Broken Rear Diff / Build Date Please

[athenaceleste]

Kathi I agree with you 100% on this "not aware of this problem" bullcrap. I took great pains to get myself to the dealership that I knew was going to take care of me (towing it @ 45mph over 500 miles). I was told by a toyota employee that is very open with us... that for our particular problem that there was no TSB... but they did admit they knew about the problem, once before noticing there was a bubble in the casting of the gear.

[makaser]

Delray previously said:

Kathi, I expect you are right! I wonder if since most owners are not actually going to take it off-road, that they just figured to fix as they need to? It seems those few that have had failures on the street are also off-roaders? I know MoabRat was thinking of doing what Ropedrag did with lower, stronger gearing and had someone that can do that. I probably would consider that if the cost and wait were not too bad, but I am in a bind as this is my only vehicle. Maybe something you should think about? I know from your other posts that this is worrying you.

athenaceleste, good to know they can do it in a half day. I have got my motorcycle and a bicycle, but we are having crappy weather at the moment. May need to rent a car if it takes too long for repair.

Delray, you need to MAKE them GIVE you a rental for the day. I was picked up in Moab at 7am by the tow truck. We got to Grand Junction at 9:30. they had it finished and I was driving back to Maob by 1:30. But again, only becasue I was lucky enough to have people pulling the right strings. I find it nausiating that the only reason I got the treatment I got was becasue I was able to have a favor pulled for me by a local TMC rep. It's obvious that they can provide that kind of service if they want, but they choose not to. For as much as we pay for these vehicles, I think it's disgusting that we then have to fight them to get them to take care of us. They wouldn't be anything if it weren't for us.

I'm having my 30K service done on Wednesday. They are also going to be looking at my front diff and re-torquing the bolts. I've told them about my ordeal in Moab. they are giving me a rental for the day. Don't let them charge you for it. You shouldn't have to. Not for them to fix something that is THEIR fault.

[Delray]

makaser previously said:

...I find it nausiating that the only reason I got the treatment I got was becasue I was able to have a favor pulled for me by a local TMC rep...they are giving me a rental for the day. Don't let them charge you for it. You shouldn't have to. Not for them to fix something that is THEIR fault.

Good advice makaser. What is a TMC rep? I did not push them on the rental, because I need to push myself to work on my bike (I try to ride twice a week anyway)...but if the weather is nasty I will definitely try for the rental.

I was relieved to hear an hour or so ago that they are covering it all under warranty. Shane has been getting back to me regularly, and I feel good about the Brent Brown experience so far.

[makaser]

Delray previously said:

Good advice makaser. What is a TMC rep? I did not push them on the rental, because I need to push myself to work on my bike (I try to ride twice a week anyway)...but if the weather is nasty I will definitely try for the rental.

I was relieved to hear an hour or so ago that they are covering it all under warranty. Shane has been getting back to me regularly, and I feel good about the Brent Brown experience so far.

Hey, good news! A "TMC rep"= Toyota Motor Corp. representative. The guy between Toytoa Motor Corp and the dealerships in the region. They have a little pull with the dealerships. Yeh,

I should get myself back on a bike myself, it just rains too damn much in the PNW!

[Voodoogirl]

Delray previously said:

Kathi, I expect you are right! I wonder if since most owners are not actually going to take it off-road, that they just figured to fix as they need to? It seems those few that have had failures on the street are also off-roaders? I know MoabRat was thinking of doing what Ropedrag did with lower, stronger gearing and had someone that can do that. I probably would consider that if the cost and wait were not too bad, but I am in a bind as this is my only vehicle. Maybe something you should think about? I know from your other posts that this is worrying you.

athenaceleste, good to know they can do it in a half day. I have got my motorcycle and a bicycle, but we are having crappy weather at the moment. May need to rent a car if it takes too long for repair.

Maybe most won't take it off-road. That shouldn't matter. It's not like a bad turn light or something. This is something that when it does fail, AND THEY ARE, can leave people stranded, possibly in the middle of nowhere! It's not like you were in your driveway when this happened. They should offer you a car, AND reimburse you for your towing costs. I know that was done for at least one other person.

Haven't we taken care of, (paid for, and replaced), enough of the parts that aren't quite beefy enough to stand up to the type of driving that the FJ is advertised for?

K

[frogeye]

Voodoogirl previously said:

Maybe most won't take it off-road. That shouldn't matter. It's not like a bad turn light or something. This is something that when it does fail, AND THEY ARE, can leave people stranded, possibly in the middle of nowhere! It's not like you were in your driveway when this happened. They should offer you a car, AND reimburse you for your towing costs. I know that was done for at least one other person.

Haven't we taken care of, (paid for, and replaced), enough of the parts that aren't quite beefy enough to stand up to the type of driving that the FJ is advertised for?

K

Nicely said!

[JAXTOY]

Voodoogirl previously said:

Maybe most won't take it off-road. That shouldn't matter. It's not like a bad turn light or something. This is something that when it does fail, AND THEY ARE, can leave people stranded, possibly in the middle of nowhere! It's not like you were in your driveway when this happened. They should offer you a car, AND reimburse you for your towing costs. I know that was done for at least one other person.

Haven't we taken care of, (paid for, and replaced), enough of the parts that aren't quite beefy enough to stand up to the type of driving that the FJ is advertised for?

K

I agree, when Ben broke his Ryan had just done the same climb with no problems. The vehicles are set up similar, I believe the tire size is the same, it seems that the rear diff. goes when it "feels" like it, and depending where you are it could be hell recovering your vehicle. We went on Cliff Hanger the next day, if Ben's diff. broke then it would have been tough getting him to safe ground. My diff. broke over x-mas, luckily I was fairly close to town and was able to limp it to a place where a tow truck could pick me up. I think most people out there with the early models will break eventually, it's too bad Toyota will not replace diffs. when it is requested by the owner. Toyota would be able to tell by manufacturing date whether or not the diff. is at risk. We have a machinest at our plant, I took him some of the teeth from my diff. he said that they had been hardened, rumor has it that Toyota may have set the gears "loose" for better gas milage and people are getting deflection which is causing the break, not that the gear was not hardened. Well my take on the subject. And yes, they did give me a rental and pay for towing.

[athenaceleste]

My dealership will be reimbursing us for towing...we're still talking to them for reimbursement for motel stay an extra night that was not necessary

[frogeye]

Hey all, if you frequent the other big 4x4 forums like MUD etc. Could you please post regarding this FJ issue with a link back to this thread? The more data we have to show TOYOTA, the better.

Ty

[Delray]

I will approach them about towing. Is there any kind of warranty related to towing, or was it your relationship with the service department that made all the difference?

If you did not have prior relationship, what was it you did or said to the service dept. that got them to reimburse?

Thanks