fish475

The pictures were only my normal signature pic's that the host "myfishingpictures" has back on line now. It's been 3.5days , so I'm comfortable all's Good. I posted the entire story to certainly help anyone else, whilst not slagging. But I was getting annoyed, but not with the dealer as I new they would not give up. My next novated car will be mid to top level compact Toyota for the misses as I'll be keeping the Kluger till retirement, then upgrading again to a new one for the Grey Nomad tour. Never thought I'd switch to Toyotas. The dealers service culture has aided this switch. A small car will cost bugger all in salary sacifice and allow more in super. The Yaris was noising re road tyre transmitted noise. I drove a 1.5ltr and it was quite lively and had get up and go for a buzz box. The road writer reviews do highlight the transmitted noise, but also rate it very well. Actually the best buzz box car. I personally never expected it to be as quite as a new Commodore or Kluger and wouldn't buy it for a highway car. The speedo in the middle I personally disliked, but on day two of the loan Yaris car. It surprising just quick you start to be accustomed to it. I thought the sloped down dash gave an impression of enhanced interior size. Due to it not being in your face. In short I would not hesitate to get a mid model 1.5ltr Yaris as an economical second runaround car. But on a novation it would prob be a Corolla. Yaris 5 star crash rating video with side airbag option Barina 2 star crash rating video Up grade the boat, now thats even better as with them we don't calculate or even think of petrol consumption do we.

Guys, Well it's 3 days and the rattles/twiches have ceased and I have started work at 6.ooam Frid/Sat & Sun this weekend just gone in the cool mornings. I don't normally work these hrs, but it's along story behind it. But I've Mon & Tues off because of it and my boats already hooked up. With the rig in the back yard ready to hit the auto door button early tomorrow and do some trout fishing on the Hume Weir. (Sorry Alex, (Kruzenvax) had to put that in) Yep no rattles/twiches/cruh noises, just me fan heater trying to warm the interior. Sort becomes unusual not to hear anything after you become acustomed to expect it and hear it. Bugger looking at those rust bucket Territories now and ponder in thought. The prob lied with the plastic infill full width thing that sits around the wiper assembly. This item has now some descretly positioned felt and if you zoom in and look real real hard. A little silicon is behind the scenes now, but you really can't see it, only slight evidence. Which is all good to me. Also there is a small curved 90 deg plastic cosmetic thing that goes between the the bonnet join and the part mentioned above and the upper roof pillar connection joint at the base of the windscreen. There is evidence there of well applied anti rattle film. Anything under all this I can't see. None of the fix is really visible to the naked eye. It's just that I've been hearing those noises for 9,000ks and I'm highly interested to inspect the solution as said by the dealer. Now that my dash has had the twice over with felt/rubber and now the exterior job getting done. I guess all will be good for a long time. the fix has been logged on Toyota's internal portal for other dealers to look up as a fix option to look at. Jacobs Toyota Wodonga, Job Well Done Guys and Girls. Alex, how did that Yaris test drive go, is your neck still cranked to the left?

Thanks for letting us know how your going with the car... Hopefully the end outcome is a good one. All new cars from every brand are strating to develop these annoying rattles. It must be something to do with the amount of plastics they use now. Good to hear the dealer is doing the right thing by you!! No matter what brand of car, there are bad dealers. Just watching the news tonight, some car (sweedish I think) which is the fastest car in the world with a $2m price tag, will send out there mechanics within 24hrs of your problem occuring (and thats anywhere in the world...thats some service!!!) The Yaris is a good car, but the new Mazda 2 I reckon is even better!! So many colours to chose from as well!!!! At least it's not summer, you wouldn't want something like this stopping you from heading off to the ramp!! Overall though, I'd prefer a rattle to rust. Pitty the Territory does rust in those areas, I mean it's a descent car (does over do the plastic trim inside it though). By the way, im from Fishnet as well Aurion, PM me on Fishnet who you are on that site, as you can tell I kept my same ID within here. I'm "GarryM" on the Oz forum travel/4X4 site. Thats if your happy too I've picked up the beast today and it appears to all be rectified during the short trip home. The Service Mgr and the mechanics did the Toyota jump/thumbs up today in the belief that they corrected the prob. Whilst internally e-mailing Toyota of the prob and fix for other dealers to be alert to. Whilst I heard no (absolute zero) noise at all on the way home tonight, I will reserve my Toyota jump until Monday. But just quietly I'm having a crownie or two just as an entree of celebration at this time. If all is Ok by Monday, I'll post the cause as explained to me. Sounds a minor thing, but constant loud noises does p**s you off more than a days work at times in a quality car. Again, if my local dealer tunes in here at times. Thanks guys and girls for your true committed to customer care, it's greatly appreciated.

After a hard day in the office and on the shop floor and I mean some testing days. To do a half climb into the Kluger (beast) and connect the i-pod and purr along the road home knowing there is Crownie or two in the Waeco in the shed when I get home. Then hook up the boat on a Saturday with water levels low at the local dam(big dam). Then decide to launch on the compact mud sides and not the concrete ramps that are now high and dry, whilst achieving this with out stress. Then drop of my teenage daughters at the local cinema on a Saturday night with their friends utilising the 3 row. Then take the misses and I for a Sunday drive into the the mountains less than 1 hr away and having a simple BBQ with the portable Gasmate. Beside the running stream that we just crossed. Then on the way home out of the valleys you wave to the farmers because they waved to you to. Maybe because your in a Toyota, not one of those funny badged cars that the farmers don't recognise. This is why we decided on "AWD change" into a AWD Toyota Kluger when you live in a place like Albury/Wodonga.

Mine is a August 2007 build. The dealer has had my car for two days and all attempts to stop the noises have failed again. There driving it early in the cold mornings and too their amazment the prob's still there. After returning from Melb not long ago they asked to keep it for another two days. As now there attacking the external area outside the windscreen under the wiper area and then need to retest it in the cold early morning. No problems too me just keep it until it's fixed. Now I have a new problem surfacing tonight. They have given me a cute 4 door auto Yaris to buzz around in the mean time. Now my wifes glued too it and wants one and my 17 daughter wants one. Yep, I kinda like it to and it would have to be in matching Tidal Blue to color coordinate with the Kluger if I did. I've said before in my dribbles here, but the Toyota Care factor and service at the local dealer runs rings around the many many years of poor sevice I got from the Lion badged cars I used to drive. Will let you guys now the final outcome when known.

Thanks Don, Will discuss with the dealer when I pick up the vehicle upon my return from melb tomorrow. Although the noise appears louder than what loose wiring could cause in my case Any advise/knowledge is totally welcome. Cheers Garry

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Cookie the left side near the speaker has been the worst area for sure, although it can be heard across the dash. I've asked the dealer to keep it over night and drive it again tomorrow morning in the cooler temps to see it alls Ok now. (Bugger forecast only 7-8 deg min), but the noises will appear regardless if not corrected. They have been great and have offerred a personal car to minimise the hassle. My family spotted my beast being driven around early this morning with two workshop blokes in it, so there trying at least. Just got to stop looking at those Territory badged things whilst pondering if their dash rattles like mine. Well at least I know there tailgate is rusting.

Thanks Blackkluger, I can't feel any visible movement but, it's a possible cause high on my agenda due to a past commodore having it in a similar fashion. Particully early on a cold frosty/dewy morning. I noticed as the temp drops the noise increases many DB's louder. I've only had one near frosty morning so far this Autumn. Well tomorrow (Tuesday) the local car doctor takes her in for surgery no 3. If this one doesn't fix it, well my attitude will change dramatically. I've notified my Novated Lease peoples for assistance if fix number three fails as this car is contracted to be mine outright after the agreed fully maintained period expires down the track. Plus she's registered in my name and $4,000 of add on's have gone into it already + the salary sacrifice. Great beast don't get me wrong, but I've been patient and understanding and given Mr Toyota a fair go as I would expect from them. Hope fellow Kluger owners here don't inccurr this problem, but watch out for thoses up and coming cold morning arriving soon. If your've got the prob lurking, a 2 degree morning will allow the prob to surface with vengeance.

I've been low key on this subject since the dash was taken off to resolve the many rattles/noises which I thought were fixed. A couple of days after the repairs the rattles came back concentrated to the passeger side of the dash near the speaker to middle section. Again the dash has been removed for a second time after a head service guy sat in vehicle with me whilst I was driving to hear it. After picking the repaired vehicle up again, the nosies came back imediately. But this time far worse than on my first complaint. This time (3rd time) they were very loud across the whole dash. I do mean very loud and in many spots. The temp today was 2 degree outside at 7.15am, whilst my car was parked all night in a double brick house garage that has the roof 3.5 insul batted. Not that parking inside or outside should make any diff. The journey to work this morning being at 50 to 60kph on good roads, saw an untoleratble situation with noises. I immediately drove to to the local dealer and waited till they openned which I almost have to drive past and insisted a head service guy jump in the car and just listen the the non stop noises and twitching of the dash across the whole frontal area. He was a big a guy and applied pressure down on the dash to try and stop the nosies whilst they were occurring. But the noises just kept occurring regardless of the down ward pressure applied. I've driven many many new commodores before the Kluger and one of those vehicles had a similar situation and had to go back in many times. Until they found it was the actual windscreen being not bonded properly. The windscreen is a integrital part of the strenghting of the roof. Not saying this is the prob this time. This is becoming B*LL***T for a new car and one that can go off road in the bumpy stuff in this day and age. My dealer has been excellent and are totally supportive and just want to help no matter what. They have offerred everthing to please me including a hire car whilst the cars off the road. THIS POST IS NOT A WHINGE TOWARDS THEM AT ALL. I'm just starting to hit the Grrrr!!!-WTF point now that for the third time for dash removal is about to occur and so far the problem is getting no better, but far worse today with the colder temps that hit this morning. The noises are still there at 2.00pm (warmer part of the day), but no where as servere as in the morning. The head service guy told the reception lady to type in "loud dash noises" upon the rebooking in. My wifes car is an old EB 1991 Ford and with 228,000ks on the clock and you guessed it, no dash noises. Edit: she wants a Yaris soon. I'm starting to look at those "Territory" vehicles that buzz around on the streets and think to myself should I have listened to the misses. Best I go and get another Crownie into me and have faith that the local dealer will resolve it one day soon.

I did have concerns re removing the dash, but I'd totally had it with the many dash noises. There are no marks of any description around the dash joins leading into the main centre dash area or over the speedo region. No marks on the centre console, so far only what appears to be a great job. Although only limited Ks were done to arrive at home to night. But the roads taken to arrive home would have highlghted any issues. But it was very evident the car was vastly different. The dealer service staff even walk you to your car from the reception to the place of parking, open the door for you. Whilst talking to you asking you to provide feedback of any further vehicle concerns and if the current problems returns, come back to us ASAP. They have a sign up, apologising for not washing the car due to water restrictions. Never had that type of treatment with the many new commodores/Berlinas I drove up until the Kluger.

After driving a commy for 8 yrs your gona just love your new beast. I've always had commodores upgraded to new every two or three yrs and the change to Kluger AWD keeps me smiling every day. I'm over the additional cost to our family, althought it was a hard decision at first to break away from the cheaper commodores. I can now launch my boat at any water level at the several local weir ramps or even of the dirt ramps. That was primary reason for the shift to the AWD. Mine was onroad last Nov 2007 and build date of Aug 2007. Don't let the 2007 build date worry you the slightest. When your cruising down a dirt track or on the tar, it's the last thing on your mind. My neighbours old man has the green and it looks the goods in style. Enjoy the beast along with the good price. I too will keep mine for a while, till retirement in 10.5 yr 4months and 16 days. Then upgrade it to another Kluger or Prado depending on what I need to tow at such time. Enjoy the beast.

Ladies & Gentlemen, Not long now since I've arrived home from work and also picking my vehicle from the local Toyota dealer. I have that "Toyota Feeling" totally cemented in my train off thought tonight. The "Orchestra of Sound" across the whole dash, well, has just GONE. When I drove over the repaired pot holes nothing could be heard, again over the bridge expansion joints well nothing again. Just plain driving over country town streets and again nothing could be heard. Yep, the Toyota Feeling has arrived. Thanks to my local dealer and the guy/s who worked on the beast for the caring Service and bring it back imediately policy if not happy. After 10,000 ks you some what become a customed to the noise. Yep, after a few more ks to ensure all is well, the dealer will receive a thanks call to be directed to their mechanic/s who worked on the beast. They say they remove the dash & patch out the dashed with foam.

Well I've reported here before about dash rattles and that we have not driven a New Gen Kluger in a Southern Au Winter yet. Like our US cousins have experienced with their Highlanders and there report hassles with dash rattles during winter. Although you don't need cold days to experience my concerns. Well over the last two days I've recorded 900L'k of driving from Albury/Wodonga to Bendigo to Melb+ surrounds and repeated the same trip back. The Bendigo to Melb was in the early cold morning and the dash rattles across the entire dash was just an absolute DISGRACE for such an otherwise superb vehicle. The return trip from the outskirts of Epsom Nth Bendigo cutting across to Voilet Town through Murchison linking to Hume during the late arvo today. Resulted in the worst dash rattles across the whole dash that I have ever experienced from within any car I've sat in in my 30yrs of driving. For a company of Toyota's reputation and the up to the minute scientifics that have gone into making such a great AWD vehicle. It just astounds me that such a total botched job could be done on the dash lugs that lock it in. I've had the Toyota dealer mech sit in my beast late last week to here the noises at 60kms on town streets and he heard them all at that speed. I told him it becomes an orchestra of noise on secondary main sealed roads at 100ks. Well it's booked in for full day or two if needed this for the 10,000 service and to rip out the plastic top part of the dash and lay it back in with felt insulation. The dealer has asked for the car for the entire day and the next if needed. Surely the many dash lugs could be soft rubber or felt lined at the factory to satisfy the customer and save huge $$$ on warranty claims by the dealers. It got me totally beat. I'm not over pickie, you just need to here this dash to understand. My elderly parents who don't have the best of hearing were astounded by the noises when I picked them up in Bendigo. Knowing the dealer will be onto it this week still makes me love the blue beast.

Jaj, My genuine steps were $750 fitted + GST = $825, my accesories all up amounted to $4,000 so maybe that helped me. But sorry I'm not in Sydney just regional Victoria.

Scott, Whilst I will never remove my SWheel personally. An excellent, informative and time consuming post was put together there. Great effort, and dahh, at least I have an understanding of whats behind the toyota badge now. Hope the foggies work fine for ya, they look the part.

pinzvidz Please post a reply for KX-S mic problem, if and when you receive it. I've the same problem and I'm sick off the looks people give, as I lean towards the dash whilst I yell and talk to it.

If your referring to the kluger rubber cargo mat, which I believe is the best option I fitted for a mere $85. Yes, you just curl it back enage the third row and flip it back over when the third row is recessed again. Really no pain and a 3 second job at that.

Ray, I'm the same and I here you loud and clear. I've a 15 metre long drive way and I'm the high side of the road on hill. I'm usually half way down that drive way after the roller doors gone up. Until I think, STOP, there may be a walker or small kid behind. Or even when I reverse from mycarpark at work, same trick. The start up graphics were impressive in the show room when I was engulfed in IT visuals. But now in the real world, they are just too damn slow towards releasing the rear camera display. Yeepp, I'm impatient too.

RBA, I reported the prob at around 2000k, dealer asked me to register other family phones to see if prob was still there. If it was they would deal with it. I have not done it yet. But when I drive if I lean over and talk fairly close to the mic pick up slot on the 6 stacker unit. My other parties say thats better. Prob is, people in other cars think your talking to your dash board. 9300ks up so I have to register and try the other phones real soon. By the way mine is a Nokia 6120 with the lastest '08 software update. Edit; no auto light switch for me to stress over. In my last 2 yr old commodore. Some times they stayed on after the car was locked and you went shopping. 15mins later and there still on.

There must be many of us heading into the 10,000km service by now. Or some of us have been and done it already. I'm at the 9,000 mark. What were the key items you requested to be attended too. I would be interested know and I guess other members might benefit to know. My two are, 1st 6 stacker bluetooth unit has the person I'm talking too struggling to hear me. They say my voice is shallow and weak. 2nd Numerous dash rattles/plastic tweaks within the dash, especially around the edges of dash and the joint above the centre air vent with the dash are occurring and almost every day it seems. New one appear whilst a previous one may disappear for a few days. Outside temperature seems to be playing a major role here. Today under the steering wheel area produced non stop rattles thats my passengers even comment on. But I love the vehicle totally, so it's not a whinge post.

My KX-R had the 6 stack upgrade by the dealer and I have rattles between on the plastic joins above the camera screen and the big top part of the dash. But no dash damage as I spoke about it to them prior to the upgrade. I'm nearing the 10000k service and I've been parking the Kluger outside my garage of a night to see if more dash rattles are there with the cooler climate coming. Answer is a clear yes, like our USA cousins have experience during ther winter. The US sites have the Toyota part number posted to prevent/fix the dash problems upon the next service. They clearly say that Toyota know about the problem experienced during the cooler months in some of the threads. Extract from one of them, Quote from USA thread, Originally Posted by jrosner50 My service dept found and fixed my rattles about 2 weeks ago. I have had no noises what so ever in the two weeks since so I am convinced what they did is the fix. It didn't matter in mine if it was 10, 30 or 50 degrees out, my plastic popping sounds happened on both sides of dash by speakers. My service had removed my dash to determine the noise. I also sent an email to Toyota who contacted me and also had a customer relations manager speak to me about my concerns. Toyota has documented what took place with my HL and they admitted a few weeks later to me in an email follow up I am not the first to contact Toyota. Anyway...here is some info, hope this can help some other folks...Here is what the ticket says: as per tech noise is from dash panel contact at base of firewall. attachment clips, etc R&I dash assembly. Insulate clips at windshield base. Noise kit 08231-00801 installed.

Hi, there was a deal to purchase them before the end of Feb and you got free installation. First 4WD place I went to wanted $700, the second $638. I had to tell the 4WD place about the free install, and they get a rebate back from Bushranger or something. But the Bladerunner steps have been available for the Kluger II, at least since late Feb. Apart from looking good, does it look strong? The standard ones toyota use have quite a large diametre on the actual tubing, which to me looks tougher?? They quoted me $820 installed for them, but this is pre gst price as i will be novating this vehicle. Cant believe the nudge bar is just $680 installed. You'd think they would cost more.. BK, I'm too on a Novated and contracted to buy it later. My prices were 'Cut and pasted as per invoice Options / Accessories METALLIC PAINT $272.00 TOW PACK $600.00 ALLOY NUDGE BAR $650.00 DRIVING LIGHTS PENCIL X 2 Hella 4000 F $300.00 CARGO MAT RUBBER $85.00 BONNET PROTECTOR $90.00 AUDIO UPGARDE 6 CD & BLUETOOT $820.00 FLOOR MATS INC And just prior to delivery I went for the toyots side steps for $750 fitted. The aboves do not have GST applied I found the prices varied significantly, even though they all have the same Kluger large binder salesman folder. EDIT: Sorry Scott, not wishing to change direction of your post.

Scott, They look pure magic on your beast. bet ya got a smile on your face like, "Luna Park's" entry gate.

ST, I will try that and maybe also try the phone upside down facing me in the cup holder. I never thought the handsets Mic was in some sort of use during a bluetooth conection. But hey I'll try it- Thanks Cheers Garry