Car Maintenance Rant, Part 2

[spncity]

Lots of good info here... So feel free to contribute any ideas you may have about this issue for a 2004 Toyota Camry. Here's the sequence of events:

1. Cassette player ceases to work
2. Passenger airbag indicator starts acting funky. Sometimes says on. Sometimes completely out. Finally stays "on" even when no one is in the seat.
3. A few days later, general airbag indicator near speedometer blinks on and off now and then and eventually stays "on".
4. Taken to dealer. Dealer finds a pair of sneakers under the passenger seat. Extracts shoes. Declares problem fixed for the $129 diagnostic fee.
5. The next day the problem is back - airbag indicator lights are back on. Take car back to dealer.
6. Dealer offers to replace a module for $900 but says they can't guarantee this will fix the problem. Work not yet authorized. Need to think about this.
7. A few days later, the clock/info button in the steering wheel that "toggles" the display between four (4) items (clock, average MPG, distance remaining, and current MPG) now "only" toggles between two (2) of the four pieces of information (clock and average MPG).

Thank you in advance for any suggestions......

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spncity Lots of good info here... So feel free to contribute any ideas you may have about this issue for a 2004 Toyota Camry. Here's the sequence of events: 1. Cassette player ceases to work 2. Passenger airbag indicator starts acting funky. Sometimes says on. Sometimes completely out. Finally stays "on" even when no one is in the seat. 3. A few days later, general airbag indicator near speedometer blinks on and off now and then and eventually stays "on". 4. Taken to dealer. Dealer finds a pair of sneakers under the passenger seat. Extracts shoes. Declares problem fixed for the $129 diagnostic fee. 5. The next day the problem is back - airbag indicator lights are back on. Take car back to dealer. 6. Dealer offers to replace a module for $900 but says they can't guarantee this will fix the problem. Work not yet authorized. Need to think about this. 7. A few days later, the clock/info button in the steering wheel that "toggles" the display between four (4) items (clock, average MPG, distance remaining, and current MPG) now "only" toggles between two (2) of the four pieces of information (clock and average MPG). Thank you in advance for any suggestions......

All could be related to a bad 'clock spring' (the way they wind the conductors so you can turn the wheel, and keep wires from tangling).

But even if the dealer replaces that, there could be other problems, like shorts in the clock spring damaged a module. Probably why they won't guarantee it.

Cassettes are soooo 1990's. Get a cassette adapter and use a portable flash memory player.

-ERD50

[SmithOp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr._Graybeard Which one? I love old-car museums.

California Auto Museum in Sacramento. It used to be the Towe Ford Museum.


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[spncity]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERD50 All could be related to a bad 'clock spring' (the way they wind the conductors so you can turn the wheel, and keep wires from tangling). But even if the dealer replaces that, there could be other problems, like shorts in the clock spring damaged a module. Probably why they won't guarantee it. Cassettes are soooo 1990's. Get a cassette adapter and use a portable flash memory player. -ERD50

Lol - I had a cassette adapter connected to an iPod (vehicle too old to have direct connect). When it stopped working, I thought it was the adapter... but no such luck. It took a few months for the second problem to show up.

So - if replacing one thing at a time (the most likely solution) in order - is the best guess to replace the clock spring first? It seems pretty straightforward and I'm guessing doesn't require removing the entire dashboard?

Kindest regards.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spncity Lol - I had a cassette adapter connected to an iPod (vehicle too old to have direct connect). When it stopped working, I thought it was the adapter... but no such luck. It took a few months for the second problem to show up. So - if replacing one thing at a time (the most likely solution) in order - is the best guess to replace the clock spring first? It seems pretty straightforward and I'm guessing doesn't require removing the entire dashboard? Kindest regards.

You could think about replacing the OEM unit with a cheap replacement rasio. The new ones will have an AUX input, and often a USB port to play direct from a memory card (the unit become your iPod/player replacement).

Can't say about the clock spring - there are all sorts of possibilities, that was just one. It would depend on the actual diagnosis is, and the specific model. Get a second opinion form a respected independent mechanic maybe?

-ERD50

[Mr._Graybeard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spncity Lots of good info here... So feel free to contribute any ideas you may have about this issue for a 2004 Toyota Camry. Here's the sequence of events: 1. Cassette player ceases to work 2. Passenger airbag indicator starts acting funky. Sometimes says on. Sometimes completely out. Finally stays "on" even when no one is in the seat. 3. A few days later, general airbag indicator near speedometer blinks on and off now and then and eventually stays "on". 4. Taken to dealer. Dealer finds a pair of sneakers under the passenger seat. Extracts shoes. Declares problem fixed for the $129 diagnostic fee. 5. The next day the problem is back - airbag indicator lights are back on. Take car back to dealer. 6. Dealer offers to replace a module for $900 but says they can't guarantee this will fix the problem. Work not yet authorized. Need to think about this. 7. A few days later, the clock/info button in the steering wheel that "toggles" the display between four (4) items (clock, average MPG, distance remaining, and current MPG) now "only" toggles between two (2) of the four pieces of information (clock and average MPG).

Get on a Toyota forum like Toyotanation.com and use the forum search function -- your problems likely are not isolated events, and you may benefit from the experiences of other Camry owners who have solved similar issues.

[Big_Hitter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spncity Lots of good info here... So feel free to contribute any ideas you may have about this issue for a 2004 Toyota Camry.

If you can't DIY with help from the Toyota forums, it's probably time to get a new(er) vehicle.


if you have a lot of cassettes you may be able to retro fit a head unit, I'm not sure about that tho


I got two cds stuck in the (stock) NAV head unit on my FXT - getting a single din alpine put in on Friday (yes it has a CD)

[steve88]

Can I trust my low mileage vehicle to a dealer who sent me a free oil change? Since everyone here is talking about service writer as a commisioned sales people. Just worried that they might find some phantom repair that I dont need.

[Nunthewiser]

Just like there's no such thing as a free lunch, there's no such thing as a free oil change. They WILL find somethng. Every car needs something...it's going to be up to you to decide how important that thing they will suggest really is.

uh, when was the last time you flushed your brake fluid? Did you know that it is hydroscopic?

[Big_Hitter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve88 Can I trust my low mileage vehicle to a dealer who sent me a free oil change? Since everyone here is talking about service writer as a commisioned sales people. Just worried that they might find some phantom repair that I dont need.

if it's under the 3/36 comp warranty I wouldn't worry about it, just say no

[Walt34]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nunthewiser Just like there's no such thing as a free lunch, there's no such thing as a free oil change. They WILL find somethng. Every car needs something...it's going to be up to you to decide how important that thing they will suggest really is.

It will turn out to be something like the $59.95 special they're having this week on changing the air in the tires. You DO change the air yearly, don't you?

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt34 It will turn out to be something like the $59.95 special they're having this week on changing the air in the tires. You DO change the air yearly, don't you?

They are pushing nitrogen tire fills. Most people don't know that air has ~79% nitrogen already.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aja8888 They are pushing nitrogen tire fills. Most people don't know that air has ~79% nitrogen already.

What is really funny to me is that one of the big reasons given is that nitrogen doesn't leak out as fast as 'air'. Well, if it is the other 20% is leaking out, and I top it off with 79% nitrogen, I now have an even higher % of nitrogen in the tire. Do it again, and you would be as close to pure nitrogen as what they sell (which I think is ~ 99%).

-ERD50

[Big_Hitter]

counter-rant - DW just took the FXT in to scoob dealer for a loose rv mirror


they fixed it for free and didn't upsell her

[rbmrtn]

Pretty good writeup about nitrogen on CarTalk Blog Post | What's the Deal With Nitrogen-Filled Tires? | Car Talk

[Rick_Head]

I think there are a few advantages to N2 filled tires. Unfortunately these occur at a race track and nowhere else. You should consider filling your tires with N2 depending on the percentage of time your car spends on a race track.

[spncity]

Thanks for the suggestions of where to do more research / reading. I love this forum!

Kindest regards.

[Disappointed]

Just had my wife's Honda serviced at an independent garage, flushed brake fluid, power steering, and transmission fluid, $310. I had to insist on them getting genuine Honda stuff. Next week will be replacing coolant, and differential fluid, another $200.
They also found oil leak from valve cover gasket, quoted $170.

The dealer that fixed the air bag suggested side engine mount fix, $370. They always find something when you bring the car in. This Honda has 46,700 miles on it. Not much has been done to this car except routine oil change and new tires.


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Mp

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disappointed Just had my wife's Honda serviced at an independent garage, flushed brake fluid, power steering, and transmission fluid, $310. I had to insist on them getting genuine Honda stuff. Next week will be replacing coolant, and differential fluid, another $200. They also found oil leak from valve cover gasket, quoted $170. The dealer that fixed the air bag suggested side engine mount fix, $370. They always find something when you bring the car in. This Honda has 46,700 miles on it. Not much has been done to this car except routine oil change and new tires. Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum Mp

What are the factory service intervals for these fluid changes? Look at your owner's manual maintenance schedule. Seems like you are premature in conducting some of this service? From what I remember, coolant service is 100,000 or more miles. I don't recall that the differential oil, usually a pint or so of 75W to 90W oil, is in the maintenance schedule. Fill me in if it is.

Motor mount at 46,700 miles? They are really getting creative with unnecessary work.

[MRG]

+1
AJA8888

Seems too frequent to me. Motor mount on a Honda? You been drag racing? I've replaced many 60-70s cars&trucks all had big traction&power in harsh running conditions. Trucks pulling heavy loads or kids that hopped up cars and getting the power to the wheels, broke the mounts. Doesn't sound typical of Honda drivers.


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