I just recently started noticing a leak of anit-freeze coming from one of the holes of the skid plate of my LC. Upon further investigation I found the driver side head gasket leaking anti-freeze pretty bad. I checked out the passenger side and sure enough I can see a tiny spot of dried anti-freeze beginning to leak out. Has anyone seen this before on a 2000 with 70,000 miles and if so did the Toyota cover it? I had complained to the dealer when the vehicle had about 65,000 about an anti-freeze smell. Of course they came back and said they could not find anything. (I should have checked myself.) Luckily this is a certified Toyota so all the repairs and parts should be covered. That is if they do not try and bend me over for some dumb reason. I will put up a huge fight if they try to. Needless to say I will be making an appointment first thing in the morning to have it repaired. My main question is, since both headgaskets are leaking and the heads are going to be removed to replace the gaskets, does the timing belt need to be removed to get the heads off? If so does anyone think that the belt will be replaced as well? Let me know ASAP fellas as I am taking the LC in ASAP and I want to get the belt replaced if they are going to be very invasive. I will keep everyone posted as events occur. Thanks for all your info.
Is the timing belt covered if?
- Thread starter 2000TLC
- Start date
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Gee, 2000....sounds like you already hate your dealer or dont trust them....I would suggest going in there (dealer) with a little better mind-set BEFORE they tell you to take a hike !!..
Actually..(sorry, but I just had to say that above)...the head gaskets are normally covered IF you have an extended or certified/Toyota 100,000 mile warranty....the T-belt, however is not usually covered unless it is bad because of the hd-gskt leak..(although, if you stay cool...you might ask the service advisor about popping in a new one (belt) while it is apart and perhaps even drive belts or a water pump if you dont want to do it later, if YOU pay for the non-covered parts, of course..)
I am telling you..DO NOT go in there ready for a fight...they will gladly assist you if there is a warranty issue, but they can also fight you all the way to the end if you start screaming (and forget about any "freebies")...just an observation over the years....
Actually..(sorry, but I just had to say that above)...the head gaskets are normally covered IF you have an extended or certified/Toyota 100,000 mile warranty....the T-belt, however is not usually covered unless it is bad because of the hd-gskt leak..(although, if you stay cool...you might ask the service advisor about popping in a new one (belt) while it is apart and perhaps even drive belts or a water pump if you dont want to do it later, if YOU pay for the non-covered parts, of course..)
I am telling you..DO NOT go in there ready for a fight...they will gladly assist you if there is a warranty issue, but they can also fight you all the way to the end if you start screaming (and forget about any "freebies")...just an observation over the years....
I agree that going in ready and eager to fight doesn't help get good service. But Toyota preps their customers for it better than anyone else by having the worst customer service of any auto dealer. And I'm guessing there was stiff competion for the worst spot.
IF there appears to be belt rot due to anti-freeze being dripped on it then yes, they should cover it. If not, it probably makes sense to pay to have it done since it would be cheaper than buttoning the engine back up only to take it down for the t-belt 20k miles later. Maybe even take care of the water pump at this point too.
Just to clarify a little bit, it is leaking from 2 completely different spots, one on each cylinder bank? Neither of which was found upon inspection 5,000 miles ago after you reported an anti-freeze smell?
Just to clarify a little bit, it is leaking from 2 completely different spots, one on each cylinder bank? Neither of which was found upon inspection 5,000 miles ago after you reported an anti-freeze smell?
- Thread starter
- #5
No, I really do not intend on going into the dealership pissed. It is just having dealt with a lot of dealers through the years, regardless of their service record, they are out to make money. So, they usually say that a customer needs more work on their vehicle than what is actually needed, just to make a buck. We all know how dealers are, they assume that we all know nothing about cars and they try to take advantage of that. Hell, I have even had trouble with the local Lexus dealer. Which I had never expected cause they had always treated me well in the past and a person very rarely hears anything bad about Lexus service (Long story).
I think I have the same idea, hope and feeling that you guys do. While they have the engine apart, why not replace a few other parts that will be simple to replace during the repair. I will be glad to pay for the parts, but I am sure they will try and charge labor as well. I guess I will find out here soon.
Yes, there is a leak on both cylinder banks. The driver side is more apparent than the passenger side. It kind of stumps me at the fact the dealer said they could not find anything. I think they just did a quick once over and decided there was no problem. Had they pulled the skid plates off they would have seen a big mess, like I found. That is why I am not going back to that dealer. If an idiot like myself could find a simple leak then what does that say about their mechanics?
I think I have the same idea, hope and feeling that you guys do. While they have the engine apart, why not replace a few other parts that will be simple to replace during the repair. I will be glad to pay for the parts, but I am sure they will try and charge labor as well. I guess I will find out here soon.
Yes, there is a leak on both cylinder banks. The driver side is more apparent than the passenger side. It kind of stumps me at the fact the dealer said they could not find anything. I think they just did a quick once over and decided there was no problem. Had they pulled the skid plates off they would have seen a big mess, like I found. That is why I am not going back to that dealer. If an idiot like myself could find a simple leak then what does that say about their mechanics?
2000TLC said:
It sounds like you purchased it used from a dealer and now 5K miles later both head gaskets are leaking. I'm guessing it overheated when the PO had it causing the heads to warp so he traded it in. The dealer added some "stop leak" and sold it to you. Why else would both head gaskets being leaking at 70Kmi. Good luck with the dealer but I'm skeptical that either approach, "polite" or "pissed off", will work.
i just hate the fact that we have to act as if the dealers are doing us a favor by fixing the vehicle under warranty ! it shouldn't be like this at all but sadly that's how customers are being treated at toyota and lexus these days. especially in the east coast. can't say about the other regions.
- Thread starter
- #8
Well guys, time to update you with what is going on at the dealer. So, I took the LC in to the dealer this morning stating the headgaskets are shot and they need to be replaced. (Dealer #2 cause the other dealership said they found nothing.) At about 2PM I get a call from the dealer service advisor, talking to me like I am an idiot, stating that they could not find a thing wrong with my vehicle. I instantly start shaking due to the rush of adrenaline and anger and I ask the service advisor nicely what kind of inspection they did. He said they drove it with no overheating problem, pressure tested it with no leaks found, checked fluid levels and visual inspection. Now this is the reason I stated before in my first post as to why I get upset with the way dealers do things and this is why I do not walk into a dealership service department with a happy go lucky attiutude. First of all, everything they said they did and checked was totally wrong. First, I did not complain about an overheat problem but a smell. Second, the pressure test probably passed cause I am sure the engine was cold which would prevent metal expansion. Third, I checked fluid levels before I took it in and they were low and last, visual inspection on my part is how I found the leak. I thought I was having a nightmare. I told the service advisor that I was on my way to the dealership to go show the "mechanic" the problem. After driving about 12 miles, I get to the dealer and walk back into the shop with the service advisor and the whole way he is still talking to me like I am an idiot. In the meantime I am still talking and acting very nice. We walk back to the car and it is already on the lift and he gives me a flshlight and I immediately point to the source of the problem. He gets this dumb look on his face and apologizes. Then he tells me that they will get back with me later on in the day. They call me back with a new service advisor and a new mechanic and said they will not be able to begin work on it til the following week. Which I am hoping things are going to go better.
So, the whole point in me telling you all this is not to deter you from going to your loacl dealer, in which I am sure your dealers are great, but to tell you it is okay to walk in with a slightly defensive attitude and a lot of apprehension. Not all dealers are bad and I have dealt with some good ones. I will keep you all infromed with what happens with my vehicle till it is all said and done and hopefully it will give everyone a little knowledge on how to handle and expect things when you take your cars into the shop for repair. Thanks for letting me vent.
So, the whole point in me telling you all this is not to deter you from going to your loacl dealer, in which I am sure your dealers are great, but to tell you it is okay to walk in with a slightly defensive attitude and a lot of apprehension. Not all dealers are bad and I have dealt with some good ones. I will keep you all infromed with what happens with my vehicle till it is all said and done and hopefully it will give everyone a little knowledge on how to handle and expect things when you take your cars into the shop for repair. Thanks for letting me vent.
Personally, I have had terrible experiences with all but one of the Toyota Service depts. within 45 minutes drive, and we have tons of them here in San Diego. The only local Service dept. I would even consider trying again is Toyota of El Cajon and their other service only shop in Santee.
Thankfully, their are 3 good Independant Toyota Truck shops here in San Diego County which offer reasonable rates, good customer service, and expertise!
If I can't or don't want to do it myself, such as the upcoming timing belt, then I have some choices I can feel good about.
Thankfully, their are 3 good Independant Toyota Truck shops here in San Diego County which offer reasonable rates, good customer service, and expertise!
If I can't or don't want to do it myself, such as the upcoming timing belt, then I have some choices I can feel good about.
I am afraid that customer service is sometimes a thing of the past, to many "objectives" and "sales points" to meet. write down everyones name that you deal with and start climbing the corporate ladder with emails and phone calls! you might hit the right person somewhere along the way, and i wish you the best of luck!
I feel for you.;p 2000tlc,
That was a very funny incident (your dealings with toyota dealer about your leaking head gaskets). I have a 2000 TLC myself with currently 68300mi, I purchased it for $25K with 61000mi, the vehicle also is certified to 100Kmi and roadside. I have not had any problems at all to this point. I plan on taking it to my local toyota dealer for a 70000mi service.
There are 2-3 toyota dealers in the area but this will be the 1st one I'll deal with since it's the one closest to me. I love the vehicle and it was the only SUV that I wanted, although I did look at toyota's BigTree Vehicle!
Good luck with your vehicle maintenence and do keep us posted because that was very amusing indeed. Rest assured your not the idiot!!!
rtysonInMiss
That was a very funny incident (your dealings with toyota dealer about your leaking head gaskets). I have a 2000 TLC myself with currently 68300mi, I purchased it for $25K with 61000mi, the vehicle also is certified to 100Kmi and roadside. I have not had any problems at all to this point. I plan on taking it to my local toyota dealer for a 70000mi service.
There are 2-3 toyota dealers in the area but this will be the 1st one I'll deal with since it's the one closest to me. I love the vehicle and it was the only SUV that I wanted, although I did look at toyota's BigTree Vehicle!
Good luck with your vehicle maintenence and do keep us posted because that was very amusing indeed. Rest assured your not the idiot!!!
rtysonInMiss
So it sounds like they performed the repair under ext warranty??? I'm sorry to hear about your bad exp with dealers. I'd hope the Lexus Dealers would not be that way, since each has to meat the standards set to become Elite. I have heard of a few shady ones(think one in washington). Working at Kuni we get all different customers, lots come in looking for something to set them off. I think it's how the Service Riders handle and treat the customer to get the concern fixed properly the first time. I know sometimes it's hard to find the problem(get a lot of rattles that we cant find), maybe we didnt get enough information from the customer? Sorry i'm rambling....
- Thread starter
- #17
Well Guys, so far so good. No more drama to report. I took the vehicle in last week and the repairs were completed. When I took it in, I had asked my Service Writer if some of the parts that were going to be taken off to repair the heads could be replaced without being charged labor. He said it could be done. So, I had them replace the water pump, which by the way was beginning to fail. I also had them replace the timing belt, the front crank seal, the serpentine belt and of course the head gaskets. They are going to replace the driver side exhaust manifold as well, when the part comes in. So, needless to say, I am pretty happy with the service the new Service Writer gave me. He even went as far as getting some of the parts that I requested to be replaced covered under the warranty. I am also happy with the work the mechanic did. It looks like he did a great job on the repair and replacement. No missing nuts or bolts and everything looks clean. So, like I had said before, some dealers or service departments are not bad. It is just the fact that no matter where you go in this world you are bound to run into idiots or people that treat other people like s*** just to make themselves feel more important. If anyone is ever in Albuquerque NM and need service, I suggest taking your vehicle to American Toyota and ask for Juan Santana as the Service Writer and Binh Nguyen as your mechanic. These guys are top notch. If you guys did not notice already, that is where our savior for cheaper priced factory parts, works. Cruiser Dan runs the parts department there.
It sounds like you definitely found a good dealership with a good service writer and an excellent mechanic. Did the mechanic have any thoughts on what cause both head gaskets to develop a coolant leak and the exhaust manifold to go bad with only 70k miles?
- Thread starter
- #19
When I take the vehicle back to get the driver side exhaust manifold replaced, I will be be sure and ask the mechanic what he thinks went wrong with the head gaskets and I will update you guys when I find out.
