11/16Aurion 12Kluger

Why did they service the transmission at that km? If you check the service book it shows that it is not needed for a very long time. Those consumption figures are around the standard that I get from mine now that I discovered the benefit of quality petrol. I have no problem with my transmission change points, in fact it is impeccable. When driving in town I have found that it prefers to be in S mode to lock out the overdrive.

I have found with my Kluger that it likes "good" petrol. To get the best consumption and power I use the best of the premium fuels from Caltex or Shell. They both have 2 premium fuels and you have to look at their websites to see which servos sell what. I've heard that BP premium is good too but there isn't one around here. So, premium petrol and the improvement in consumption more than covers the extra cost for me.

Does that make sense to anyone?

Hi Jason Curious... why would anyone replace the original spare with an after market one? Didn't know there was such a thing as an after market spare wheel for the kluger? Just a tip for anyone buying another spare privately get some identification from the seller. License, car rego no, etc... If the seller is genuine then they will not mind giving ID at all. These hot spares must be going somewhere so don't get caught.

I don't think you would find anyone here that would disagree with your opinion of Toyota dealerships in general John, especially me. This is just how car yard operate though. There is the occasional diamond in the rough (David at Newcastle Toyota for one, genuine, interested and gets things fixed) but in general salesmen are just salesmen and are there for you to contend with to get the best deal. If you think they are really nice guys and give a damn about their customers then say hi to the Easter bunny for me. Service managers are there to shove you through, fob you off with a flimsy excuse, and see you out the door asap. They seem to be experts in belittling and downright rudeness in a subtle way as well. Anyway... we need a way to lock these spare tyres to prevent theft... Don't expect Toyota to give a damn so see what we can devise. Ideally it would involve something that would also prevent theft by service personnel.

That is typical cant give a damn attitude from the dealership. They are disgraceful. They admit that they know what is happening but choose to not investigate any further a better method of locking the spare. It is becoming too much of a co-incidence the number of spares that "disappear" at dealerships?? They have gone to new lengths to earn their nickname "stealerships"........ If you must leave your car anywhere, even a dealership, take a photo of it being in place with your phone when you drop it off. I tried to find somewhere on the Toyota Australia site where you could email them but none exists. There are the usual phone numbers but with that all you get is some very disinterested party that is looking for a quick way to fob you off. I have made some posts on the Toyota Australia facebook page but no reaction yet. SAKTHI... Call some wreckers, that may be a cheaper way to find another spare. There was a guy on gumtree selling a set of 4 that suspiciously have never been on the road for $1300. You would have no trouble selling the other 3 by the looks of it. The spare needs a chain and a padlock and don't leave the padlock key with the dealer. Any ideas folks?

Check out the offerings from http://www.eonon.com/Default.aspx

http://www.eonon.com/Default.aspx

Try Eonon... http://www.eonon.com/Default.aspx

There is a set of kluger wheels and tyres for sale on gumtree at the moment. Its strange that they look like they have never been on the road!! Update... there are even more... http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-parts-accessories/kluger/k0c18323

So whoever took it had access to the inside of the car? Service centres have a habit of leaving the car outside & unlocked too. If it was taken at a dealership surely they would have wound the wire back up? Odd that they took the tools too? Is the car parked in a secure garage at night? The last dealership I used for a service said that they do not touch the spare, not to even check the pressure. I'm glad they didn't as they put 60psi in all the others :-(

There is not much you can do. I would go and see the boss of the dealership and report the situation and explain that there is a possibility it may have been taken while it was there. They will deny it and say all their staff are angels etc... Remember that you have no proof it was taken whilst there. What is the situation with the winding mechanism, was the wire wound up? The cover and centre piece are missing too I suppose?

We can hope that they eventually do something David, even it we pay for it that will be ok. Note for all... Don't forget to check your spare whenever you drop the car off anywhere for service or whatever and check it again when you pick it up. It seems that apart from the random thieving scum that just pinch them, some spares also do go "missing" when the car is left at trusted places. :-)

Temporary fix to prevent theft of spare wheel. Open the tyre changing compartment and in there you will see a socket. Remove the winding mechanism cap and place the socket on the winding shaft. In the tyre changing tools there is a thick long bar with a hook on the end, place that bar through the hoop on top of the socket. You will not be able to replace the tools cover with the socket and bar this way but the top cover will suffice. You may need to place something over the socket and bar to prevent it from rattling, ie sponge, rags. Naturally this will not stop theft from service places. Best to get those place to confirm that it is there when you drop it off so they are liable if it goes missing there. Spares can be stolen from almost any vehicle, the fact that these are rather attractive and expensive wheels just makes them more prone to the sticky fingered low life scum out there. This is not Toyota's fault. Here is an opportunity for some enterprising auto accessory co to make and sell a lock of some sort. Don't count on Toyota themselves being interested or concerned these days.... !!!! Cheers folks.

Hi Alvinder... You certainly have had bad luck or more so plagued by stinking thieves. This is really bad. Toyota could make up some anti theft device and sell it as an accessory. People would rather buy that than a new rim & tyre. Even claiming on insurance gets expensive. I will PM you in a few minutes. Cheers...

No probs Tammy, done. :-)

Will do. :-)

PM coming to you Paul.

Ray I'm no expert on such matters but that catch is electronic so I would be looking for a fuse somewhere or maybe a wire come loose. If no luck then try the US site "Toyota Nation" and have a look through their posts under Highlander (kluger name over there). Someone else may have had the same problem.

Hot deal Ray @ $250 ea. Have you put them on Gumtree, should sell easy. Cheers.

With the number of threads/posts popping up lately about people getting litigious over relatively minor issues (often when there isn't any solid reason for legal recourse and compensation), I felt the rant was necessary. It is more a comment on society in general at the moment rather than individual people, but it still frustrates the hell out of me (and a lot of other people too). Know where ya coming from Hiro :-) Take it from an old guy, that's life and life sucks!! That's why we have alcohol bro :-) Cheers and happy Toyota-ing :-)

Hi Hiro. There was no need for this rant. A solution to the problem has been found and the people concerned have been notified by PM.

Thanks for the feedback John. I must have another look at mine now. As far as Toyota being liable I can't see it being so. Their responsibility lies in the secure mounting of the spare wheel but not making them thief proof. Why I say this is look at the situation with the wheels on the car, they are not "secured". It is a design flaw that could have been better thought out, no argument there. Placing liability on those grounds may be difficult though, even getting them to modify it may be impossible. No harm in asking them I suppose. EDIT.. Just had a look. The shaft from the winding mechanism does protrude through to under the car and it has a T piece on it. I would say it is designed that way on purpose so the spare can be removed by service personnel when it is up on a hoist. It looks like it would be possible to fit a plate across it by mounting one end to the exhaust shield mount and there are a few options for mounting at the other end. A job for tomorrow. Definitely something Toyota should attend to.

Tried a wreckers?

Out of curiosity I just removed my spare wheel (2012 KXR) for several reasons.. 1. to see if it was still there lol, 2. to see how the remove and replace procedure went (not easy) and 3. to inspect the mount method. The wire attaching the spare is stainless steel braid and rather thick (see pic). Overall I would say the spare would be very difficult to remove by cutting the wire because you cannot see it nor get to it. Unless there is a trick known by the midnight auto boys I would suspect that they are "misplaced" at service or tyre centers. (see ROVKXS comment above re this theory). Another possibility would be someone who borrows the car may also "borrow" the spare. The final disc like cover could easily come loose and fall off especially if it is not replaced properly. When replacing check all 3 slots to make sure they are ALL engaged. It may be easy to put a self tapping screw into this to lock it but be careful not to place it where it would puncture the tyre. Pics here... http://au.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/gallery/album/1224-2012-kx-r-kluger-spare-tyre/ Cheers all... :-)