First service disaster

[EricIsBanaman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close EricIsBanaman]

Hi all, I was hoping that my first post on here would be something fun.... But what happened to me has left me feeling sick. I need some advice so hopefully some of you can provide it. Our brand new, ok three month old GXL 150 had its first proper service on Thursday last week, and all seemed ok. However the next morning as my wife went to work via the freeway, just as she entered the freeway the red oil light came on. She said it flickered on for around two seconds then went off. It came on again after about ten seconds, staying on briefly as before then went off again. Then after approx one minute the Orange oil light came on and stayed on. She was in the outside lane and on a downhill section of the freeway. She got over to the inside lane but couldn't pull over safely( I have always told here to Never stop on the freeway) so she travelled approx three or so kilometers until she could cross a bridge at the bottom of the hill and get to a safe stopping zone ( northbound on M1 coming down to Hawkesbury river bridge for you sydneysiders). She called me and the NRMA, the roadside guy got there first and told her there was no oil in the car, it was all on the road and the underside and back of the Prado.........( insert expletives here) . First brand new car I have ever bought and I am horrified. It gets better too, when I called the service department very unhappy they told me to drive it back to them!!!! About twenty k's....sort of wish I did now. So my question is.... The service manager is telling me it will be fine don't worry we'll make sure it's ok, but I dont think anyone will know unless they pull it down and check the whole lot. A pressure test and knock test won't really tell anything I don't think but can anyone tell me what they think.??? Really appreciate any responses ASAP.
Thanks, Travis

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

Time to get a solicitor to write a very pointed letter pointing out the responsibility of the service centre and getting everything on the record.

[EricIsBanaman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close EricIsBanaman]

Yep going down that route now....can't belive this its a nightmare.

[SimpleSi Member Find all posts View Profile Close SimpleSi]

My last Toyota service resulted in oil leaking onto my garage floor immediately after. Took it back and the service manager stated it looked like "the guys hadn't tightened the sump drain plug up sufficiently". Muppets. That was the last time a toyota service agent touched my car.
Hope it works out OK.

[EricIsBanaman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close EricIsBanaman]

I think I don't want that car back. I mean how can you know what has happened to the engine. I bought this car to tour with my family and not at all confident the engine has not been damaged. Not to mention the fact that the whole underside of the car is totally covered in oil, every bushing, the tyres, will all those components be ok after being covered in oil. And it happened on Friday, I know the car hasn't been detailed as it was sitting at the dealership over the weekend for more tests today, knock sensors and compression tests apparently.... Not a mechanic but I'm a sparky so have some mechanical understanding, enough to know trouble when it's in front of me.....again first and only new car ever... So so disappointed.

[EricIsBanaman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close EricIsBanaman]

Not a drop on our driveway where it sat overnight. Guys from the RTA or RMS clean up crew ( who were called by the NRMA mech. Said they saw a bit of a dump of oil at the on ramp that my wife came down, then nothing much as it was dispersed into droplets at the speed she was driving (110kmh zone). I was so livid at the time I took heaps of photos but didn't check if the sump plug was in there. Talking to NRMA to get the report of roadside mech. Who did look under the car. The stealership evaded the question when I asked them about the plug told me washer was split too. Wish I checked that out straight away

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

The engine running without oil pressure will most likely at least damaged the big end bearings and main bearings, I would expect a visual inspection of bearings, journals as a start. Keep in contact with NMRA and use their knowledge base and technical support to push the issue. Filling with oil and then a compression test etc. will not definitely indicate the condition of engine internals that rely on oil pressure to lubricate and in the case of crank bearing/journals keep them separate as they run on the oil film between their surfaces .

Lee

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

Travis was this Phil McCarrol?

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

Ryan;
Talking about about dealers.. you might like to read about my transfercase story.
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...fer+case+noise
Atleast mine was running... even if I had to stop every few hundred Ks and top up the transfer case.

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

Snewby, after my current debacle is sorted out I think it will be going elsewhere... any suggestions?

[EricIsBanaman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close EricIsBanaman]

Not phil mcarroll

[QUOTE=EricIsBanaman;527877]Hi all, I was hoping that my first post on here would be something fun.... But what happened to me has left me feeling sick. I need some advice so hopefully some of you can provide it. Our brand new, ok three month old GXL 150 had its first proper service on Thursday last week, and all seemed ok. However the next morning as my wife went to work via the freeway, just as she entered the freeway the red oil light came on. She said it flickered on for around two seconds then went off. It came on again after about ten seconds, staying on briefly as before then went off again. Then after approx one minute the Orange oil light came on and stayed on. She was in the outside lane and on a downhill section of the freeway. She got over to the inside lane but couldn't pull over safely( I have always told here to Never stop on the freeway) so she travelled approx three or so kilometers until she could cross a bridge at the bottom of the hill and get to a safe stopping zone ( northbound on M1 coming down to Hawkesbury river bridge for you sydneysiders). She called me and the NRMA, the roadside guy got there first and told her there was no oil in the car, it was all on the road and the underside and back of the Prado.........( insert expletives here) . First brand new car I have ever bought and I am horrified. It gets better too, when I called the service department very unhappy they told me

Travis was this Phil McCarrol?

No it was just down the road a bit from them.......won't name names yet

[EricIsBanaman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close EricIsBanaman]

Thanks Lee, I need a bit of that sort of technical stuff for the fight that is brewing, much appreciated

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

Sorry to hear about what happened. The bad news, there is a fair likelihood of damage within the engine due to oil starvation of a whole bunch of pretty sensitive components including bearings in the engine and in the turbo. The damage may not show up immediately but may take a while to show up. The damage may be either due to direct mechanical contact due to a lack of oil, or due to overheating of what oil was left.

If it was me I would do everything in my power to have the engine replaced. Having said that unfortunately it won't be an easy path, but you have pretty strong grounds.

An alternative strategy would be to insist on regular oil sampling at the dealers cost by an independent lab for at least the next 50,000 kms to see if anything is showing signs of failure.

Which ever option that you choose it is critical that you get a sample of the oil that is currently in the engine. Also do another oil change within a very short period and get that oil tested. This will show if there is any immediate internal damage to the engine. This will provide strong factual evidence for any legal action.

[EricIsBanaman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close EricIsBanaman]

No chance of oil sample as it towed to the dealer on Friday and they tried to get me to take it back that morning...."it will be fine and we will do more tests next week" The service manager said... No way was I taking it anywhere, but I won't get a sample now that i can trust. I will be pushing for a new engine, and replacements of all components in under body that had been sitting soaked in oil for at least from Friday to today as I know it sat at dealers for the weekend. So new tyres and all bushings, might be cheaper for them to take this one of meand replace it I think....Hahahhahhaaah as if they will want to do that

[EricIsBanaman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close EricIsBanaman]

Thanks again for all and any info people, still can't believe it... First new car I have ever bought and this happens....AAaArRgGh