Toyota Sequoia

oac3

I think a Toyota dealer can use their car locator service to search for this car for you. There is cliffy (F&I in a Toy dealership) here who can best answer this, but he may be in zzzzzzzzzzzz mode like many of us around here. Hehehe.....

Sorry if that wasn't too helpful.

pschreck

You could try emailing him directly. He posts his address on his profile.

petro33

I am leaving on a cross country trip with my sequoia week after next. This will be the longest trip I we have taken in the car. We are leaving Sacramento and going to Las Vegas to Nashville to Springfield MO to home (visiting relatives). Has anyone taken their seq corss country? Is there a difference in gas I should worry about? Are there good and bad type gas stations in the east? I plan to change the oil before I leave (I use mobil 1) so I don't think I'll need to change it during the trip. Anyone ever gone to graceland? Any tips on what to see or parking or when its less crowded? thanks

sequoiasoon

Don't know on your year, miles etc. Tranny flush (not drain and fill) with M1 if 00-02, much smoother shifts over stock dex. 1 can of BG 44K fuel cleaner will do wonders for cleaning up the injectors and helping power / mileage.

arcticman

It's my understanding that BG is harder to find and cost more. Sequoiasoon, how much did your mileage go up, how often do you use BG, and have you tried Techron?

sequoiasoon

I used to use Techron every other oil change but didn't notice any real difference, just figured everything was already clean and I must be maintaining at that level. I was satisfied with that. When I put the BG in (after running through full tank) My mileage was about 2-3 MPG more. My corolla had 130k at that time. I fill up every time and write down miles and gallons(and maintenance)every time so I can track everything. (I blame Dad for this, he did on his cars, taught me, and my wife even does it now after some "conversations") From the mechanics that recommended it to me (and then website and phone calls) they say about 10 times as powerful as techron. I've since been putting a can in every 8-10k. I raved about it at work, 5 friends asked me to get it for them and they came back with my car runs much better, more power etc. Get me another can for my husbands car now 'cause he wants it too. I was worried about how strong it was but felt reassured when I checked multiple dealers in my area and they were using it. Actually had gone "price shopping" at Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Lexus and Infiniti in the area. Found out that they all use it for their "in house" Fuel injector service. They have other BG cleaners that they use first which needs tools/adaptors but then they put a can of 44k in the tank also. I found all the local dealers that carried it by contacting BG, they passed me on to local distributor, who gave me all the dealers using it. The Infiniti dealer had the best price ($13) Toyota the worst ($18).

Thanks for letting me ramble, I just really found it to be quality products. I also started using BG Synchro Shift (GL-4 equiv. full Synthetic but approx. 75W-80)in my Corolla tranny on recommendation from my friend (BMW Mechanic) they were using it for some of the "problem" trannies in their shop. I had a problem with a very light grind between upshifts mostly higher RPM and 5-4 downshift over 65 MPH always. 20 miles after putting Synchro shift in, no more grinds! Everybody said it seemed like the fluid I was using was putting to much "drag" on the synchros. I was using synthetic GL-5 and changing yearly anyway but had the "grind" for awhile. Once my tranny stopped grinding my mileage did go down a little but it varies depending on traffic. The decrease is directly linked to the "more power (from clean FI), no grind (from better fluid) and 5500 RPM 1st, 2nd, 3rd gear shifts". I love driving my Corolla, it now has 172k and gets 32 mpg avg. when I take it on trips and drive calmly since the wife and child are in the car. My last trip to North Carolina to visit friends 1 month ago I had 2, 41 mpg tanks! (no traffic, cool day, no A/C needed, 65-70 mph)

l1011tristar

I will be ordering a 2004 Sequoia once I am able to, and wanted to order it with the standard (16") wheels. A friend of mine told me that the vehicle will handle better with the 17" wheels, due to the lower profile of the tires. Can anyone tell me if that's true or not?

Thank you,
Matthew

slcamt

What tsb did they do? If it was just the suction tube replacement it won't fix your problem. If the compressor self destructed you will need a new compressor receiver dryer expansion valve possibly a new evaporator and a complete system flush. If they didn't do this when they replaced the compressor the first time you will probably need another compressor. The dealer should have done at least the flush and compressor replacment the first time you brought it in. I would start checking into the lemon law I think three times is a charm. The a/c system is to small for the the sequoia. It belongs on a tundra not an 8 passenger vehicle. Good luck

reboulder

I've been planning to buy an Acura MDX for my real estate biz, but have been hearing about these ungodly tax benefits for vehicles weighing 6000+ lbs., and read somewhere that the Sequoia is "on the list." Confess, I really like the Acura and don't need all of Sequoia's "beef." Net about $70-80K this year. Any CPA types out there who can suggest which vehicle might be de best dollar-wise?

gkatz1

The 17's might provide a little more lateral stiffness when conering. Personally, I like the 16's. The extra rubber comes in handy with a truck. I don't worry when I hit a pothole!

rolliedogg

I have a 2001 SR5 4WD with ~47K miles. Recently have heard metallic crunching sound whenever I engage the A/C or engage front defrost button. (Note: both engage a magnetic clutch that engages the large serpentine belt). After some research, I came across the TSB mentioned in earlier posts. I quick trip to my local Toyota dealer resulted in an estimate for parts needed - Compressor Assembly($890), Filter Kit($290), F/R Expansion Valves (~$60 each), suction tube ($130), receiver tank($45) plus several orings and snap rings.

Dealer was not optimistic on getting Toyota to cover the repairs, but at least they were going to ask. I have a copy of the TSB and it is clear to me that the repair covers initial design flaws in the system. The TSB is intended to "improve the durability and integrity" of the A/C system. The TSB also discusses metal debris which need to be flushed from the refrigerant lines and infers that all the debris may not be able to be entirely flushed. Also the TSB ends with a description of an increase of the lubricating reservoir from 200cc to 300cc. Clearly this is a design problem that Toyota is unwilling to make a recall.

I will pursue this with Toyota as this repair will cost me close to $2000. One key I will argue is the safety concern - that during the humid rainy days/nights the windshield fogs completely over causing extreme visibility problems. With no A/C and Defrost to defog the window, an accident is certainly likely.

Looking for others with similar problems, or those who have had their repairs covered after the 36Kmile warranty. Also I would recommend that anyone still under the warranty complain about their A/C compressor being noisy.

Luckily I had the brake TSB done last fall(under warranty) or I would be looking at my 2nd expensive repair of original desgin flaws by Toyota.

wankim

reboulder...

The tax break I think is for business owners, unless I'm mistaken. If you do have a business, then thanks to the Bush tax cut, you'll be able to deduct up to $100,000 of the cost this year. So in the case of the Sequoia, I think you'll be able to deduct the entire vehicle purchase price...or maybe you'd like to opt for the H1 Hummer? Haha.

I'm not sure what tax bracket you'll ultimately fall in, but the "net" price after the tax break on a top of the line Sequoia Ltd 4WD could be around $29K or so.... a great deal if you think about it!

chadrapp

This is not due to the Bush tax cut. This has been around awhile but has only recently been brought to the attention of the public. It is a loophole. I used it for my 2003 Seq. The government takes too much of my money anyway. so if I can get some back by using loopholes, Good for me.

wankim

That's true...but I think the tax cut raised the first year deduction to $100K. Originally, the deduction was for $25,000 the first year, plus an additional 30% of the remaining basis plus the first year's depreciation. For years 2 through 4, the deduction would be the regular depreciation for each year.

okian

I'm looking to install my Sequoia with a remote keyless entry because the vehicle didn't have it as an option. Does anyone have any ideas where I could install it or if there is a Toyota kit on where I could do it myself? Thanks!

doudoudid

I got my done in a AM guy that Hayward Toyota use, costs $203, it works great except no beep sounds when lock and unlock. unfortunately i lost their numbers, but you can call hayward toyota (or any toyota) ask them what after market guy do they use for installing keyless entry, most of them will give you their numbers. (if they said they don't use AM, they are laying)

okian

That sounds great because we asked the dealership how much they would do it for and they said around $300. So I should just call the dealership and ask them what aftermarket person they use? Thanks again.

wearsomeshoes

katana2, you will find climbing I70 west of Denver in a Sequoia to be very easy. You can pass anybody, with plenty of torque to spare.

rpnuge

I just bought a 2003 SR5 Sequioa. I added the CF option at the last minute when I asked the sales guy if it had mats. What comes with CF? He told me only the front and rear mats - no cargo mat or door sill cover. The price was $147. I was looking at a Sequioa in the showroom that had CF option on the sticker and it explicitly said CF Carpet Mats with door sill cover. This was $258 though. I want to raise a stink, but not positive.
Rich

gkatz1

What a joke! First of all, the factory mats are not very good quality and are somewhat flimsy, which makes those prices seem really foolish. I looked online and found f+r mats for $75, cargo for $60 and the sills for $24. All total, $159. These are genuine Toyota parts. Do yourself a favor and forego the cargo mat. I got a weathertech that goes right to the back of the second row. I was at the dealer getting some touch up paint and there was a woman looking to buy some mats for her Camry. The parts guy told her like $150! You guessed it, no sale! Prices on parts are crazy. I have a 02 Maxima and the mats are awesome. Both all season and carpeted and are less money than Toyota's.

quesera1

It has been an uneventful summer so far, compared to last summer's AC failure and wreck which kept us out of our Limited for two months. As we appraoch 46000 miles on our 2001 4wd Sequoia we are ready to replace our original tires. I'm pretty much decided on Michelin Crosss Terrains, especially as Sears and Costco both have them on sale till the end of the month, Costco's prices match Sears and they have a $60 rebate on a 4 tire purchase. I've searched and read the posts regarding the larger 275/70/R16 versus the stock 265/70/R16. I think for aesthetic purposes I'd like the larger tires, but will that void warranty on the tires or the warranty from Toyota? Michelins 20 page warranty mentions misapplication, but it is pretty vague. From a safety standpoint, do the 275s adversely affect handling or affect the center of gravity? If the 17 inch wheel option is safe for the Sequoia, doesn't that make the slightly taller 275 on a 16 inch wheel fairly safe too. Any advice would be appreciated.

gkatz1

The 17's use a lower sidewall tire, so, in effect, are the same diameter as the 16's. The 275's will raise the center of gravity slightly, though I doubt you would notice too much. Personally, I would use the 265's only because I think the truck is high enough. Then again, I use a roof rack.

stever

I haven't checked (having trouble with michelinman.com), but someone said that Michelin has a $50 rebate available from their website. May just be for the US consumers, and may just be for certain tires. Good for all of July iirc.

Steve, Host

arslan

I'm thinking of purchasing a Sequoia and am curious as to how comfortable and cushioned the rear passenger seats are, since I, from time to time, drive my elderly parents around.

oac3

I have EXACTLY the tire size you are looking at on my '01 SR5. It handles great. I wouldn't worry about voiding any warranty at all. Thie tire is what Toy puts on the LC, and it fits the Seq perfectly. IMO, much better than the stock 265's. When mine needed changing, I really wanted the C/T but they were newly released then and hard to find, so I "settled" on the Michelin M/S. They ride very nice and quiet. I have put 17K miles on the new Michelins and they look like they will last forever. Of course, my wife drives the truck and she babies it these days You will much prefer the 275 look on your truck. They look better, ride better and quieter, imo.

Good luck

oac3

The Sequoia's second and third row seats are VERY comfortable indeed. I have had a 5 hr San Diego-Las Vegas trip with my mum sitting in the third row the whole trip, and she loved it. No complaints whatsoever. Why don't you take an extended long test drive with another adult to test this out.

Good luck

tollerzone

Hi all,
I have a 98 TLC that has been wonderful to drive, but really want more room as I show dogs. I'm looking at the Sequoia SR5 4x4, as well as the GMC Yukon XL/Suburban.

How is the cargo area of the Sequoia compared to these other trucks?

I know the reliability, etc, is much better - and frankly I'd RATHER buy a Toyota, but the Yukon XL/Suburban 2nd row seats fold flat plus the spare tire is under the car (vs the Excursion, which I also looked at). They say you can fit a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood inside.

Thanks for the help!!

slackers

I'm a drummer by night and haul around a double set of "dw" drums on a regular basis. With the 3rd row removed (they are part of my garage's pemanent collection)and second row folded up, I have a ton of space. I used to drive full size Ford vans because of my band, and the transition
to the Sequoia (which feels go-cart sized to me by comparison) still provides me with ample cargo space.

slackers

I'd like to share my excitement over my most recent Sequoia mod. I had the Revtek lift kit installed last week. This is a spacer kit that lifts the front end 2 1/2" and rear 1 1/2". I have an '03 Limited with the 17" wheels. I wanted to keep the stock wheels and tires and was afraid the lift would make the wheel/tire combination look too small in the wheel wells. I love the lift and the wheels look great, not at all out of proportion. Revtek boasts a factory ride after the install and I can attest to that. The vehicle is now more level and looks so much more aggressive than stock. The kit is pricey with installation, but it's quick, simple and makes a dramatic difference in the Sequoia's appearance.
Check out the Revtek website for more information. Les Schwab dealers are local distributors and did an excellent installation, wheel allignment and backed by a warranty.

gkatz1

The Sequioa is approximatly 15" shorter than a Suburban or Yukon XL.

Anyone ever notice that the Edmunds forums have a huge amount of "ask and run" posters. No one sticks around in here?

quesera1

I've only posted a few times, most recently this week regarding larger tires, but I'm always here. It's usually the 2nd or 3rd stop when I log on. I'll try to post more frequently about my Sequoia minutiae like my oil changes, clay bar experiments, and my mileage spreadsheet, if you'd like to hear about those sort of things.

gkatz1

Ahhhh, the claybar. I used a Zaino claybar before I polished it. Awesome!

stever

Lots of talk about clay bars this week. Love the clay bar :-). Mine was from Mothers, iirc. About $10.

Steve, Host

tollerzone

So, not sure whether you're calling me a "post and run" but I'm guessing that 1 foot plus of length in the Sequoia means I'd be not much better off than with my TLC?

gkatz1

No, I was talking in general about my experience here in the last year. People ask a question and "disappear", hehe.

I would think that the Sequoia would have more room than the TLC.

I just checked....the Land Cruiser has 91 cu. ft. of cargo space and the Sequioa has 128 cu. ft.

sequoiasoon

I read somewhere here that the 128 cu. ft. for the Sequoia was with second row REMOVED not just flipped up. Just depends how you measure. Kinda like my seven figure salary (if you count the decimal places)

gkatz1

I can tell you that the Sequoia has more cargo room than a Tahoe and about the same as an Expedition.

rpnuge

I just bought an 03 SR5 and sat in the back this weekend when we went out with another couple. I was impressed. The seats are long (for your butt) and very comfortable.

shek3

they come out???

pebru

I use my Sequoia 4x4 primarily to take my labrador retriever to training grounds for hunt tests. There is ample room for two large Vari Kennels plus equipment behind the second row seats.

I had considered the Suburban/Yukon XL but found it to be overkill in size. Also, my wife found it too long to park in city parking stalls. I found the Tahoe/Yukon to be too small for our needs leaving the Sequoia as a good compromise in size.

trdsctwo

Won't changing from the factory 265/70R/16 to the 275/70R/16 cause speedometer error and
thus void the factory warranty?

quesera1

We just returned from a day trip to Garner State Park in Texas. The Frio River was pleasant and the drive excellent, row upon row of corn and sorghum, cows and horses, and ranches and towns. The Sequoia averaged about 17.2 mpg (trip computer reads 19.2) traveling mostly 70 mph along mostly flat highway. It does better mileagewise traveling between 55 and 60 mph on long trips, the best we've done is about 19mpg. Even in daily commuter traffic we manage a consistent 16+ mpg. While it's not one of those 8 out of 9 Toyotas that get 30+ mpg it suits our needs well.

sequoiasoon

Yup 15 minutes, rachet and socket. I think I saw the information here on edmunds saying that was how Toyota had measured it. I guess you probably could take the front seats out the same way and have class leading cargo space Unfortunately traveling with the wife kids and dog eliminates both of these options. Now if I put them all on the roof like National Lampoons Family Vacation, I probably could take out the DVD and save a couple more inches.

oac3

Check out this link for corrected speedo reading due to change in tire size

http://www.onlineconversion.com/bigger_tires.htm

The difference in changing from 265 to 275 is miniscule, even at 100mph (< 4mph), so it is not a biggie, to me.

reau

Well, I ordered a Sequoia today. The guys on the What did you pay? board have been a great help.

Now my questions are:

1) I have been told an order takes six to eight weeks - how accurate is this and how did the process go? Did you get it without hassle? and,

2) Now, (of course after I gave him a check today) I wonder does anyone know when the 2004 comes out and if there are any changes. If it comes out at the end of August - should I ask for one of those? How much does it matter? We kept our last car for close to ten years and plan to keep this one until the kids are out of the house.

Thanks for your thoughts, Deb

oac3

The 04's should be in the showrooms by mid-October at the latest. But if you are ordering an '03 this late, you may wish to enquire about an '04. It shouldn't cost that much different, but if you factor that an '03 today is ~1 year old already as the '04's are due out soon, then maybe you are better off with the '04. But if you keep your cars that long (10+ years), then it really doesn't matter. On the plus side, you should be able to get a much better deal on an '03 than on the '04's.

WRT to the spcifics of your other question. Order-builds can take up to 2 months. Unless the dealer can find an exact match to your order from another dealership and then make a dealer-trade to secure yours sooner.

If you don't mind, can you provide a little more details of your order and what the car will cost you OTD ?

Hope this helps

gteach26

Are there any pics out yet on the revised dash of the '04 sequoia with the navigation system in it? I have not found any yet. Thanks!

heymack

Actually going from a 265/70/16 to a 275/70/16 changes the total tire/wheel diameter by only 1.8% which is negligible. The manufacturer cannot arbitrarily void a warranty. They might try to challenge a warrantable repair if they can show that a particular modification caused the failure in question.

quesera1

I finally got around to an oil change. I had driven many guilty miles (5700 since last change) but finally crawled under between cloudbursts. The old oil (Mobil 1 Syn for newer vehicles) still looked clean and honey colored. Since summer heat and extreme driving conditions should be coming up soon I figure it was a good measure. We're still onhold for tires, probably til the end of July. Now I need a good day to address the little chips and scratches that have accumulated these two years.

bigorange30

on Mobil 1? You can go much longer than that. I am headed to a 10K interval based on some oil analysis and this study:

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/oil-life.html

Don't cheat yourself out of oil life. That oil had a lot more life left in it. Do some analysis and take it longer. I am up to 8660 on my latest and waiting on my analysis results now.