Engine Blown at 10k?

Definitely get the repair order from the dealer that stated they saw oil spilled on the starter. And that they replaced the starter. Get that paperwork!

They would have to prove that your mods caused the issue at hand. It's Toyotas responsibility. Seeing as you went 7k miles without any issues, leads to me to think less likely your mods are the issue. Unless there is a wire that got shorted out somewhere. Or one of your aftermarket parts failed internally and caused a short.

Either way, this sucks and sorry to see you have to go through this.

 

Raptor lights are just crap why does anyone do this?

 

Well then you deserve everything that happens!

kidding not kidding

 

UDPATE:

Dealer called me back after the diagnostic and said they found the issues. My alarm immobilizer unit caused the issue and the starter to go up in smoke. I asked if that was from the factory that way and he said no that is an after-market addition. I said well I didn't add that. You guys did!! When I purchased it, it was added to the cost of the vehicle and I negotiated it off the price but they never removed the unit. So he was shocked to hear they installed it at the dealer as a add-on!! He said oh boy let me find out and get back to me.

I remember the sales guy checking that it was OFF before I left with the vehicle. So I guess they kept it installed but turned it off somehow.

 

This is as surprise ending as it gets.

Unfortunately for you, nobody would want to pay for this mess and the warranty would not cover it.

 

In SoCal almost all dealers install these pos alarms. On every new vehicle on the lot. When you don't pay for it they "disable it" but leave it all hooked up. The worst part is they use those crappy t taps to tap into your factory wiring harness. My previous 2022 civic had the karr alarm go bezerk and it went off over and over, alarm wouldn't stop. So I had it towed to the dealer for them to remove it completely. Some emails to their corporate managers got them to remove it for free.

 

What about all those error codes?

I'm surprised that he's surprised an aftermarket alarm was installed on a new vehicle. Aftermarket alarms get installed on new vehicles all... the... time. KARR comes to mind. No way he didn't know this.

At this point, I'd ask for a meeting with the Service and dealership Manager and request they replace your vehicle. The fact an alarm caused this would make me question what other damage "their dealer installed alarm" caused or will cause you in the future.

 

Wow, this is looking more in your favour. It doesn't surprise me one bit.

Case in point, they tried this same crap on us with my partner's Tacoma. Once we had them remove the "Alarm/GPS unit" it from the invoice/sales bill, they insisted they "had to keep it on the truck." Yeah, my ass!

As we handed them the cheque and they handed us the keys, I went to town... Screwdriver and a few other tools allowed me to remove from OBD II port, and as we pulled off, I left the "alarm bits and unit" right in the space where the Tacoma was parked. I've not been back to that dealership since.

For you Houstonians, Mike Calvert Toyota is the one I'm referring to.

Cheers,

Sean

 

Dealerships can really tarnish a manufacturers name. Sadly this is far too common. Good luck OP. I'm really sorry. Buying a new 4runner and then having this happen to you. I can only imagine the joy that has been robbed from your purchase. Sending prayers your way bud.

 

This is good news as the dealer appears to be at fault rather than you or your modifications installer and the known cause should go a long way toward restoring your faith in the vehicle platform.

Bummer you are having to go through this though. I hope it gets worked out quickly.

 

sounds like a dealership issue, let them worry about it. What did the smoke smell like?

 

did you double check their work. Aka did they put oil in it?

 

something needs to be done about dealerships taking a perfectly reliable, brand new vehicle and messing with the electrical system via crappy workmanship and garbage products resulting in a ticking time bomb for customers.

 

jesus what did they do to your baby!!!

 

Yeah, I bought what I thought was a tank-reliable vehicle and babied the thing, and had pros do all the mods. To see your engine bay go up in smoke was a real killer. I went back to the original dealer add ons and the one they are talking about is the KARR security system they turned off but never physically removed which has caused all these issues.

 

thank god it was a toyota dealership

 

how the F can you spill oil on the starter!?!?!? What a bunch of morons

 

i would recommend having them put it on a lift, you go under and take a bunch of pics and check for other damage while under there before they starting “fixing” things. Ugh man!

 

Hahah! Oh boy is right. Go F yourself dealership!!!

 

Oh sorry about that! Where is this immobilizer installed, I think I need to go check mine if any installed.

 

Every profession is perfect...

 

KARR is definitely what they use. It was offered to me when I bought my 2010 Tacoma new and again when I bought my Runner new. I got it with the Runner.

 

I teach kids that no one is prefect

 

FINAL UPDATE: I just picked up the vehicle. The said the KARR immobilizer was the issue. It malfunctioned causing the vehicle to stop and then continuously tried to start. It caused the starter to fail and smoke till it died. They removed the KARR system completely now and I had no issues driving it home.

Lesson learned: if I decline a dealer MOD, I should ask them to remove it completely instead of just turning it off as this caused a terrible situation. They charged me nothing as it was all their fault for the KARR mod. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice and help along the way.

 

Storybook ending!!! Also, great news to know it was just the oily starter creating the smoke, not an engine issue.

 

Wanna bet the dealer keeps on installing KARR units?

 

You have holes on your dash from KARR?

 

nope ...the only residual effect so far is that the sound-deadening material on the underside of the hood smells of smoke because it billowed up into that part of the vehicle....maybe ill get that replaced if it doesn't go away

 

When shopping for my '24 in various locales I was shocked by the random electrical crap that some dealers put on like this- lojack/immobilzer things, 'Pulse & Dots' brake light mod to flash the 3rd brake light 4x when brake pressed. I don't want the dealers accessory monkey touching the factory wiring.

 

I'm glad you got that resolved satisfactorily.