Problems with my Prado and the service I am recieving

[grid Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close grid]

Hi all ,it has been a while since i was here.....good to see lots of feedback and lots more posts.

i have a may 07 built 4.0 v6 petrol Auto Prado that has only 7000km on the clock and have had it since new.
My trouble(s) is this.

(1) I am having trouble with the gear selector switch sticking or not working properly,
It happens on the flat ground and on a driveway (with a slight hill) in park trying to go to reverse or drive.
With the engine on, push my foot on the brake and try to select reverse or drive,i must pump the brake 2-3 times then try again and then it releases the gear selector.

(2)This is my first auto 4x4 and i am not happy with they way the auto selects gears(and the time it takes),
Being a 5 speed auto i hear the trans go to 5th at about 55-60kmh (city driving),now when i want some power (to overtake) I am getting a very long delay(about 3-4 sec) for the trans to drop back.

(3)About 2 weeks ago i was 4wding and selected Low range when stopped and in park,with my foot on the brake i selected drive (after having same selector problem #1) and it jerks very harsh into gear.this problem is the same from neutral to reverse or drive.(also car engine was warm and not revving)
can someone please tell me these problems i am having are normal.

yesterday i took the car in for the 10,000km service(was due at January 2008) and told them about the 3 problems.
After 5 hrs service and checking problems they came back with the following answers:
Selector switch has no adjustment,tried many times no fault found.

Auto trans was checked for fault codes and no fault codes found nothing wrong with it................:?

Could not find a fault with item #3.......no fault found

I work in the car industry driving cars all day and i am wondering if i am comparing my car to other cars i drive and am i being to picky or has other people here had same problems?These problems all seem to be about the transmission area and i am thinking something is not working properly.

Thank you all in advance for your reply s.
Grid

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

i can't help you too much, but for
#1 the selector wont move without the brake pedal being depressed. (that obvious) so the selector lockout function requires 2 functions to work.
the ignition to be "on" and the brake pedal depressed.
therefore i would have a look firstly at the brake pedal switch.
is it adjusted incorrectly, or is it lazy? if that's ok
i'd (and this is harder) put a testlight/multimeter on the transmission
lockout lock wire. this unit is replaced as a whole unit so you would need to find the activating wiring
(i know mine was just replaced, luckily under extended warranty)
so you might just try to (in a quiet place) listen for the mechanism moving.
as for #2, this sounds unfixable. electronically controlled transmission.
and #3, hard to get a full understanding with only words, but could be normal.

[Guest Close Guest]

Which dealer are you using Grid?

Maybe its best to meet up with a fellow PP'er and drive another auto so you can compare and vice vversa?

A couple of the PP guys from SA live out your way.
You would then have feedback on another vehicle and another Prado drivers feedback on yours.

[grid Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close grid]

Reply to my 3 problems

Thanks for the reply Team Piggy,
I went to Northpoint Toyota on main north rd.This is the second time they have given me excuses about thinks that are in there words:Normal and nothing wrong.And i thought they are a good dealer.

My first service was with Peter Kittle at parafield........and we all know there reputation :shock: :shock: :shock: .

Grid

[Bear Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bear]

Hi Grid, this does not sound "normal" to me. I've been driving for 38 years and find the prado 5 speed auto linked to 4l petrol one of the smoothest vehicles ive driven. You say, "Being a 5 speed auto i hear the trans go to 5th at about 55-60kmh ... " Maybe your hearing is better than mine, but the only way I can notice the change into 5th is by watching the taco.

You wrote:

am i being to picky or has other people here had same problems?

imo NO! None of your experience sounds right, I have none of those problems whatsoever.

Friend of mine had a similar problem with a new 4wd (not toyota) ... the dealer simply refused to acknowledge anything wrong. Short story, he got an independent engineer's inspection (about $100), the dealer still refused to rectify. Bill finally contacted the National Distributor, presented them with the engineers report ... problem solved. A real pain having to pay someone else to confirm what he already knew ... but it did force a solution.

[Guest Close Guest]

I would suggest trying my method of swapping cars for a test drive.

If both drivers then feel there is an issue, perhaps try CMI toyota in the city.
They have been exceptionally good on any issues I have had.

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

doesn't sound right to me.

2) mine 'kicks back' immediately.
3) mine doesn't do that when going into/out of low range.

[AJ Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close AJ]

Re: Reply to my 3 problems

My first service was with Peter Kittle at parafield........and we all know there reputation :shock: :shock: :shock: .

Grid

Grid,

I am currently purchasing my new Prado through these blokes, I'm nearing the end of my seven month wait. They won't be seeing me when it comes servicing time. I wasn't aware of their reputation until it was too late :?

I was going to look at servicing at Northpoint on North East Road (close to work). Have you spoken with them yet, I've heard good reports about them....

Best of luck.

Cheers,
AJ

[ChrisD Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ChrisD]

I've bought mine recently from Northpoint on Main North Road, we get all our work vehicles from them & we've never had an issue with them.

I live down south but work at Norwood, if it's any help you're welcome to come around & have a look at mine to compare, just let me know.

[pradonet Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradonet]

Hi Grid,

We bought our 05 Auto Prado from Peter Kittle on Main Nth Rd approx 18 months ago, my brother has since bought a new Avalon and both deals were handled very well, we are south of the city so dont go there for servicing but my bro has been happy.

Sorry to hear you are having some issues with your car and follow up service

Your first point (problems getting into R or D) sounds odd, especially if you have the brake pedal pushed in.

#2, we select D3 for city driving, only put it into 4th on the open road

#3 when we select low range 1st, the vehicle moves off smoothly but then the low range engages with a bit of a jolt if revving to high, i've found with practice that this is minimised if you keep the revs low until low range has engaged.

Try TPs idea and drive someone elses to see if it is you or the car. Hopefully you can get a good result.