From: brooks@mcnc.org (Ted Brooks)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.tech
Subject: Re: Vibration of Toyota 4-Runner
Summary: Yes, you're getting the shaft!
Keywords: Toyota
Date: 29 Jul 92 20:22:01 GMT
Organization: Center for Microelectronics, MCNC; RTP, NC

> 4-Runner has been vibrating at the speed of 45 mph.  It has 25k miles on it. I
> took it to Goodyear and had it aligned, tires balanced and rotated 3 months
> ago without any results.  They told me my rear shocks were leaking and tried

Simple check for leaking shocks - look at the shock and see if there are
wet areas on the lower half from leaking fluid. Is a yes/no condition.

> 4-Runner just stoped.  I had it towed to the dealer and after having it for
> two days they found some wires in a harness that were defective.  Now not only

> me back and tell me that they got the vibration out of the front but not the
> back and that my rear shocks need to be cleaned.  Of course none of this is
                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is a crock - plain and simple. Do you have this documented for your local
Consumer Protection Agency? Completely bogus - never heard of this practice.

> waranteed because it is all maintenance.  I go to the dealer pay them $198.25
> get in the 4-Runner, notice that my breaks just need a slight touch to work
> however the vibration is stronger when I break, I am told that will go away
> when the pads adjust to the rotor.  On the way home the 4-Runner starts to
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Once again - a crock. If they aren't right after they turned (machined) the
rotors, they never will be.

Sounds like someone warped your brake rotors by overtightening your wheels.

> vibrate when I hit the speed of 45.  I turn around and go right back to the
> dealer.  The service manager takes a ride with me and doesn't notice the
> vibration at first then finally admitts that there is one.  So I leave the
> Toyota overnight once again.  Guess what they are going to do today.  They are
> going to take the tires off of a new 4-Runner and switch them to see if thats

This is actually realistic. Vibrations at that speed are usually due to the 
tire/wheel asssembly - unbalanced tires, out-of-round tires, bent rims, etc.
Of course, if this swap makes it go away, and the tires are balanced,  then
you have to see whether the tires are out of round (true them or replace them)
or have a broken belt (replace) or the rims have excessive runout (replace)
:-(

> this sucker coming.  When I got home I looked over the bill and noticed that
> they charged me twice for parts.  I couldn't believe it.  That I can take care
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That figures.

First, call your lawyer and the local office of the state Attorney General
about consumer ripoffs - find out your rights. Call before you pick up the
truck & get a list of what they did & what was wrong. Test drive it with
the service manager and make sure it's right before you pay for it. If they
hand you any more bull****, tell them you've already contacted they Attorney
General & you'll glad to talk further with the dealership in the A.G.'s
office - when would they like to meet you there?
 
Ted Brooks
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