After reading your rude post, I would point out that I do own a Tundra, not a Sequoia and the Tundra manual states 500 miles before towing. If The Sequoia manual is different, I apologize, but your harsh wording was uncalled for. If you have an owner's manual, why did you even bother to ask?
I'll remember to never respond to one of your questions in the future.
I've read every post to date on this board. Cliffy has offered a ton of good information. I'm with you on this one Clifford. Someone from his area go buy a car from him today!
I will also support Cliffy on this one. He has contributed far more than you have and for a long period of time. Many posters here do not own a Sequoia (I do) and are seeking/giving helpful advice.
Great recommendation you have to give business to someone who has been very helpful. I live in Northern VA area and would have given him my business. Unfortunately, when it came to buying my Sequoia, the final price was a considerably important factor.
Anyone is welcome on our boards. You don't necessarily have to own one particular vehicle, or be interested in another vehicle to post in a discussion topic relevant to that vehicle.
Keep the posts coming! Drew Host Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
I have been faithfully reading this board (as well as others) for months now. I do not own a Sequoia, but I will be buying one at the end of the month. EVERYONE's opinion is valuable, especially those with some incite into the inner workings of Toyota itself, such as Cliffy and a unnamed dealer who doesn't post here any more. Cliffy and everyone, thank you for your valuable comments and debate. You have enabled me to make a very informed decision regarding the upcoming purchase of my truck. Can't wait to tell all the good, bad and other once it arrives.
I too have had the pastic pieces fall off repeatedly...what a pain! The middle row piece fits between the middle seat and passenger seat (my 9 year old showed me, I couldn't figure it out for the life of me) where the back and the seat meet. The seat belt piece on the floor seems to stay put if you snap it in tightly, but that middle seat one keeps falling out. I'll have it replaced at the next scheduled visit. My rear wiper had to be completely replaced because it wasn't seating properly...had to wait for the part and make a special trip to replace it - took about an hour. Still lovin' this Sequoia - almost 6000 wonderful miles! And stop picking on Cliffy - he's the best!
I haven't had the honor yet of experiencng this but it sounds like a dab of silicone caulking on the snap part would keep it in place but still allow removal in the rare case that it needs to be popped off?
I had a couple fall off and already went the route that thirdsuv suggested. I've had this happen in other vehicles before. Just put a dab of clear rtv silicone on top of the bolt head and push on the plastic cover. It will stay on, and if needed it will pop off with a good tug. The rear wiper situation is and easy fix. Sometimes in shipping the arm itself is bent a little out of shape. when mine did not go in to the holder perectly I just bent or curved the arm a little bit until it seated properly every time with no trips to the dealer. Don't be afraid to tackle some of these little items yourselves. It will save you much time at the dealer. Also Cliffy has been nothing but helpful on this forum. If there is something he was not sure about, he went and found out. Trying to belittle him and his knowledge here is only going to alienate yourself.
So, you found something in the manual that contradicts what was posted on this board. Good for you. Share the information with us. No need to attack another poster. For a newbee, your posts are pretty rude. Cliffy has been a very helpful contributor on this board for years.
I am trying to find out if, Toyota has made a truck cover for the Sequoia. Cliffy I know you can help me with this Please no more rude post, lets keep the information flowing.
I was told by my dealer to call Toyota Customer Relation to discuss my AC problem that has not been able to be resolved by the dealer. I called on Monday and was told a regional manager will call in 3 days. As of Thursday evening, no one has called. In the mean time, the weather has been reaching 100 degrees and the AC is not performing well. I called again and was told a regional manager will call tomorrow. If not, I should call Toyota back next Monday.
I must say that my experience with my Sequoia and Toyota service has been disappointing.
I would like some advice on how to deal with this lack of response to my AC problem. Toyota sounded very apologetic on the phone but has not done much to solve the problem. When should I start writing letters and whom should I write? Thanks.
I found something really significant about Sequoia mpg. I have measured my mileage three previous times at 75 mph and I consistently got 17.3-17.5 mpg by pencil-and-paper calculation.
This week, on a trip to Big Bend National Park (Texas), I joined a group of 6 speeders for most of the time on I-10 between San Antonio and Forth Stockton (almost no traffic at all). We were doing mostly 85-90 mph (sometimes 95). From one complete fill-up, I only got 13.5 mpg. That's a big difference. I also found out that it revs at 3000 rpm at 95 mph, when the rev limiter kicks in. The truck is so stable I could not feel a difference in vehicle movement. Desclaimer: don't try this at home....
I know my mother would not be proud of what I did, and I am not a habitual speeder (never had a traffic ticket, except for illegal parking more than 10 years ago). But on our way back, I did my normal 65-75 mph all the way.
Finally, I found that my odometer registers only 0.93 mile to a mile (26.2 miles instead of 28 in posted miles). I have all standard tires and wheels. I don't know which one to believe: my vehicle mileage or the posted mileage.
I just woke up from an A/C nightmare myself. Mine was in the shop for the fourth time with problems and I just got it back yesterday. First the system was undercharged. Then the compressor died. Then the compressor clutch went. Then the receiver died and wouldn't allow the coolant to pass. Turns out that when the compressor died it apparently left metal shavings in the system. Anyway, it finally appears to be fixed.
I did notice that I have bubbles in my sight glass. According to the manual, after 10 minutes of A/C operation, the sight glass should be clear. Mine is not so I still think it is undercharged. I saw a post earlier asking you to check your sight glass but I didn't see a response. Do you have bubbles? It could just be undercharged.
If any of you out there will take the time to check your sight glasses, I'm curious to see if we all have bubbles or if some are clear. Thanks in advance for your time.
I must admit that I've not yet checked the sight glass on the AC. I figured that having been at the shop 3 times (four days total), Toyota tech should have checked it. At this point, I need to check it for myself. Thanks.
I should add that the max cooling temperature remained at 58 for two day after the system was flushed and recharged. Now, the AC sometimes does 48, 52 and 58 deg. Strange! I think I have an AC that doesn't always know what it is and should do.
I am genuinely touched by all the positive comments here. Thanks to all who posted them.
I also want to explain why I have not been posting much lately. I injured myself pretty badly last week in a boating accident. I tried selling cars this week and it about killed me to hobble around the lot. The management here is moving me into the finance office for the balance of the month which means I will not be able to keep up as much as before. I'll check in when I can but be patient if you don't get a direct question answered quickly.
There is only one color change for the 2002 and that is the deletion of the chestnut color. As for major changes, there are none. Minor changes are not things that really get publicized and we will just have to wait another week to find out. Prices remained about the same.
For those who would like to check their sight glass it is on the front of the vehicle, left side (when standing in front of truck) in front of the radiator. Very small and round.
Anyone on this forum at all concerned about the very light payload capacity of the Sequoia?
Specifically, the Sequoia 4wd has a payload of 1305lbs. 8 passengers would need to average 163lbs including their belongings. Throw 6 bags of fertilizer in the back and your average passenger weight will need to be less than 125lbs per person. This maybe fine for a few adults and kids but a car-load of adults would appear to be an issue.
Toyota matches the Sequoia against the Domestics, however it appears they may have designed around smaller asian frames versus Americans when setting a design goal for the Sequoia's payload.
By comparison, the Yukon 4wd has a payload of 1767lbs, the Yukon XL 4wd has 1976lbs, the Expedition 4wd has 1732lbs which would all be safer payload limits for an 8 passenger vehicle. Even the Honda Odyssey minivan (1317lbs - with seating for 7) provides a higher payload capacity in total and per passenger than the Sequoia.
Great point about the Sequoia's minimal cargo capacity. Isn't it odd that the Toyota Highland four cylinder, a semi-cute ute, has a cargo capacity of 1500lbs?
BTW, how is a vehicle's cargo capacity determined? It appears that some seemingly "heavy duty" trucks, including the Sequoia, have paltry cargo capacities. Even the Yukon's capacities seem rather minimal when one considers the mass of the vehicle and its seating capacity.
corsicachevy: I guess all crowns must be left outside this forum:)
Cargo capacities are detemined by chassis and suspension strength. Clearly the Sequoia should leave those looking to "load their vehicles up" somewhat concerned if they attempt to fill their Sequoia for a long trip with alot of cargo or people.
In fact, in my brief search of the web, I was unable to find a minivan with a lower payload capacity than the Sequoia with the exception of the Kia Sedona at 1186lbs (which I have never even heard of before).
I'm not sure I would want to load up a Sequoia with my family and exceed the payload limit and than battle it out with the lawyers after a rollover. Seems like a bad roll of the dice (no pun intended) no matter how you look at it.
What is interesting is that the GM F/S SUV payloads are actually quite useful and have a large range. Going from a low in the Yukon 4wd of 1767lbs (or 1925lbs in 2wd) to the greatest payload of a mass marketed SUV of 3079lbs in a 3/4 ton Suburban.
What's rather entertaining is that the behemoth Excursion has a payload of only 1710lbs in 4wd (barely more than the Highlander) and only 1945lbs in 2wd.
While I was at the dealer getting a recall done to our Highlander, I checked out the Sequoia on the showroom floor. I noticed a sticker attached to the side rail of the top rack (on the driver's side) that said: "maximum load 150 lbs." Are they talking about the crossrail or the unit as a whole?
corsicachevy: FYI, I looked in the specs listed in the Highlander owner's manual and it says : "Vehicle Capacity Weight (occupants + luggage).....420kg / 920 lbs. This figure is the same irregardless of the I4 or V6 engine or even 2wd or 4wd. Of course, this could be an error in the owner's manual. After all, it has an illustration showing that we should have a tool kit in the back which, apparently, they decided to delete after printing the manual.
The general consensus over on the Tundra Solutions board is that the Tundra (kissing cousin to the Sequoia) is more car-like than truck. I think the Sequoia follows the same philosophy and is more car-like than SUV. The domestic SUV's like the Suburban, Tahoe, Expedition, Navigator, Dakota etc. Are all based on truck chassis' and so carry more, tow more and ride and drive more like trucks, with car-like tendencies. Having lived with a 4WD Suburban for the past 3 years and 40,000 miles, a car-like vehicle with truck like tendencies is not all bad.
The Japanese don't understand how we Americans use our vehicles. For example, My wife's 2000 Odyssey rides on it's bump stops when it's loaded up with 6 full sized adults and luggage. It would be nice if there was an option for air assist or heavy duty springs but Honda doesn't offer this and I don't know of any aftermarket options either. Most domestic SUV's have an option for heavy duty or load leveling springs but don't really need them for "normal" use. 5 Adults, weekend gear and boat in tow didn't used to bother my Suburban at all -- I'll let you know how the Sequoia handles that load in a few weeks.
We will be purchasing a new SUV next March to replace our '94 Jeep Grand Cherokee. We're currently researching the Sequoia and Tahoe, although we're not at the point of test-driving yet. I'll be driving it around town and on long road trips with a family of four...plus carpooling, of course.
I'm curious about why I see so many more Tahoes/Yukons around my area in Ohio.....the Sequoias are out there, too, but they are few and far between. Also, we were in Boston for 10 days recently and did not see ONE Sequoia on the major expressways out there.
Could someone who has looked at and driven both the Sequoia and the Tahoe compare the two for me as far as what you liked and disliked about either?
baseballmom94: Toyota makes an excellent car as I currently own a 2000 Avalon, however they still have some catching up to do with the Sequoia. This forum has outlined a fair number of issues that owners have had, although nothing extraordinary for a first year model.
I looked at both the Suburban and the Sequoia. The Seq is nicely finished but under powered for anything other than basic car pool and kid's team transportation with some light towing. If this is your need, my guess is you'll be satisfied.
The latest models from GM have made substantial progress in handling, comfort and luxury features. I chose the Denali XL and have been extremely satisfied. Tow capacity and cargo capcities are substantially higher than the Toyota. Luxury features in the Denali are significantly higher end than the Toyota for a few grand more. Since most GM dealers will negotiate and Toyota dealers appear to be less flexible, I think you can negotiate a Denali for approximately the same as a fully loaded Sequoia.
In the end, drive them as they are both solid vehicles.
FYI, corsicachevy: I checked the Highlander and it has a payload of 1260lbs and a tow capacity of 1500lbs, not the 1500 payload you stated earlier.
2heeldrive: If the Sequoia's light payload capacity is due to be designed froma car, why do Toyota's minivan's have about the same are greater payload than a Sequoia?
A few weeks ago it was "the boys" weekend and I took 5 other big guys, all six golf bags and 6 overnight bags on a 150 mi each way trip to Palm Springs for a golfing excursion. Outside temp was 112 - 117F the whole weekend. The Sequoia was flawless. The guys in the back kept turning the AC DOWN. No bump stops, no weird handling, etc. More than one of my passengers will have their own Seqoia within the coming months.
Last week we loaded up the two kids, groceries, and luggage for a quicky 5-day vacation to Big Bear Lake (elev. approx 7800'). We had plenty of room in the Seq even with all the kids stuff but we also towed our 22' boat. Tow weight (from a certified scale) was 5200 lbs. Tongue weight right about 350 lbs. Again, the Sequoia was very impressive. We went the "back way" up to the lake which goes from 1000' to 3500' over maybe 10-15 "straight" miles. No problem at all. Towed mostly without OD and had no problems to maintain 65-70 mph. From 3500 to 7800', you are on a windy road and you accomplish this hell-climb in a short 6-7 miles! A lot of 2nd gear and occasionally first on the switchbacks but no problem at all. We came home the front way which has a better road and a more natural descent where you go from 7800 to 1500 over a period of maybe 20 miles. I used second gear a lot to stay out of the brakes and the Sequoia was great. On the Los Angeles freeways coming home in traffic, we really *had* to maintain 70+ mph and I had to pay attention or I found myself exceeding that.
So, although the Sequoia engine is smaller and has less peak HP than most of the domestics, it does have a nice flat torque curve that has more useable power sooner than the domestics. (Look at the curves to see that the Sequoia reaches peak torque and holds it through higher RPMs much better than the domestics.) Additionally, the 4-valve design of the heads allows the engine to "breath" very well and to be a strong tow vehicle )in addition to superior quality, reliability and re-sale) compared to the competition.
So, heatwave3 is certainly entitled to his opinion of "under powered for anything other than basic car pool and kid's team transportation with some light towing", but the difference is that I have the experience of the Sequoia under the descriptions above and I say it ain't so. That said, engine displacement/HP is like breasts - more is always better. (I'm speaking about chicken breasts - get your mind out of the gutter.)
My experience with GM products has been less than sweet. After years of screaming that I would never buy a Japanese car or truck, I have broken down and bought a Outback and a Sequoia. The engineering and build quality is superior in the import product. I know that it's just an opinion, but I can't say a whole lot of positive things about American cars and trucks anymore. In the end you will have to choose the truck that has the features that are most important to you. For us it was reliability over bells and whistles.
nota4re: Those 6 "big adults" at an average 190lbs plus 6 golf bags at 30lbs each plus 6 overnight bags at 10 lbs each would have put you over the payload limit set by the design engineers at Toyota. Even factoring in a conservative technical assessment, most engineers would suggest you are pressing the very limits of the Sequoia and you still have 2 seats empty.
While you might have felt fine, I would guess an emergency maneuver would have put unecessary risk on the occupants. If your going to spend $40+K for an 8 passenger vehicle the designers should at least allow for a payload to accomodate 8 average plus passengers and some luggage. Unfortunately the Sequoia does not provide that capacity.
Having towed for 20+ years with big and small tow packages, I have always prefered to be at something less than 75% of the tow capacity of my tow vehicle for any lengthy trip. This is also recommended by most towing publications. Your 5200lb boat is at 84% of the capacity of the Sequoia. Add a couple hundreds lbs to the boat with coolers and camping gear and I think you would be pushing the limits of the vehicle.
A fully loaded Yukon would cost less money than a Sequoia, would have provided a 2000lbs greater tow capacity, a 460lb greater payload capacity, 35 more hp and better maneuvering with a 4ft smaller turning radius all with the same fuel economy.
Once again, their both good vehicles and warrant a drive if your considering a f/s SUV. If you're looking to spend in the low to mid $40K, you should also consider the Denali Yukon which provides lots of capacity with an even greater level of luxury than a fully loaded Yukon or Sequoia Limited. You can also check any number of web sites (both Toyota's and GMC's) to get a side-by-side comparison of the features and cabilities of both vehicles.
chevy's are great, especially when the door trim starts falling off, the headliner drops, the transmission starts slipping at 15,000 miles. I've done the GM thing several times and will never again purchase one of their poorly engineered and poorly finished vehicles. I'm not saying toyota is perfect but the quality and resale value is light years ahead of the GM's. Even my F250 has a higher build quality.
shweggy1: I am no diehard GM fan as I currently own a Toyota and my 4th BMW. I agree that GM cars (and most domestics) have a poor resale value, however the Suburban stands apart from most other vehicles in it resale value. It has one of the highest resale values of any vehicle sold in the US over the past 20 years.
My experience with 2 previous 3/4 ton 4x4 Subs was positive. Both vehicles I owned for over 135K miles with many of those miles towing. Both vehicles needed maintenance repairs such as radiators, alternators and rotors over the course of my ownership, however these were not surprises and they never left me stranded.
The most recent Sub I traded in for a 2001 Denali XL. I received $8500 trade-in against an original price of $27.5 for a 31% resale value. If I had sold it outright I might have got $10.5K for a resale of 38% retail. You might want to checkout Edmunds or Carpoint because I think you'll find it difficult to find any 10 year old vehicle with 135K miles that will exceed the resale value of a Suburban and that includes Mercedes and BMW.
A 10 year old F250 with 135K miles for example would get about $2500 or about 15% resale value according to Carpoint.
My current experience with the Denali XL at 7000 miles has been flawless with two trips to the dealer for oil changes. I was unable to find any luxury SUV that matched the Denali XL for space, performance, luxury, tow capacity and handling and I checked them all.
Once again, everyone's needs are different and that's why I recommended that baseballmom94 test drive both vehicles, however I am confident that resale value will fall in favor of the Suburban over the Sequoia in the long run based on the past 20 years resale value of Suburbans.
Heatwave writes: "I looked at both the Suburban and the Sequoia. The Seq is nicely finished but under powered for anything other than basic car pool and kid's team transportation with some light towing. If this is your need, my guess is you'll be satisfied".
Baseball Mom: My experience with the Seq differs greatly from Heatwave's "look". I guess "looking" at the Seq can be deceiving. If your main reason for purchasing a truck is to tow as much as you can, then I agree with Heatwave and you should probably look at a Suburban. If you want lots of room, a smooth running SUV from a company with a reputation for quality, and the ability to tow a moderate sized boat, I'd look hard at the Seq.
I now have over 16,000 miles on my Seq and love it! I have four kids and my wife and I tote them and their friends around everywhere. We have a lake house in the mountains that we go to almost every weekend in the summer as well as ski vacations in the winter. I often have 7 or 8 passengers plus luggage and the truck still has great pick-up and cruises well. I also occasionally tow my 20 foot ski boot with 6 passengers in the car and have found the truck's towing capacity to be more than adequate for my purposes.
I have no doubt that I purchased the SUV that was the best fit for my family. I have two brothers that own GM SUV's (one a Sub and one owns a Tahoe) and after driving my vehicle both said they would buy a Seq next time. Much better fit and finish, smother ride, etc. (and they have both had quality issues with their trucks).
I concur with Notra4re on everything he has written, including the quality of the air conditioning. It was over 100 degrees here last week and we were on vacation. My kids turned off the rear a/c as they were too cold. My wife had to direct the airflow from the front a/c away from her as otherwise she was too cold.
BTW, the reason that minivans generally have higher load capacities are that their centers of gravity are lower to the ground than the big SUVs and thus have a lower risk of rollovers. It is an advantage that all minivans have over SUVs that sit up high. It has nothing to do with power of the engine. Also, the car companies will generally list a very conservative weight limit for litigation purposes as they need to factor in drivers who do not know how to handle a large SUV properly.
Good luck on the search for the vehicle that best fits your family!
baseballmom94: Definitely recommend you weigh the real world experiences of those that own and tow with the vehicle they are describing. As stated my experience with the Sequoia was a mere test drive.
The Sequoia is a good vehicle that was underpowered for my uses. It also needs more room to manuever than the Tahoe with a 4 ft greater turning radius. Interior space was also an issue. Not necessary for everyone, but it mattered to me.
I simply raised the issue of payload capacity which I think should be at least one of the factors used in purchasing a F/S SUV. The Sequoia appears to be very light duty from its payload capacity which may be a concern to someone that might be planning to "load up" their SUV. I think its also a reasonable question to raise given that many smaller SUVs and minivans have a higher payload capacity than the Sequoia.
It just seems strange that the much smaller Highlander has nearly the same payload as a Sequoia and the Toyota Sienna minivan which was built on the Camry platform as a higher payload (1314lbs) than the Sequoia. Given that the TLC has a payload in line with its intended use (1745lbs), it seems a reasonable question why the Sequoia (1305lbs)was designed and rated with such a light duty payload capacity?
corsicachevy: I was trying to keep all comparisons equal by using just 4wd versions for payload capacity comparisons. However the data gets even more interesting when you compare 2wd Sequoias to other vehicles.
The 2wd Highlander, as you stated, has a payload of 1500Lbs which is 100lbs MORE than a 2wd Sequoia. Makes you wonder who did the design work on the Sequoia suspension to give it such a light load capacity.
I just briefly looked over the previous posts about capacities and loading down a vehicle. AT NO TIME UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD ANYONE EXCEED THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING ON ANY VEHICLE!!!!! The GVWR on a Sequoia is 6500 pounds. This includes the fully loaded vehicle including cargo, options and people.
The Sequoia is not a truck. It is not designed for truck capabilities. The weight of a vehicle and its load is supported by the suspension, wheels, axle and tires. The Sequoia weighs some 5000 pounds and is designed for the safe transportaton of people and cargo while giving a smooth and comfortable ride. The weight ratings and capacities of the Sequoia is really impressive if you speak to design and engineer people in the auto industry. You build a vehicle for the majority not the minority and if you need a vehicle to tow 7000 pounds and carry eight people the Sequoia will not work for you.
I've stayed out of this one on purpose. The Sequoia IS built on a truck platform. I don't know how manufacturers come up with payload capacities, nor do I know the consequences of exceeding them.
Just to give some level of comparison, I was listening to a radio commercial for the GMC Sierra today that was bragging about a 1600 pound payload capacity. This is a half ton pick up that they were bragging was "professional grade". Granted, 1600 is more than the Sequoia, but the Sequoia weights much more to begin with. Put a fiberglass shell on that truck and you have less payload than the Sequoia.
sbell4: You're raising the same flag of concern I have been trying to express on the issue of the Sequoia. Payload and towing capacity are two very different matters.
The payload of the vehicle is the difference between the weight of the vehicle and the GVWR, which should not be exceeded. In the case of the Sequoia, the difference (payload) is 1305lbs. This is the weight than can be safely carried on or in the Sequoia. The tow capacity is entirely different and has not been the principle point of discussion, however the Sequoia towing capacity is 2000lbs less than a base Yukon.
The Payload is an issue for the very concern you raise above, namely you should never exceed the GVWR. In the case of the Sequoia that is easily achieved with 8 passengers averaging 163lbs soaking wet OR 8 passengers averaging 125lbs with 300lbs of cargo on board. To me, that appeared to be an issue worthy of discussion at this forum in light of Toyota's attempt to sell the Sequoia against the domestic F/S SUVs. A comparison of payloads should be of interest to all those shopping for a f/s SUV such as baseballmom94.
Fun. All these debates about who can tow more and who can fit the most people in their SUV. My Sequoia may very well tow less and have less payload, but let me know when the GM SUV owners with their "professional grade" vehicle need their first transmission and engine rebuilt at 5,000 miles. Those are always fun. I'll take less payload and tow capacity any day over a "professional grade" vehicle.
Of course, it's minor details... bought a Tahoe last year and the transmission slipped in *3 weeks*. Or was that before they started marketing "professional grade" SUVs...?
Gil. 11,000 miles on the Sequoia and waiting for the transmission to slip.
In general, trucks will drive poorly when empty. They are designed to ride better while being worked. Everything is designed differently for trucks then with cars and SUVs. The Sequoia is a SUV built off of the Tundra platform which gives impressive axle ratings and sturdy work capabilities but is designed for the average buyer that is using it for personal use and not as a dump truck.
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I'll remember to never respond to one of your questions in the future.
Keep the posts coming!
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
It seems to have stumped everyone else as the questions have been asked several times before, but nobody seems to know the answer.
Please no more rude post, lets keep the information flowing.
Thanks in advance.
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, neighborhood, neighborhood....
2HD
I must say that my experience with my Sequoia and Toyota service has been disappointing.
I would like some advice on how to deal with this lack of response to my AC problem. Toyota sounded very apologetic on the phone but has not done much to solve the problem. When should I start writing letters and whom should I write? Thanks.
This week, on a trip to Big Bend National Park (Texas), I joined a group of 6 speeders for most of the time on I-10 between San Antonio and Forth Stockton (almost no traffic at all). We were doing mostly 85-90 mph (sometimes 95). From one complete fill-up, I only got 13.5 mpg. That's a big difference. I also found out that it revs at 3000 rpm at 95 mph, when the rev limiter kicks in. The truck is so stable I could not feel a difference in vehicle movement. Desclaimer: don't try this at home....
I know my mother would not be proud of what I did, and I am not a habitual speeder (never had a traffic ticket, except for illegal parking more than 10 years ago). But on our way back, I did my normal 65-75 mph all the way.
Finally, I found that my odometer registers only 0.93 mile to a mile (26.2 miles instead of 28 in posted miles). I have all standard tires and wheels. I don't know which one to believe: my vehicle mileage or the posted mileage.
I did notice that I have bubbles in my sight glass. According to the manual, after 10 minutes of A/C operation, the sight glass should be clear. Mine is not so I still think it is undercharged. I saw a post earlier asking you to check your sight glass but I didn't see a response. Do you have bubbles? It could just be undercharged.
If any of you out there will take the time to check your sight glasses, I'm curious to see if we all have bubbles or if some are clear. Thanks in advance for your time.
I should add that the max cooling temperature remained at 58 for two day after the system was flushed and recharged. Now, the AC sometimes does 48, 52 and 58 deg. Strange! I think I have an AC that doesn't always know what it is and should do.
I also want to explain why I have not been posting much lately. I injured myself pretty badly last week in a boating accident. I tried selling cars this week and it about killed me to hobble around the lot. The management here is moving me into the finance office for the balance of the month which means I will not be able to keep up as much as before. I'll check in when I can but be patient if you don't get a direct question answered quickly.
Specifically, the Sequoia 4wd has a payload of 1305lbs. 8 passengers would need to average 163lbs including their belongings. Throw 6 bags of fertilizer in the back and your average passenger weight will need to be less than 125lbs per person. This maybe fine for a few adults and kids but a car-load of adults would appear to be an issue.
Toyota matches the Sequoia against the Domestics, however it appears they may have designed around smaller asian frames versus Americans when setting a design goal for the Sequoia's payload.
By comparison, the Yukon 4wd has a payload of 1767lbs, the Yukon XL 4wd has 1976lbs, the Expedition 4wd has 1732lbs which would all be safer payload limits for an 8 passenger vehicle. Even the Honda Odyssey minivan (1317lbs - with seating for 7) provides a higher payload capacity in total and per passenger than the Sequoia.
BTW, how is a vehicle's cargo capacity determined? It appears that some seemingly "heavy duty" trucks, including the Sequoia, have paltry cargo capacities. Even the Yukon's capacities seem rather minimal when one considers the mass of the vehicle and its seating capacity.
Out done by a minivan - yikes.
Cargo capacities are detemined by chassis and suspension strength. Clearly the Sequoia should leave those looking to "load their vehicles up" somewhat concerned if they attempt to fill their Sequoia for a long trip with alot of cargo or people.
In fact, in my brief search of the web, I was unable to find a minivan with a lower payload capacity than the Sequoia with the exception of the Kia Sedona at 1186lbs (which I have never even heard of before).
What is interesting is that the GM F/S SUV payloads are actually quite useful and have a large range. Going from a low in the Yukon 4wd of 1767lbs (or 1925lbs in 2wd) to the greatest payload of a mass marketed SUV of 3079lbs in a 3/4 ton Suburban.
What's rather entertaining is that the behemoth Excursion has a payload of only 1710lbs in 4wd (barely more than the Highlander) and only 1945lbs in 2wd.
corsicachevy: FYI, I looked in the specs listed in the Highlander owner's manual and it says : "Vehicle Capacity Weight (occupants + luggage).....420kg / 920 lbs. This figure is the same irregardless of the I4 or V6 engine or even 2wd or 4wd. Of course, this could be an error in the owner's manual. After all, it has an illustration showing that we should have a tool kit in the back which, apparently, they decided to delete after printing the manual.
The Japanese don't understand how we Americans use our vehicles. For example, My wife's 2000 Odyssey rides on it's bump stops when it's loaded up with 6 full sized adults and luggage. It would be nice if there was an option for air assist or heavy duty springs but Honda doesn't offer this and I don't know of any aftermarket options either. Most domestic SUV's have an option for heavy duty or load leveling springs but don't really need them for
"normal" use. 5 Adults, weekend gear and boat in tow didn't used to bother my Suburban at all -- I'll let you know how the Sequoia handles that load in a few weeks.
2HD.
I'm curious about why I see so many more Tahoes/Yukons around my area in Ohio.....the Sequoias are out there, too, but they are few and far between. Also, we were in Boston for 10 days recently and did not see ONE Sequoia on the major expressways out there.
Could someone who has looked at and driven both the Sequoia and the Tahoe compare the two for me as far as what you liked and disliked about either?
I looked at both the Suburban and the Sequoia. The Seq is nicely finished but under powered for anything other than basic car pool and kid's team transportation with some light towing. If this is your need, my guess is you'll be satisfied.
The latest models from GM have made substantial progress in handling, comfort and luxury features. I chose the Denali XL and have been extremely satisfied. Tow capacity and cargo capcities are substantially higher than the Toyota. Luxury features in the Denali are significantly higher end than the Toyota for a few grand more. Since most GM dealers will negotiate and Toyota dealers appear to be less flexible, I think you can negotiate a Denali for approximately the same as a fully loaded Sequoia.
In the end, drive them as they are both solid vehicles.
FYI, corsicachevy: I checked the Highlander and it has a payload of 1260lbs and a tow capacity of 1500lbs, not the 1500 payload you stated earlier.
2heeldrive: If the Sequoia's light payload capacity is due to be designed froma car, why do Toyota's minivan's have about the same are greater payload than a Sequoia?
Last week we loaded up the two kids, groceries, and luggage for a quicky 5-day vacation to Big Bear Lake (elev. approx 7800'). We had plenty of room in the Seq even with all the kids stuff but we also towed our 22' boat. Tow weight (from a certified scale) was 5200 lbs. Tongue weight right about 350 lbs. Again, the Sequoia was very impressive. We went the "back way" up to the lake which goes from 1000' to 3500' over maybe 10-15 "straight" miles. No problem at all. Towed mostly without OD and had no problems to maintain 65-70 mph. From 3500 to 7800', you are on a windy road and you accomplish this hell-climb in a short 6-7 miles! A lot of 2nd gear and occasionally first on the switchbacks but no problem at all. We came home the front way which has a better road and a more natural descent where you go from 7800 to 1500 over a period of maybe 20 miles. I used second gear a lot to stay out of the brakes and the Sequoia was great. On the Los Angeles freeways coming home in traffic, we really *had* to maintain 70+ mph and I had to pay attention or I found myself exceeding that.
So, although the Sequoia engine is smaller and has less peak HP than most of the domestics, it does have a nice flat torque curve that has more useable power sooner than the domestics. (Look at the curves to see that the Sequoia reaches peak torque and holds it through higher RPMs much better than the domestics.) Additionally, the 4-valve design of the heads allows the engine to "breath" very well and to be a strong tow vehicle )in addition to superior quality, reliability and re-sale) compared to the competition.
So, heatwave3 is certainly entitled to his opinion of "under powered for anything other than basic car pool and kid's team transportation with some light towing", but the difference is that I have the experience of the Sequoia under the descriptions above and I say it ain't so. That said, engine displacement/HP is like breasts - more is always better. (I'm speaking about chicken breasts - get your mind out of the gutter.)
I believe what you say about towing and torque is right on.
My experience with GM products has been less than sweet. After years of screaming that I would never buy a Japanese car or truck, I have broken down and bought a Outback and a Sequoia. The engineering and build quality is superior in the import product. I know that it's just an opinion, but I can't say a whole lot of positive things about American cars and trucks anymore. In the end you will have to choose the truck that has the features that are most important to you. For us it was reliability over bells and whistles.
While you might have felt fine, I would guess an emergency maneuver would have put unecessary risk on the occupants. If your going to spend $40+K for an 8 passenger vehicle the designers should at least allow for a payload to accomodate 8 average plus passengers and some luggage. Unfortunately the Sequoia does not provide that capacity.
Having towed for 20+ years with big and small tow packages, I have always prefered to be at something less than 75% of the tow capacity of my tow vehicle for any lengthy trip. This is also recommended by most towing publications. Your 5200lb boat is at 84% of the capacity of the Sequoia. Add a couple hundreds lbs to the boat with coolers and camping gear and I think you would be pushing the limits of the vehicle.
A fully loaded Yukon would cost less money than a Sequoia, would have provided a 2000lbs greater tow capacity, a 460lb greater payload capacity, 35 more hp and better maneuvering with a 4ft smaller turning radius all with the same fuel economy.
Once again, their both good vehicles and warrant a drive if your considering a f/s SUV. If you're looking to spend in the low to mid $40K, you should also consider the Denali Yukon which provides lots of capacity with an even greater level of luxury than a fully loaded Yukon or Sequoia Limited. You can also check any number of web sites (both Toyota's and GMC's) to get a side-by-side comparison of the features and cabilities of both vehicles.
My experience with 2 previous 3/4 ton 4x4 Subs was positive. Both vehicles I owned for over 135K miles with many of those miles towing. Both vehicles needed maintenance repairs such as radiators, alternators and rotors over the course of my ownership, however these were not surprises and they never left me stranded.
The most recent Sub I traded in for a 2001 Denali XL. I received $8500 trade-in against an original price of $27.5 for a 31% resale value. If I had sold it outright I might have got $10.5K for a resale of 38% retail. You might want to checkout Edmunds or Carpoint because I think you'll find it difficult to find any 10 year old vehicle with 135K miles that will exceed the resale value of a Suburban and that includes Mercedes and BMW.
A 10 year old F250 with 135K miles for example would get about $2500 or about 15% resale value according to Carpoint.
My current experience with the Denali XL at 7000 miles has been flawless with two trips to the dealer for oil changes. I was unable to find any luxury SUV that matched the Denali XL for space, performance, luxury, tow capacity and handling and I checked them all.
Once again, everyone's needs are different and that's why I recommended that baseballmom94 test drive both vehicles, however I am confident that resale value will fall in favor of the Suburban over the Sequoia in the long run based on the past 20 years resale value of Suburbans.
Baseball Mom: My experience with the Seq differs greatly from Heatwave's "look". I guess "looking" at the Seq can be deceiving. If your main reason for purchasing a truck is to tow as much as you can, then I agree with Heatwave and you should probably look at a Suburban. If you want lots of room, a smooth running SUV from a company with a reputation for quality, and the ability to tow a moderate sized boat, I'd look hard at the Seq.
I now have over 16,000 miles on my Seq and love it! I have four kids and my wife and I tote them and their friends around everywhere. We have a lake house in the mountains that we go to almost every weekend in the summer as well as ski vacations in the winter. I often have 7 or 8 passengers plus luggage and the truck still has great pick-up and cruises well. I also occasionally tow my 20 foot ski boot with 6 passengers in the car and have found the truck's towing capacity to be more than adequate for my purposes.
I have no doubt that I purchased the SUV that was the best fit for my family. I have two brothers that own GM SUV's (one a Sub and one owns a Tahoe) and after driving my vehicle both said they would buy a Seq next time. Much better fit and finish, smother ride, etc. (and they have both had quality issues with their trucks).
I concur with Notra4re on everything he has written, including the quality of the air conditioning. It was over 100 degrees here last week and we were on vacation. My kids turned off the rear a/c as they were too cold. My wife had to direct the airflow from the front a/c away from her as otherwise she was too cold.
BTW, the reason that minivans generally have higher load capacities are that their centers of gravity are lower to the ground than the big SUVs and thus have a lower risk of rollovers. It is an advantage that all minivans have over SUVs that sit up high. It has nothing to do with power of the engine. Also, the car companies will generally list a very conservative weight limit for litigation purposes as they need to factor in drivers who do not know how to handle a large SUV properly.
Good luck on the search for the vehicle that best fits your family!
The Sequoia is a good vehicle that was underpowered for my uses. It also needs more room to manuever than the Tahoe with a 4 ft greater turning radius. Interior space was also an issue. Not necessary for everyone, but it mattered to me.
I simply raised the issue of payload capacity which I think should be at least one of the factors used in purchasing a F/S SUV. The Sequoia appears to be very light duty from its payload capacity which may be a concern to someone that might be planning to "load up" their SUV. I think its also a reasonable question to raise given that many smaller SUVs and minivans have a higher payload capacity than the Sequoia.
It just seems strange that the much smaller Highlander has nearly the same payload as a Sequoia and the Toyota Sienna minivan which was built on the Camry platform as a higher payload (1314lbs) than the Sequoia. Given that the TLC has a payload in line with its intended use (1745lbs), it seems a reasonable question why the Sequoia (1305lbs)was designed and rated with such a light duty payload capacity?
The 2wd Highlander, as you stated, has a payload of 1500Lbs which is 100lbs MORE than a 2wd Sequoia. Makes you wonder who did the design work on the Sequoia suspension to give it such a light load capacity.
Just to give some level of comparison, I was listening to a radio commercial for the GMC Sierra today that was bragging about a 1600 pound payload capacity. This is a half ton pick up that they were bragging was "professional grade". Granted, 1600 is more than the Sequoia, but the Sequoia weights much more to begin with. Put a fiberglass shell on that truck and you have less payload than the Sequoia.
The payload of the vehicle is the difference between the weight of the vehicle and the GVWR, which should not be exceeded. In the case of the Sequoia, the difference (payload) is 1305lbs. This is the weight than can be safely carried on or in the Sequoia. The tow capacity is entirely different and has not been the principle point of discussion, however the Sequoia towing capacity is 2000lbs less than a base Yukon.
The Payload is an issue for the very concern you raise above, namely you should never exceed the GVWR. In the case of the Sequoia that is easily achieved with 8 passengers averaging 163lbs soaking wet OR 8 passengers averaging 125lbs with 300lbs of cargo on board. To me, that appeared to be an issue worthy of discussion at this forum in light of Toyota's attempt to sell the Sequoia against the domestic F/S SUVs. A comparison of payloads should be of interest to all those shopping for a f/s SUV such as baseballmom94.
Of course, it's minor details... bought a Tahoe last year and the transmission slipped in *3 weeks*. Or was that before they started marketing "professional grade" SUVs...?
Gil.
11,000 miles on the Sequoia and waiting for the transmission to slip.