At close to 4500 miles on my xB, my car started "shuddering" and experiencing power lag in every gear. Shortly after, the Check Engine light comes on, along with the VSC and TRAC OFF lights. I take it to the dealership.

They say the problem is the injectors, so they replace them.

I pick the car up, and 9 miles later the same thing happens.

They call me yesterday and say they took a fuel sample and I have bad gas. They wanted $200 to drain the bad fuel, refill it, and run some fuel injection cleaner. I basically told them they were insane and that I could do the same thing for under $15 and about an hour of my time (burn the gas, refill, then clean injectors).

After contemplating my neverending bad experiences with cars, I decided to suck it up and pay the outrageous costs just in case I continue to have problems and my warranty becomes invalid because of my decision. So I call them back and give them the OK.

I pick up the car last night, and 10 miles later, same goddamn problems! Guess where I'll be after work?


Just wanted to share, in case anybody experiences anything similar.

 

do you get your money back since it wasn't fixed (well.. minus the cost of gas of course)??????????????

 

We'll find THAT out after I get their new explanation of the problem. I'm betting they're gonna try to stick to the "bad gas" story as long as possible.

 

are you serious?!?! this is bs! has anyone else had this problem??? if so, i'm going to get rid of my xb!

 

Dang that sucks man

 

Does the engine seem to be running louder?

 

That sucks

 

hrm, that's really odd, almost sounds like a timing issue if it isn't the gas, maybe the VVT-i became sentient and decided it didn't, that's really odd, almost sounds like a timing issue if it isn't the gas, maybe the VVT-i became sentient and decided it didn't like what it was doing

seriously, give them hell because they're the ones with the computers to tell them what is going on ,if they can't diagnose it it's a lemon

I don't know what the lemon laws are in Virginia (that's where you're at right?) but I would say don't back down one bit

 

I have a question..is your xb a auto or manual?

 

Nope, the engine is not louder. Yep, I am in Virginia.

My xB is a manual of course.

I called them to tell them I was bringing it back after work. Dude didn't know what to say, he wa just like "well, they drove it 10 miles and it was fine". They're gonna try to hose me; I already know it.

But don't worry, I don't back down. I will raise holy hell. They may even have to get the police to remove me from the building if they really try to screw me on this one.

I am already sueing a shop because the owner took my 300ZX for a joyride and totalled it. I really don't need this aggravation or to get stuck with a worthless pile of plastic and metal. I already have one of those sitting in my garage.

When it rains it pours. Unfortunately, it's been raining for me for 2 years straight.

I'll keep you all informed of the outcome.

 

this may sound funny, but check the alternator!

When we put the supercharger on our xB, the alternator wire didn't have enough slack in it so it actually came a little bit loose and started to fry....I was freaking out when I was driving it becaues it started thumping and all the dummy lights (VSC + TRAC, Check Engine, all of them) came on. Eventually the wire came all the way off and the whole xB just lost power.

Man I was freaking, you have no idea how relieved I was when we found out what the stupid problem was.....took 15 minutes to fix it, and it's been running great ever since.

 

Good idea. I'll check all the accessible wires in a few minutes.

I remember long ago my car kept stalling. After replacing this and trying that, turned out that one of my battery terminals was loose and was the culprit. Boy did I feel stupid.

 

update us

 

I would walk in and go totally ninja on all there asses, then demand that it get fixed

 

All connections appear to be secure.

I like the ninja idea. (visions of last night's South Park episode come to mind) :twisted:

40 more minutes....then I'm on my way there.

 

well, the service manager is adamant about it being caused by bad gas. So they're going to drop the tank and completely flush it, and change the plugs in case they were ruined from running too lean. This is going to cost me an extra $200.

If this really turns out to be the problem, then I am just out $400.

If not, then it becomes war.

I don't believe it had anything to do with "bad gas". But I'll keep y'all updated.

 

lemme get this straight ... they already drained your tank, filled it, and theny ran it again ... now they're going to charge you another 200 to do it all over again and add new spark plugs this time ...

1st .. I wouldn't let them charge you again... cause they didn't fix the problem.. I'd also try and get your money back from the first job ... or at least a portion of it ... The service mgr. is sure it's bad gas, so what he's saying is he put bad gas in your tank when he refilled it .

Once the problem is solved, I wouldn't take it back to that service department again. It doesn't sound like they know what's wrong and are feeding you BS and charging you for it.

 

HEY DONT BELIVE IN THAT BULL ____ JONLY DISEL WILL DOM THAT THAT IS AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. HAVE THEM CHECK FOR CODES IMM A TECH HERE AT CABE AND ALL THAT U HAVE SAID SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. JUST CALL TOYOTA CORP AND RAISE HELL

 

See That ^^^^


I think it's time to break some reject service mgr.'s legs ...

 

There is no such thing as bad gas!!!!! This really ____es me off becuase the DAM ____ comes out of the same ground and everyone says its different! You tell those bastards that they shouldn't have charged you ANYTHING AT ALL!!! It says in the hand book that we can use 87 and not have a problem.

Now if you put in an additive to get more octane then ou may have a problem.
Keep us updated.