ozkluger

08 kluger just had 120,000k dealer service. Declined offer to replace wiper blades for $70 and cabin air filter for $100!! (Did these myself for a lot cheaper) But was quoted $1200 to have water pump replaced! I questioned this. Was told pump had slight weep and Toyota say needs engine out to replace but they have worked out how to do without needing to remove engine. Sounds crazy if water pump replacement needs engine out. I have not proceeded with water pump, partly as I have not lost any coolant (and winter) Think I need a second option/quote before would do this. Also was told they inspected transmission fluid 'slightly off colour' and needed power flush/replace at $340 plus injector clean at I forget what price. Also not done. Anyone actually needed transmission/gearbox fluid changed? ( I have had diff and transfer case fluids replaced as per Toyota service schedule.)

Traction control on beach > Yes and no is the answer. I have used Kluger on beach and very impressed. But as everyone has said you need to turn off traction control/Stability control. I have used on beach & thru sand dunes (track) with tyres fully inflated (not a very clever thing to do) and left all traction control on. First thing was any tyre that slipped the ABS/traction control cut in and braked the spinning/loose wheel. This is a good thing for off-road - but then when things got a bit boggier and I needed a bit more speed the other function of the traction control dramatically throttled back the engine. As well as traction warning light flashing and beeping a warning. Was a very weird feeling when pressing the accelerator down and getting less power from the engine. (there was no wheel spin or loss of traction due to too much engine power, just car started going slower and slower - happens very quickly with lots of beeping from the dash) As soon as I took off all traction control I could get full power to wheels OK but you loose the 'braking' traction control function. Still is better to have no traction control as you eventually loose too much drive-ability off road when the traction control drops the power output. Good news: Obviously I then let tyres down (to around 17PSI as you should always do on the sand) and the car was transformed (like most cars in the sand) I have driven many 'large/real 4WD's' off road and while the Kluger is not at all in the same 4WD/offroad class as these types of vehicle it was absolutely brilliant in the beach sand/tracks! Drove around the beach on existing wheel tracks and also on newly windblown sand ans had NO problems at all. Full lock turns at low speed and the car was like a tractor! No major wheel slippage at all. Very impressed. I even put the stability control/traction back on once the tyres were down and it never cut in (or I could never tell it cut in). The beach was what I would call an average beach site. The sand was not full of massive wheel ruts and very soft sand so this should be taken into consideration. As per others advice I would turn traction control OFF in the sand always as well as ALWAYS letting the tyres down. (also saves the track as well as the car) There 'could' be a benefit in loose/scrabbly hills to have the traction control on as the braking function when a well looses traction can be of benefit as it transfers torque to the other wheel that does have good grip. Pity though that you cannot leave the 'braking' function on and turn off the power reduction function. Cant really complain as it is just an AWD not a 'real heavy duty' offroader. Overall very impressed with it sand ability.

Just an update: Engine all good since last repair - NO leaks now. :) Stacker CD player ginving 'ERROR-3" message most fo the time now. Must just be a coincidence that it failed straight after service. Dealer says they need to take out CD plkayer to find serial numner, put it back, then order a new one and swap it over. Will be going to different dealer to get CD player sorted. (not a major issue as don't use the CD player round town)

I may not have been clear with the initial description. Engine was not replaced. Dealer needed to take it out to get the front timing cover off to re-seal the 'goo' that they used to seal the timing cover to engine at manufacture. (the front timing cover is so close to the RHS wheel arch there is not enough room to remove & refit without taking the engine out) They said looks like the initial engine oil leak was at a section where 'goo/black silastic sealant stuff' was very thin/poorly applied at manufacture. They re-sealed the cover and put engine back in. No parts needed replacement (just the sealant) It gets better though... The second leak was actually transmission fluid (they say this must have been caused when they were putting the engine back in as they have to remove & then reinsert the rear driveshaft) It was a pity that after picking the vehicle up the last time. I thoroughly checked over the vehicle before driving away this time and found the plastic tray/cover underneath the vehicle engine area had the rear two bolts/screws loose (they had been done up 2 turns by hand and had 80% thread left to screw in. The cover/tray was totally loose on the back end and would eventually have flapped/vibrated loose and dragged on the road) It went straight back into the workshop to get tightened up and re checked. Very embarassing for the dealer after all their issues trying to repair this vehicle. Once again I wonder what else is wrong that I can't see. I did originally report the whole sequence of events to Toyota 'care/help line' They were very helpful and assited in arranging for the dealer to start sorting out the issue but I have not had any call back from Toyota to see how/if the repair was completed. I will be calling them to let them know of result (with screws left loose). Hopefully the LAST visit to that dealer.

Long story cut short. (names not mentioned...) 08 Kluger, really happy with the cars performance, comfort etc. 2 days after the first 6 month service I found oil on tray/cover under engine. (not dripping, just wet/oily) Thought it was spilt oil during the service so I took car back to dealer to sort out. 2 hours later they call - Oh, is an oil leak from engine - engine needs to come out to fix. Not happy, but hey, things happen and it is under warranty. 3 days later vehicle is "fully tested and ready for pickup." Open bonnet to inspect before leaving and find no plastic engine cover (eventually found it on upside down on back seat) Not happy x 2 - dealer took vehicle away to refit cover. 2 days later I look under the car and now see oil LEAKING/DRIPPING out onto driveway (previously only had seeping oil with no drips, now have dripping oil after the 'repair') Not happy x 3 Checked under the bonnet further and found NO water/coolant in expansion tank and clip that connects air inlet hose to engine totally loose (i.e. never done up after air intake put back on engine) Thinking what else is missing/forgotten that I can't see? Now I am VERY unhappy - dropped off for repair. Hopefully it will be correctly repaired this time. No confidence in dealer but Toyota say they have to fix as they had the first 'attempt' Any history of oil leaks? in this engine? ALWAYS check over your car after a service.

thanks for the info and the two reviews. The comments re tyre pressure - yes makes huge amount of difference with all off road vehicles. One reason for choosing the base model was the slightly higher sidewalls that will allow lower pressures off road and more flex/lower pressure & comfort. I should have had a better look at the Toyota website - give some info on one of my questions re one wheel loosing traction: Toyota website: "System designed to maximum safety when accelerating on slippery road surfaces or when the available grip differs from one side of the vehicle to the other (such as when two wheels are on a gravel or grass verge). Operated by controlling the throttle and/or applying the brakes to any wheel that is slipping." Anyway still interested to hear if anyone has practical offroad/track/sand experience with the Kluger....

Trying to find detail on AWD/offroad of the Kluger. (I have one but not really gone offroad yet) Has anyone found the full info? I can see from other posts the AWD is 50/50% split. Is this locked at 50/50 i.e. if you lift one wheel off the ground will you loose all traction to the other wheels or will 50% of the torque still go to the front/rear? The traction control: At slow speed and not when cornering does it drop engine revs or does it use ABS/brake system to actively brake a wheel that is loosing traction? I realise it does/should just brake one wheel when teh stability control activates for excessive cornering etc but wondering if anyone has had wheel of the ground or just less traction to one wheel when going over ruts/holes and had the wheel loose traction and have uncontrolled wheelspin? Local dealer told me previous models just cut out some injectors to control wheel spin/tracion control - I would think the computer is smarter thatn that to control wheel spin/acceleration? I reckon Toyota could do with a bit more info on the offroad abilities (within limits) Maybe they don't want to promote it as soft offroader? A couple of "don't do this at home with your Kluger but look what it CAN do" videos would be interesting... i will voluteer as driver but not the car ;-) Really happy with the car, just interested in how the traction control works (and the snow mode) offroad so know what is best to use. Have had to make an 'emergency' stop/slow towing boat at 100kmh up north and very impressed with the braking on the Kluger. Stayed straight & boat managed to pull up behind me OK. (just average override cable/dics brakes on 1700kg GCM trailer)