Dealing with main dealers...

[Jameswallace]

Going back to our nissan

Navara started to run rough! So changed fuel filter to find the fuel filter was the original! From 3 years ago when it left the factory! So 3 services and not changed!!

(Whilst we cant verify it is the original, its definatly not been changed a month ago as charged!!

[Yorkshire Devil]

Hi all,
I have a question relating to gen 3 rear axles.

In October I bought a gen 3 and took it straight to a Toyota specialist for an appraisal. All was looking good other than a rear axle oil leak. The specialist (ex Toyota) told me to take it to the main dealer for the axle seal, so I did and in November and nearly £500 later it was fixed.

A couple of weeks later I returned it to the dealer as I thought it was still leaking oil but was told no it isn't, its just burning off the old oil that couldn't be cleaned out of the axle, so don't worry about it.
It stank of gear oil every time I drove it.

On Monday, I drove 15 miles to work, got out the car and thought it was on fire! The nearside rear wheel, where the seal was replaced, was hot, covered in oil with the tyre spraying oil over the underneath of the truck, brake drum covered in oil and clouds of smoke pouring out from under the wheel arch.

So yesterday I took it back again. They had a look, charged me a pound for a doughnut while I waited and told me that yes it had failed again but due to the rear nearside diff lock jamming on. Which had nothing to do with the work that they had done in November and was another failure.

Now, I don't know much about these vehicles and even less about four wheel drive but something sounds and feels unbelievably fishy to me.

Can anybody help me understand the rear axle / four wheel drive system better, so that I don't feel so ripped off, or so that I know they don't know what they're talking about, or so that I can go back in there with the knowledge to make than look a bit daft? Please?
The gearbox is a 340F and the axle is an A02A. The vehicle has multimode.

I don't really want to pay out a small fortune for them to correct their own mistakes.
Help!

Thanks.

I think the independent who sent you to the main dealer wants shooting!

[soramad]

As I have only just managed to get back on to the forum ? I thought I must put a comment on this thread, it may go against the grain with some people but the main Toyota dealer in Cheltenham goes out of there way to get parts for both my Surf and my Soarer, they have never let me down on any parts required and the longest I have had to wait was recently for some large bushes for fixing a new rear sub frame on the Soarer 10 days from Japan, and this goes for all grey import customers. Also they will work on grey imports as well.

[tashtego]

Actually the Toyota dealership here in Blantyre are very good too, especially when it comes to ordering parts. It takes around 4 weeks from Japan because of logistics, but they will order any part you need. They have no problem with imports and are generally very helpful.

[Triv]

I understand the comment about the indie needing shooting, although I know his recommendation for using the main dealer comes from him not possessing all the correct kit to do the job. Privately I suspect that he's been caught out on one of these jobs before. Hence his reluctance to get involved.

The main dealer was very accommodating but then if I'd fcuked a job up, I would be too!
Repairing something that they hadn't touched, for free, is a great deal. When was the last time a garage worked on anything for nothing?
Oh hold on, that's b0ll0cks too isn't it.
Repairing something for free that isn't your problem is an admission of fault isn't it?

They'll obtain parts for me and work on it if requested, so they can't be that bad.

The indie buys all his parts from them and even with his mark up, if there is any mark up, often the job with labour, is cheaper than the parts alone from the dealer.

[Diezel Weazel]

Can't say i have had much to complain about in 13 1/2 Years of Surfing.
2 Surfs having relay rod replacements under recall by Main Stealer near St Albans, Herts.

Ordered 4 new front wheel studs to replace two that broke, all there there next day no probs ..

13+ Years of Surfs ..... n Faultless to a "T" is my Yota !!

[Triv]

Hopefully now the title of this thread will come into it's own.

The truck is broken again.
Very hot nsr wheel, clouds of smoke, stinks of burning gear oil.
The dealer adjusted the hand brake last time.

I have lost all faith in the dealer's ability to do the work.

What do you guys suggest I do now? I can't afford to pay to have it done again elsewhere but I'm leaning that way as I just can't afford to be without the truck again.

[tashtego]

Buy this:

http://www.roughtrax4x4.com/?doc=16&cid=177&vid=1073


And take it to here to be fitted:


www.4x4toys.co.uk


Cheers

[Triv]

Thanks.
You're right of course.

However, I'm not one to let the best part of £500 go so easily.
I'm wondering if taking it to another Toyota dealer under warranty would work?

[Triv]

So it turns out I've got legal cover as part of the house insurance.
I rang them up and asked a few questions.
I probably wouldn't have done that had the brakes not failed the other night, due to the brake fluid boiling thus letting the pedal fall to the floor and me needing new underwear immediately after.

The long and the short of it is that having paid for the job, then having to return the vehicle twice and the problem remaining:

'It is not unreasonable of me to have lost faith in the garage. It is also therefore not unreasonable of me to take the vehicle to another garage (in my case another Toyota dealer), pay them to strip down and investigate the problem, put everything in writing, quote for repair and then put it all back together again without having carried out any repair. I must then return to the original garage, present them with the paperwork and (unfortunately) give them the chance to carry out the repairs as specified. They can of course decline the offer and just pay the bill from the other dealer to carry out the work.'

I hope anyone unfortunate enough to have had shoddy work done to their vehicle, finds the above useful.

Of course if back on here over the weekend crying, you'll know I've got no further and it's costing me a fortune!
At least I've got free legal advice. I will keep this updated in the hope it helps others.
I really hate threads with no outcome.

[Karma Supra]

Christ....

Which dealership was this?

[Triv]

Hi Charlie,
It was Motorline Bristol South.

Last time they had the surf for two weeks and told me that in all that time they'd adjusted the handbrake.
I'm assuming this was to free off the jammed on nsr diff lock that they told me was the cause of the overheating nsr hub that had nothing to do with the repair to the nsr oil seal that they did and that all the oil pouring out over everything was just a coincidence.
Interestingly, a rear diff lock doesn't exist on my truck

Fuming? Moi?
As Gerald the gorilla once said: " Wild? I was absolutely livid!"

[bryanisaoldgit]

Hi Charlie,
It was Motorline Bristol South.

Last time they had the surf for two weeks and told me that in all that time they'd adjusted the handbrake.
I'm assuming this was to free off the jammed on nsr diff lock that they told me was the cause of the overheating nsr hub that had nothing to do with the repair to the nsr oil seal that they did and that all the oil pouring out over everything was just a coincidence.
Interestingly, a rear diff lock doesn't exist on my truck

Fuming? Moi?
As Gerald the gorilla once said: " Wild? I was absolutely livid!"

why would you use main dealer anyway
they know nowt about the imports

[Triv]

Because I was advised to by an ex Toyota chief mechanic.

[bryanisaoldgit]

Because I was advised to by an ex Toyota chief mechanic.

well he would say that
more likely one of these
just confused