My Rear door crack

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

Last weekend we noticed the rear door had cracked near the lower hinge.
It also showed itself up when closing. The door had droped about 10mm at least at the latch.
Car 2 3/4 yrs old so still in warranty.

Called up Toyota and booked it in to be viewed and they took a few piccies. 4 days later the call came in that they will replace the rear door under warranty. Top result. Said its not unusual

Going in in 4 days time to be replaced. The new doors are said to be welded differently (stronger) to eliminate this problem. They even had one in stock in Mandurah.....

Pics of crack



View as door closes. latch/ catch opening mis-alignment.



Makes me want a rear wheel carrier to take the weight off the door. But those dollars would come in handy elsewhere..

All in all im happy with the result, but wish it never happened..
Jeff.

[McBAIN Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close McBAIN]

Re: My Rear door crack

All in all im happy with the result, but wish it never happened..
Jeff.

hit it on the head there Jeff! Good out come but not happening would be better!

mine doesn't have the crack but is starting to sag just a little (mm's) i took it into a dealer and the guy tried to tell me it was meant to be like that... next service I'll try again, not in warranty period though so could be costly..

[MUMSRIG Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MUMSRIG]

Yeah, thats nasty!

Pretty sure I've seen something about this on here before... So it's not isolated...

Also when the Mrs got ran into by a commonwhore I tried to claim the drop in the rear door on the accident and the assesor said that it was unrelated and that it was common to see in the Prado... Ours isn't cracked at all, just needed adjustment.

Good to see that Toyota is standing by their Prado though! 8)

Good result.

Mitch

[johnv Member Find all posts View Profile Close johnv]

Jeff,

What year is your Prado?

Mines a October 2005 and had exactly the problem with cracking only 1 month after delivery. Toyota replaced the door promptly.

Hope they have sorted the isssue now.

By the way Jeff, I see from your travel photos you too have a Challenge Camper trailer.

Purchased mine from Campers on the Run Oct 06. Identical to yours except grey roof on tent.

Hope your enjoying the unit as much as me. Very happy with it.


Johnv

[damonat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close damonat]

it is not uncommon for this to happen.
my prado (pre-loved) has had it's door replaced. it now has it's 4th door.
the last time it was replaced, it was just out of warranty.
i used to work for a large (toy) dealer, and saw my fair share of owners with this issue.
it's not every prado, but i think having the weight of the wheel and the design of the door has alot to do with the failure.
my wishlist includes a rear wheel carrier so this issue doesn't happen again to me.

[MattWhite Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MattWhite]

Glad to hear it is getting sorted. Must admit, I look at mine a little differently now. Maybe I'm too fussy but I hate waiting for things to go wrong! Said to Tam we should sell it and buy a ute. Might win Lotto tonight too! :roll: :lol:


Matt

[fishnut Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishnut]

we should sell it and buy a ute.

:shock: sell your pride and joy??? :shock: :shock: :shock:

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

Jeff, What year is your Prado? By the way Jeff, I see from your travel photos you too have a Challenge Camper trailer. Johnv

Its about an april/may 05 model.
Yep love the camper. Got it new, direct from the manufacturer in adelaide in a round about way, picked it up from campers on the run, Its a Meridian. its about 2 1/2 rs old now with about 15000K's on it.
If you have a thumper battery dont use the power tech 14 charger (if it was supplied with that) as it puts out too many amps, or volts or something. Why? because it will melt down. Just use a simple cheap charger from Kmart.
Jeff.

[MattWhite Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MattWhite]

we should sell it and buy a ute.

:shock: sell your pride and joy??? :shock: :shock: :shock:

Na, we didn't win lotto! Not completely serious but when it comes to the car I do hate when things go wrong. Hate stupid designs (anything not Toyota) and it annoys me when Toyota get slack and do silly things. If it is happening under warranty what hope have you and I got Fishnut?
Our previous car was an SR5 Hilux and I would go back to another given the opportunity though. My 2c.
I am curious to know if the claims of an improved door are serious. I wouldn't mind paying if it wasn't going to repeat itself but stories we are reading don't look too promising. I know this might get deleted but just disappointing because I think I would have to be one of the most biased Toyota owners in the country! :wink:
Matt

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

I am curious to know if the claims of an improved door are serious. :wink:
Matt

Well they said the faulty welds had been repaired (fixed) later in production.
I dont know how much later. this one was weak, I dont know if all doors are weak. It looks to be the caused (partly) by the rear door open lock thing. (the thing that (1) stops the door opening 180' and (2) holds the door open if on a slope).
It strains the door somewhat in the open position. When I put pressure on the door in the open position, as if I was trying to open the door more than 90' , then the crack opens more. It sort of puts a sideways load on the 2 skins that the door is made of. Like a shearing motion. not the sheep kind.... :roll: :!:
And I have no idea if there is weld there at all, looks like its held together by construction adhesive. There doesnt seem to be any pulled spot welds or similar.
I dont think having heavy non standard rubber has anything to do with it either.. the crack doesnt look to be what you would expect from that.

I could only suggest that the door not be allowed to swing open fast to the stop. Maybe a strut or something like that would slow the doors and make them last longer.

Maybe MattW you can do a cut and shut and make a dual cab ute out of the prado... :shock: ...

[MattWhite Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MattWhite]

UUMM, NO! :lol: I bolt stuff together! Aren't you the expert in welding and fabrication! :wink:

Maybe another tech day job?

Matt

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

An expert is a has been and a drip under pressure...

[MattWhite Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MattWhite]

I'm sure there is a line there somewhere! Just not sure where?

Matt

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

ex = has been,
spurt = drip under pressure.


anyway, cars going in tomorrow to get a new rear door, hope they clean it before they give it back.....

[MattWhite Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MattWhite]

no no, I understood what you put, just trying to get a good comeback!

Matt