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Comments
Did you happen to check out which engine Toyota is using in the new 2004? How many ponies??
My car has almost 60,000 miles on it...transmissions are covered up until 60K miles. So all of this hassle has been covered.
Webguyster - I am praying that it doesn't get to the point where I actually have to go to the BBB. I'm frankly very torn here because they generally do treat me professionally and courteously at this dealership, yet now I'm finding they just dismiss or ignore me, basically because I'm just a "customer service issue" to them now. I'd hate to ruin what was once a decent relationship by going that far, but I don't know what to do anymore. Toyota itself doesn't respond either it seems.
Please clue me in if this is a probable cause, and I might actually dare to bring it up to the dealer. If this is the problem, then how can it be corrected? New gas cap?
cassette tapes - i was a studio tech in my college days. i will concur with Canc on this even further: cassettes really should only be 60 minutes in length. we were warned on tape breakage on 90 min tapes.
The 4 cyl will have ~165 hp.
It's now Day 5 and it hasn't come back on...yet. BTW, I got my oil changed (at a different place) last Friday morning and that's when the light went off the next day. It might be a long shot, but does anyone know if it might be oil-related? I've always changed my oil between 3,000 and 5,000 miles, but I don't trust the service station that last changed my oil because that's when all these problems started.
WOW!!! Sorry to hear about your problem. At first, I thought I was in the CHRYSLER topic! I know webguyster has a dealer like that, but I didn't know there was more than one! Hope Toyota isn't going that route or their sales will be the next to drop!
Hope your problem is resolved.
fastdriver
Well, I was getting hopeful for a while but NO, the light proudly shed its bright orange beam to me this morning ONCE AGAIN. Since I've already given them a week to call back, I called this morning to follow-up...same song and dance that they and Toyota have been playing phone tag. Right.
Low and behold, however, I DID get a response yesterday to my e-mail to Toyota. Very politely written, they basically just copied and pasted the FAQ solution I already read on their website and stated I should speak with the dealership service manager or customer relations manager to get a more specific answer. Oh...well, that's funny...when I do speak to the dealership, they say they're calling Toyota. Uh, hello?? SO what is this, the blind leading the blind???
I'm getting better feedback from you guys, so thanks a lot for your help. If you know anything else, let me know.
I have not had any more C/E light problems since they did this. If you need it, I will look at the invoice to see if they referenced a tech bulletin. Good luck.
maemark - Thanks for your response also. I've asked several times if maybe it's a problem with the light itself, meaning a short in the sensor. But it falls on deaf ears. So I would GREATLY appreciate if you could get me a tech bulletin reference to make a supporting statement to them. Thank you!!!
Things that may help you -
Concern "customer concerned that check engine light is on see SOP"
Cause "Replaced ECU"
Correction - "Engine control module R&R P/N TOY 89666-06182"
Operation 895001
So, there is no TB listed, but I remember that they talked about a new TB when I made my third trip to have the light cleared. You might show them this and ask that they search for TBs on the C/E light. Hope this helps.
PLUS: Has anyone heard of deferring payment when using your credit card? Reason being, if the light goes back on after I've paid for it, I don't want them getting paid. Is it possible to tell the cashier to wait two weeks after I've left the dealership before she charges my card? Just want to play it safe.
cliffy - Yes, although I don't seem to convey it, I do have some empathy for the dealership. I realize he's not the mechanic and is only doing his job. And, in fact, I do believe the technicians made every good-hearted attempt to resolve this. I'm just annoyed it's taking 7 visits to get it over and done with. I feel like I've been dealing with trial-and-error for the past two months, and frankly, I've been way too lax and patient about it.
webguyster - Ugh, don't tell me that - lol.
Now, about two weeks after noticing this, the driver's side window rattles frequently. Also, that door is really hard to close--it seems like I never can get it closed all the way (the hard-to-close problem happened last winter too, and seems to be a cold weather thing).
I have an '02 Solara SE 4 cyl. I have an appointment first thing Monday at the dealership, but wanted to see if anyone had experienced anything like this before.
Thanks
"Now, about two weeks after noticing this, the driver's side window rattles frequently. Also, that door is really hard to close--it seems like I never can get it closed all the way (the hard-to-close problem happened last winter too, and seems to be a cold weather thing)."
That sounds more like your locking mechanism thingy (strike bar, etc) is lose, as thats what was originly thought the problem with my car, the door position, or hindges. Relax, Toyota dealers can fix it!?! ;^)
Squinty...good thing for the oil gell SPA policy, just in case! Your seven visits, for one problem seems too many. Is your car under warranty still. I always was required to return multiple times for the same problem, and I could only justify this as the dealership would charge Toyota for each visit, or work order closed out!?! Good luck!
Anyone at the point you need to replace your tires yet? I am at 42000 miles, and at the wear mark with the Michelins. NTB wants $680.00, and the dealer well over $700.00, with alignment. Anyone replace with cheaper tires? Are they more "loud" than the Michelins? Better or worse handling???
Thanks for the response. I'm not sure the way they fixed your problem sounds like a good thing. I won't be satisfied with wind noises, especially on my driver's side, where it will be more noticeable. Hopefulle they'll take care of it in a professional manner.
I'm not confident this is a wiring issue and - call me paranoid - but I'll bet this will cost $800 and I'll have been taken for a ride. Does this sound vague and fishy to anyone else?
I'm making sure I put this on my credit card so I can dispute it if necessary and refuse to pay it if the light goes back on. I smell arbitration in my future.
You may want to call your credit card company, as they have various policies towards retailers, and I believe anyone that uses them, usually gets a good will credit, as opposed to the credit card company not paying the merchant.
I bought the car from Classic because an acquaitance worked there and was able to swing a sweet deal for me ($500.00 over the lowest Internet price for my model).
Webguyster - so what you're saying is, the credit card company will eat the cost because of the merchant's screw-up?? I think you're correct, but that may only apply to purchases they deem uncollectable. I'll find out anyway.
An FYI to everyone else: There's a website, www.solaraguy.com, which had a good discussion thread going on about this topic of check engine lights. (It WAS useful until now, where it's reached the point that two idiots have decided to poke fun at those who own the older model Solara because it has a different grill and taillights than the new one. Hardly a difference. How inane to even bring it up.) But if anyone is interested, you might get something from there.
And I've heard many good things about Toyota of Runnemede (formerly Family Toyota).
Regards,
-not formerly ss4
I had my light come on when I didn't fully reconnect a wiring harness after changing my air filter...but then again the engine wouldn't run. It's annoying, but probably not serious if your vehicle runs OK. Hang in there.
pjksr - Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking today. My vehicle does run fine and I'm sure it's nothing serious. But it's disturbing that a dealership who obviously specializes in Toyota and its parts, cannot solve a simple issue after 6 visits. I feel like I'm being taken advantage of, especially since I will have to pay for the upcoming visit.
So if anyone here had the CEL problem repaired without a code written on the invoice, tell me and I'll shutup.
"Can't wait" for the cat-and-mouse game I'll have to play when it goes in on Monday.
Webguyster, I respect and completely understand your angst with Toyota you but I really wish you would find another hobby. So much of what you post is really reactionary and feeds the "tempest in a teapot" syndrome that happens on so many bulletin boards. If your perceptions were true and most Solaras were lemons, we would be hearing about it in more places than just this forum.
The reality in the service lane is that the Solara is no more or less prone to problems than anything else and that means far less prone to problems than most other cars on the road. You had problems with your car and your dealership, as have others who post here. Remember though that satisfied customers generally don't go to the Internet to post problems because they just haven't had any.
Toyotaken is correct about the Solara re-design for 2004. It isn't going away.
"Webguyster, I respect and completely understand your angst with Toyota you but I really wish you would find another hobby. So much of what you post is really reactionary and feeds the "tempest in a teapot" syndrome that happens on so many bulletin boards. If your perceptions were true and most Solaras were lemons, we would be hearing about it in more places than just this forum. "
Why don't you wish for something like world peace!
And if anyone wonders why WebG bought his car, here's the reason, as per his own words:
"#1783 of 2337 Lemons abound... by webguyster United States of America Apr 29, 2002 (02:24 pm)
silversolara, I did not do too much shopping for the car. I went to Acura, I could not get a saleman to come to the lot, and drove to Toyota a few blocks away. The Solara looked kinda' like an Acura, IMO, swoopy lines, sporty, conservative, Camry reliability!?! I can not say what I honestly paid, as I traded in my 1997 Dodge Avenger, and they fudged the numbers. On paper, $22,000 ish, but I got the dealer trade in special on the Avenger, and the speech on saving sales tax, not selling it myself, yatta, yatta, etc. I just got back from fixing the chirper, it came unplugged, and a wheel alignment, and found that the SAI is out of spec, and cannot be adjusted. That's probably the cause of the endless alignments. They can't fix it!?! Oh well."
I'm tired of WebG's continual crowing over anyone else's probs w/their Solaras, and his constant down-putting. Squinty's problem seems to be a light that can't go off - not a blown head gasket (Dodge/Chrysler), exploding tires/rollovers (Ford, and anyone who makes a 15 passenger van). Fact is that WebG bought his car out of spite to get back at an Acura dealership, and it's costing him.
This is getting infantile, and I wish WebG would at least restrict his remarks to his own problems.
Going on 46K in my 2000 SE V-6, and loving my car.