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Toyota Sienna Maintenance and Repair (2004+)
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Comments
We drove one and liked it but don't want to switch unless service is as customer friendly.
Thanks for the input! Oh yes- any shimmy problems?!
So, maybe Toyota is going to step and do something constructive on the sulphur smell. Some documentation supporting the rumor of a forth-coming fix would sure be nice.
Apparently Toyota's ultra-low emission engines (like the current Corolla's and Sienna's) can give a rotten egg smell, particularly with a lot of short-distance driving where the engine doesn't get warmed up. Toyota (and other manufacturers) were expecting Canadian gas to follow other countries and have lower sulphur gas, and they designed their emission systems accordingly, but the sulphur content is still higher in Canadian gas.
I enjoy your informative posts. Is there really a "break-in" period anymore with advances in materials, quality and lubrication? I still plan to keep the revs down and change the oil at 1000miles...
However, Toyota does strongly suggest that you take it easy during the first 1000 miles. Given their recomendation I would tend to follow it.
In my view it is very easy to ease your car into the service you will be using it under. Easy starts, part throttle acceleration, no hard stops, no 4k plus rpm are all easy to do and cost you nothing. It will not hurt your car to break it in. With all 5 new cars I have bought I have followed the following regimen and so far have never had a car that uses oil in the first 150k miles, replaced a head gasket, or any other engine or transmission problem.
During the first 500 miles part throttle acceleration (half or less) and never accerate much below 2000rpm, never over 4000 rpm, do my best to vary engine speed either by choosing another gear or slowing down or speeding up. Easy stops (if others cooperate) to allow the brakes to bed in. After 500 miles increase rpm max to 4500 and continue to use part throttle to accelerate. As I get closer to 1000 miles I tend to increase the rpm with more throttle and eventually will do full throttle and redline by 2k miles periodically.
Some may think this overly conservative but it works for me.
There is a whole other school of thought on this, and it is detailed here:
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
I tend to keep my cars for a decade or more, use them for household as well as autocross and track use and have never had engine or transmission related problems. (I doubt I will autocross the Sienna) So, whatever works for you will probably be fine.
As for the "slipping", it does take a bit of rpm to get that mass moving. It may also be among the anomalies that result from the drive by wire accelerator.
Some cars do the following, I don't know yet if the Sienna transmission does this: When sitting at a stop, the transmission shifts into 2nd to reduce the tendency to creep forward, when you start off it needs to shift into 1st to get going, giving a annoying hesitation.
As to whether this is the issue or not remains to be seen.
I doubt you have a problem (we have just gone over 1000 miles since Dec 26th) but it can't hurt to ask when you go in for your first oil change. We live in an area that doesn't require hard acceleration very often so I haven't noticed this issue on our Sienna.
Other problems I have that I see posted are: rear wiper/washer position that doesn't wipe, annoying wind noise from windshield/windows - I note a TSB out for this, poor drive-by-wire throttle sensor design(acceleration lag). Also, after having the vehicle for 6 months it has now developed a pronounced whine from the transmission(?)and what sounds like clicking tappit noise from the engine.
I am hearing wind noise behind my left ear while seated in driver's seat. Can you direct me to the TSB that you referred to in your recent post?
Thanks,
Paul
at this website. go to new cars,sienna,maintenance,TSBs and recalls.
And oh yeah, I forgot to mention another thing that pissed me off. The headlights were improperly aimed up into the Milky Way somewhere and every other passing driver flashed his high beams. Of course the inept dealer said there was no adjustment necessary, so I re aimed them myself. I had less grief with the much maligned Windstar we owned before.
How difficult is it to adjust the headlight aiming? I find mine to be a bit on the high side as well. Haven't really check to see how it can be adjusted yet. Thanks,
Stephen
I'm bringing my LE in next week to have DVD installed and have left a message for them to check that the software is the latest version. Did you buy yours early in the model year? I wonder when the "new" software made its debut?
It could be very difficult for a bear with a very small brain but for you and me,its no problem. There is one adjustment nut at the back of the headlight and if I recall correctly you'll need a small 1/4 in ratchet to get in there. Find a good looking 5 ft blonde to stand naked exactly 12 ft from the bumper and adjust until the top of the low beam is exactly at her navel. If you notice the high beams are on you're not focusing on the task at hand.
Wendy
Wendy
Wendy
Whatever the cause, the cause was not trauma or an accident. When assessed by our insurance company, they thought it looked as if it had been in a roll-over, except there was no side damage.
The repair cost $7500 and took 3 weeks - the entire roof had to be cut off and replaced. We wonder if there is an integrity flaw with the roof - often discussed with SUVs as they have gotten bigger, they need to keep the vehicle light and take away where they can - the roof.
I have not seen any other similar posting, but I wanted to put it out there to see if others had the same or similar problems. I also want Sienna owners to be careful with automatic car washes and car-top carriers. This was a major cost and inconvenience for our family.
Thanks.
does not compare to my traded 98.Any one have a
solution...has Donlop tires.Discusted with van!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
the ride is comparable to a sports car or truck
not a toyota minivan!We bought this van too quick
based on our ownership of a 95 previa & 98 sienna.Something very wrong with all the touted
fine ride write ups!Has any one else experienced
this and has a possible solution other than trading it back?
Good Luck, Becky
like mine.I am trying to get the dealer to
address the rough ride.He is not too happy about
it.Sorry U and other`s also have experienced
the poor ride.
However we all have different expectations. Be sure and test drive the vehicle before buying and test drive the actual van you will buy before signing on the dotted line.
Sorry some dealers are not as good as others. the dealer is the thing I worry most about. I have two dealers that could service the vehicle, hopefully one of them will be decent.
Anyway, I don't own one, but have test driven 2 or 3 different units (all FWD), and found the ride to be very smooth and comfortable. And since I own a Miata, and used to have a Nissan Pick Up, I know what a stiff bouncy ride is!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
than the hard impacts.I drive mostly alone or
with my wife and we are light weights.Never
had a problem with our previa or 98! We thought
of adding sand bags.Toyota has not addressed
the design properly with variable rate springs!
Can any one suggest a better tire than the
Donlops to possibly reduce the bouncing? The
up and down bobbing too tiring!
The ride was comfortable and, although it is a little less firm than the Dodge, it is not tiring after cruising 600 miles per day.
In answer to questions above about shifting, it goes into second around 1500 rpm and into 3rd around 2000 rpm. No sulphur odors have been noticed.
Can any one whose car does not bounce ,check the
production date! Later runs may have changes.Mine
was produced in august..an early run.
sienna`s production.I will pass the info to
the dealer..maybe later runs picked this up
and corrected it.