FJ62 Owner's O2 Alert

[4xoddic]

Now that I have your attention, read on.

The attached page from my 1988 FJ62 Toyota Land Cruiser Owner's Manual has the following comment on the TWO O2 sensors: Oxygen Sensor Replace the oxygen sensor when scheduled. Your Toyota dealer will make this replacement (parts and labor) at no cost to you.

The scheduled maintenance interval is 80K miles.

When I took my FJ62 in for the replacement at 84,103 miles in 1995, I was met with disbelief. What? Where? Show Me! was the Service Mgr.'s response. He asked to keep my owner's manual so he could verify this with the Regional Rep. I got a call back, sure enough Toyota would pick up the tab.

A few days later I took the FJ62 in for the service. Later in the day, I got a call. Uh, there are 2 O2 sensors, & we only ordered 1. We'll have to reschedule.

During the service I got a call Er, the sections of exhaust where the 02 sensors mount cracked when the mechanic . . . we'll have to order 2 pipes . . . A few days later, I drove out with the sensors replaced!

The following parts were replaced:

1. 89466-20020 gaskets X2 @ $ 14.48 = $24.96
2. 80465-69015 O2 sensor X2 @ $ 253.24 = $506.48
3. 17401-61210 #1 A-Pipe $117.87
4. 17402-61010 #2 A-Pipe $117.87
5. 90917-06004 gaskets X2 @ $ 10.68 = $ 21.36
6. 90917-06012 gaskets X2 @ $ 7.50 = $ 15.00

$803.54 Total in parts!

The labor column has: N/C Customer manual referred to change O2 sensors. Owners Manual Recommends changing at 80,000. R&R Exhaust Pipe Subassembly. Replaced Both Sub-Assy. & O2 Sensors. Need Auth.

When the odo rolled over 160K, I returned to Little Apple Toyota. Guess what? The mechanic was now the Asst. Service Mgr. & remembered me quite well. After some discussion, it was announced that Toyota would only do the R&R once. I didn't press this. I did roll back in with my 2nd FJ62 in 2005. I was told that if it had not yet been done, they guessed Toyota would take care of it. I will suggest to the new owner that he check into it.

I post this as FYI. I don't mean to stir up a hornets' nest (Hey, I still own 3 Toyotas.)

I don't know if there's a special folder on me at Toyota's USA HQ. I have owned Toyotas since 1975. I was not the original owner of that FJ62. I do NOT have my Toys serviced by Toyota. I did not buy my 00 Tundra at that dealership. I don't buy a lot of parts at Little Apple Toyota. I did have my 92 Pickup's V6 head gasket replaced there under the service campaign. They don't have an XL track record with me for that service; nor for diagnosing the FJ62's oil pan gasket leak in 1992 as the rear main seal (another job they didn't get). From the acknowledgement I get from each successive Service Mgr., I believe there may be a legend about me. I certainly got attention when I drove in with one of the 1st six USA ARB Sahara bumpers on my Tundra. Even more attention when I pulled up with 4XODDIC, my 1986 Toyota Odyssey 22RTE 4WD 21' dually RV.

This is just one more example of why I buy & recommend Toyotas.

[Front Range 4x4]

Interesting, it may be worth a try on my '88. I guess I need to find an owner's manual.

[elkiny]

is this true on FJ60's too? or do they not have 02 sensors? I thinks it's a temp gauge near the cat.

[iaintscared1969]

Hey I think I will see if I can get that pulled off. I have a manual and I just replaced mine. Worth a try.

[jpeg]

i tried this awhile ago and no luck! i was told that because the o2 sensors were scheduled to be replaced at 80k (i had 156k on mine at the time) they wouldn't do it. they would have done it had it been at the scheduled service point. and this from a toyota dealership i've been working with for several years and have a great relationship with.

[4xoddic]

Originally Posted by jpeg

had it been at the scheduled service point

Hmmm, that scheduled service point ought to be rolling around again at 160K & 240K, hadn't it?

Little Apple Toyota may be unique from the majority of dealerships. Since they only sell Toyotas & Hondas, and the majority of Manhattan's population is transient (military, students, faculty) not many new vehicles live their warranty period out in Manhattan = fewer major maintenance repairs for dealership. May make them more eager to seek repairs Toyota will pay for?

Were they interested in checking with their regional service rep?

Per my dealer's quote: Toyota will only do it once (I think a good lawyer could define it as scheduled by Toyota & statement reads Toyota will pay. . .).

My guess is that Toyota has yet to do it even once on most rigs.

Toyota could stand up to the bar & admit it is scheduled for every 80K miles. As I recall, a number of people had 3.0 V6 head gasket repairs before the service campaign ever came up. After Toyota came out with the campaign on Tundra O2 sensors, I got a notice which said they pay retroactively if I provide receipt. They paid in full for my non-Toyota mechanic's bill.

Then again, this could be like a game of poker, where I flashed my winning hand (owner's manual @ 84K) & confidently asked when they could do the job. Your hand was a little weaker (at 156K) & they may have bluffed, which even friends will do in a friendly game.

Toyota adamantly denied my 86 4WD 22RTE RV existed. Their VIN record said it was a shortbed pickup. I pointed out it was sold NEW by Burt Toyota as an RV. Toyota did not want to replace the rear axle, as they had been forced by NHSTA to do on 2WD dually rigs. Had a PO caught it during the campaign, I imagine it would have been replaced. There's also the chance Toyota would bluff & say well, yours is 4WD the campaign was for 2WDs only.

I can admit that I didn't notice any difference after the sensors were replaced.

Maybe CDan has a dealership viewpoint? Maybe I'm a legend nationwide?

[2mbb]

Originally Posted by 4xoddic

Hmmm, that scheduled service point ought to be rolling around again at 160K & 240K, hadn't it?

It may not be a promise to make scheduled service points forever, but an attempt to satisfy an emissions warranty of say 100K miles. Once the vehicle exceeds the warranty mileage, they would no longer replace the sensor for free. I have a vague memory from the 70's & 80's of car manufacturers having to warranty emissions parts longer than the standard mechanical warranty at that time.

[mtrdrms]

Its worth asking but I'm guessing they are gonna laugh at me when I tell them I have 300k and I want my free stuff!

[Joe_E]

I think my wife's '91 FJ80 had some sort of free replacement claim in the manual as well.
Like a dummy I bought and replaced the sensors myself . Maybe I could of gotten a free OEM $3000 exhaust system that I am forever getting tack welded and repairing to this day!

[4xoddic]

Originally Posted by 2mbb

manufacturers having to warranty emissions parts longer than the standard mechanical warranty at that time.

I think that's the case on the O2 sensors -> likely to meet a more stringent CA requirement.

I would suspect that I'm in the minority of owners who've ever read an owner's manual cover to cover. But pre-WWW, it was one of the few ways of gleaning info, other than a catalog from SOR or MAF.

[Randy88FJ62]

Has anyone pulled this off with a high mileage vehicle? I have 288,000 mi on mine...

[calphi27]

Anyone tried this yet? I bought a FSM off of fleabay for $65, and am going to take it to the dealer.

[dp777usa]

How would I know if my O2 sensors are bad? Does a check engine light stay on? How am I suppose to know?