Kakadu Customisable Features

[LaoK User account deleted at own request. Find all posts View Profile Close LaoK]

If you have a Kakadu and have RTFM (read the manual) and chosen some customisable features be warned that some Toyota dealerships have got apprentices who know very little about your vehicle. I recently had my 10,000Km service and was told by the Service Centre that they couldn't lubricate my doors, clean my air conditioning filter (behind the glovebox) and check my spare wheel because it was in "valet mode". Whatever that means. It is not a term usd in the manual. My vehicle is set to two-stage unlocking and the mechanic wasn't smart enough to depress my remote control twice or depress the unlock button on the driver's door once he had opened that one. He could only open the driver's door and as I had insisted that they did not bomb out my customisable features and zap them back to factory defaults they simply gave up. They didn't even think to call me. later in frontof the Service Manager I walked up to the vehcile with the Smart key in my pocket, took hold of the passenger door handle and the vehicle unlocked. As it did when I depressed the unlock button on the rear door handle. His jaw dropped and he was stuck for words. They gave me a leaking oil filter too. Made some mention of oil filter seals leaking. I enquired with Toyota Australia and there is no known issue with oil filter seals. It seems that my Kakadu didn't warrant a fully trained and experienced mechanic. Be warned. The Kakadu is high tech and has many electronic features that young apprentices are not trained in. Choose your dealership carefully.

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

Re: Kakadu Customisable Features

Grand Toyota in Perth has the same "non Kakadu" trained mechanics....Mine went in with a air compressor used for self levelling the rear bags sounding like a sledge hammer knocking on the chassis. I asked service manager if this was normal as the car seems to level itself 1-2 times a day and it is so loud people will stop and look at my car. After first service "said mechanic" has ticked off all is ok no fault found so I though OK its just VERY noisy. I drive car home activate the raise button then jump underneath car locate air compressor (rattling loudly) and put my finger on compressor.......sound stops pump is dead quite....Turns out the rubberised bracket has moved a little and metal bracket is rubbing on chassis.....I inserted a small piece of rubber to move compressor 5mm and all is now dead silent. I have no idea when car levels now. APPARENTLY this is too hard for a service technician to diagnose he does not posses the correct tooling (a finger) to complete said job and what sh1ts me is he ticked off "checked"....."checked" my ar$$.

Then I stupidly said yes to paying an extra $60 on top of the $210 toyota advantage service to have them use "fully synthetic oil" only to find a Magnatec sticker in my engine bay..

A) I don't believe magnatec is "fully synthetic".

B) $60 with no credit back for the mineral oil they didn't use = approx $100 for oil only (labour already in the $210 charge) for oil that I can buy for $38 at supercheap auto's....

NOT VERY HAPPY my car cost $84,000 I expect a FRACTION more service hence the name "service department"

rant over

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

Re: Kakadu Customisable Features

I think I might add in my dodgy toyota service worksmanship rant too. I've said this in another post before that those clowns blew my air filter down with an air compressor then tried to charge me for a new one. This was the service centre at Peter Davy, which has a heap of apprentices. However, I have had good services there, it's really a matter of luck that you get one of the experienced ones. I'll be in for my 1000km service sometime next week to get the computer reprogrammed for the remote opening/closing of all windows as well as the sensitivity of the light sensor. I find it stupid that the lights go on every time you drive under a bridge. Oh, I asked my dealer about those things and he didn't have a clue, lets hope the service centre has half a clue at least....

[LaoK User account deleted at own request. Find all posts View Profile Close LaoK]

Re: Kakadu Customisable Features

I am talking about a Toyota Service Centre in Canning Vale. I have only been there once before (years ago) and was not happy then. Took the new Kakadu to them because I purchased it from them. Big mistake! When I re-attended to have my 10,000Km service completed the mechanic was tugging on the spare wheel cover, after un-clipping it, and wondering why it wouldn't release. I had to tell him that he had to remove the plastic flap near the camera and undo the bolt first. DER!

Some of the customisable features can be done by the User (you) and some can only be done by the service technician (a.k.a., young naive apprentice). With regards to the headlight sensitivity, that is User controlled and even when I desensitise completely the headlights still come on as I pass under bridges. I turn the headlights off because it seems that I am flashing my lights at drivers to get out of my way. The damn thing is way too sensitive.

Also, be warned about something else. The mechanics tested my lights at the 10,000Km service and left my fog light switch set to ON. Terrific; NOT. It's a $100 fine in W.A. for using fog lights with lights over 7 watts or in other than inclement weather. I was furious and they could not understand why. How about leaving a vehicle the way the customer had it.

Not Happy Jan!

I telephoned Melville Toyota and asked if they had any mechanics trained in servicing the Kakadu. i am assured that they do and are prepared to meet me and discuss my concerns. I will in six month's time and I hope things get better. Won't be hard.

07/12/2010 update. Melville Toyota are good with the Kakadu

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

Re: Kakadu Customisable Features

With regards to the headlight sensitivity, that is User controlled and even when I desensitise completely the headlights still come on as I pass under bridges. I turn the headlights off because it seems that I am flashing my lights at drivers to get out of my way. The damn thing is way too sensitive.

Really? I thought the light sensitivity, in conjunction with the "Time elapsed before head-lights automatically turn on" would fix that problem. Note on page 614 of the manual that only the dealer can change that setting. Anyway, when I pass under a bridge with automatic lights set, only my park lights turn on. You only really flash someone if you have the fog lights switched on. This was with my Aurion. I'm sure its the same sensor/system for the prado. Still, its a design flaw in my opinion.

Good luck in finding a good service dept!

[LaoK User account deleted at own request. Find all posts View Profile Close LaoK]

Re: Kakadu Customisable Features

With regards to the headlight sensitivity, that is User controlled and even when I desensitise completely the headlights still come on as I pass under bridges. I turn the headlights off because it seems that I am flashing my lights at drivers to get out of my way. The damn thing is way too sensitive.

Really? I thought the light sensitivity, in conjunction with the "Time elapsed before head-lights automatically turn on" would fix that problem. Note on page 614 of the manual that only the dealer can change that setting. Anyway, when I pass under a bridge with automatic lights set, only my park lights turn on. You only really flash someone if you have the fog lights switched on. This was with my Aurion. I'm sure its the same sensor/system for the prado. Still, its a design flaw in my opinion.

Good luck in finding a good service dept!

I found a good Toyota Service Centre. The foreman adjusted the headlight delay whilst I watched how he did it. That afternoon wifey was driving the Kakadu and following me up the Freeway. Every overpass (pedestrian bridge) she drove under caused the lights to come on. I think it was just the park. I need to test it again sometime with the Kakadu following me.

The LONG setting should be longer. Anyway, I can always turn AUTO off.

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

Re: Kakadu Customisable Features

I need to test it again sometime with the Kakadu following

You could just drive under bridges yourself and watch the dash as you drive under it for the headlight indicator to come on.

[LaoK User account deleted at own request. Find all posts View Profile Close LaoK]

Re: Kakadu Customisable Features

I need to test it again sometime with the Kakadu following

You could just drive under bridges yourself and watch the dash as you drive under it for the headlight indicator to come on.

It clicks and the dash dims down but I am not sure if it is just park lights or headlamps. Hard to tell.

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

Re: Kakadu Customisable Features

It clicks and the dash dims down but I am not sure if it is just park lights or headlamps. Hard to tell.

Either one of them (park lights or headlamps) would indicate that the light sensor is still too sensitive or the delay is not set long enough. Parklights, would be the dash dimming only and headlamps would be dash dimming and headlight indicator being lit on the dash. Not only do you not want to have ur headlights to come on to immitate "flashing" someone ahead of you, but you also don't want your parkers to go on as people behind you may think you're braking. Yes I know your brake lights would be brighter and there's another brake light on the rear door, but people behind you might not know that... Wasn't this the point of modifying the sensitivity and delay?

[LaoK User account deleted at own request. Find all posts View Profile Close LaoK]

Re: Kakadu Customisable Features

It clicks and the dash dims down but I am not sure if it is just park lights or headlamps. Hard to tell.

Either one of them (park lights or headlamps) would indicate that the light sensor is still too sensitive or the delay is not set long enough. Parklights, would be the dash dimming only and headlamps would be dash dimming and headlight indicator being lit on the dash. Not only do you not want to have ur headlights to come on to immitate "flashing" someone ahead of you, but you also don't want your parkers to go on as people behind you may think you're braking. Yes I know your brake lights would be brighter and there's another brake light on the rear door, but people behind you might not know that... Wasn't this the point of modifying the sensitivity and delay?

Yep! I keep playing with the sensitivity setting trying both + and - and the delay is set to LONG but they still come on too quickly as I drive in a shadow. *sigh*

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

Re: Kakadu Customisable Features

Yep! I keep playing with the sensitivity setting trying both + and - and the delay is set to LONG but they still come on too quickly as I drive in a shadow. *sigh*

Oh well, I suppose there's no winning this battle. I guess I'm a bit spoilt or just take these things for granted. I've had automatic lights on the past few cars I've had and and now that I've got a GXL (which I thought had automatic lights - but doesn't!), I sometimes find myself driving with the lights on the next day! "flashing" someone or "fake braking" is the least of my worries lol :lol:

Goodluck with finding a fix

[Vxpress Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Vxpress]

Re: Kakadu Customisable Features

Hey guys,
Not 100% positive but I had a quick look at the customisable features a couple of months back and I assumed the light delay was refering to how long the headlights stayed switched on after the vehicle was turned off. i will have a look again when I get home if i remember. I turned the sensitivity of my light sensor right down as they were turning on going under an overpass. the problem now is on dusk I think the lights should be on but the sensors arent turning them on and i end up doing it manually. Just cant win either way but all in all it is only a minor niggle :P .
all the best!

[D4DDave Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4DDave]

Has anyone experienced greater luck more recently with the setting "time elapsed before headlights automatically turn on" in attempting to avoid them turning on momentarily when going under underpasses? At my recent 10,000km service I asked the dealer to change the delay to "long" which they said they did, but I'm not sure it's any different. When dropping the vehicle off I asked them how long "long" is but they couldn't tell me *sigh*. I don't want to adjust the "light sensor sensitivity" as then i will enivitably have the problem of the lights not turning on at dusk as Vexpress refers to above. It's definately *time* sensitivity rather than *light* sensitivity that needs to be adjusted.

David.

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

Years ago I had a motorbike that always had its headlights on as a factory setting I think it was a govt' requirement for manufacturers to give better visibility to riders - I didn''t mind as I used to ride almost always with lights on any of the bikes I had even when it wasn't built in. You would have to be a bit stiff if they pinged you in WA for the lights infringement if you had this 'lights always on' setup. Whenever we travel as a family on holidays I have them on most times as well

[D4DDave Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4DDave]

Vichel,

I think Laok is specifically referring to the running of *fog* lamps in other than inclement conditions in the post above. One can get pinged for this in the eastern states as well - certainly in NSW at least. I don't think anyone's suggesting they've got fined for running their low beam headlamps during the day.

Cheers,

David.