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Toyota Sienna Maintenance and Repair (2003 earlier) - READ ONLY

3687 messages,  Last post on Jul 18, 2007 at 11:32 AM

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Messages Page 233 of 370

#2316 of 3687 Brake Squeak - My Last Toyota Ever! by mwengler

Jan 14, 2003 (2:37 pm)

My 1999 Toyota Sienna XLE started squeaking its rear brakes as I came to a stop IMMEDIATELY after the dealer did warranty work on a pulsing problem in the back brakes.
 
Toyota Carlsbad (San Diego County) treated us like we were a cross between a turd and an idiot as we tried to get this problem "fixed" under our warranty. They would take our car in, and either do nothing at all, or look at the brakes and tell us there was nothing wrong with them. I had one guy in service tell me it was normal for brakes to squeak. I asked him if he thought I had never owned another car.
 
At one point they tried to charge us a service visit fee because they were tired of us trying to get this problem resolved under warranty. We were actually renting minivans in order to be able to leave our Sienna for the day at the dealership.
 
Finally after close to two years of attempting to resolve this, somebody at Toyota Carlsbad authorized having the rear drums turned. I don't believe they replaced the shoes when they did this but they might have. The squeak actually went away for about 2 months!
 
I will NEVER buy another Toyota. The problem isn't so much that there was a problem, but the way they treated the problem. As any of you who has ever owned a car OTHER than a Sienna, it is possible to build back brakes on brand new cars that don't squeak. This means that Toyota could 1) fix the problem so it doesn't occur on new Siennas (I believe I have read on this group of it occurring on 1999, 2000, and 2001 Siennas) 2) build a replacement part that eliminates the problem and install it under warranty for those people who complain. But instead they dealt with the problem in the great tradition of the worst stories you have ever heard of "the mechanics shrug" reaction to a real problem.
 
I have a Chevy Tahoe now. The brakes are the strong SILENT type.

#2317 of 3687 mwengler by toocajun4u

Jan 14, 2003 (4:22 pm)

I agree that the rear drums should have been re-engineered years ago. But in truth, the noise is only an annoyance, not a safety issue. No need to rant about spending $$$$$ on a vehicle that squeaks - I get that from my wife pretty frequently. 5 minutes to remove and clean each drum should get you 2 or 3 months down the road. A good service department _might_ even be willing to take care of that for you during the regular tire rotation...although I have yet to ask, since I do it myself when I need time out of the house.
 
I also own a Chevy (Lumina LTZ, not a Tahoe). The brakes are indeed strong and silent - and the rotors warp if I even THINK about braking hard. I have honestly lost count of how many times I've had the rotors turned or replaced on that car. I got the turd/idiot treatment from 2 GM service departments before finding one that treats the customer with respect...but the brake, transmission and electrical problems continue unabated. It may very well be my last Chevy ever, although I know better than to state that absolutely...
 
It's all perspective and perception - and the dealership you frequent (by choice or necessity) has a huge impact on your P&P...
 
I'll step down now...someone else can use the soapbox for a while.
 
Larry R
2002 Sienna XLE

#2318 of 3687 Well Said by jasdmw

Jan 15, 2003 (5:53 am)

Good response, toocajun4u. Funny thing, there used to be another guy on the board here a while ago that had a Tahoe too. Could it be that owners of those trucks tend to have an propensity to bash Siennas??? Naaa!
 
As for the brake squeak, my dealer turned the drums and scuffed the surface of the shoes. It's just barely starting to return now, about 4 months and 20,000 KM (12,000 mi)later. Some here have gone to aftermarket shops to have their shoes replaced. If it bugs you that much, try that.
 
BTW, the earlier poster seems to have more of a dealership issue than a Sienna issue. My local dealer treats me like a customer, even supplying Laura Secord loli-pops, free coffee and a shuttle ride to work. I actually look forward to my regular Oil/Filter change visits.

#2319 of 3687 More Squeaks by mojako

Jan 15, 2003 (10:46 am)

I have '03 Symphony with only 3426 miles. I notice that the brakes begin to squeak too everytime I make a halt. For me,this is annoying. But since I love the van, I'm beginning to live with them. (I just don't know for how long...)

#2320 of 3687 squeaks by yaman

Jan 15, 2003 (12:59 pm)

well we have had our xle for close to 3 years and the brakes squeak like the devil.Nonetheless the dealer says they are fine so we have just gotten used to it.

#2321 of 3687 Light & thin noise when speed gratually goes down by giaphongchung

Jan 16, 2003 (12:17 am)

I bought new 2003 Sienna on December 02. I am very happy with the van. I want to make sure my van's noise is normal or not. It appears a very light & thin sound (like a jet plane's noise or firework's noise before flowing off) when the speed gratually goes down from 75-80 mph, this sound also slowly goes off. When I accelerate the engine, not thing happens. The sound is very consistent and a friend of mine said that it is normal sound caused by transmission engine. Have you also experienced this?

#2322 of 3687 power sliding door problems by dbrtm

Jan 16, 2003 (7:57 am)

HELP! We have experienced problems with both power doors on our 2001 Sienna. Per the information found here, I went to my local dealer and suggested they check the technical service bulletins related to this problem (they had already changed the door contact to no avail). Wonder of wonders, they replaced both door computers which were covered under my extended warranty. However, after I happily drove home, I decided to try out my new and improved doors only to discover that the driver's side door still insists that it is open when it is shut tight. My options are to listen to a raucous beeping sound while I drive or disengage the power door feature. Any suggestions as to what to do now that the computers have been replaced would be greatly appreciated. It seems that the service department responds better to a well informed owner!

#2323 of 3687 RE: Light & thin noise by toocajun4u

Jan 16, 2003 (10:13 am)

giaphongchung, what you are describing may not be the transmission, but the alternator. I usually describe it as a high-pitched whine, nearly identical to what you will hear in a poorly installed car audio system. My 2002 was silent for the first month or so, then in the second month, I heard the alternator noise under exactly the conditions you describe. Since the fourth month or so, it is always present although sometimes the engine and road noise will mask it.
 
Unfortunately, I don't know if this is an issue that the service dept will take seriously. Much like the brake noise, it may be considered an annoyance rather than a safety or mechanical issue. I plan to bring it up at my next oil change, which should be in 2 or 3 weeks. I'll let you know what response I get...
 
Larry R
2002 Sienna XLE

#2324 of 3687 Springing Noise by kw6

Jan 16, 2003 (10:24 am)

My 2000 XLE made a loud springing noise this morning, which shook the van. I had just stopped at a stop sign and turned onto a road which was a little higher than the one I was on. It came from the driver's side rear tire area. Of course, it didn't do it when the tech drove it. Any ideas?

#2325 of 3687 RE: Light & thin noise by giaphongchung

Jan 16, 2003 (11:39 am)

Hi toocajun4u, thank you for your reply. You are absolutely correct. I should have said high-pitched whine noise. Please let me know what they explain you in this regard.

Messages Page 233 of 370

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