hmnn well that's good to know, perhaps there's hope yet. I caught the dealership too late as by the time I spoke to them they were already putting in the new alternator. They quoted me their price on a new "genuine" toyota alternator as $440 (for the part alone - the other ~400 is for labor). It would be awfully nice if they ended up extending the warranty to cover this as it seems to me like it would be a mechanical defect but I won't hold my breath. I'll update this thread with any results of my interactions with scion corporate.

--forgot to mention - Thanks a bunch for all the helpful comments and support!--

 

they didnt ask you if you wanted them to repair it? they just did it? wow man.. well.. atleast its fixed for less than that 800 some dollar charge

 

hey cmose- you're welcome for the advice. i think $440 is way overpriced. and yeah they better warranty that one.. if that falls apart too, you better go after them

and if it fails in another year outside warranty, definitely go aftermarket! oh and make sure you get the old alternator back, you can sell it for a "core" to remanufacturers

 

192% above auto parts stores price. That is crazy, i think they are trying to rape you.

Edit:

Oh a Alternator should not fall apart.

 

wow, you got raped, big time...

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...14631&chapter=

msrp for a new genuine alternator: $379.25

trd sparks low price: 295.82

remember, before your dealership does anywork, check the price of the parts yourself.

 

Well mine did the same thing. and its an 06... my coolant boiled over and my car died.. I replaced the alternator and it was fine... I don't know the cause of it but I think it could be from getting the alternator wet... that is if you have ever washed you motor and not covered all the electrical stuff.

 

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When this happened, how many miles did you have on the car?

 

just to follow up, they didn't do the repairs without my consent, at the time I hadn't had the opportunity to check prices and being in need of my car just said ok to it. When I called back yesterday morning after having unearthed some prices they were in the middle of putting the "new" alternator in. I'm still waiting to hear back from scion corporate at this point. According to the dealership, the alternator pulley broke which is what precipitated everything else. I think I can safely say though, that I'm not going to be going back to this dealer again for service

(my alternator/engine definitely hadn't gotten wet by the way and it hasn't even rained around here for some time prior to the alternator "falling apart").

 

cmose- how many miles are on your tC when all this is going on?

 

38k, less then 3 years old (but just barely)

 

wouldn't the alternator and the belt be a drivetrain warranty issue and not a basic warranty? drivetrain warranty is 6yrs/60K miles.

just a thought???

 

If you were local I would install the alternator and belts myself for a beer. $400 for labor is grab-your-ankles pricing.

 

not covered by the powertrain according to the dealership (although supposedly a water pump would have been).

ha, I would've bought you a few cases of good stuff ;-D

 

mo mater what the stealership will do anything to get out from under any guarantee . mine tried to tell my that sycros were a were item at 20K and that they were not covered. I told them that the syncro in my is has 1330K and I have never had to replace it

 

i've washed my motor before without covering anything and i've had no problem. should i be worried now then?

 

Wanted to post an update. Scion corporate was GREAT, excellent customer service with everyone I spoke to. They also sent me a check that covered the full cost of the repairs. Overall an outstanding experience (short of the check getting sent to the wrong address initially which caused a 2 week delay). Hopefully nothing else will fall apart on me. Oh, and the dealership really bent me over - that $440 (part not labor cost) for the alternator was for a reman'd alternator...

 

great, see, i told you they would take care of you at scion corp.

 

One of the idler pullies and the bolt for the alternator pulley are covered in rust. Now I have some squealing.

I have a few friends that work at a couple dealerships that are going to try to help me out. I'm over the 65k mile mark and don't feel like dealing with the dealership directly, so working through my friends will hopefully help get things taken care of quickly and properly.