SQOD Squad - Stupid Question Of the Day (7 Viewers)

[afgman786]

Learned holding the lock button on the key puts down all your windows... or it was the unlock... it was unintentionally and I was shocked yet impressed

 

[Markuson]

Learned holding the lock button on the key puts down all your windows... or it was the unlock... it was unintentionally and I was shocked yet impressed

Yep. It’s the Unlock button. My only wish is that you could roll them back up remotely by holding the lock button...but oh well. It’s for letting the heat out before you get in. I’m guess their lawyers wouldn’t go for the remote roll-up thing...

Have a look in your manual at the custom functions sometime. All sorts of little tricks and tweaks in there...even on my more primitive 08.

 

[cruiser100]

My SQOD: is the idler pulley bolt on a 2011 200 reverse threaded? Getting ready to swap it out and have run into this before on other vehicles...

 

[Fisher23]

What is the path to the roof rack for wires?

I'm going to install a roof rack, for antennas (WiFi repeater, Cell repeater, CB, HAM(2)) take advance of the roof plane, plus some camping/hunting/work lights all 4 sides and thinking a single 100 watt solar panel.

Have a 2016 and it has all those side and curtain airbags.

Is there a path for the antenna wires, or is better to mount them forward and rear like those Az guys do? I'm thinking the roof plane gives better signal?

 

[ceb]

Yep. It’s the Unlock button. My only wish is that you could roll them back up remotely by holding the lock button...but oh well. It’s for letting the heat out before you get in. I’m guess their lawyers wouldn’t go for the remote roll-up thing...

Have a look in your manual at the custom functions sometime. All sorts of little tricks and tweaks in there...even on my more primitive 08.

Absolutely correct. To have remote up windows would be a violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Some cars will allow you to close all windows by inserting the key into the door lock and holding it in the lock position.

The thinking is that if you are next to the car then you can see anything that could obstruct a window. Using the remote may mean that you're around a corner or something.

 

[Dangerruss]

My stupid question is how does the rear outlet work in my 2014 LX 570. I have tried to plug some stuff in and it doesn’t work. I misplaced my voltage meter to see if there’s any juice there so maybe I’m missing something simple.

 

[Markuson]

My stupid question is how does the rear outlet work in my 2014 LX 570. I have tried to plug some stuff in and it doesn’t work. I misplaced my voltage meter to see if there’s any juice there so maybe I’m missing something simple.

My 2008 LC has a switch on the dash to left of steering wheel that activated the outlet. You should have one too, but no idea where your switch is. Toyota scatters them all overs

 

[bemerritt]

Anyone know the alternator's amp output at idle?

 

[ceb]

So here is a dumb ass question of the day.

I've spent years on various car forums (Audi, VW, Acura, Jeep, Cadillac, BMW) and without exception, each one of those forums discusses multiple significant issues that the manufacturer hasn't been able to resolve (VW has stalling issues on manual 2019 GTIs, Acura has infotainment issues with the RDX and BMW had the fuel pump issue - Cadillac and Jeep have more issues than you can throw a stick at).

Here though, it seems like there are few systemic problems (I guess there was a infotainment issue but that was resolved) that the manufacturer has no resolution for - or am I overlooking something?

 

[Markuson]

So here is a dumb ass question of the day.

I've spent years on various car forums (Audi, VW, Acura, Jeep, Cadillac, BMW) and without exception, each one of those forums discusses multiple significant issues that the manufacturer hasn't been able to resolve (VW has stalling issues on manual 2019 GTIs, Acura has infotainment issues with the RDX and BMW had the fuel pump issue - Cadillac and Jeep have more issues than you can throw a stick at).

Here though, it seems like there are few systemic problems (I guess there was a infotainment issue but that was resolved) that the manufacturer has no resolution for - or am I overlooking something?

Just a few things here and there that fail predictably:

Water pump, radiator and starter somewhere near 6-8 years in... Couple minor recalls.

I have an 11+ year old 2008 I abuse and run extremely heavy...and it’s been ridiculously solid other than those known replacement items.

 

[KLF]

So here is a dumb ass question of the day.

I've spent years on various car forums (Audi, VW, Acura, Jeep, Cadillac, BMW) and without exception, each one of those forums discusses multiple significant issues that the manufacturer hasn't been able to resolve (VW has stalling issues on manual 2019 GTIs, Acura has infotainment issues with the RDX and BMW had the fuel pump issue - Cadillac and Jeep have more issues than you can throw a stick at).

Here though, it seems like there are few systemic problems (I guess there was a infotainment issue but that was resolved) that the manufacturer has no resolution for - or am I overlooking something?

You mean like a poorly designed flimsy recirc door in the HVAC system that regularly gets broken by ham fisted dealer techs, and costs $$$ to repair?

 

[ceb]

You mean like a poorly designed flimsy recirc door in the HVAC system that regularly gets broken by ham fisted dealer techs, and costs $$$ to repair?

Kinda-sorta. These are annoying - and sometimes expensive - fixes, but there are fixes.

There are hundreds of complaints on the VW forums (and NHTSA complaints) of manual transmission 2019 GTI cars stalling on slowing down. Now, a half year in, VW has no resolution and there is no resolution in sight. The problem only exists in North America.

It took BMW over two years to identify the cause of the High Pressure fuel Pump issue and Acura still is clueless about the infotainment issues now into the second model year.

Does Toyota have any gremlins like that that affect driveability with the 200?

 

[Markuson]

You mean like a poorly designed flimsy recirc door in the HVAC system that regularly gets broken by ham fisted dealer techs, and costs $$$ to repair?

Heh. True. But that’s more an ignorance issue with Toyota service techs. Toyota should issue giant red warning stickers for that door as some here have basically done with silver Sharpies...

OTOH—Totally silly to make it so susceptible to inadvertent damage. But man, over all? No complaints. Thing is solid as can be and mine is a year-one Cruiser. Pretty dang impressive.

 

[mcgaskins]

So here is a dumb ass question of the day.

I've spent years on various car forums (Audi, VW, Acura, Jeep, Cadillac, BMW) and without exception, each one of those forums discusses multiple significant issues that the manufacturer hasn't been able to resolve (VW has stalling issues on manual 2019 GTIs, Acura has infotainment issues with the RDX and BMW had the fuel pump issue - Cadillac and Jeep have more issues than you can throw a stick at).

Here though, it seems like there are few systemic problems (I guess there was a infotainment issue but that was resolved) that the manufacturer has no resolution for - or am I overlooking something?

Congrats - you just figured out why Toyota 4x4s have the best resale value and are extremely sought after.

 

[ceb]

Heh. True. But that’s more an ignorance issue with Toyota service techs. Toyota should issue giant red warning stickers for that door as some here have basically done with silver Sharpies...

OTOH—Totally silly to make it so susceptible to inadvertent damage.

Won't make much of a difference. Back to VW, GTIs are shipped with a "shipping puck" to keep the front suspension from compressing since the mid 200's (so almost 15 years). There are 3 pucks per side and they are to be removed during the pre delivery inspection.

There is a block on the pre delivery inspection checklist AND a hang tag on the rearview mirror telling the grease monkey to pull those out. It is a huge hang tag.

There are at least weekly reports of "I just picked up my car - it has a terrible ride. What's wrong?" and of course the shipping pucks are found.

Techs don't read.

 

[ceb]

Congrats - you just figured out why Toyota 4x4s have the best resale value and are extremely sought after.

Yep. But that is also a factor of not making changes for many years..

 

[mcgaskins]

Yep. But that is also a factor of not making changes for many years..

Again, you’re answeeing your questions on your own. The whole not making changes for many years is also why it’s reliable. And the resale is great because if its reputation for reliability. It’s quite simple really - Toyota builds functional things to last and doesn’t care much about small iterative changes in the marketplace like tech gadgets, whereas most other brands are constantly chasing trends and updating the vehicles to keep sales going. That in turn makes the cars obsolete faster and the complexity and constant change/updating makes them less reliable, which also hurts resale.

 

[ceb]

Again, you’re answeeing your questions on your own. The whole not making changes for many years is also why it’s reliable. And the resale is great because if its reputation for reliability. It’s quite simple really - Toyota builds functional things to last and doesn’t care much about small iterative changes in the marketplace like tech gadgets, whereas most other brands are constantly chasing trends and updating the vehicles to keep sales going. That in turn makes the cars obsolete faster and the complexity and constant change/updating makes them less reliable, which also hurts resale.

Yeah, I know. That's a fault of mine.

But Toyota also builds consumer stuff that chases trends - Corolla/Camry/Rav4 etc. that mirror the Honda offerings. I'm just glad they left the LC alone.

 

[Markuson]

Yeah, I know. That's a fault of mine.

But Toyota also builds consumer stuff that chases trends - Corolla/Camry/Rav4 etc. that mirror the Honda offerings. I'm just glad they left the LC alone.

On the other hand...those Toyota’s also consistently sit at or near the top of reliability ratings...even with more frequent updates.

To me the difference with the LC is Toyota assumes VERY tough use of them and is not just reliable... bug reliable under harsh harsh conditions. Testing and building for that kind of reliability despite Middle East temperatures, Australia-terrible roads and various other crazy places takes far more time.

I dunno.... But the LC is special sauce for sure.

 

[ceb]

On the other hand...those Toyota’s also consistently sit at or near the top of reliability ratings...even with more frequent updates.

To me the difference with the LC is Toyota assumes VERY tough use of them and is not just reliable... bug reliable under harsh harsh conditions. Testing and building for that kind of reliability despite Middle East temperatures, Australia-terrible roads and various other crazy places takes far more time.

I dunno.... But the LC is special sauce for sure.

And don't forget - an ISIS favorite. We went to the outskirts of Mosul when I was last in Iraq and saw quite a few demolished LCs and Tacomas.