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Toyota Sienna Maintenance and Repair (2004+) - READ ONLY

2209 messages,  Last post on Mar 15, 2008 at 6:55 AM

You are in the Toyota Sienna Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Auto Repair, Scheduled Maintenance, Van

    

Messages Page 135 of 222

#1336 of 2209 Re: Tire Problems [carol152] by jomalley

Feb 23, 2005 (11:45 am)

Replying to: carol152 (Jun 11, 2004 7:47 pm)
I have a 1999 Sienna. We've had to replace the tires twice. I have a very jumpy steering wheel and nothing we've tried (new tires, balancing, alignments, etc.) has ever alleviated the problem. I am sure Toyota is aware of the issue but trying to dodge the bullet.
 
We also had the left hand turn problem where the wheel would stick. We had to get a copy of the service bulletin before Toyota would admit there was a problem. The steering arm had to be replaced not once, but twice within the first 2 years.

#1337 of 2209 acceration hesitation by robairto

Feb 23, 2005 (7:50 pm)

I have a 2005 Seinna. On several occasions, with the cruise on, and at a speed of about 65 mph, I pushed down to passing gear and pulled out and the van stayed at the same speed. On one occasion with the cruise off, at 45 mph, I stepped down for passing gear, the engine revved, and roared and absolutely no pick up at all. I needed the power and did not get it. robairto

#1338 of 2209 day time running lights by robairto

Feb 23, 2005 (8:13 pm)

In a discussion in the forum section, I read that a fuse or jumper can be added in a fuse box on the 2004 Sienna. As a result, the day time running lights will be activated. Please let me know, and is it advisable with regard to the circuitry? What amp fuse?? Thanx robairto.

#1339 of 2209 Re: day time running lights [robairto] by mcase2

Feb 23, 2005 (9:58 pm)

Replying to: robairto (Feb 23, 2005 8:13 pm)
A 2004 has automatic daytime running lights. They should activate themselves as soon as you turn the key. As for jumping anything this would probably be most unwise. 1, it could start a fire - 2, it would void your warranty -and 3, a 2004 is probably still under warranty and the problem can be proffesionally fixed for free.

#1340 of 2209 Re: acceration hesitation [robairto] by mcase2

Feb 23, 2005 (10:15 pm)

Replying to: robairto (Feb 23, 2005 7:50 pm)
When you say "pushed down for passing gear", what do you mean? Did you shift the transmission into a different gear?? You should not have to shift to pass. Sienna's are all automatic the only reason to shift is for engine braking or for rare instances of hill climbing. If you down shift for any reason with cruise control on I believe that it is over ridden by the control. At the least the manual states that engine braking will not engage, which, I would assume, means that the cruise control will automatically seek over drive. As for the engine revving with the control off its hard to imagine that stepping on the gas would disengage the drive. Did you simply step on the gas and the engine revved or did you shift the transmission?

#1341 of 2209 Re: day time running lights [robairto] by ednovak

Feb 24, 2005 (2:23 pm)

Replying to: robairto (Feb 23, 2005 8:13 pm)
It appears that all 2004 and 2005 Sienna's are in fact wired for DRL but on the CE and LE a jumper/fuse is omitted so that they are disabled. Seems petty of Toyota but that's marketing for you.
 
Apparently, all you need to do to enable DRLs is open the hood, stand on the driver side, and open the fusebox. Put a jumper or fuse in the "empty" fuse slot in the fuse box immediately adjacent to the battery. When the car is started and the parking brake is off, the lights will come on just as they do with the XLE Siennas. I can get you a picture of where to put the fuse/jumper via e-mail if you wish. I'm ednovak on Hotmail.
Remember to start the van and take the brake off when testing it though or they won't activate.

#1342 of 2209 Hesitation by robairto

Feb 25, 2005 (7:15 pm)

Thanx for the replies on the drl and lack of acceleration. On the drl, I located the fuse holder but do not have an idea as to what amp fuse to use. Toyota service reps are not sharing information regarding the addition of the fuse. However they are willing to make a service appt. As for the van's hesitation problem, when I wrote "I pushed down" I should have written, pushed with my foot, as in using passing gear. I still have both problems. The acceleration problem bothers me as I do not know when it will be ok or when its going to fail again. I am reluctant to address this with a dealer. The van performs well except for the intermintent problem, I do not want them to use it as a testing model. If this problem was constant, I would have it back in a heartbeat. I have !9,500 mi, The first time I had this problem was around 17k. Robairto

#1344 of 2209 Water Problem in rear well of 04 Sienna by ts15ms7

Feb 25, 2005 (11:16 pm)

I bought what was represented to me as a demo 2004 Sienna with only 2,330 miles on it. Almost immediately we started to notice a funny smell in the van. At first we thought something had been spilled on the carpet. Finally we discovered the flood of water that was splashing underneath the van, which completely soaked the carpet mat. The previous owners had the van for 10 months and put only 2,330 miles because they obviously could not drive the van because of the disgusting moldy smell. Instead of taking care of the problem, they had someone from their family who worked at the Toyota dealership trade in the van for a Sequoia and then the dealership in turn sold the van as a demo. Unfortunately, I did not look at the contract carefully and demo was not checked off - it was checked off as a used van.
 
The dealership was not able to fix the problem the first time and after having the van for another three weeks at the dealership, the van still has the same disgusting smell. Of course, the dealership and Toyota will not admit to anything. How does Toyota do their quality control for such a major manufacturing defect to occur? Now I have to deal with a mold problem. I explained everything to a Toyota representative. His response was to offer to replace the interior of the van. In addition, he said Toyota has no control of the dealerships. I guess the opinion of Toyota and the Toyota dealership is buy at your own risk.
 
I am definitely not happy with this van and have absolutely no faith in Toyota. Toyota is just like any other manufacturer - if you get lucky you get a good product. In addition, make sure you check out a vehicle completely and ask questions about when it was manufactured, how the dealership came to own the vehicle and ask to see the proof. Also, check over every part of the contract, not just the figures. If you have questions about the contract, take the contract home so that you can completely look it over, because once you drive out with the vehicle, it's too late. The dealership and the manufacturer do not care about the customer - they just want to sell you the vehicle and whatever problems there are with the vehicle are your problems. Toyota is no better than any other car manufacturer.

#1345 of 2209 Re: Water Problem in rear well of 04 Sienna [ts15ms7] by heywood1

Feb 26, 2005 (6:55 am)

Replying to: ts15ms7 (Feb 25, 2005 11:16 pm)
Sounds to me as if the van was wrecked and repaired by it's first owner.
 
Offering to replace the entire interior doesn't exactly sound like a the dealer is blowing you off. I'd accept the offer, but only after you have another dealer or bodyshop check for the cause of the water leak, and fix it permanently.

Messages Page 135 of 222

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