Acceleration - Does this sound normal?

I won't mention dealer names yet, but I live in Oregon City, so that's why you're seeing those signs. Depending on how this gets handled I'll definitely be mentioning names, though. They definitely had performed cam tower leak repairs before, and the tech even said they get about one or two per month. Everything looked good after the repair, but obviously something went wrong inside.

I'm honestly half expecting Toyota to come out and say the sound is "normal", but I have the tech on record saying "it's definitely not normal", and we both drove new Tundras and couldn't duplicate the issue.

 

The motor most likely got debris inside it, I have pictures of my oil filters for about 4 oil changes after my repair showing debris it caught. They are not doing a good job catching the old gasket material, I even had pieces off small wire wheel that the used when cleaning the gasket surface. My has been ok so far but it really makes me question longevity of my motor.

 

man this sucks. I wish you the best on this. Dealer needs to get you into a new truck ASAP and do whatever it takes to make it fair. they most certainly won't disclose this process to a prospective buyer so they'll do just fine re selling your truck.

I will not be going in for dealer fix if I find a cam tower leak.

remember Toyotas hold their value REALLY well.

 

jeebus no way they should've been using a wire wheel around an opened engine! that is flat out incompetence.

 

Exactly. I tried to explain that if I tried to sell this truck myself and was honest about what has been done to it, there's no way anyone would pay full book/market value. The service director tried to say this wouldn't affect the value at all, but I then asked him if he'd rather buy my truck or an identical one that has never had the engine opened up. He says "well...", and then kind of shut up about it. But you're right, they can probably get this fixed, then do their "5,000 point certified inspection" or whatever and sell it certified pre-owned.

Yeah, seriously. The service director even admitted that FIPG material clogged up an oil channel, so they're obviously not being too careful.

 

If you watch videos of the repair online that's how they clean the mating surfaces. It's all about time, they are not going to hand scrape the old material. There's a Toyota tech on the forum that said Toyota dropped the allowed time for this repair which really puts the tech in a hurry to complete it.

 

Don't forget that if the oil filter is catching this stuff it is pumped there by the oil pump. So the oil pump is getting exposed to this debris and that is NOT a good thing for the health of the pump.

Dan

 

Yep, plus what ever passages the stuff traveled through to get there. After the cam tower deal I pretty much decided I would only run the truck up to 60k and then trade in it. Don't know if that will be another Tundra and risk the tower leak again or what, seems the issue hasn't gotten any better towards the end of this trucks lifespan. If Toyota hasn't made the investment to solve the issue by now I cannot see them doing so with the next gen Tundra on the horizon.

 

So the dealer called me today with some options. They said they'd basically give me my purchase price minus $4500 "usage/depreciation" towards the purchase of a new vehicle, which would be about $40,300. My second option is to make them fix it and get an extended warranty, then live with the engine. My third option is to hold out and see if they can't fix it, then file a lemon claim, but even then I'd be paying a $3300 "usage" fee, so basically the dealer is telling me I can pay $1200 and basically be done with it if I want a new vehicle.

I'm leaning towards just having them fix it and getting an extended warranty because I really don't want to take a $4500 hit, but then I have to live with the engine...

 

Well at least that’s a good start with options. If they did essentially buy it back from you, would you buy another Tundra, and from the same dealer? If so, I’m sure you can negotiate the difference into your next truck.

 

And the extended warranty is the “easiest” option for everyone involved. So I’m sure they will push that option. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably lost all faith in that dealer and although the warranty is good for “piece of mind” the thought of having to go through this again with the same truck would make me want to get rid of it.

 

Yeah I hear you, and that's what I'm trying to weigh in my head. I kind of want to just pay the difference and be done with this truck, but I also feel gross paying $4500 to do it...

 

If it were me, I'd be on the phone with Toyota Corporate every day or every other day and push them for a resolution. My minimum in this instance would be a new motor. If not, find a lemon law attorney and drop all the documentation with them, back on the phone with Corporate about lemon-law attorney, push for full swap of truck, truck for truck no cost to you.

 

Even if this did go to lemon status I'd still have to pay a "usage" of $3300, so there's no way they'd ever do a truck-for-truck deal.

 

How long have you had the rig?
$4500 over 12 months = $375 a month to drive it - not bad in my opinion - at all. How is $4500 a “hit”? Will you get a 2019? If so, bonus - 1 year newer too and back to zero miles.
Peace of mind.
I’d jump all over this like stink on shit.

If that’s not an option, I’d only agree to the extended warranty if they are able to make the noise go away.
The warranty and not fixing the noise, will drive you bat-shit crazy - for ever.

 

Or I would push this - let them know you’ll only agree to $3300 not $4500 and then you get a killer deal.
My $0.02

 

That would obviously be ideal, but I think they know my options are to fight a lemon law case (if it even gets that far) or pay an extra $1200 and end it right now.

But yes, the warranty option would definitely include them fixing the noise first.

 

Gotchya. Decisions - sorry you’re in this predicament. That’s super unfortunate.

Guess it depends on how much in aftermarket parts/time you’ve put in your current rig as well. I didn’t consider that.

 

gotta agree with boosted here... seems like a fair deal, at least they are trying to make this right.
OP has said numerous times in this thread issue is going to eat at him after the repair... just get out of the truck into another one. You could possibly even negotiate the $1200 difference. In the grand scheme of things, 3300 + 1200 is not that bad.

 

I'd take the $4500 hit and ditch that truck. But, like I said before, I don't have much patience when it comes to new vehicles failing. My Tundra has been on the chopping block a couple of times since I have owned it with some annoying issues. I got them fixed up and the truck is getting some more mileage on it now, so mechanical failures will bother me less and less as the miles rack up. But new? Eff that noise.

 

we have no idea if the $4500 is a fair deal as we don't know what they'd ask for a new truck. if they say 'sticker' then you're getting hosed. if they will do 4-5k off sticker then I'd go with it.

 

I’d take the warranty because I feel like the dealer will try to cover their loss by not giving up too good of a deal on the next truck. Unless you can get them to agree to invoice price (maybe slightly over) with the finance incentive upfront. And being it’s early 2019 I don’t know that they’d likely do that

 

Well, we're going further into the Twilight Zone... I went in to get some clarification on numbers, and it looks like they were playing a shell game on my "depreciation" vs the price on the new truck. He was saying my "depreciation" would be $4500, but when I looked at his papers it showed a higher "depreciation", then they rolled the rebate on the new truck into my depreciation, so really my depreciation is $6000, then they were giving me a $1500 rebate on that end to make it $4500 and I'd be paying invoice on the new truck. I immediately caught that and said I would probably do the deal at $4500 depreciation, and then pay invoice minus rebates.

BUT, the real kicker here is that when I went in, the service director said "I THINK THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR TRUCK"!!!! He said he went and drove a truck on their lot and it was making the same noise, so I said "let's go for a ride!". We went for a drive on the freeway and sure enough it was NOT making the same noise as mine. He kept telling me he was sure it was making the noise earlier and didn't know why it wasn't doing it now. Anyway, now he says he's doubting again, but he's still not convinced my noise isn't "acceptable"... I kind of hope they refuse to do any more work so I can go straight to a lemon claim.

 

I'd be looking to get that service manager fired at this point. I don't have the patience for incompetence and dishonesty.

 

So I just got a call with a concrete offer... I basically told them I don't want another truck, so we'd be giving them my truck, I'd keep my new 2019 Pro wheels (may be for sale soon, stay tuned...) and canopy (anyone with a Crewmax cement need a canopy?) and we'd get into a limited Highlander for $2,200. That would be me paying a $4500 depreciation and then paying invoice minus the $1,000 rebate on the Highlander...

 

Brand new Highlander Limited? Sounds like a deal, I'd take it.

 

That sounds about right... typical dealer BS. They know it’s their fault and now they are trying to cover their ass. I’m willing to bet corporate called them and told them tough shit, it’s their fault, fix it or pay for it.
Best to get out of it for as little as possible and take your business elsewhere.
For what it’s worth though, we got my wife a 2018 Limited highlander when we bought the truck. It’s pretty nice! Not to mention, no cam tower leaks or TSS issues. Although it would be a bummer to lose the truck...
If I was local, I’d take the canopy off your hands in a heart beat. And you’ll have no problem getting rid of the rims. If I recall, you got a great deal on them to begin with.

 

Wait, why did you buy a pickup if you want a station wagon? Tundras are something special in the world of trucks (present issues notwithstanding) with their simple and reliable tech. Now you’re looking at a car that is just another unremarkable mid sized suv option?

I get being pissed with Toyota and the dealer so why reward them both by taking a ho hum suv off their hands? I’d give an f150 a shot before I did this.

 

I can get another Tundra if I want, but with this stupid cam tower issue I don't want to give them another chance on it.