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Sienna Owners: Problems & Solutions - READ ONLY

67 messages,  Last post on Apr 29, 2003 at 12:40 PM

You are in the Toyota Sienna Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Van

Messages Page 2 of 8

#3 of 67 Possessed minvan needs an exorcism by flyrod1869

Aug 21, 2002 (11:07 pm)

1999 Toytota Sienna minivan. Possessed! it locks the doors by itself, sometimes it unlocks, then locks the doors repeatedly, even when nobody is in it! It started a few months ago, then quit for a while and is now back with a vengeance. The good news is that I do not have to ever lock it! But when I unlock the doors, with a remote or the key, it activates the "theft deterrent system". 1999 Toyota Sienna minivan. Possessed! it locks the doors by itself, sometimes it unlocks, then locks the doors repeatedly, even when nobody is in it! It started a few months ago, then quit for a while and is now back with a vengeance. The good news is that I do not have to ever lock it! But when I unlock the doors, with a remote or the key, it activates the "theft deterrent system". This always gets looks in the parking lot. No help in the owners manual or from the dealers (on the telephone).
Please advise on what may be causing it, how to fix it, or at least how to temporarily "deactivate" the alarm system.
 
Sure I can take it into the shop, but I am asking for help BEFORE I take it in so I do not have to pay an excessive labor charge to pinpoint the problem.
I am sincerely grateful for your help, thanks!

#4 of 67 Squeaking rear brakes by ladurchy

Sep 16, 2002 (7:19 pm)

I was just informed by my dealer that my 1999 Sienna with 43,000 miles has developed a harmonic vibration in the rear brake drums. Glazing of the drums cause the squeak just prior to stopping. The fix will cost $138. It will require turning the rear drums and installing a weight on the back side of the brake pad. Anyone else with this problem>

#5 of 67 flyrod1869 by jeprox

Sep 17, 2002 (7:44 am)

your problem is the alarm system itself. could be some short in the system or wiring problems. i just read this other post on the corolla board with similar problem as yours.
 
my sister's 97' camry have a similar problem. her locks would sometimes lock/unlock while the door is open. it would also make a loud "click" with the door closed - sounds like when you press your power door lock button. we're just waiting for the system to stop working and replace it with a new one!
 
if you're not good with wirings, it would be better to take the van to the dealer. it may still be covered by the warranty. i've seen this happen on my sister's car and also my nephew's car. both are caused by the alarm system.
 
goodluck.

#6 of 67 1998 sienna with problems, transmission... by 2ofeach4me

Sep 26, 2002 (7:51 pm)

69 thousand miles, purchased new and no problems until now. Out of the blue I have a whinning noise coming from the transmission area that gets louder as the speed increases.
I have been reading on this board that others have had the same problem with their transmissions or torque converters.
 
I am getting all my research inorder and then going to the dealership giving them the opportunity to fix the problem at no charge or reduced rate.
 
any advise would be greatly appreciated.
 
angie
lrsmomhotmail.com

#7 of 67 1998 Sienna/ Tranmission problems also ?!?! by mcf2

Oct 01, 2002 (7:33 pm)

Also bought my van new. Only minor problems: bent radio buttons and squeaky brakes, (corrected). Until now, I was very happy with it. At 70,000 miles, I too heard a whining noise, and took it in to a dealership, close to my work. I was shocked to hear that my differential was wearing out. Since it was designed as one piece with the transmission, (according to the Toyota mechanic), I was told the transmission needed to be replaced. The price quoted, $4200.00. The transmission fluid was clean with no burt smell. (I did change my fluid twice). I also took it to a private transmission shop and my home dealership. All have confirmed that I needed a new transmission. I was in shock, then angry. This was a Toyota, known for its quality and reliability. After calling the home customer service satisfaction agent and the Toyota hot line, they offered to meet me halfway or $1700.00. I'm considering it.
 
Previously, the first dealership stated and insinuated several times, I should have changed the tranmision fluid every $15,000 because Michigan is considered a harsh environment to drive in. I disagreed stating the manual doesn't indicate this.
 
Hope this is of help
 
mcf2

#8 of 67 Sienna Front Wheel Wearing by wiencs

Nov 02, 2002 (2:03 pm)

I have a 1999 Sienna that I bought new. No real problems (busted radio knob and sticking sliding doors that seem to have corrected themselves) but the front wheels/alignment must be whacked. I'm at 29,000 miles and looking at my 3rd set of tires. Early on I noticed a shimmy in the front end at very low speed (like going down the alley). At 10K miles I had it back at the dealership complaining about it (my first pair of front tires was already about shot) and they suggested that the first set of tires wasn't properly balanced. So I spent the money and indeed it was better but still not totally gone. I was watching the wear pattern and the inside and outside edges were going bald way too fast. Today the drivers side went flat and when I changed the tire I noticed that the inside edge was worn all the way through to the steel belts (cut my hand on the nasty little wires sticking out all over the place. I'm sure that I will at least get an alignment, but this seems to me to clearly be a design issue. Has anyone else had this problem and is there any relief from Toyota?

#9 of 67 Radio Speakers and Possible Cruise Control Problem by rc327

Nov 02, 2002 (4:32 pm)

I recently bought a 2003 Sienna Symphony, drives nice have been happy with so far. I recently took a trip and I believe I experienced some sort of periodic engine jerk or bucking while in cruise. There was no sort of pattern to it but I originally thought it had something to do with going up and over hills. Later, I discounted that when I noticed it doing it on flat and level highway. Also, I don't know if I'm hearing things but I would swear my Premium Sound System has a front speaker gone bad already. It sounds like it's blown out or getting there; some sort of cracking sound occurs with the beat of the music and I'm the only one driving it and I don't listen to music that loud. Has anyone gone through this or similar problems. This Van isn't 3 months old yet and this wasn't what I expected from a new Toyota van. I expected door dings and rock chips in the paint on the hood but not mechanical problems such as this. I might have to rethink my opinion of Toyota vehicles because I expected TOP quality and I'm beginning to think I bought a future lemon. Any comments or suggestions would be welcome. RC

#10 of 67 Recurrent alignment problems by toyotaken

Nov 02, 2002 (7:49 pm)

Something that you may want to have either the dealership or an independent auto shop check for you is if the rims are out of round. It is not a common problem, but if they are, it is almost impossible to balance the tires correctly. The other problem may be with the camber of the wheels. Same thing, you may want a second opinion at another dealership or independent shop. Other than that, I have not heard of anything like this on Sienna's.

#11 of 67 To Toyotaken by wiencs

Nov 03, 2002 (7:58 am)

How is camber different/related to alignment. Will I have to ask to have it specifically looked at (like out of round rims which I bet they never check for)

#12 of 67 RE: questions by toyotaken

Nov 04, 2002 (7:48 am)

To check for out of round rims, you do need to ask them to look for that specifically. What they do is actually pull the tires off of the rims and put them on the machine to ballance tires without the tire on them. Camber is usually checked when they are doing an alignment, but not always and not all shops are able to check it. Camber is the angle that the wheels/tires are to the road surface. Optimal is usually 90 degrees or perpendicular to the road. Alignment is how straight all wheels are when you're vehicle is pointed down the road. They should all be parallel to each other. Even if the car isn't pulling, your alignment may be off as two wheels may be out of alignment, and countering each other, but still wearing out the tires. Keep me informed, and feel free to ask anything else.

Messages Page 2 of 8

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