Bring Diesel to USA and Canada Petition

[M John Galt]

Originally Posted by canucksafari

Only in Canada you can import them a few years before they are available to import into the US.

Used vehicles have to be 25 years old to import into the US and only 15 years into Canada. Ten years of use makes a big difference in condition.

[M John Galt]

Originally Posted by cruiser_guy

What about offering us the choice of gas or diesel off the showroom floor?

What did Toyota say when you asked them?

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by M John Galt

What did Toyota say when you asked them?

Come on, you KNOW the answer to that you you wouldn't be on this thread!

Most any Toyota dealer I've talked to in Canada has NO interest in the current Toyota diesel offerings in other parts of the world! None, zero, nadda! Nor will they provide ANY parts support of any kind unless that part is in their system AND you happen to know the part number. If they think, even for a moment, that it's for a JDM then it will be "not available".

[canucksafari]

Originally Posted by M John Galt

Used vehicles have to be 25 years old to import into the US and only 15 years into Canada. Ten years of use makes a big difference in condition.

Somehow, I think I knew that. My bet is a 25 year old JDM hasn't seen much more use than a 15 year old JDM. It has just spent its last 10 years or more in storage. It is highly unlikely that it would exist in Japan as a DD. of course a 25 year old JDM is a tad bit harder to find given storage costs in Japan.

[M John Galt]

Originally Posted by cruiser_guy

...Nor will they provide ANY parts support of any kind unless that part is in their system AND you happen to know the part number. If they think, even for a moment, that it's for a JDM then it will be "not available".

Your experience with Toyota dealers is different than mine.
The local dealer is very helpful with ordering any Toyota part if I can provide the number, and has no problem with JDM vehicles. Most of the parts on our '89 JDM vehicles cross with mid 80s CDN diesel Landcruisers.

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by M John Galt

The local dealer is very helpful with ordering any Toyota part if I can provide the number, and has no problem with JDM vehicles. Most of the parts on our '89 JDM vehicles cross with mid 80s CDN diesel Landcruisers.

The question I was asked at Alpine Toyota in Cranbrook last winter when I needed parts was "Is it a JDM because we can't get anything for those!" even when I gave him the number. Other dealers have told me that if it's JDM they are not even going to talk to me! It seems I need to prove that my truck is a Canadian truck!!

[M John Galt]

I believe your story, however that's not to say that everyone gets that attitude at every Toyota dealer's parts counter.
I've seen a lot of customers get abusive to the parts person, usually over price, when they're just trying to be helpful

[Mike Shull]

Originally Posted by cruiser_guy

Not unless you own a mine and will NEVER use the vehicle on the highway or other public road (it's the same in the USA).



It wasn't Mercedes that screwed up the perception that American's have of diesels. That "honor" rests SOLELY with General Motors and their 350 "diesel"! There are many Mercedes diesels from the '80's that are still chugging away but I doubt there is even a handful of GM's disaster still out there!

Ok...OK I will go with that...you have a point that GM has made some crappy diesels in the past.....I had to think back when we had a chevy diesel at work....non turbo mind you....what a piece I must say. and I don't remember it lasting very long with the multiple users..... any Mercedes from that era is probably still going....and still smoking....but just about every diesel from the eighties and before smoked greatly...I suppose that was just the way they were....But somehow I'm not sure how we went back that far anyways...but the only two Toyota diesels I have driven were from the eighties...smoking or not they were the best diesels I have driven....Even up against CAT....They are just fun to drive engines and seemed to get good fuel millage

[Herbert]

I kicked my dealers behind when he didn't want to order a part, and I would do the same if I where you.
If JDM or not, you are still driving a Toyota. Here in North America the concept of traveling the world is not as common as in Europe where I am originally from.
Friends of mine with a German spec 1998 Land Cruiser (bushtaxi) needed a part when they visited me in Nova Scotia a few years back. The dealer refused to get the part since it is not a Canadian spec. vehicle. I called the main office and discussed the situation.

The guy was very friendly and he told me that Toyota will ship ANY part for ANY Toyota if parts supply is still available. That is the whole idea of a worldwide dealership network.
A few days later we had the part and my friends where on their way.

The dealership is VERY friendly to me ever since then. I wonder what head office told them...

Originally Posted by cruiser_guy

Come on, you KNOW the answer to that you you wouldn't be on this thread!

Most any Toyota dealer I've talked to in Canada has NO interest in the current Toyota diesel offerings in other parts of the world! None, zero, nadda! Nor will they provide ANY parts support of any kind unless that part is in their system AND you happen to know the part number. If they think, even for a moment, that it's for a JDM then it will be "not available".

[83bj60]

It's definitely a dealership issue and I dare to say, it's pretty much the Canadian Attitude and way of doing business.

I was very well served by the Toyota dealer in Maine (although they never had any diesels for sale), they actually come out to check my truck when I come for a visit, whereas those I used to go to in Quebec usually ask why did I go through the trouble getting a JDM when they were already great vehicles "available right here in the showroom"...

The present fight to prevent JDMs entering the country is IMO strictly based on jealousy from and lost sales by dealerships, and we know the clout they have. NO ONE I presented my truck to has had an indifferent reaction to it. They were either admirative or jealous.

[Mike Shull]

Yeah it's ironic that they might not be as jealous if they had a vehicle like yours to sell in the first place. That jealousy turns onto an attitude when it comes to wanting a part....a friend of mine has had the same problem with his 47 when it comes to getting parts....I didn't believe him so I went to see for myself....he just had to fine a dealer near by that was willing....or sometimes we'd get a part from a 40 and seemed to fit ....sometimes.....d=)

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by 83bj60

I was very well served by the Toyota dealer in Maine (although they never had any diesels for sale), they actually come out to check my truck when I come for a visit, whereas those I used to go to in Quebec usually ask why did I go through the trouble getting a JDM when they were already great vehicles "available right here in the showroom"...

The present fight to prevent JDMs entering the country is IMO strictly based on jealousy from and lost sales by dealerships, and we know the clout they have. NO ONE I presented my truck to has had an indifferent reaction to it. They were either admirative or jealous.

The problem of dealers not having the vehicles we want is easily remedied by Toyota isn't it? As for the "great vehicles already in the showroom", I guess they are not as great as the dealer or Toyota think they are otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion!

[Dougal]

Originally Posted by Mike Shull

any Mercedes from that era is probably still going....and still smoking....but just about every diesel from the eighties and before smoked greatly...I suppose that was just the way they were...

Oh BS they all smoked.
Behind every engine with a smoking problem you'll find an interesting story. Usually clogged air filters or a pump that's been wound up to make it go better.

My diesel engine was made in 86, it only smoked when injectors or rings are shot.

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by Dougal

Oh BS they all smoked.
Behind every engine with a smoking problem you'll find an interesting story. Usually clogged air filters or a pump that's been wound up to make it go better.

My diesel engine was made in 86, it only smoked when injectors or rings are shot.

I agree!! My '82 BJ60 has the factory settings on the injection pump and the ONLY time I ever saw it smoke was before I turbo'd it at 8,000 feet pulling a hill into Mexico City (think STEEP hill FULLY loaded at an elevation far above what it was set up for). Since the installation of the turbo there is no smoking issues even at 13,500 feet at the high point of the Interamaricana Highway in Guatemala! Per turbo it did not have noticable smoke climbing hills in B.C. that are better graded than those in Mexico (that's not to say there may not have been any but I could not notice from the drivers seat).

Most smoking is due to adjusted pumps to deliver more fuel with the hope of more power. Smoke is simply unburned/poorly burned diesel (too rich mixture for the conditions at the time, a diesel mixture is constantly variable unlike gasoline engines) and it is a sign of an overheated combustion chamber as well!

[Mike Shull]

Originally Posted by Dougal

Oh BS they all smoked.
Behind every engine with a smoking problem you'll find an interesting story. Usually clogged air filters or a pump that's been wound up to make it go better.

My diesel engine was made in 86, it only smoked when injectors or rings are shot.

Yes I have to agree...and I suppose I should explain what I meant. It may seem that the three Toyota diesels I have seen in Colorado smoked......shifting...pulling a hill...or warming up in the winter..to be expected at high elevation with the injector pump set for sea level....Right? But they didn't smoke all the time.....also expected...supposing everything is working fine. The constant "smoke" we see is just the same as a gasser when not adjusted right....but I don't think in the 80's Americans understood that....the thought was it's a diesel it smells, smokes and is slow as dirt.... lets buy a gasser..well we are here to prove otherwise. They are clean and economical....from a small car to a semi....diesel is better. This has all changed with the electrically direct injected diesels...if you see it smoking now you have done something to either lug the engine or like you said an injector is leaking or pumping too much....even the truck I drive doesn't puff smoke very often...kind of took a bit of fun away...but oh well it's better anyway.....we don't need smoking stacks anyways....it's just wasted fuel.....or a cry for help...one or the other.

P.S. I should also sadly admit that I have only driven a 12H turbo and one 13bt...they smoked....not their fault they were just not adjusted correctly...that is now fixed.....The fellow of the BJ74 said...you mean you can take some of the black smoke away....I reply...yup..it's really not supposed to do that......Americans...Diesel illiterate!

[Mike Shull]

We share a similar point of view....I am with you guys...I'll just have to find a way to make it seem that way in writing..............

I should have read this post before I wrote my own above...

Originally Posted by cruiser_guy

I agree!! My '82 BJ60 has the factory settings on the injection pump and the ONLY time I ever saw it smoke was before I turbo'd it at 8,000 feet pulling a hill into Mexico City (think STEEP hill FULLY loaded at an elevation far above what it was set up for). Since the installation of the turbo there is no smoking issues even at 13,500 feet at the high point of the Interamaricana Highway in Guatemala! Per turbo it did not have noticable smoke climbing hills in B.C. that are better graded than those in Mexico (that's not to say there may not have been any but I could not notice from the drivers seat).

Most smoking is due to adjusted pumps to deliver more fuel with the hope of more power. Smoke is simply unburned/poorly burned diesel (too rich mixture for the conditions at the time, a diesel mixture is constantly variable unlike gasoline engines) and it is a sign of an overheated combustion chamber as well!

[83bj60]

Originally Posted by cruiser_guy

The problem of dealers not having the vehicles we want is easily remedied by Toyota isn't it? As for the "great vehicles already in the showroom", I guess they are not as great as the dealer or Toyota think they are otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion!

Right... It just shows how marketing really works: the company makes a study and decides what to sell from that study. If you don't fit that model, you're just a weirdo, a marginal and basically a reject. Basically the salesman will try anything to convince you that you DON'T KNOW what you really want and what you realy want is right here in the showroom!

Boy do I hate dealerships here... Yesterday I went to get a muffler suspension rubber block, a common part to many Toyotas in the nearest large town, Ste-Agathe, about 30km from where I live. As usual not only did none of the 4 autoparts in that 20,000 inhabitant town have any in stock, but they couldn't even ORDER it for me even if it was in one of their catalogs! A simple rectangular rubber block with 4 bolts!!! So I go to the stealership with the snazzy 20 foot high showroom and ask for the parts department (it's 2:30 PM). Answer from the three piece suit with a smirk: "sorry but it's closed on fridays afternoons". In Maine I could go until 8 PM on that day to pick up my parts!!!! &^#%^*&$&&*^))^%$@#$&@$E&

And people wonder why we've slipped from the 7th power in the world in 1967 to what, the 40th now?!

Do you remember when Toyota US (or should I say, Kalifornia) took over (ahem, merged) with Toyota Canada in 1989? We lost diesels right after that! Now we're governed by Big Brother Kalifornia...

BTW, a BIG THANK YOU goes to ginericfj80 for the spare muffler suspension parts, found exactly what I needed rummaging in your box after wasting 2 hours running around for that srupid part

[Adam B]

FYI, not only does the Toyota parts department at the Richmond Auto Mall happily provide JDM parts, they're starting to carry inventory on the popular items (HDJ81 oil filter, for example).

[kim]

Signed!

[Mike Shull]

Originally Posted by kim

Signed!

Sweet!!! Thanks! We are almost up to 300....keep it up everyone...only 4700 to go till our goal by the end of the year!!!

[Mike Shull]

Originally Posted by Adam B

FYI, not only does the Toyota parts department at the Richmond Auto Mall happily provide JDM parts, they're starting to carry inventory on the popular items (HDJ81 oil filter, for example).

Well that is pretty cool!

[Diesel42]

Signed. Thanks for the hard work. Excellent idea. Who nows, maybe the idiots at Toyota will listen.

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by Adam B

FYI, not only does the Toyota parts department at the Richmond Auto Mall happily provide JDM parts, they're starting to carry inventory on the popular items (HDJ81 oil filter, for example).

Will they look up JDM parts for you as well? Jim Pattison Toyota, where I've bought parts from for years will not do anything for JDM and as I said, Alpine Toyota in Cranbrook has a hard time just finding the right CDM part number!!

[Mike Shull]

Originally Posted by Diesel42

Signed. Thanks for the hard work. Excellent idea. Who nows, maybe the idiots at Toyota will listen.

Thanks for your support...I hope the same....let's stick together...only 4705 votes to go before we send them off to Toyota....

Remember we are going for 10,000 votes so don't stop at 5K..or at anytime....keep it going!!!

[Mike Shull]

Doing quite well! Keep it up...and thank you all!

436 votes so far.