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Toyota Sienna 2004+

2995 messages,  Last post on Jan 26, 2008 at 12:55 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Van

Messages Page 296 of 300

#2946 of 2995 2006 new car warranty and transmission problem by oneonta62

Feb 19, 2007 (7:58 pm)

Hi. We purchased a 2006 Sienna 6 months ago and have 4500 miles on it. when we moved to a house at the end of a steep street two weeks ago we noticed that the van was very weak to go up the street. We had a snow storm last week. We drove the car after they cleared the roads and the van simply stopped in the middle of the road. We had it towed and the dealer said that we abused the car and the transmission burned out. Toyota declined the warranty claim based on what the dealer reported and we are in shock as we have to pay $4000 to have the transmission replaced. Could anybody please help with what to do in this case? Thank you very much.

#2947 of 2995 Re: 2006 new car warranty and transmission problem [oneonta62] by coupedncal

Feb 20, 2007 (11:52 am)

Replying to: oneonta62 (Feb 19, 2007 7:58 pm)
Please consider taking it to another dealer. If that doesn't work, have a lawyer friend write a "friendly" letter to the dealer and toyota usa. If that doesn't work, you have the option of going to small claims court. That will get their attention. There isn't much a person can do to abuse auto tranny these days.

#2948 of 2995 Re: 2006 new car warranty and transmission problem [oneonta62] by wwest

Feb 21, 2007 (2:15 am)

Replying to: oneonta62 (Feb 19, 2007 7:58 pm)
How, what, exactly, did the dealer tell Toyota?
 
What was the dealer's "evidence" that the transaxle, at only 4500 miles, had been abused.
 
Seems to be a long stretch by the dealer.

#2949 of 2995 Re: 2006 new car warranty and transmission problem [oneonta62] by ateixeira

Feb 21, 2007 (9:47 am)

Replying to: oneonta62 (Feb 19, 2007 7:58 pm)
That's ridiculous. It's not like you'd ever race a minivan, and driving up your driveway on your own way home is hardly what I'd call abuse.
 
Time to lawyer up.
 
-juice

#2950 of 2995 Re: 2006 new car warranty and transmission problem [ateixeira] by wwest

Feb 21, 2007 (3:03 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Feb 21, 2007 9:47 am)
Not entirely ridiculous..
 
A FWD vehicle with TC, Traction Control, driven continuously for some distance on a slippery surface by an inexperienced or otherwise unknowledgeable driver might very well result in a severely overheated transaxle.
 
I suspect that if one drove say, 5 miles, uphill yet, on a LOW traction surface, with TC "rattling" continuously and the engine dethrottled accordingly, you might very well need an appointment with a mechanic afterwards.
 
Does the owners manual give and warning or caution against this, if not it certainly should.

#2951 of 2995 Re: 2006 new car warranty and transmission problem [wwest] by caravan2

Feb 21, 2007 (10:35 pm)

Replying to: wwest (Feb 21, 2007 3:03 pm)
Where did you get this information
 
On a snowy/slippery surface, this could happen a lot. It is hard to believe that there is no protection built-in the transmission if this could happen when TC is engaged.... worst it should shut itself off if it is engage for a longer period of time. TC is managed by on-board computer and this is very easy to program.....
 
Having said that... I think TC could not cause this kind of damage if working as it is suppose to....

#2952 of 2995 Re: 2006 new car warranty and transmission problem [caravan2] by wwest

Feb 22, 2007 (2:02 am)

Replying to: caravan2 (Feb 21, 2007 10:35 pm)
Okay, example, I'm trying to drive up a fairly steep and very slippery incline, one for which it is KNOWN that given the circumstances, traction, vehicle weight, etc, it cannot be done absent studs or chains.
 
But our driver is ignorant of all that and just keep on trying to get up that incline.
 
What do you think TC would do in that case if it remained enabled?
 
Personally I would argue that the ABS pumpmotor might begin to overheat and be timed out and now we have a totally inexperienced driver trying to use WOT to climb the incline.
 
Either way you stand a good chance of TOASTING an automatic transmission.
 
By the way, the absolute best way one could implement traction control would be to depress the level of engine torque available at each "excursion" into TC's brake activation.
 
After a few cycles the engine torque would be limited to a level just below, or at, the point of not having enough to break traction.
 
Automatic "feathering" of the throttle.

#2953 of 2995 Re: 2006 new car warranty and transmission problem [wwest] by oneonta62

Feb 22, 2007 (7:02 am)

Replying to: wwest (Feb 22, 2007 2:02 am)
Thank you for your message. Could you please be more specific? I do not understand the abbreviations in your message (for example, TC ABS etc.). Is it possible to explain it with a simpler language?
Your time is very much appreciated.

#2954 of 2995 Re: 2006 new car warranty and transmission problem [oneonta62] by ateixeira

Feb 22, 2007 (7:43 am)

Replying to: oneonta62 (Feb 22, 2007 7:02 am)
TC = Traction Control
 
ABS = Anti-Lock Braking System
 
Hadn't thought of that. I guess driving an AWD with snow tires does that to you.
 
Any how, I kinda doubt that's very likely, unless the driver really didn't know what they were doing.
 
-juice

#2955 of 2995 Re: 2006 new car warranty and transmission problem [ateixeira] by wwest

Feb 22, 2007 (3:25 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Feb 22, 2007 7:43 am)
Sorry, sadly, these days most drivers don't, and it seems to get worse every year.
 
Snow tires alleviates the need for knowing how to feather the throttle to get going on a slippery surface?
 
50 years of driving and I didn't know that.
 
While it remains best in all cases I thought that, no need for throttle "feathering", really only applied with studs or chains.

Messages Page 296 of 300

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