The aiming switch shown in your manual is for HID/Xenon headlights that are only featured in the XLE Limited model, not the regular XLE.
I'd either adjust the headlights downward manually myself, if it doesn't affect their usefulness too badly, or take it to the dealership and have them take a look at it.
My toyota dealer did me a favor - I knew the CD player was the rattle, because I could make it stop by shoving my hand into the cassette player of my '04 XLE and apply upward pressure to stop the rattle. My dealer reported my CD player as skipping and got me a new radio. No more rattle there, but now I head one at highway speeds in the sunroof! I am really very surprised at the number of rattles in this toyota!
I get this noise when the engine is still running. This noise usually comes on after I switched off the ignition, but now it's there when the engine is on.
It's got about 3000 km (2000 miles) on it. I started noticing this two weeks ago, when I got out of the car with the engine running. Before that, the engine was quiet (of course from outside the van too).
The dealer told me to bring back the van for a first oil change at 4000 km when I bought the van two months ago. I wonder if this would fix the metallic ticking noise.
Can anyone tell me if my XLE is pre-wired for a tv screen to be installed in the headliner of my XLE? What is that drop-down container for that they put in the XLE on the ceiling? I can't think of anything I would use it for!
Hi, my 1 month old 2004 LE 8 seat "engine maintenance light" turned ON. Went back to the dealer. They said that its only the lamp and there is nothing wrong. They have order a replacement lamp and will call me back. Busted lamp in 3 weeks? Any comments?
But they did changed the oil since I have already driven it long distance twice.
HELLO EVERYONE IT IS NOT THE TRANS/ENGINE THAT IS AT FAULT IN MOST CASES. IT IS THE WAY THE VECHILE IS DRIVEN AT THE PORT AND ON THE DEALER LOT. THAT IS THE COMPUTERS FRIST DATA ENTERY FOR THE WAY THE VECHILE IS DRIVEN. YOU CAN DRIVE IT UNTIL IT RELEARNS IT SELF BUT IT TAKES A REALY LONG TIME. SO WE JUST RESET THEM. PROBELY A GOOD IDEA TO GET IT RESET THE DAY YOU PICK IT UP NEW. THAT WAY IT GETS THE FRIST CHANCE TO KNOW YOU BEST.
Just pick up my car yesterday afternoon and I found a paint defect!! I was going to do my initial car wash and waxing (doesn't rely on dealer's job) and found the hood area has Tiger skin look a like patten on my the Arctic Frost paint. This is my FIRST Toyota and I can't not believe what I'm getting!! So far the drive is good from dealership (already put 80 miles on it) but the discolor on paint is really shocking to me...is this a Toyota Quality? Really disappointed and what should I do? Demand a new car? Sound impossible to me tho.
Sorry, but after 15000Km it is still doing it. Therefore, it is not the learning process. It is the shift points and the way power of the engine is control during shifting.
OK guys, I have read through all of the messages and some of you are repeating some of the problems that I have been having. First of all I bought a 2004 Toyota Sienna on Nov. 24 and my wife and I drove it to Orlando, Florida from Montgomery, Alabama Nov. 26th. Drove it back to Montgomery filling up from an empty tank on the boarder of Alabama/Florida on Nov 30th. From there we drove around town for the next couple of days until Dec 3rd when my wife filled up ($11.50 worth of gas) here in Montgomery and got to Atlanta, Georga (100+ miles) where the vehicle started acting up. What the vehicle was doing was when the vehicle was idle it didn't choke, spudder, etc. It was a perfect idle. Then when she put it in drive, she would have to floor the gas peddle where then after 4-6 seconds the vehicle would jump, make a poping noise and then start to go forwards as if it were a manual transmission starting off in 4th gear. Then once it started going it would drive fine unless she let off the gas where it would hesitate again. When she was able to get off the Expressway and into a parking lot to call me, she decided to back into a parking spot where the vehicle drove perfectly in reverse. Deciding that she should give the vehicle another try in forward, it reacted again as I described before.
My vehicle was towed in and worked on that day. Dec 11th, I got a call from my dealership (Reinhardt Toyota) where they finally decided that it was bad fuel and stuck me with a $350 towing fee, $415 rental fee, and $80 parts and $1950 labor. They pointed there finger at my wife stating that she must have put diesel in the tank because they believe that was the contaminant.
Questions are, would the vehicle really act like that if it were diesel fuel? Anyone else had these symtoms? Would a machanic put a small amount of diesel fuel in a gas tank to lube/clean the engine like some of my co-workers are suggesting? Any suggestions will be appreciated (we are working on legal options at the moment).
One of the nozzles is bigger (diesel or gas), but I don't know which. I would think that the van wouldn't run at all, and sure wouldn't run fine in reverse. It also doesn't seem likely that you would go 100+ miles before any problems started, but I guess it depends if the diesel is heavier (so it would sink to the bottom).
It would be a simple matter to look at the receipt from the gas station to know if she put in Diesel. If she did not and there was still diesel in the tank, then it would be likely the gas stations error.
As for running fine at all with diesel, not likely. Diesel needs alot of pressure to ignite, you can drop a lit match in it and usually will not ignite. Gas engines provide nothing like the pressure (and there for heat) a diesel fuel would need to ignite. Not to mention the inability of the injection system to atomize the fuel and so on.
I find it rather suspect, does the dealer have a sealed vial of the offending fuel or did you get/keep a sample? It can be tested.
Diesel nozzles are larger than gas and would not fit in a unleaded tank opening (leaded gas nozzles are also larger than unleaded so that would be another unlikely contamninant).
wasn't someone else complaining a number of posts back of having the tank recall performed on their car, and then experiencing problems with proper fuel delivery?
why would a car drive perfectly fine at speed and also in reverse, just not start out in forward well?
the gas/deisel mix scenario sounds like a story.
you know a great deal about these vehicles...can the user determine (at another dealership) what was documented as being done to the car (at another dealership), but also, can one objectively determine if say a re-flash of the ECM / TCM was performed when it was in the shop?
I may be oversimplifying this, but wouldn't the dealer need to prove that the problem was caused by bad gas? For example, provide a sample of the gas as was suggested. And provide a sound technical explanation as to why the van would operate normally while idling and backing up, but not in forward gear.
Another dealer could check the revision code on the tranny ecu. This would tell them whether or not it was reflashed.
If I were the owner, I would pursue finding out what if anything the dealer charged back to Toyota by contacting Toyota directly and asking about double dipping (warrantee and charge the customer).
In addition, what parts were replaced? I can think of some obvious ones but what was actually done. That is also alot of labor, what do they claim they did.
There have been a number of documented cases where fittings on the gas tank were not properly connected. I know a few of them the van stopped on the highway with fuel spilling out. This was a dealer issue and not one directly tiable to Toyota (training/not following directions).
On a related note: when was the van actually built? Was it one that was built, stored and then retrofitted with a gas tank? Vehicles built in late July and early August would be the most likely to have been stored. Possible contaminants could have entered the system then.
Well as for my wife putting in the diesel by mistake, we went up to the last gas station here and discovered that the diesel pump head was much bigger and was impossible to mistake. We tried to get a receipt from them but was unable to thus far. But we are going though our credit card company to get a copy.
As for calling up Toyota, I've already started that process. I am supposed to get a call from them today. I'll let you know how that goes. They said that it could actually be the dealership that calls me, but I'm not to fond of that idea because we have been on bad terms since day one.
Is there any way of reading the VIN number to determine when the vehicle was asembled?
My daughter has a 2004 Sienna with 10,000 miles. The front brake pads are shot with deep grooves in the rotors. Her last car was a 1999 Sienna and she did not have the problem with that one so it shouldn't be her style of driving (riding the brakes). Has anyone else out there had premature brake wear with their van? Dealer wants $400 to replace pads and rotors, not covered by warranty. Rather expensive for only 10K miles!
I'm surprised that your dealer won't replace your pads & rotors. Though brakes are not usually covered under warranty, failure at such an early point is not normal. I went through the same thing on my 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. By the end of the warranty period (3yrs/36k), various dealers had replaced (without charge) all four sets of pads & rotors twice. Neither my wife nor I drove the vehicle hard, and I was unhappy with this performance. On another Sienna board, someone mentioned that lug nuts tightened with an air wrench beyond what's recommended in the manual can cause brake disc warping (and subsequent pad/rotor failure), and I'm going to ensure that I specify the Toyota specs whenever getting the tires on my new Sienna rotated/changed.
Sorry for the digression, but your dealer (or another one) should be willing to help you out in this case. If they refuse, you should inform Toyota customer service or their regional rep of your issue. Good luck.
Big improvements in brake "systems" since 99, just resting her foot very lightly on the 99 may not have had any affect, but on the new one with(??) BA, Brake Assist, might be playing a part.
On the 1999 Sienna my daughter had, the brakes always squealed. After several times back to the dealer, they were checked out and found to be normal. So when she got the 2004 she figured the squeal was normal on this van also. After a heated argument, the dealer finally agreed to replace the brakes and rotors free, one time only. I hope she doesn't have to replace them every six months! I forgot to mention, my daughter did not get fog lights so the van came with plastic filler grills in the bumper to cover the fog light holes. When the van was about two months old, one of the filler pieces fell out and was lost. The dealer insisted it was not covered by warranty so she had to pay $20 for the part plus painting, installation, and tax for a total $100.
Well, I must say my Sienna XLE is great, but there is an annoying Squeak coming from the driver's side sidepost....the post right behind the driver's left ear. At least it appears to come from there.Hanna mentioned a similar squeak...anyone know what this is?
1. I don't know if you could call this a problem but migrating from a 95 Camry to a 2004 Sienna, I find it very hard to open the gas cap, at the gas station yesterday I could not open the cap no matter how hard I tried, I read the instructions but both the picture & the directions were misleading, I thought the cap (the place where you'd normally grab the cap)had to be in the horizontal position, & i had to give it a 90 degree turn, stop & turn a little more. It just won't open, finally I got a guy at the station to help me open it. He, too, had to twist really hard to open that thing. After I finished filling the tank, I attempted to twist until I heard a click but none came, thinking the cap wasn't secure, so I tried to open again, still it wouldn't, finally, I went back to the dealer to have them take a look. They showed me that I had to turn really hard, no pause, no pulling necessary, just turn hard uptil it opens. I wish they would make it easier to open the gas cap.
2. I've noticed that my van does not accelerate like my Camry did. Could it be the cold mornings (30-40 degrees)? type of gas used? sometimes it feels sluggish after a stop. According to the info at the van door, the van was manufactured in October 2004, is this one of those vans that were affected by the transmission problem? I wondered. but other than that & the gas cap, I'm happy with it.
if I remember correctly, my V6 Camry had 180 HP,weighing maybe about 3,000 lbs. This Sienna has 230 HP & weighs about 4,000 lbs. I notice the sluggishness on the Sienna is not as bad as when the engine was cold. I admit driving a van is a lot different than driving a sedan. I'm not one who makes hard stop/acceleration. I replaced the brakes for the 1st time on my Camry this past October after putting 90,000+ miles on it.
In my opinion you need to consult a lawyer. You need to find a GOOD one who deals with consumer issues. Consult a lawyer before you communicate further with the dealership. It is just my opinion, but threatening to sue is a waste of time. Dealerships hear that threat every day. Just go to a good lawyer and find out where you stand. If it's a decent case just let the summonses and supeonas fly without warning. Make everyone from their mechanics to their receptionist appear in court if you can. Don't play games with arbitration which is none binding. Make it cost them man-hours and legal fees.
"Here rattle, there rattle Everywhere rattle, rattle." Those boys in Indiana need a heavy dose of Japanese quality control. Only 3000 miles and it rattled from mile 1: seats, liftgate, side moldings, sliding doors and something in the region of the spare tire. Made in October and I suspect on a Monday.
I filled up my Sienna for the first time tonight. The owners manual said that the distance to empty mileage reported on the information center (or trip computer or whatever it is that Toyota calls it) would automatically reset when I re-filled the fuel tank. This did not happen. I am still showing 9 miles to empty even though I filled the tank.
I am hoping that this is user error. Does anyone have any insight into this problem? TIA!
I noticed in my Sienna that it takes about 10-15 minutes of driving for the trip computer to reset following a fill-up. It's not an instantaneous update when you fill up the tank. Good luck.
I have tried over and over, following the instructions on page 24 to program the locks to option (c) and (d) with no luck. Previous posts on this seemed to use the instructions with some difficulty, but they don't work for me. Turn on, put trans in R, move power door lock switch forward or back for 5 seconds. Put it back in park. Any other suggestions other than to go to the dealer? Thanks.
From another very helpful and patient Sienna owner:
All of the functions work with the following preliminary steps: 1) Close ALL doors. 2) Turn the ignition switch to ON (don't start the engine) 3) WITHIN 10 seconds, you must do one of the following:
A - If you want the doors to lock when the selecter lever is moved out of PARK . . . Press and hold the FRONT of the power lock switch (driver's door) for 5 seconds with the selector in PARK. [Default setting for new Siennas]
B - If you want the doors to unlock automatically when the selector lever is moved to PARK . . . Press and hold the REAR of the power lock switch (driver's door) for 5 seconds with the selector in PARK.
C - If you want the doors to lock when the vehicle reaches 12mph . . . Press and hold the FRONT of the power lock switch (driver's door) for 5 seconds with the selector lever in any position EXCEPT Park.
D - If you want the doors to unlock automatically when the driver's door is opened within 10 seconds of ignition shut-off . . . push and hold the REAR of the power lock switch (driver's door) for 5 seconds with the selector lever in any position EXCEPT Park.
So you get in, turn the ignition to ON, and quickly choose one of the four options above. IF you did everything right, the power locks will function once when you release the lock switch. That's your signal that the function is set. If not . . . try again. As I said, it took me about four tries. Personally, I kept the default locking (A) and set the doors to unlock when I opened the driver's door (D).
FINALLY . . . to cancel a function, just repeat a procedure. Each time you perform the procedure, the function is set or cancelled.
Well...here is my laundry list of minor problems with my LE 8pass with only 1000 miles thus far:
Rattles and creaks - in driver's side door, somewhere, there is a rattle. It is worse when the stereo is on - vibrates with the bass. The power sliding door creaks whenever I go up a curb or hit a bump.
Brakes - sometimes when I am coming to a full stop first thing in the morning, there is this grinding, gritty sound but only the first time I step on the brakes. Performance is okay. This only happens once out of every five or so mornings.
RPMs when starting - when I start the van first time in the morning, it revs really hard for a few seconds without my foot being on the gas pedal. Asked a service person at the dealer about this and he said it was normal, but it sure sounds loud to me.
Clunking sound - a few times when I've turned a corner there has been this BIG clunk under the van, like I hit a tree branch or rock or something. Each time I checked behind me and the road was absolutely clear. Now that it's happened a few times I know I'm not imagining it.
I don't want to turn anyone off from buying this van - it still drives like a dream compared to my 1998 Subaru Outback - I am in love with most of the features and generally very happy with the van - but when I pay this much for a vehicle, I expect it to be nearly perfect, mechanically and structurally, when I drive it off the lot. If I took this list to the dealership, would they just blow me off as a picky soccer mom and tell me everything is "normal" or "within specs"?
As for the rattles and creaks, I'm afraid you might have to live with it. I remembered when I had my 98 Accord, and there was just this "ticking" noise that came from the back somewhere, and you know what, I brought it back to the dealer 3 times for it, and they couldn't find the problem. Took a trade to a 2000 Camry to fix that irritating noise. All I wanted was a quiet ride w/o the radio on.
And of course, my Camry (Canadian model) was manufactured in Japan, while the Accord was made somewhere in Ontario, Canada.
I'm also in the market for a Sienna, and I really wished that the Siennas are made in Japan. That's why I'm holding back till the 2005 model so that all these kinks will (hopefully) be resolved.
In spite of that, the Sienna is still a top-rated van. Rattles or not, this van is THE SAFEST minivan on the market.
Your brakes probably make that sound because they develop surface rust, and it takes a few revolutions of the brakes to clear that film. It happens in many cars. Nothing to worry about.
The rattling from the door might be easily fixed with an adjustment. My '99 GCS suffered from loose side doors in the winter; the first-time fix was to replace the tracks at the top of the door; they had been redesigned. The second time it happened the dealer just adjusted the door a bit. No rattles now.
Anyone have an AWD Sienna that's getting a stiff ride? I had test drove another one at a dealer it the ride seemed pretty nice. But the new one I got fresh from the factory seems to ride pretty stiff. Do you think the run-flat tire's might be over inflated? Thanks for any thoughts.
Sienna04owner: I also have a problem with bad running. My 04 XLE Limited has had to be towed twice now as it simply stopped running & wouldn't start. The dealer both times has sited "Bad Gas". I don't think so. Something is definitely wrong here & it started after the fuel tank was replaced. Does anyone have any odeas?
My wife took delivery of a Sienna LE on July 4th. Initially, I was really impressed with the package that Toyota created. I thought the Sienna was a step up from the 3 Chrysler vans we have had in the past. Specifically, I like the larger interior compared with the previous Sienna model, the tumble down 3rd row seating (à la Ody), engine torque, and bold styling. There were aspects of the van I did not care for, but it was ultimately my wife's decision, and Chrysler has not yet incorporated some key convenience features such as tumble down seats.
On the first service (I had the oil changed at 2,000 km even though not recommended by Toyota) I mentioned that the transmission is slow to down shift when slowing for a corner or yield. The service manager told me this was "normal" and a limitation of the engine/transmission computer. I noted the same condition when I had the oil changed a couple of months ago. Same response. Thanks to others here for posting about TSB 0007-03. I will ask the service manager to follow up on this TSB.
After six months, here are my impressions of this new Toyota van.
ride and handling The ride is pretty smooth and quiet on the 16" Michelin tires. However, steering is very vague, particularly when compared to our previous Grand Caravan (this was a surprise). The van tends to wander a good deal, and is slow to respond in turns. For winter, we equipped the van with 16" Bridgestone Blizzaks mounted on Toyota steel wheels. My wife feels quite confident in snowy conditions.
The brakes seem very soft, and require more pedal pressure than seems reasonable. On a couple of occasions, I have had to really stand on the brakes to avoid getting too close to another car in what seemed a typical braking manoeuvre.
fit and finish: There is an annoying wind noise from the upper centre area of the windshield and rattling in the drivers door area. Other than that, the interior is pretty quiet.
The second row seats are awkward to install and remove. I expected a better design. Toyota had plenty of time to get this right. When the seats are collapsed forward, there is a very narrow entry way left between the folded seat and the side wall of the van. Our Newfoundland dog cannot easily get in the side doors without totally removing the middle seat.
The front fascia of the van is prone to stone chips. I asked about vinyl paint protector for the hood and fascia, the dealer said that option is not available. Friends had that option on their '98 Sienna, and it really save the paint. After 2 weeks, and 2 stone chips in the hood, I purchased the dark plastic hood deflector to protect the paint somewhat from further chips. Meanwhile, there are already many stone chips on the front fascia. The matte bumpers on the Grand Caravan look really appealing now.
Interior layout/controls As noted elsewhere, it is impossible to locate several unlighted controls after dark.
Can somebody tell me if I am using the rear window washer/wiper control correctly? I have been unable to find a setting that permits washing and wiping the rear window in the same motion. I have found it necessary to turn the lever one direction to dispense fluid, then turn the lever the opposite direction to operate the wiper. If I am using this control as designed, I'd like to think there is a spot reserved in purgatory for the designer. The rear wiper control and lack of instrumentation lighting are real safety concerns because the driver must divert her/his eyes for too long a period to find/operate the controls.
The heater seems totally ineffective. The interior of the van is slow to warm up on cold mornings. Once the heater kicks in, it is difficult to regulate the temperature. At this price, the van should have been equipped front dual zone ecc as well as the rear zone control.
So after six months and 13,000 km, I'd have to say that while I had high expectations, I am underwhelmed by the redesigned Sienna. However, we tend to keep our cars for several years. It will be a much different landscape when we are shopping again in 4-5 years.
Upgrades to van: . sill protectors from dealer . hidden hitch with 2" receiver . trailer wiring with brake controller . remote start . heated front seats (dealer could not supply)
3M makes a clear plastic that's put on the hood and bumpers. This is a job for a professional. Search on line and you will find what I am talking about. It is suppose to protect the paint from stone chips.
I am familiar with the 3M product. I have had it applied to the leading edge of the hood on a previous car after a repaint. In hind sight, I should have had my local body shop install the 3M product immediately after taking delivery. However, there are so many angles, cut-outs and indents to the front fascia and hood of the Sienna that I assumed it was too complex a job as an after market installation.
I have to agree that the quality of the 2004 Sienna is pretty poor. I am one of the people that was stranded on the highway after my fuel tank replacement.
I had complained about the transmission since day one and was told time and again that it was NORMAL! Well today they reprogramed the transmission and it's like I have a new van!
My Toyota service department is STUPID! I had to call them with the TSB number because they couldn't find it. This is also the place they misconnected my fuel line causing a near catastrophe! I need to find a new service dept. but this one is 3 miles from home. Anyone in the St. Louis area that knows a good service center please post the name!
Not to belittle your considerable problems and issues that you have had, but most of what you are complaining about is dealer related and not 04 Sienna quality related.
The dealer is the one that failed to properly perform a job that was correctly done on thousands of other similar vans without incident. You and one other person that I have read about suffered the issue you did. Bad service.
The service department's inability to find a TSB which was intended by Toyota to alleviate a problem many owners were having is ridiculous. As you have noted, the fix really does improve things. Your dealer service department deserves a good slap up side the head, one of several ways to do so is to fill out a comment card and clearly state your dissatisfaction. Another is to call Toyota and let them know how bad the service department is. Another is to get the State's Attorneys Office involved, especially if they are doing anything fraudulent.
Their (the dealer service department) failure to properly install your fuel tank is unconscienable, The level of risk they put you and your family in is beyond belief.
As for the service department telling you it was normal, sadly it was normal and there was nothing they could do about the issue until Toyota issued the updated software. It stopped being normal behavior the day the update became available. The original software was Toyota's failure and happily they fixed it.
Please put the blame where it is deserved, impugning the quality of the Sienna over service issues is unfair and not really a quality issue.
For your own safety and peace of mind, please go to another dealer for your service. Conveniently located is not convenient when they do a poor job (or in this case horrendous).
If you twist the control all the way to the top (clockwise when looking at the end of the control) you will get wash and wipe. Getting just fluid at first when turning it counter clockwise is a feature that allows you to get more spray on the window before it gets immediately swept away and keeps you from running the wiper over dry dirt the will scrape and scratch your window.
beckyo2 wrote: The service department's inability to find a TSB which was intended by Toyota to alleviate a problem many owners were having is ridiculous. As you have noted, the fix really does improve things.....
Has Toyota started updating the Siennas with this transmission software fix yet??? Does anyone know? Our Sienna was MFG 12-03 Vin#5TDZA23C345097865. I have about 450 miles on this baby and have not experienced any down shifting problems yet. Maybe they have started filing all new assembly line models with this upgrade. Is there a sticker somewhere on the van that would list this TSB upgrade?
8 passanger seating. The 8 passanger seating works ok but the entry to the rear seats is not set up very well for smaller children. We have twin boys age 7 that find it a bit difficult to flip the middle buckets forward for rear seat entry. If you have your head in front of the seat back when you trip the release the back of the seat comes forward with such force that it, in my opinion could hurt a child very easly. I think my 7 yr olds would just as soon climb over the back of the seats as to flip that thing forward. Another thing that is not designed very well is the way the folding flip forward seat functions. If you want to get out of the back seat you pull this strap on the bottom of the outside bucket seat. Simple enough. The seat back flips forward and then the base of the seat unlatches and folds forward. After exiting the van our kids were just pushing the seat base back down in place and not folding the seat back up into position. If you leave the seat like this and do not fold it up into place right away then it will not fold up into place later on, say when you get back to the car with the kids after stopping at the store. At this point you have to reactivate the fold forward lever. So basically we have not found an easy way to get people in and out of the back seats. You just about have to fold the thing forward completely, exit and then put it back in place. There must be a better way. I have been thinking about removing the middle 8th seat and storing it in the trunk area so that it would create a walk through. With all this said. I still believe that the Sienna out ranks the Venture and Astro/Safari vans by a long shot. We have owned 3 Astros and have found the Toyota Seinna 2004 a welcome change.
Our Sienna has a November build date, and we have not noticed any issues with the transmission or shifting in/out of gear. No hesitation, and it seems very smooth.
Comments
I'd either adjust the headlights downward manually myself, if it doesn't affect their usefulness too badly, or take it to the dealership and have them take a look at it.
It's got about 3000 km (2000 miles) on it. I started noticing this two weeks ago, when I got out of the car with the engine running. Before that, the engine was quiet (of course from outside the van too).
The dealer told me to bring back the van for a first oil change at 4000 km when I bought the van two months ago. I wonder if this would fix the metallic ticking noise.
Anyone has the same issue here?
But they did changed the oil since I have already driven it long distance twice.
Steve, Host
My vehicle was towed in and worked on that day. Dec 11th, I got a call from my dealership (Reinhardt Toyota) where they finally decided that it was bad fuel and stuck me with a $350 towing fee, $415 rental fee, and $80 parts and $1950 labor. They pointed there finger at my wife stating that she must have put diesel in the tank because they believe that was the contaminant.
Questions are, would the vehicle really act like that if it were diesel fuel? Anyone else had these symtoms? Would a machanic put a small amount of diesel fuel in a gas tank to lube/clean the engine like some of my co-workers are suggesting? Any suggestions will be appreciated (we are working on legal options at the moment).
But then the station could have mixed the fuel, might be worth a phone call.
Prices seem kind of rediculous in any case.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
As for running fine at all with diesel, not likely. Diesel needs alot of pressure to ignite, you can drop a lit match in it and usually will not ignite. Gas engines provide nothing like the pressure (and there for heat) a diesel fuel would need to ignite. Not to mention the inability of the injection system to atomize the fuel and so on.
I find it rather suspect, does the dealer have a sealed vial of the offending fuel or did you get/keep a sample? It can be tested.
Diesel nozzles are larger than gas and would not fit in a unleaded tank opening (leaded gas nozzles are also larger than unleaded so that would be another unlikely contamninant).
why would a car drive perfectly fine at speed and also in reverse, just not start out in forward well?
the gas/deisel mix scenario sounds like a story.
you know a great deal about these vehicles...can the user determine (at another dealership) what was documented as being done to the car (at another dealership), but also, can one objectively determine if say a re-flash of the ECM / TCM was performed when it was in the shop?
curious.
If I were the owner, I would pursue finding out what if anything the dealer charged back to Toyota by contacting Toyota directly and asking about double dipping (warrantee and charge the customer).
In addition, what parts were replaced? I can think of some obvious ones but what was actually done. That is also alot of labor, what do they claim they did.
There have been a number of documented cases where fittings on the gas tank were not properly connected. I know a few of them the van stopped on the highway with fuel spilling out. This was a dealer issue and not one directly tiable to Toyota (training/not following directions).
On a related note: when was the van actually built? Was it one that was built, stored and then retrofitted with a gas tank? Vehicles built in late July and early August would be the most likely to have been stored. Possible contaminants could have entered the system then.
As for calling up Toyota, I've already started that process. I am supposed to get a call from them today. I'll let you know how that goes. They said that it could actually be the dealership that calls me, but I'm not to fond of that idea because we have been on bad terms since day one.
Is there any way of reading the VIN number to determine when the vehicle was asembled?
Sorry for the digression, but your dealer (or another one) should be willing to help you out in this case. If they refuse, you should inform Toyota customer service or their regional rep of your issue. Good luck.
Somebody has been ignoring a really LOUD squeal.
Big improvements in brake "systems" since 99, just resting her foot very lightly on the 99 may not have had any affect, but on the new one with(??) BA, Brake Assist, might be playing a part.
I forgot to mention, my daughter did not get fog lights so the van came with plastic filler grills in the bumper to cover the fog light holes. When the van was about two months old, one of the filler pieces fell out and was lost. The dealer insisted it was not covered by warranty so she had to pay $20 for the part plus painting, installation, and tax for a total $100.
2. I've noticed that my van does not accelerate like my Camry did. Could it be the cold mornings (30-40 degrees)? type of gas used? sometimes it feels sluggish after a stop. According to the info at the van door, the van was manufactured in October 2004, is this one of those vans that were affected by the transmission problem? I wondered. but other than that & the gas cap, I'm happy with it.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Everywhere rattle, rattle." Those boys in Indiana need a heavy dose of Japanese quality control. Only 3000 miles and it rattled from mile 1: seats, liftgate, side moldings, sliding doors and something in the region of the spare tire. Made in October and I suspect on a Monday.
I am hoping that this is user error. Does anyone have any insight into this problem? TIA!
All of the functions work with the following preliminary steps:
1) Close ALL doors.
2) Turn the ignition switch to ON (don't start the engine)
3) WITHIN 10 seconds, you must do one of the following:
A - If you want the doors to lock when the selecter lever is moved out of PARK . . . Press and hold the FRONT of the power lock switch (driver's door) for 5 seconds with the selector in PARK. [Default setting for new Siennas]
B - If you want the doors to unlock automatically when the selector lever is moved to PARK . . . Press and hold the REAR of the power lock switch (driver's door) for 5 seconds with the selector in PARK.
C - If you want the doors to lock when the vehicle reaches 12mph . . . Press and hold the FRONT of the power lock switch (driver's door) for 5 seconds with the selector lever in any position EXCEPT Park.
D - If you want the doors to unlock automatically when the driver's door is opened within 10 seconds of ignition shut-off . . . push and hold the REAR of the power lock switch (driver's door) for 5 seconds with the selector lever in any position EXCEPT Park.
So you get in, turn the ignition to ON, and quickly choose one of the four options above. IF you did everything right, the power locks will function once when you release the lock switch. That's your signal that the function is set. If not . . . try again. As I said, it took me about four tries. Personally, I kept the default locking (A) and set the doors to unlock when I opened the driver's door (D).
FINALLY . . . to cancel a function, just repeat a procedure. Each time you perform the procedure, the function is set or cancelled.
Rattles and creaks - in driver's side door, somewhere, there is a rattle. It is worse when the stereo is on - vibrates with the bass. The power sliding door creaks whenever I go up a curb or hit a bump.
Brakes - sometimes when I am coming to a full stop first thing in the morning, there is this grinding, gritty sound but only the first time I step on the brakes. Performance is okay. This only happens once out of every five or so mornings.
RPMs when starting - when I start the van first time in the morning, it revs really hard for a few seconds without my foot being on the gas pedal. Asked a service person at the dealer about this and he said it was normal, but it sure sounds loud to me.
Clunking sound - a few times when I've turned a corner there has been this BIG clunk under the van, like I hit a tree branch or rock or something. Each time I checked behind me and the road was absolutely clear. Now that it's happened a few times I know I'm not imagining it.
I don't want to turn anyone off from buying this van - it still drives like a dream compared to my 1998 Subaru Outback - I am in love with most of the features and generally very happy with the van - but when I pay this much for a vehicle, I expect it to be nearly perfect, mechanically and structurally, when I drive it off the lot. If I took this list to the dealership, would they just blow me off as a picky soccer mom and tell me everything is "normal" or "within specs"?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
And of course, my Camry (Canadian model) was manufactured in Japan, while the Accord was made somewhere in Ontario, Canada.
I'm also in the market for a Sienna, and I really wished that the Siennas are made in Japan. That's why I'm holding back till the 2005 model so that all these kinks will (hopefully) be resolved.
In spite of that, the Sienna is still a top-rated van. Rattles or not, this van is THE SAFEST minivan on the market.
http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/summary_passvans.htm
I would bring the vehicle back to the dealer and see if they could find the rattles and creaks. Hopefully they can "hear" what you hear.
I agree with you, when you pay this much for a vehicle, you expect it to be perfect, especially from a Toyota.
Tom
DizzyK2
On the first service (I had the oil changed at 2,000 km even though not recommended by Toyota) I mentioned that the transmission is slow to down shift when slowing for a corner or yield. The service manager told me this was "normal" and a limitation of the engine/transmission computer. I noted the same condition when I had the oil changed a couple of months ago. Same response. Thanks to others here for posting about TSB 0007-03. I will ask the service manager to follow up on this TSB.
After six months, here are my impressions of this new Toyota van.
ride and handling
The ride is pretty smooth and quiet on the 16" Michelin tires. However, steering is very vague, particularly when compared to our previous Grand Caravan (this was a surprise). The van tends to wander a good deal, and is slow to respond in turns. For winter, we equipped the van with 16" Bridgestone Blizzaks mounted on Toyota steel wheels. My wife feels quite confident in snowy conditions.
The brakes seem very soft, and require more pedal pressure than seems reasonable. On a couple of occasions, I have had to really stand on the brakes to avoid getting too close to another car in what seemed a typical braking manoeuvre.
fit and finish:
There is an annoying wind noise from the upper centre area of the windshield and rattling in the drivers door area. Other than that, the interior is pretty quiet.
The second row seats are awkward to install and remove. I expected a better design. Toyota had plenty of time to get this right. When the seats are collapsed forward, there is a very narrow entry way left between the folded seat and the side wall of the van. Our Newfoundland dog cannot easily get in the side doors without totally removing the middle seat.
The front fascia of the van is prone to stone chips. I asked about vinyl paint protector for the hood and fascia, the dealer said that option is not available. Friends had that option on their '98 Sienna, and it really save the paint. After 2 weeks, and 2 stone chips in the hood, I purchased the dark plastic hood deflector to protect the paint somewhat from further chips. Meanwhile, there are already many stone chips on the front fascia. The matte bumpers on the Grand Caravan look really appealing now.
Interior layout/controls
As noted elsewhere, it is impossible to locate several unlighted controls after dark.
Can somebody tell me if I am using the rear window washer/wiper control correctly? I have been unable to find a setting that permits washing and wiping the rear window in the same motion. I have found it necessary to turn the lever one direction to dispense fluid, then turn the lever the opposite direction to operate the wiper. If I am using this control as designed, I'd like to think there is a spot reserved in purgatory for the designer. The rear wiper control and lack of instrumentation lighting are real safety concerns because the driver must divert her/his eyes for too long a period to find/operate the controls.
The heater seems totally ineffective. The interior of the van is slow to warm up on cold mornings. Once the heater kicks in, it is difficult to regulate the temperature. At this price, the van should have been equipped front dual zone ecc as well as the rear zone control.
So after six months and 13,000 km, I'd have to say that while I had high expectations, I am underwhelmed by the redesigned Sienna. However, we tend to keep our cars for several years. It will be a much different landscape when we are shopping again in 4-5 years.
Upgrades to van:
. sill protectors from dealer
. hidden hitch with 2" receiver
. trailer wiring with brake controller
. remote start
. heated front seats (dealer could not supply)
Neil
thanks for the sugestion
Neil
I had complained about the transmission since day one and was told time and again that it was NORMAL! Well today they reprogramed the transmission and it's like I have a new van!
My Toyota service department is STUPID! I had to call them with the TSB number because they couldn't find it. This is also the place they misconnected my fuel line causing a near catastrophe! I need to find a new service dept. but this one is 3 miles from home. Anyone in the St. Louis area that knows a good service center please post the name!
Peace, Becky
The dealer is the one that failed to properly perform a job that was correctly done on thousands of other similar vans without incident. You and one other person that I have read about suffered the issue you did. Bad service.
The service department's inability to find a TSB which was intended by Toyota to alleviate a problem many owners were having is ridiculous. As you have noted, the fix really does improve things. Your dealer service department deserves a good slap up side the head, one of several ways to do so is to fill out a comment card and clearly state your dissatisfaction. Another is to call Toyota and let them know how bad the service department is. Another is to get the State's Attorneys Office involved, especially if they are doing anything fraudulent.
Their (the dealer service department) failure to properly install your fuel tank is unconscienable, The level of risk they put you and your family in is beyond belief.
As for the service department telling you it was normal, sadly it was normal and there was nothing they could do about the issue until Toyota issued the updated software. It stopped being normal behavior the day the update became available. The original software was Toyota's failure and happily they fixed it.
Please put the blame where it is deserved, impugning the quality of the Sienna over service issues is unfair and not really a quality issue.
For your own safety and peace of mind, please go to another dealer for your service. Conveniently located is not convenient when they do a poor job (or in this case horrendous).
Good luck
So believe it or not this is a feature.
8 passanger seating. The 8 passanger seating works ok but the entry to the rear seats is not set up very well for smaller children. We have twin boys age 7 that find it a bit difficult to flip the middle buckets forward for rear seat entry. If you have your head in front of the
seat back when you trip the release the back of the seat comes forward with such force that it, in my opinion could hurt a child very easly. I think my 7 yr olds would just as soon climb over the back of the seats as to flip that thing forward. Another thing that is not designed very well is the way the folding flip forward seat functions. If you want to get out of the back seat you pull this strap on the bottom of the outside bucket seat. Simple enough. The seat back flips forward and then the base of the seat unlatches and folds forward. After exiting the van our kids were just pushing the seat base back down in place and not folding the seat back up into position. If you leave the seat like this and do not fold it up into place right away then it will not fold up into place later on, say when you get back to the car with the kids after stopping at the store. At this point you have to reactivate the fold forward lever. So basically we have not found an easy way to get people in and out of the back seats. You just about have to fold the thing forward completely, exit and then put it back in place. There must be a better way. I have been thinking about removing the middle 8th seat and storing it in the trunk area so that it would create a walk through.
With all this said. I still believe that the Sienna out ranks the Venture and Astro/Safari vans by a long shot. We have owned 3 Astros and have found the Toyota Seinna 2004 a welcome change.