Crap Crap And Crap

[SoulSearcher]

I'm sorry guys, but I HAVE to vent.

 

I am supremely PI*SED OFF :( More at myself than anything else. *Kicks self*

 

 

Ok, here's whats going on. For four months I searched for a 2001 Sportivo Limited Edition Turbo (the one just like my avitar). An finally I found one. It had low K's (48,000) had only two owners, the guy was selling as he bought a house).

 

 

I test drove it, had a couple of friends who are mechanically minded look over it got the thumbs up from them, and I was going to get the RAA to check it out prior to buying it, just for EXTRA piece of mind, I mean it was still under factory warranty, low K's, the guy who had it took care of it, it was regularly serviced..blah blah blah

 

I had some $ coming from my solicitor, so made an offer. But of course, the solicitor was late with the cheque, so I had to stall a bit, then christmas and new years came and still no cheque, I was super pi*sed at the solicitors.

 

FINALLY the cheque came and in my excitement to get the car, I forgot to get the RAA inspection. But then, what could really happen, (read second paragraph again). I picked up the car and I was EXCITED, I was so pleased. On a longer drive it felt pokey, it had grunt and driving a turbo for the first time, ... I slightly pooped my pants!!! (figuratively speaking). and wondered if the occasional backfire was normal. Called my mechanic and he said turbos sometimes run rich and that's what could be happening, but we'll pop it on the dyno and have a look-see.

 

I took it around to my friends and family to show it off (I was so proud). My Dad (an ex mechanic) looked it over and said "I'm not really uptodate with these turbos, but there's a noise down there *points to water pump pully* that you should have checked out when you have your 50,000 service". me "ok dad, thanks!" Driving home, I was fanging it up the freeway in fifth, had to slow down and shift to fourth to over take a car and I looked out the back and there was a huge cloud of black smoke, was that me?! Checked the guages, everything was fine, no loss of power when it happened, was it me? I wasn't sure. It happened again a couple of days ago. *shit*

 

I got the stereo upgraded, arranged for a turbo timer. I've washed it four times in the last two weeks. I booked it in for it's 50,000 service with Toyota two days after I got it the appointment was for today. I've clocked up over 2,000 klms in the first two weeks, which brings me to today. *do you get that I love my car*

 

Took it into Toyota for it's service and they showed me the Turbo timer they're putting in, and I showed them where I wanted them to put it :cool: .... hidden in the compartment to the right of the steering wheel that nothing else fits in.

 

I also pointed out the back fires, what I think is normal turbo winding up noise, but wanted to be sure, and the noise my dad told me to point out and left the car with them.

 

I got a call from them at about 3.30pm the guy said that he and the three mechanics that they conferred with were MAJORLY concerned about the water pump area noise, that they think it's something to do with the timing belt and they want to take it all apart and have a good look at it. Ca Ching I'm thinking.

 

So now I'm shi&tting myself. Problems "with the timing belt" can be serious can't they?? And they haven't even had a chance to check out the other things....

 

I'm kicking myself that I may have bought a lemon, and its my own damn fault for not getting an RAA inspection. I just feel so stupid. I did this to myself, by myself without any assistance from anyone, and I was so pleased with myself. Bugger.

 

I want to cry. :) - BTW I'm a girly girl, so it's ok for me to cry

 

 

 

**end of rant**

 

 

 

Lesley :(

[Jason]

blad luck dude, hope everything goes well....

 

Might just neeed replacing?

[Teddy]

First up, don't Cry. The 7AFTE is a good motor.

 

Take worst case senaro - timing chain is faulty, and needs replacing - get it fixed, and its all good again. It could even be something as simple as the tensioner causeing the noise?

 

Hell, if its still under warenty.. thats covered by warrenty :cool:

[Valandor]

id also say that there is also a chance a raa inspection wouldnt have seen it.

 

i mean if it was fine when you first drove it and you other mechanically minded mates gave it the thumbs up?

 

i will say one thing that i have found with cars.

 

the bigger the problem seems the smaller ther part involved is.

 

heck look at the trouble some of us get whith faulty points?

[SoulSearcher]

Thanks guys :cool:

 

I just wondered if the timing chain would be covered??? What annoys me is my DAD told me to have the noise checked...god is he ever wrong?!!!

 

I'm still waiting to hear from them, I'll keep you posted.

 

Lesley

[ROLLN'03]

Dude, you know how rare they are! I love 'em......... :)

 

And what car doesnt have issues? EH? I'm sure eveyone on here can back that up!............ :cool:

[SoulSearcher]

ok, UPDATE

 

Good news:

It wasn't the timing belt, timing chain, or anything to do with the timing belt tensioners. :)

 

Bad news (sort of):

 

Option 1:

They're not sure if it's something to do with the water pump or the idlers(?) but they wanted me to buy a new water pump and idlers (total cost including labour $550) BUT if I wait until it "fails" then they'd pay for it under the warranty. But they're not sure it's either of those two things. :(

 

Option 2:

Monitor the noise until they can pin-point it then they'll replace what ever it is under warranty.

 

 

So it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be, but the thought of having my car "pulled apart" for a couple of days when I was expecting a routine service kind of freaked me out. :cool:

 

Oh, RE: the back-fire : they were pretty impressed with the exhaust and said that the back fire was part of having the new exhaust, which also helped "performance wise", so in essence, to enjoy it you big girl!

 

Thanks for listening guys.

 

 

Lesley :(

[Teddy]

Just a point of advice.. How long is left for warrenty ?

 

Basically, you don't want it to still be there for when warrenty runs out, because if its warrenty thing, you don't pay for it. They Do.

 

Make sure they keep an eye on it, and if need be (if warrenty end is getting closer) - make a bit of a thing of it for your 60,000 km service, and say you WANT if fixed. (say its been getting bad.. :cool:)

 

Hell, you don't want your water pump stuffing up, outside of warrenty, only to possibly overhead your motor !

 

Otherwize - Good on ya

[SoulSearcher]

The factory warranty expires at 100,000klms.

 

So they will monitor at each service, and when they can pinpoint it they'll replace it under warranty.

 

Lesley :cool:

[SoulSearcher]

More saga's from my beloved rolla...

 

It's been happening since I got the car...hmmm a month now there's the little backfires but the big problem I'm worried about is the plume of smoke I leave behind me every now and then...if I'm in the middle lane it spreads out half way over the inside and outside lanes. Some of the guys on the Toyoshow cruise told me I was blowing a bit of smoke (but then I was pushing it a bit).

 

I thought it could be bad petrol, it was happening regularly when I was going up the freeway (from the city) with about a 1/4 of a tank of fuel, so I've changed where I buy my fuel from 4 or 5 times now, but it still happens. I'm due for the 60,000 service in about 3 or 4 weeks and I'll ask Toyota to look at it again then.

 

Here's what happens:

 

I live near the freeway and travel on it to and from home most of the time. When I approach the freeway usually I'm in 3rd (for the on ramp) I take it up to about 60-70 change up to 4th 70-90 then into 5th (90-110) - I usually don't go above 5000 rmp's I've only got to 6000rpm's about three times - when I've reached 110 I back off and when I look in my rearview mirror there's a HUGE cloud of blackish smoke, there's no unusual feel from the engine, no engine noise when this happens, there's no loss of power, and there's no abnormal guage readings.

 

I've spoken to Toyota and they think it's an over fuelling issue due to the tweaked ecu and the only way to get rid of it is to go to someone who has the technology to "un-tweak" the ecu which will mean a loss of power but will hopefully stop the smoke.

 

So, does anyone have any comment or alternative theory on the black smoke, or does anyone know someone who specialises in ecu tweaking in Adelaide?

 

Lesley :P

 

PS: There's also a new clunking noise happening feels like from the front of the car - I have NO IDEA what that could be....

Edited February 12, 2006 by SoulSearcher

[SoulSearcher]

any ideas???

[SoulSearcher]

As for the clunking at the front of the car, does it happen when you are turning the steering? or when you're driving in a straight line?

 

Just turning, I thought maybe CV joints??? It only really happens when I'm reversing out of my driveway (remember that post ;) ) and doing a hard left hand down.

 

 

Re: ECU tuning, does anyone know anyone in Adelaide that can do it????

 

Lesley ;)

[TRD ke70]

over fueling could be due to a few things,engine temp sensor for the ECU could be f@$ked, telling the ECU that the engine is cold so giving it more gas.

try getting the injectors cleaned, that could be dirty due to shit fuel.

check the fuel pressure regulator on the fuel rail is working, that will cause over fuelling.

Oxy sensor could be f@$ked or the wiring has a problem.

if all else fails get someone to check to ECU tuning, or refit the factory ECU and see if that fixes the problem.

the noise in the front, i don't think it'll be C/V's, not at 60'000km's.

 

all your problems you are having SHOULD be fixed under warranty.

the car only has 60'000km's, demand it's fixed, don't take no for an answer or we'll monitor it.

get them to fix it now before it gets worse, all the noise's and the fuel problem.

[Mr Revhead[RL]]

as above. with force.

i work at a toyota dealer here in nz and if we treated a customer like that we'd have a manager from toyota nz so far up our arses his hair would tickle our tonsils.

 

its got issues and its under warranty, they fix. no discussion.

 

sounds like you may need to involve that soliciter you mentioned before!

[SoulSearcher]

the only problem is the guy at Toyota says that it's not a warranty job as the ECU has been "modified", so where would I stand with that??? The ECU is a factory ECU, it's the "enhanced" one that came with the car.

 

Maybe I'll take it to the city Toyota dealer for it's next service.... perhaps someone with a fresh set of eyes looking at it may have some ideas...

 

Lesley

 

Lesley