Hi all from Oztralia..just new to this forum...here's a story..not of woe I hope..
I bought my LC100 2 months ago in Adelaide, South Australia to tow a caravan around Oz, beaut condition, had a thorough pre-puchase inspection from a reputable 4wd sepcialist, which gave it the all clear. Took it to a Toyota dealer for a major 80,000k service before I left, which involved changing the Auto tranny fluid, (and parting with $1300!). Noticed that it was surging a little on the down change when I got it back (like a slipping clutch in a manual), on querying and a test drive by the service guy was told 'they all drive like that'. However the problem became worse, and 8000k of towing and 4wding later, it would no longer hold overdrive, and any downchange involved a slip and a lurch when it would finally bite into gear especially the 2-1 change. Upon checking the fluid on arrival at home base (Queensland), the dipstick showed it was below the cold mark, when the tranny was hot. The local Toyota service centre found no leaks and said they put over 1.5L into it to top it up which is over 25% of capacity (4.2 L total) - and then graciously suggested someone had simply forgotten to recheck it when they changed it at the service. Adding the fluid improved things somewhat, overdrive returned, but it still has a very unhappy 2-1 downnchange, slipping 500 or so revs before it finally bites with a lurch to the vehicle - annoying enough to avoid downchanges, and not good when 4wding. Yes I should have checked it earlier, but who would expected that after a service??
The original dealer in Adelaide was apologetic and is happy to look at it when I bring it down again in a few weeks, but as expected the damage control spin from the service manager has started already, 1.5 L is not much difference, may have been a pre existing problem already etc...
I will be getting obviously be getting some second opinions at my expense from several auto specialists before I go to battle with Toyota.
Before I do this some Q's for you experts if you are interested...
Do all LC100 Autos really do that?
Does this sound like stuffed bands/clutches?
Is 8000k of towing while 25% underfillled enough to damage it?
Any suggestions for the battle plan with Toyota if push comes to shove?
This is not intended to be a wingeing dealer bashing session, but I plan on keeping the vehicle, and are royally narked that some apprentice galah may have damaged the auto, as you would be too. Haven't thrown any bricks throught the showroom floor....yet.
Cheers, Craig
I bought my LC100 2 months ago in Adelaide, South Australia to tow a caravan around Oz, beaut condition, had a thorough pre-puchase inspection from a reputable 4wd sepcialist, which gave it the all clear. Took it to a Toyota dealer for a major 80,000k service before I left, which involved changing the Auto tranny fluid, (and parting with $1300!). Noticed that it was surging a little on the down change when I got it back (like a slipping clutch in a manual), on querying and a test drive by the service guy was told 'they all drive like that'. However the problem became worse, and 8000k of towing and 4wding later, it would no longer hold overdrive, and any downchange involved a slip and a lurch when it would finally bite into gear especially the 2-1 change. Upon checking the fluid on arrival at home base (Queensland), the dipstick showed it was below the cold mark, when the tranny was hot. The local Toyota service centre found no leaks and said they put over 1.5L into it to top it up which is over 25% of capacity (4.2 L total) - and then graciously suggested someone had simply forgotten to recheck it when they changed it at the service. Adding the fluid improved things somewhat, overdrive returned, but it still has a very unhappy 2-1 downnchange, slipping 500 or so revs before it finally bites with a lurch to the vehicle - annoying enough to avoid downchanges, and not good when 4wding. Yes I should have checked it earlier, but who would expected that after a service??
The original dealer in Adelaide was apologetic and is happy to look at it when I bring it down again in a few weeks, but as expected the damage control spin from the service manager has started already, 1.5 L is not much difference, may have been a pre existing problem already etc...
I will be getting obviously be getting some second opinions at my expense from several auto specialists before I go to battle with Toyota.
Before I do this some Q's for you experts if you are interested...
Do all LC100 Autos really do that?
Does this sound like stuffed bands/clutches?
Is 8000k of towing while 25% underfillled enough to damage it?
Any suggestions for the battle plan with Toyota if push comes to shove?
This is not intended to be a wingeing dealer bashing session, but I plan on keeping the vehicle, and are royally narked that some apprentice galah may have damaged the auto, as you would be too. Haven't thrown any bricks throught the showroom floor....yet.
Cheers, Craig
