Posting on behalf of my brother who just picked an 06 4-Runner limited - 111,000 miles from the local toyota dealer last week. Sold with records and such, dealer claimed full maintenance, etc - lists it as having a timing chain.
Looking over everything today he finds that it's got a timing belt which has never been touched (didn't think to look it up till now). Is going back to dealer to argue they miss represented the car. Any advice on recourse?
johndej wrote: Posting on behalf of my brother who just picked an 06 4-Runner limited - 111,000 miles from the local toyota dealer last week. Sold with records and such, dealer claimed full maintenance, etc - lists it as having a timing chain. Looking over everything today he finds that it's got a timing belt which has never been touched (didn't think to look it up till now). Is going back to dealer to argue they miss represented the car. Any advice on recourse?
If its a typical used lot, they're gonna go with innocent mistake and tell your bro to pound sand. Not a whole huge ton can be done unless you can prove negligence.
It's actually a very large dealer (15+ locations, factory for many brands). Surprisingly highly reviewed also (4+ stars on yelp/google/cars.com). He's on phone w/ warranty guy now hoping to get a free replacement so we'll see.
Since it's a new-car dealer's used department, he might have a chat with the used-car manager. I'm not saying he has any legal standing, but a friendly chat may lead to a free timing belt replacement, or perhaps one at reduced cost. It will cost your brother nothing to ask.
I was looking at a used LS430 used at a very large, well-known Toyota dealer. The sales guy acted like I was an idiot when I asked about the timining belt, swore up and down that a Lexus had a timing chain. I said really, how many other Toyota's on the lot have chains instead of belts?
Reminds me, I need the change the belt on the LS430 I bought (at a different dealer).
+1 on talking to the used car manager. Also, was the car certified or just a used car?
Most salesmen dont know jack about cars so expecting them to be correct on chain v. belt is a buyer beware situation, do your research and plan accordingly.
I bet if you go in with a decent attitude, they'll handle it. Trouble customers cost more than what they'd pay a tech to slam out a timing belt, at least that's been my experience (20 years of service dept from tech to management).
Yeah just talked to him. They're offering to throw in their extended warranty and split the cost of timing belt/water pump job. He's bouncing the price off our local mechanic tomorrow.
Start with the Used car Manager if he gets no love got to the General Manager.
Friend of mine just lost his kia due to a dead belt. at 80,000 miles he had the belt replaced and the mechanic that did it, screwed up and "spun the engine" without the belt on.. so they replaced the engine with one with 60,000 miles.
At 120,000 miles, the belt on the "new engine" went.. when he went to the mechanic, it seems they never bothered to replace the belt on the 60,000 mile engine.. even though it would have been easy peasy on an engine out of the car.
He got $500 for the kia at the junkyard
johndej wrote: Yeah just talked to him. They're offering to throw in their extended warranty and split the cost of timing belt/water pump job. He's bouncing the price off our local mechanic tomorrow.
I'd go with the dealer he bought I from, even if the cost is slightly higher.
The reason I'd go that route is to make sure any other issues that may come up can't be blamed on having another shop work on the vehicle.
You'll need to log in to post.
