White smoke coming out of tailpipe after highway driving

This is the first new vehicle purchase that they’ve charged me to look at a warranty complaint. Last time I took a vehicle in for warranty was back in 2012 for a 2011 Kia. No fuss no muss.

Business must be good. Toyota is maximizing the value of their reputation. I hate taking anything in for warranty, which is why I bought toyota. Two previous new toyotas purchases of mine were never in for warranty. Toyota obviously feels comfortable they wont lose customers over this because of that reputation.

I need to get with the times. But it’s good to know that dealers are are formally requiring customers to drop trou if something comes up post purchase.

 

It's not just Toyota doing this, it's all manufactures and it's been going on for years. I first started off as a service writer in 2005 and this was the norm back then. When I had a warranty issue with my Challenger, everyone there knew it was a warranty issue, but the dealer had to follow protocol if they wanted to get paid for their work.

 

None of the 3 toyota dealers I have visited for warranty work has tried to charge me for diagnosis, even when they couldn't determine the problem. Nor has Volkswagen, nor has BMW.

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/Toyota/comments/trsbdf/toyota_dealer_charging_for_diagnostic_check_for/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jeep/comments/ywiwoh/diagnostic_test_180_at_dealership/

https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/hi9as7/diagnosis_fees_under_warranty/

And that was only a quick search pulled for random manufactures.

 

Judging from variation in experience, this seems like it might be dealer discretion to do business this way?

Seriously, this type of dealer protocol makes me seriously wonder about the value of buying new, if I can’t enjoy the conveniences of a product backed by a warranty that doesnt add even more inconvenince to a normal warrantee visit.

And doesnt add any confidence to be subjected to this protocol, that in effect allows them to charge customers to deny warranty work that doesnt pay them as much a regular walk-in work.

 

My main reason for posting those links was for the comments, pretty much explaining this is a normal occurrence. As stated before, it's not 100% set and there may be some variances. Just like the person who I quoted, who said this has never happened to them.

 

I know exactly how they will respond. They will ask me if I bought extended warranty. On a 4Runner 2 years old. Then they'll ask if I know any Toyota dealer phone number.

And yes, it's stupid and I knew this would happen, the moment I walked in front of the stealer counter. Joy all around.

BTW, I just showed one of my videos on my phone to an old mechanic, and he said in 10 seconds flat it's a small headgasket leak and if I don't take care of it I'll be sorry. This in the store.. where I was looking to buy a coolant pressure test kit to do my own diagnostic before I will pay the stealer to do the same.

 

Why don't you go to a different dealer?

 

Its amazing how people don't understand how warranty works.

Dealers get reimbursed by Toyota so if they find nothing and don't quote you nothing they lose money plain and simple. I agree they should not charge you up front but at least make you aware of the charges should they not find anything.

A lot of people keeps saying Toyota when its actual the dealer making the decision to charge up front or not.

Because the smoke goes away or seems like it doesn't I'm going to guess it is not coolant but maybe just running rich. Maybe you have a stuck injector. I'd do the pressure test first just to see.

 

I don't feel like paying 165 again for them to look at my coolant level and pull no code.

And I don't think they'll behave any different, this dealer I went to had no reason to treat me any differently than any other customer.

And yes, I think it makes sense for them to conduct their business as to cover their behinds, except they should be more upfront about it.

 

Pressure test yes, that's the plan. And yes, I agree that it makes sense for dealer to cover their cost, but with Toyota, not with me. When they see the smoke they should open a case with Toyota and find the defect in the Toyota car, because it's not normal to have a fog machine when you start your 2.5 year old 4Runner.

 

If thats your thought process you will either live with or pay for it.

Have a conversation with the dealer before you take it down. Explain everything that happened etc. If they give you some shit then its not worth your time.

 

I agree but dealer can't see white smoke and make a claim with Toyota. It would get shot down without getting to the cause.

I'm am 100% on board they should not take any money up front.

 

Oh Lord I did. Twice already.. first I paid their diag fee, see my photo earlier in the thread. Then I left the car overnight and showed them the smoke in person this morning. It's a long thread.. sorry

 

Was talking about the next dealer.

I bet if you explain getting it raw from the previous dealer they may want to sway you to them to keep you as a future customer.

 

This means I should keep asking and paying them for various tests until they find the problem?

If we agree the big smoke is a problem in the powertrain. The powertrain is under warranty still. Who should pay and investigate it and fix the problem?

 

To me this simply sounds like a broken business case. If they find nothing, yet the smoke is there, and that is not normal, then they lose money. It just does not work. Their business is not working.

 

I was under the impression that warranty work pays better than regular work. And it's their bread and butter. But apparently not, and that is surprising. And yes, I hate warranty work too, where since I don't pay then it means I have to wait for various approvals, etc. IT sounds like it sucks to be on either side of a warranty work.. be it a dealer or a customer. And yet warranty is what keeps dealers in business. Funny business.

 

1. No one should pay for anything IMO. But they should let you know up front the cost if it in deed is nothing. I agree something is wrong.
2. Switch dealers as noted.
3. Talk to new dealer before you go down

Coming here bitching about $ isn't going to get you anywhere. Especially when we agree something is wrong.

Its the other way around.

 

So did the dealer you bought it from give you any sort of warranty? If not, are there any consumer protection laws in your area that might cover a situation like this?

It’s certainly reasonable to suspect this vehicle was unloaded by a previous owner that concealed the problem. Maybe you have laws that require the used car dealer to share some responsibility to correctly assess the vehicle for defects before selling. Of course they can deny knowing about defects.

Shitty situation all around. I wonder if it got unloaded by a customer that got fed up with the prospect of multiple diagnostic charges to simply reproduce the problem for a warranty claim.

 

The dealer I bought from gave me 7 days 1000 km change your mind and replace with another vehicle on the lot warranty.

LOL, yes, "I wonder if it got unloaded by a customer that got fed up with the prospect of multiple diagnostic charges to simply reproduce the problem for a warranty claim." this is my gut feeling too. Good one. Yet I paid the full price, no special deal here. Joy of ownership I guess.

 

As stated by the other member, you have it backwards. Warranty work goes by book time, which is a set amount of time a specific repair is allowed to take and paid for at a flat rate.

 

I'd also bet that if you talked with another dealer and explained the situation you'd probably get further. The fact that the original dealer couldn't diagnose the issue and didn't give you time of day is a huge red flag. Followed by them actually seeing the problem and still requesting more money. Their technicians likely are trash or management is trash and doesn't allow them enough time to diagnose the issues.

Dealers service departments are the bread and butter. Warranty work is much lower rate then customer rates

 

The way I look at it - if it *wasn't* under warranty and you wanted it fixed by the dealer at your cost, you would take it in and say something's wrong, fix it. They would say, we'll do a coolant pressure test and pull out spark plugs, all 6 of them, and look for coolant. If we find no coolant, the next thing we'll check is (fill in the blank). This would continue until they diagnose it and fix it, even if it means not knowing for sure and giving it their best shot. Warranty work should go the same way except you don't pay.

Maybe that's being unrealistic, but that's what I would push for...

 

Maybe I'm being unrealistic, but I suggest you do one more thing: Make some noise!

Call Toyota corporate, have them push the dealer to run diagnostics for free. Talk to a Lemon law attorney (some offer free consultation), take it to media and social media if you have to.

One thing is for certain: There is an issue, whether they find it or not. And on a vehicle under warranty, it needs to be resolved, one way or another.

Best of luck brother!

 

Good advice. It's not rocket science. Been a tech for over 30 yrs. The white smoke on this truck's startup is not normal. Looks like coolant to me. Smoke from oil has a bluish tinge. Read the plugs. Any spark plug burning coolant will have white appearance on the electrode end compared to the plugs that aren't. Oil fouled will have greyish deposits on them. On a coolant affected cylinder using a bore scope will show a piston top that is washed clean of carbon. I'll bet if the engine was scoped after a run and sitting over night you could spot the leak with a camera that you can swivel the head to see all around. When you bought it did they transfer the remaining powertrain warranty? Should be a record as there's a charge for doing that. Dealer most likely bought it at auction and has no clue about it's history. Your bill shows they did diddly squat and didn't take it serious. In my dealer days you could escalate stuff like this to a regional service rep. Don't take no for answer. Good luck.

 

Are you chewing through coolant? Does it run hot at all? Does it NOT have a "misfire" code on any cylinder? Is your rad over flow "full" after a run to the market? If you have pressure (head gasket) going into the cooling system, you should be running hot, Chewing through coolant, but see no leaks (fluid on the ground)... see heavy amounts of fluid in your over flow tank (pressure, pushing coolant to the over flow). Or, you have a leaking valve on a head (burning oil). Or, it was cold as fuck, and you have some condensation build up in the exhaust (which, i hope for you). Its extremely odd, for this motor to yoink a head gasket, at such low mileage (like under a billion or so) UN LESS, who ever owned it before you, had a cooling issue, and ran it that way, and warped a head, or the like (AKA pushed out a head gasket). Also, there are SIMPLE tests a person at a "dealership" can do with have a marble in their skull, run a chem test on the coolant (youll have "gas" vapor in the coolant, and it will turn a fluid a certain color if". And the like. Hell, start the thing... let it run for like 2 minutes. Shut it off. Open the rad cap. (NOT IF HOT, but if its hot well) Is there pressure? A fart noise? Welp, then you are putting pressure to the cooling system (or again, if you notice your coolant level is always low, but no visible leaks on the ground, OR, your over flow is always dumb high) Report back. And good luck. (Looked like a ass ton of "smoke" to me, even on a cold day)

 

EDIT- hell, with the rig off, pop the radiator cap. Put a funnel in the opening. Fill with fluid (just a bit of water half way up the funnel body) Start the rig. Do you see bubbles like crazy while running? (also, was the radiator wicked low to start with?) Simple simple easy tests, anyone can do. Just to rule things out. I do find it a little odd, that if you got any coolant going that direction, you would have a misfire code, and you'd be running hot, and always low on coolant, with NO visible leak. But it certainly can happen. Hrmmmmmmm

 

All,
Sorry about the odd edit. Not sure what i fat fingered there. My bad. Hope all understand.

 

This is probably why the original owner sold or traded it in. Your probably should just cut your losses and do the same.