Toyota Dirty Warranty Secret..

[CodeRed2]

Toyota do NOT check any cars ECU during its mandatory 9 month service.

Faults that can be found with a simple ECU test are missed.

Toyota did NOT respond to an email asking about their policy on WHY they

did NOT include an ECU scan of cars during a service. One employee

stated the only time they do an ECU scan is when the engine light comes

on. I am guessing YOUR car warranty would have well expired by then. A

very nice way to ensure there service department profits from a very

poor policy at your expense.

After inspecting 4 cars, 3 had a number of faults found during the ECU

scan. The faults I found were - ABS-VSC-TRC(CAN), Main Body?, U1 201 /

C1 294 / C1 249 refer to vehicle service manual, Engine and ECT,

Startability malfunction, Malfunction in Yaw Sensor, Air Conditioner,

Air Purifier Open Circuit. The last car came back ECU fault free.

I don't know if the above are major faults, only that three owners where

NOT happy learning that the faults were there and NOT sorted at time of

Service. After all isn't a service supposed to give you piece of mind

that the vehicles are in good condition. Why have a load of sensors in

your vehicle at all?

Toyota are unable to provide a print out of an ECU scan because they do

NOT have a printer connected to their test equipment? All you get if you

ask for a test is there word your car is fine?

Car accidents also VOIDS some warranties at Toyota discretion.

Weather its Toyota or any other car company, demand an ECU test during

your warranty service. I know of at least one other major brand who

actually provide a print out of an ECU test as part of their service plan.

Feel free to tell others of what I feel is very poor service to its

loyal customers.

[trentmeyer23]

This is nothing new, most manufacturers do not hook a scan tool up during servicing, unless there is a CEL(Check Engine Light).

Also, with codes, you will have current and stored, major and minor faults. Minor faults that don't throw a CEL are hardly ever an issue. These are usually due to battery voltage issues or non critical systems.

For piece of mind, you can buy cheap scan cables and software that connect to a laptop.

[CodeRed2]

Thanks for the reply.

I didn't know whats minor or major? Not sure if everybody knows or don't, Can't help to feel its poor attention to detail by the Toyota Service Department while the car is under warranty.

I guess the majority of members here already know, but if a few don't I hope my post helps. I love my car and knowing its in perfect nic is all I want.

Not being a mechanic myself, I have to trust others. Maybe its time pressure is placed on the car companies to make a ECU check part of the service. Its not a big ask after spending a lot $$ to buy my 86 GTS..

But thats just me. :) I want to drive it, not really into wanting to fix stuff. Thanks for the heads up on DIY check up info.

[trentmeyer23]

A major fault would be coolant temperature, oil pressure warning or similar. A minor fault would be an idle air control valve or similar.

[CHA54]

I'll bet those faults all had an action of "No further diagnosis required" in techstream, as they aren't hard faults. I scanned a 2013 prado on the weekend that had a whole bunch of codes logged, none were serious or required further investigation.

If you're really worried about it, pay the additional labour at the time of service for them to spend 15 minutes doing a scan, time is money for the dealer. Also note the toughbooks at the dealer are generally not connected to any printers...

If there's no hard CEL on the dash, there's no need for them to do a scan.

Edited June 1, 2015 by CHA54

[CodeRed2]

I guess I will be. It’s easy when you know what’s going on not to have a
worry. Still if errors pop up then they should be addressed especially under
warranty. After all I want my baby to be perfect. A member on another forum had
every nut and bolt re-chromed for a rebuild. I wonder if that’s over kill.
Guess it’s not to him. He has an awesome pictorial of every nut, bolt and part
his worked on.

Like I first said I didn't know if they were minor or major? I am not a mechanic,
maybe overly worried about stuff I don't understand. I am starting to grasp
what "CEL" is thanks to your guys. Yes I am a fanatic about my 86
GTS. I am sure I am not the only owner here who is equally over protective
about their car.

Honestly don't see why some dealerships don't do an ECU as standard practice.
Unless any issue found by an ECU test is NOT anything to worry about?

Your right "time is money for the service department", I don't get
why new cars needs to be serviced every 9 months instead of 12.

It’s just money making for the dealerships as the service is in my opinion overly
priced for what they do. Like seriously do new cars really need that much
attention in the first 3 years during warranty? Especially as I am not likely
to drive it all that much. If you drive a lot and run up the kilometres then
fine. 12 moths or 20 kilometres is fair. Whichever comes first?

But I don’t have a clue what it cost the dealerships to keep their doors
opened and employ people.

That’s my 2 cents, thanks for your response btw.

Edited June 5, 2015 by CodeRed2

[CHA54]

Luke didn't end up using all those nuts and bolts he had plated, I did point out to him at the time that electroplating high tensile suspension components is a really bad idea...

I serviced my GTS twice as much as was required by the warranty/service schedule, as changing the oil more often is better for reducing engine wear.

When there is a persistent check engine light on the dash, the dealer will investigate it, if there's no persistent light there's no reason to do a scan. Any major issue will flag a persistent check engine light.

Edited June 5, 2015 by CHA54

[trentmeyer23]

To be honest, driving less can be more detrimental, as seals and gaskets harden and leak. I have personally seen new vehicles with less than 5,000km after 2-3 years leaking everywhere.