Vehicle Issues?????

kauaibuilt47 · Post by **kauaibuilt47** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 9:14 pm

How many problems have you guys had????

There is always the normal Chevy/Ford bashing about reliability.

I got a 2003 S10 w/ 61,000+ mi and have had NO MAJOR ISSUES! I had a suspension issues shortly after I got her but it was due to the previous owner installing the SL 2" lift.

I just had the tranny oil changed, flushed the radiator, added e-fan, SAS'd her, and put in an optima (just felt like it).

The only regular maintenance I do is oil changes. I installed my K&N FIPK shortly after I got her and have only washed the filter 4x's or something. Oh yeah, also added an aux tranny cooler sometime in the last year and a half or so.

Im just wondering why Toyota is considered to be soooo great when my bow tie has never failed me. (I used to own a 98 Toy and traded her in for my S10)

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:44 am

Warranty issues so far...
Shocks, Balljoints, Wheel bearings, tensioner pulley, precat, plug wires, hot feet, door hinge pin retainer, pitman arm, seat upholstery.

That is all that I can think of so far. Like you said , nothing major.

BobbleSmitty · Post by **BobbleSmitty** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:49 am

All before my body lift: My 4x4 failed me 4 times, windshield cracked due to stress from the body, driver and passenger door both became unaligned and wouldn't close properly, several leaks (coolant, oil), replaced something for the air conditioner (can't think of exactly what it was), steering box came lose and would make a clunking sound when turning, gas tank strap came unattached for no reason and started dragging on the ground....... My list is rather large, but it has all been fixed under warranty and I also got a settlement from GM after going for the Lemon Law. Since I had exceeded the 12 months (i was in the 14th or 15th), I qualified for the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act. I got a nice check back from them. I haven't really had too many issues since then either. I believe it leaked once or twice and it needed a new belt because it was squeeking like crazy.

Old_MXer · Post by **Old_MXer** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:41 am

2004 ZR5 w/ 20,000 miles
Bought new, never abused

Wrong lube in rear diff from factory , thermostat gasket bad (just noticed that it is leaking again!) CV axle bad, wheel bearing bad, wiper module bad, roof rack powder coating coming off (not sun damaged, in garage when not driving), rear door misaligned, cat convertor heat shield rattles (they hit it with a hammer every time I take it in for something and mention the rattle! It's ok for a little while after then rattles again), left front power window switch bad, and it smells like oil burning after you drive it, dealer told me it was normal, but don't get me started on the dealer!

The service manager told me that I was nit picking when I bring it in.

It is still under warranty until July, anything I might have overlooked before the warranty runs out?

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:49 am

Old_MXer wrote:Wrong lube in rear diff from factory...

What is up with that? What was in there Dextron II?

Old_MXer · Post by **Old_MXer** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:57 am

HenryJ wrote:
Old_MXer wrote:Wrong lube in rear diff from factory...
What is up with that? What was in there Dextron II?

I have the limited slip diff in it. When I would make a left or right turn from a stop, it would make the whole truck shudder. When I took it in, they said that it had the lube for an open diff, not a limited slip. No problems since then.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 8:07 am

They were wrong. I think they were just feeding you a line of BS.

GM Data wrote:Front and Rear Axle (Standard Differential) SAE 80W-90 Axle Lubricant GM P/N 1052271, (Canadian P/N 10950849) or equivalent.

Rear Axle (Locking Differential) Axle Lubricant; use only GM P/N 1052271, (Canadian P/N 10950849). Do not add friction modifier.

It is likely that it was not changed at the first oil change as is required to remove assembly lubricants, but wrong fluid is not likely.

Old_MXer · Post by **Old_MXer** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 8:48 am

HenryJ wrote:They were wrong. I think they were just feeding you a line of BS.

It is likely that it was not changed at the first oil change as is required to remove assembly lubricants, but wrong fluid is not likely.

Doesn't shock me that they handed me a line of BS. Not sure exactly what they really did then, probably never will. It only had 500 miles on when they did the rear diff. Wouldn't shock me if it didn't have any oil in it to begin with.

Wish I had known about this site before, I could have been a little more informed when returning to the dealer. Thanks for all of the info.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 9:05 am

Hey, as long as it worked and they didn't charge you, who cares. It was fixed and has been working fine, so all worked out for the best.
Techs are people too. They don't like to admit to mistakes, but make them all the same.
Customers want answers. It is easier to give them one. No one likes , "I don't know."
All too often Techs get cocky and narrow minded. That can come from dealing with unreasonable people who nit-pick every tiny thing under warranty.
The good ones will take it in stride and do their best to please the customer. Those are hard to find and usually find a better job elsewhere. The best thing to do is build a positive relationship and maintain it.
That time spent will be rewarded.

kauaibuilt47 · Post by **kauaibuilt47** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:02 am

DOH, forgot about the hot feet fix. That was rather minor though.

I was getting my tranny and radiator flushed and went to the Toy dealership to waste time. Sales dude acted like my chevy was gonan give out on me any day now and i should get rid of it for a taco. Mentioned the SAS and he got scared of a trade in and walked away.

I was just wondering if anyone had any major problems.

My first taco in 2000 started giving out (89' long bed) and would leave me on the side of the road. Got rid of it and later got my second taco (98') in 2001. That one started giving me problems. Got my chevy and no major probs since.

Wanted to tell the sales dude that but decided against it. Although the overwhelming majority of people say to buy foreign for longevity/dependability Im seeing a ton of toy guys swapping in SBC, chevy tranny's, and t-cases....Just thought it was funny!

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:51 am

It's probably one of those Toyota things, wouldn't undertand kinda things. A bit ago, I had a Good Year, balance my tires and he said finally a Chevy, all he worked on all day was Toyotas. But a Toyota owner will never admit to it ever being worked on. One strange memory is of one guy who switched to Toyota, cause he was tired of American brands reliability, but he had to get a new trany a couple times in his Toyota, but I guess he thinks that's normal. Very strange.

kauaibuilt47 · Post by **kauaibuilt47** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:22 pm

When I got my TTFab D44 perches the guy was amazed that they were going to be mated to a chevy. he said he usually got Jeep or Toy guys. I may have to send him pics of the CC.