the seal on the side of the rear (driver's side) window was bent in. I lowered the window, pulled out the seal and raised the window back up and it was fixed. I'll watch to see if it gets caught in the next time I lower the window. Maybe yours is like that, too.
"New amenities include a seven-way adjustable steering column to provide drivers the option of various vertical and telescopic adjustments..." from pressroom.toyota.com.
How is the steering column adjustable in seven ways? Isn't it just tilt and telescopic?
> If the rear glass is that badly distorted, Toyota should replace it with no > hesitation. I'd venture a bet that that glass wouldn't have been installed in a > vehicle assembled in a factory in Japan..Shame on Toyota for permitting such > shoddiness in a car this expensive. On second thought, it's not acceptable on > anyone's car at ANY cost !
I too am very disappointed at the workmanship and assembly quality of the new Avalon. I had several Hondas and Toyotas in my family, include a '90 Accord with 250K+ trouble free miles, a '90 Civic with 200K+ trouble free miles, and a '01 4Runner which got beaten pretty bad on the off-road trails in Lake Tahoe and Death Valley, but still drive like new without a sqeak or rattle. So I pretty much plunge into the '05 Avalon with a leap of faith, assuming fine workmanship and rock solid reliability because it carries the Toyota badge. Unfortunately my Avalon Touring pretty much fell apart the day after I picked up the car...
I had numerous problems in my first 3 months of ownership, including most (if not all) of the common problems reported at this forum (including the pulling to the right issue which is still not fixed after 4 trips to the dealer). In addition, my sunroof got stuck open due to an improperly installed clip on the rail, so I had to drive 40 miles in the rain to the dealer to get it fixed. My radio control cover was stuck closed, so I could not turn off the radio because the button on the steering wheel only let you turn ON but not turn OFF the radio. The interior fit and finish is appalling for a Toyota product to say the least. Almost every single piece of plastic trim is misaligned, and there was excessive form trim sticking out on the B-pillar - I have no idea how this could have passed Toyota's QA check. On bad roads I can hear rattles coming from left, right, and center - I have pretty much given up identifying the source of the rattles, and simply turn on the radio when I hit a bad road :-(
I don't feel like driving a real Toyota when I am driving my Avalon. I feel like driving a big American car. I was given a Scion xB (aka "the box") as a loaner for a week while my Avalon was in the shop to fix the steering problem. I notice that even though the Scion (which is built in Japan) uses cheaper plastic and thinner metal, everything is perfectly aligned and there is no rattle or funny noise. Before buying the Avalon, I considered the TL but was turned away by the numerous quality issues reported on the TL forum. Looks like the TL and Avalon are falling victims to Honda and Toyota's aggressive cost cutting and Americanization. Will Toyota and Honda follow the footsteps of BMW and Mercedez-Benz? It takes years to build a good product, but it takes a lifetime or generations to build a reputation which can be tarnished overnight.
I think the Lexus LS and GS are built in Toyota's Tahara factory which is where my '01 4Runner was built and has been ranked as the top quality plant in the world by JD Powers. So perhaps that is the only safe bet???
Wow, sorry to hear about all of the problems you're having. I'm supposed to take delivery of a Limited next Sat. I hope I have better luck than you've had. I've previously owned an Avalon & Camry, both US built, and the quality has been first rate. According to the owner's manual (p. 124), if you hold down the mode button on the steering wheel that should turn off the audio system. You may want to consult it. I hope your other problems are resolved.
When I picked up our new LTD yesterday I noticed a much firmer ride than the 2000 Avalon I traded in. I got home and checked the tire pressure. Sure enough it was 40 Lbs in each tire.
This has happened with EVERY car that I bought over the last four decades. Why Oh Why can't the dealer check the pressure before delivery?
As a side-note when we test drove an ES330 the ride was a little rough too. I checked the pressure for the nice sales lady and it registered 38 Lbs around. I suggested that the cars used for test drive have the proper pressure and the ride impression would by much more compelling.
Hi all, I will pick up my new Avalon Limited this week. I have read several posts regarding the 05 Avalon, like the post from Avalonowner. It scared me big time. Do you think I should re-evaluate my decision regarding the Avalon, even if I have to pay a fine for not taking delivery of the Avalon? :surprise: :sick:
Don't worry, your car will be fine. Unlike Avalonowner who I feel for, my car is more than perfect. My rear Glass has no distortion, my car has no hesitation, my doors haven't gotten stuck, everything is lined up the way it's supposed to be. The only thing I noticed was a little noise coming from somewhere up front mostly when going over a rough road, and I tracked it down to the storage compartment in my console by the cup holder to my metal dog tags (yes I still have them, LOL). After wrapping them in a napkin the noise is gone. I have over 6,000 miles now, (can't believe how fast they come up) and so far everything is perfect, so don't worry jeffm5, I believe Avalonowners car is an anomaly. Good luck.
Mine seems perfect after 4,000 miles. I would suggest a thorough, long test drive and if you are unhappy with anything have it fixed before taking delivery. If it doesn't perform in a satisfactory manner cancel the deal. You should not be penalized.
Sorry to hear about the problems with your Avalon. Just FYI the Avalon was designed and built for the American market and it's made in Georgetown Ky. not Japan. There seems to be a misconception that the Toyotas made in Japan are better than the North American built ones. I have owned both US and Japanese Camrys and the problems I have had with either were minimal to really say one is better than the other. In fact two of the three have been made in Kentucky and if I were to remove the VIN plate you wouldn't be able to tell the American made from the Japan made. I give a lot of credit to our workforce which has embraced the way Toyota makes cars. I hope they're not getting a little sloppy at the Kentucky factory. :shades: Mackabee
With all the computers involved, plus potential transmission issues, individual cars of even the same model can manifest a variety of eccentricities. Before you absolutely commit to the deal (unless you've done so already), be sure to take a test drive of the car and try to replicate the situations that seem to have caused problems. That could help you make a decision. In my case, two of the three Avalons I test-drove before ordering my XL wouldn't have been acceptable to me. But when I drove the one I ordered, the problems didn't exist, so I completed the deal.
New Topic: Thanks to those who responded about my wind noise concern re the small rear window. I'll take the advice and go to the dealer before trying my own silicone solution.
Another New Topic: XL owners should check cold tire pressures for 29 lb. as recommended. With the correct pressure on the 16" wheels you should get a very smooth ride.
Well I finally got my door locks changed so they lock at 12 MPH. I had called Toyota and they opened a ticket and sent it to the dealer. The dealer was more than kind and set up my appointment for a Saturday morning. When I got there they said the mechanic would just plug the computer into the analyzer and set the locking that way. I explained that I was hoping they could use the procedure in the owners manual, since in the future, if the battery is ever disconnected I want to know I can set it back again.
Good thing I asked because it took 20 minutes of the tech's time to get it to work, or so he thought. They allowed me into the service bay and he showed me what he did, exactly as I had tried. I went back out of service while he drove the car out. As soon as I got in and started the car, I shifted from Park and poof the doors locked (Grrrrrr). I went back in and the tech was shocked, came back out and sure enough it hadn't worked. He tried again with no success. Then he said he would try one more thing, and if that didn't work then he would have to use the analyzer.
The trick (it's not in the manual) is that you have to de-program the default setting first and removing coding is in the manual. Once he removed the default then did the recoding for the 12 MPH setting it worked like a charm. I stood there and watched the whole thing, and then I did it myself.
He asked that when I call Toyota back to tell them it is fixed that I also tell them the manual is missing that one critical step. (second error I've found).
Hope this information helps those that have also been trying to set the door locks to lock at 12 MPH.
In Pennsylvania the only splash guards toyota has are black. When I purchased the car (a Phantom Gray Pearl / Ivory LTD) I specifically said and they wrote into the order that I would not drive it off the lot without the splash guards on and they said "Sure, Toyota has color matching splash guards" when I ordered.
When my car was shipped they ordered the splash guards and found out they were only black, I told them that was not my problem, and they will just have to have them painted. Didn't give them a choice or chance to argue. In the same breath I also told them that I had the agreed upon price and they would have to eat whatever extra cost they incurred for the painting.
Well they did it, the guards match the body perfectly, I paid $74 total for them, painted and installed, and the sales manager, salesman and parts manager checked it out on delivery and all agreed it was the best looking LTD they had sold and the only one with matching splash guards.
Just had it to the car wash and the guy that drove it out and dried it came over and said that it was the nicest looking car he's seen, and he was maybe 16 or 17...so it's not just an over 40 something cruiser.... :shades:
Comments
Several prior posts dealt with this "notice" --> "recall" over the past month or so.
I can think of 3reasons why we were told to wait for a letter from Toyota:
1. Not all 2005 Avalons are affected; only the first 4900 or so,
2. The dealers initially didn't know where to look for a defective weld,
3. Toyota only 2-3 weeks ago sent the dealers a special light and instructions to do this inspection.
My car was among the affected. I took it in for an inspection as soon as I heard about this problem through this forum, on May 25. The service manager had received a preliminary notice, but no detailed instructions yet. He and a mechanic looked up & down the steering column, but couldn't see anything strange. The special light arrived 2 weeks ago, the dealer called me and my car was properly inspected on June 10. It passed. The weld is in the upper portion of the steering column, a few inches below the steering wheel.
Yesterday (June 22), 4 weeks after we knew there is a potential problem that needs to be inspected, I received the official letter from Toyota asking me to contact my dealer asap.
To be safe, I suggest that any owners of an Avalon with serial number earlier than 5000 contact your dealer and have the inspection done now, letter or no letter. Only a small number are expected to have deffective welds-- but one of these could be yours.
havalongavalon
I don't have an average speed readout. ( I did in the Volvo, but it did not reset with each engine shut down, only if you manually reset it.) It must be that the average speed is with the Nav. feature on your car. But the distance to go, or fuel range, is on mine. It does not reset each time the engine is cut off. It only resets when the tank is refilled. The same for the average mpg.
It is not as if you are giving up any massive perks by buying elsewhere.
That's what I thought until I received my notice a few days ago. The last numbers of my VIN are 23XXX, a large jump from 5XXX. The steering column welds were checked today and all OK.
Rewop
NWBLIZZARD
Gary
http://photobucket.com/albums/y95/mtpys/
Password is Avy05. Use the capital A & lower case vy.
When I had a Power Port installed and the headrest DVD system done I had them hardwire a power line out of the overhead console for my detector.
MikeS.
Another question: those of you who have this auto-cruise control: do you find it useful or is it too much of a gimmick and more trouble than it's worth?"
Lowest setting is about 100 feet. Yes, other cars will slide over in front of you and you'll get pushed further back. I use it extensively on 2 lane roads and on 4 lane ones when there isn't a lot of traffic. Also, it will stop working whenever the windshield wipers come on. I like it better now then I did a couple months ago but I'm not sure its worth what I paid for it.
Please do a search on this subject and you'll find more on this issue.
MikeS.
Gary
My XL's rear window is way more than slightly distorted. But for quick glances via the rearview mirror, I don't much notice it. If I stared through it at following cars for about two minutes, though, I'd probably get seasick.
At over 60 mph I've got wind noise that sounds a little like a playing card held against the spokes of a moving bicycle rather than a whistling sound. By sitting in the back seat while my wife drove, I located the noise at the vertical section of the small, immobile rear window (driver's side). By holding a folded handkerchief over it, I could stop the noise. I don't expect a dealer would do a thing about this, so I thought of squeezing a small bead of silicon where the rubber seal meets the window. Should I first try the inside or the outside before going for both sides? Or is this a bad idea for either side? Suggestions anyone?
"V-6 is rated 18/27 mpg with manual, 19/28 with automatic. Premium is specified. Mitsubishi says regular is OK; power will drop about 2%."
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2005-06-23-eclipse_x.htm
I am planning to get a 2005 Avalon in the next few weeks, but debating if a 2006 might be worth waiting for. The only reason I would wait, and my biggest hangup, is the sound system - no mp3 option, no iPod option in 2005. Am I missing something? Is there a way to swap out the cassette deck (obsolete in my life) for an mp3 player? Any way of knowing whether the 2006 might have mp3 and/or iPod capability?
Thanks.
In about 6-8 weeks.
At over 60 mph I've got wind noise that sounds a little like a playing card held against the spokes of a moving bicycle rather than a whistling sound. By sitting in the back seat while my wife drove, I located the noise at the vertical section of the small, immobile rear window (driver's side). By holding a folded handkerchief over it, I could stop the noise. I don't expect a dealer would do a thing about this, so I thought of squeezing a small bead of silicon where the rubber seal meets the window. Should I first try the inside or the outside before going for both sides? Or is this a bad idea for either side? Suggestions anyone?
You've done the hard part, let the dealer do the easy part.then you don't have to worry about a warrenty issue.
give the dealer a try. If he slobers it up it's on his dime.
:shades:
Mackabee
My service manager says he hears this all the time and it is related to the 27 computers, the throttle by wire and the 31 MPG rating.
Anyone else experiencing this? Any fixes?
Mack
How is the steering column adjustable in seven ways? Isn't it just tilt and telescopic?
Is there any way to increase or adjust the volume of this sound?
Gary
> hesitation. I'd venture a bet that that glass wouldn't have been installed in a
> vehicle assembled in a factory in Japan..Shame on Toyota for permitting such
> shoddiness in a car this expensive. On second thought, it's not acceptable on
> anyone's car at ANY cost !
I too am very disappointed at the workmanship and assembly quality of the new Avalon. I had several Hondas and Toyotas in my family, include a '90 Accord with 250K+ trouble free miles, a '90 Civic with 200K+ trouble free miles, and a '01 4Runner which got beaten pretty bad on the off-road trails in Lake Tahoe and Death Valley, but still drive like new without a sqeak or rattle. So I pretty much plunge into the '05 Avalon with a leap of faith, assuming fine workmanship and rock solid reliability because it carries the Toyota badge. Unfortunately my Avalon Touring pretty much fell apart the day after I picked up the car...
I had numerous problems in my first 3 months of ownership, including most (if not all) of the common problems reported at this forum (including the pulling to the right issue which is still not fixed after 4 trips to the dealer). In addition, my sunroof got stuck open due to an improperly installed clip on the rail, so I had to drive 40 miles in the rain to the dealer to get it fixed. My radio control cover was stuck closed, so I could not turn off the radio because the button on the steering wheel only let you turn ON but not turn OFF the radio. The interior fit and finish is appalling for a Toyota product to say the least. Almost every single piece of plastic trim is misaligned, and there was excessive form trim sticking out on the B-pillar - I have no idea how this could have passed Toyota's QA check. On bad roads I can hear rattles coming from left, right, and center - I have pretty much given up identifying the source of the rattles, and simply turn on the radio when I hit a bad road :-(
I don't feel like driving a real Toyota when I am driving my Avalon. I feel like driving a big American car. I was given a Scion xB (aka "the box") as a loaner for a week while my Avalon was in the shop to fix the steering problem. I notice that even though the Scion (which is built in Japan) uses cheaper plastic and thinner metal, everything is perfectly aligned and there is no rattle or funny noise. Before buying the Avalon, I considered the TL but was turned away by the numerous quality issues reported on the TL forum. Looks like the TL and Avalon are falling victims to Honda and Toyota's aggressive cost cutting and Americanization. Will Toyota and Honda follow the footsteps of BMW and Mercedez-Benz? It takes years to build a good product, but it takes a lifetime or generations to build a reputation which can be tarnished overnight.
I think the Lexus LS and GS are built in Toyota's Tahara factory which is where my '01 4Runner was built and has been ranked as the top quality plant in the world by JD Powers. So perhaps that is the only safe bet???
This has happened with EVERY car that I bought over the last four decades. Why Oh Why can't the dealer check the pressure before delivery?
As a side-note when we test drove an ES330 the ride was a little rough too. I checked the pressure for the nice sales lady and it registered 38 Lbs around. I suggested that the cars used for test drive have the proper pressure and the ride impression would by much more compelling.
I will pick up my new Avalon Limited this week. I have read several posts regarding the 05 Avalon, like the post from Avalonowner. It scared me big time. Do you think I should re-evaluate my decision regarding the Avalon, even if I have to pay a fine for not taking delivery of the Avalon?
:surprise: :sick:
:shades:
Mackabee
New Topic: Thanks to those who responded about my wind noise concern re the small rear window. I'll take the advice and go to the dealer before trying my own silicone solution.
Another New Topic: XL owners should check cold tire pressures for 29 lb. as recommended. With the correct pressure on the 16" wheels you should get a very smooth ride.
welcome to the new avvy world
i am still waiting for my white pearl blizzard limited avalon to arrive one month left
bro u can test drive the avalon before u decide
good luck
ali
The dealer was more than kind and set up my appointment for a Saturday morning. When I got there they said the mechanic would just plug the computer into the analyzer and set the locking that way. I explained that I was hoping they could use the procedure in the owners manual, since in the future, if the battery is ever disconnected I want to know I can set it back again.
Good thing I asked because it took 20 minutes of the tech's time to get it to work, or so he thought. They allowed me into the service bay and he showed me what he did, exactly as I had tried. I went back out of service while he drove the car out. As soon as I got in and started the car, I shifted from Park and poof the doors locked (Grrrrrr).
I went back in and the tech was shocked, came back out and sure enough it hadn't worked. He tried again with no success. Then he said he would try one more thing, and if that didn't work then he would have to use the analyzer.
The trick (it's not in the manual) is that you have to de-program the default setting first and removing coding is in the manual. Once he removed the default then did the recoding for the 12 MPH setting it worked like a charm. I stood there and watched the whole thing, and then I did it myself.
He asked that when I call Toyota back to tell them it is fixed that I also tell them the manual is missing that one critical step. (second error I've found).
Hope this information helps those that have also been trying to set the door locks to lock at 12 MPH.
When my car was shipped they ordered the splash guards and found out they were only black, I told them that was not my problem, and they will just have to have them painted. Didn't give them a choice or chance to argue. In the same breath I also told them that I had the agreed upon price and they would have to eat whatever extra cost they incurred for the painting.
Well they did it, the guards match the body perfectly, I paid $74 total for them, painted and installed, and the sales manager, salesman and parts manager checked it out on delivery and all agreed it was the best looking LTD they had sold and the only one with matching splash guards.
Just had it to the car wash and the guy that drove it out and dried it came over and said that it was the nicest looking car he's seen, and he was maybe 16 or 17...so it's not just an over 40 something cruiser.... :shades: