CAM SHAFT TOWER SEAL LEAKING ** PLEASE READ***

What if it’s fixed already.

 

Vote "yes" if you've had it fixed as well. It should read "Who has/has had a leaking cam tower".

 

Gotcha

 

the power of polls

this thread about cam leak make it sounds everyone has it but the poll only shows 15% of us (still too much though). if it was a design flaw I would think everyone would have the leak.

 

I have read on other forums where they extended warranty's so that's why I tried. I agree with you on the fact Toyota wants you as a service customer before you get treated correctly. I don't even take my vehicles in for the Toyota care stuff, I would rather do it myself. Plus I'm quicker then waiting at the dealer and I know its done correctly and I keep receipts and document. Maintenance outside of Toyota care is just plan crazy expensive for stuff I can do myself and like to do, who doesn't like turning wrenches on there truck. But like you said when I go in for an issue I'm treated like a third world citizen, guess it doesn't matter how much I spent for the truck. I just really wish they would do the other side at least since they are pulling the motor, so much labor there why wouldn't you with it being a known issue.

Toyota did the same with my 2012 Tacoma, AIP valve got stuck at 29k and Toyota offered no help on it, reset codes and it didn't have an issue until 53k miles when it totally failed. Truck still under powertrain and emission warranty yet somehow this part is not covered and dealer wanted to charge me $100 diagnostic fee. I told them to pound sand on that one, truck threw and engine code and is in limp mode while under warranty. They waived the fee and I called corporate to get it covered, fought to days and gave up went and bought the $500 valve and replaced myself. Dealer wanted like $2300, add salt into the wound this was the same week my wife and me were closing on our first home so a $500 part was not a welcome expense. Now 2yrs later they send out a warranty enhancement on the part, great they offer it now, should of fixed it from the get go. Toyota knows what's going on, its all a numbers game, less 2012 Tacoma's on the road now so less money they have to spend to cover and they look like hero's for offering some coverage.

I agree, seems pointless to pull the whole engine, tear it down and not do the passenger side. I've already lost confidence, my most expensive Toyota vehicle I have purchased yet has to have the engine pulled. I know the repair might go great but now I will always have it in the back of my mind that the motor was pulled and torn down, just takes away my confidence in the truck.

 

Seriously, I'd raise hell until they agreed to do the other side while they're in there. It's just so incredibly stupid to not do it.

 

I can understand why the dealer is declining it, as they wouldn't be reimbursed since its not actually leaking. So I don't want to raise hell with them, plus they are pulling my motor so I want them happy. Might even bring the tech breakfast when I drop off the truck on the 5th lol, or maybe slip him a 50$ bill so he can "find" a leak on the driverside.

What I think I'm going to do is fuss out corporate, I have to call him tomorrow to confirm if I accept there offer of $350 service. I'm going to explain that this does nothing to boost the confidence in my truck or Toyota products and pressure him that allowing the dealer to reseal the driverside would.

You know I had two corolla's an 88 and then a 95 both bought new...went 325000 on the 88 and 337000 on the 95 and both ran when I let them go. I never had anything go wrong with those cars..nothing. Where is that Toyota quality..seems the more money I spend on a Toyota vehicle the lesser the quality.

 

Sadly this holds true with every car manufacture now days the more technology cars/trucks get the worse the reliability gets it seems like. I can recall my brother had a f150 work truck that lasted him over 400k miles without any major repairs sadly I think those days are over.

 

Exactly. I didn't mean to raise hell with the dealer so much as I meant with Toyota. I know a lot of it is out of the dealer's control, but it would be nice if they could advocate for you. It just seems like as common of an issue this is that Toyota would just want both sides taken care of instead of paying again to have it done later. Honestly, I bet if you explain you've been a loyal Toyota buyer and hope to continue to be one, they'd probably throw you a bone with the extended warranty—you just might have to be persistent.

 

I get the technology breaking down, but camshaft towers aren't anything new...

 

Yeah I was just saying in terms of reliability it seems like cars/trucks have taken a downward spiral lately

 

The bean counters at Toyota are taking a gamble that it’s more cost effective to get trucks out there, and if a leaker shows up, deal with it case by case. The black silicone sealant that Toyota uses on the repair is expensive (and good stuff), and the gray sealent used for production is probably a lot less. Again, it’s a numbers game.

 

If that really is the case pretty crappy on Toyota’s part considering how many people have no knowledge of their trucks and probably would never notice the leak pop up since most of the guys reporting say it doesn’t leave a spot on the ground

 

I tried that loyal line today, explained I have 3 Toyotas at my house right now and my father has 2 at his one a 2018 he just purchased 4months ago. All bought new, Corp rep didn't seem to care. I will keep on them though, I would like them to at least repair the driver side also.

Sadly I think this is the case and not what one would expect from Toyota. The fact that they haven't fixed the issue for so long pretty much confirms this.

 

I would have never thought of checking mine if it wasn't for this forum so I assume the majority of owners are not on forums to be aware of it.

 

see if you can use that 350 and pay the driver side to be done straight at the dealership.

 

Guess Toyota will be facing another lawsuit if this problem persists and it truly does affect all year trucks

 

Exactly. Forums are so helpful. The stealership is not going to volunteer anything, and after 5 years or 60K miles, it’s on your dime.

 

This partially explains the low number of sequoia and Lexus numbers. Most of the drivers of those vehicles probably don't know their truck is leaking.

 

Same here, I smelled something but this forum showed me where to look.

 

Same here, although I had a the burning smell for a few weeks I dismissed it as its a new truck. 2weeks later I noticed the leak while rotating my tires I saw oil on the exhaust manifold heat shield. So could be truth in sequoia/570 owners not noticing the leaks since there not crawling around them the Tundra owners.

 

My next door neighbor has a 2nd gen Tundra. He works at night so I don't see him often, but I'll ask him if he has had it/even knows about it next time I see him. One of my best friends has a 2nd gen as well and he had no clue what it even was. I told him I'd show him how to check next time I see him (he's not very mechanically inclined).

 

Exactly. Toyota knows exactly what they are doing, and you can promise that the customer is not the #1 priority in this business decision. Most Sequoia and Lexus owners never even lift the hood. Everything is done at the service bay. Maybe to check oil. Not a dig on them, just based on who owns them. My wife drives a 4runner and I must admit I do not look at it as closely as I do my trucks.

 

#TUNDRAS.COM.STRONG

 

What's sad is why not just switch to the black FIPG at the engine plant if its that much better, Yes it may be a more then the gray but what are we talking like an extra $50 a truck? If you raised the price of the trucks to cover a good sealant and we didn't suffer cam tower leaks I don't think anyone would complain.

 

Just got my truck back on Sat from getting both cam tower seals fixed. Pulled into the driveway and since it was light out, decided to try and look for any oil leaking. Walked toward the passenger side and noticed a puddle of antifreeze on the ground. The whole right side of my truck is covered in antifreeze under the hood. Looks like it must have spit out some yesterday as well but I didn't see it because it was dark. I hope this is just from either over filling the reservoir or an air bubble in the system. Gauge never showed anything getting hot.

 

Man this is the kind of thing I don't want to see, mine goes in Monday for the repair and I'm very nervous about it. Pop the hood and check things out, make sure a hose didn't pop off or something. Waterpump has to come off for this repair so make sure you don't have a leak there.

 

mmm..make sure sure to check for leaks before you start next time you use the truck. When they worked on mine I asked them to steam clean the engine bay to flush all the mess.
I had a little oil puddle the next day under mine but it was left over oil from the cross member after they did the oil change.

 

I popped the hood and didn't notice any hoses off or anything but my serpentine belt was covered in antifreeze. Radiator is still full but the overflow tank is at the bottom level now. Looks like it came out of there. I've been very nervous since I got it back because I only have 10k miles left on the powertrain warranty and that will be up before the end of the year.

 

I'll be checking it first thing tomorrow. Heading out of town for a mini vacation on Thursday so I might stop by the dealer and have them check it out before I head to the airport. Not making me feel very comfortable right now.