2000 Avalon - SLUDGE Story

I agree! I should have said that no Yugos were trouble-free!

NPR's Car Guys (Click & Clack, the Tappet Brothers, a.k.a. Tom & Ray Magliozzi) were asked, "What is the most reliable automobile transportation I can get for $30,000?" Their answer: "A sixpack of Yugos"

I doubt this advances the discussion of sludge in an Avalon, but it was a great moment in radio. :-)

Brent

Click & Clack, they are the automotive experts that wrote a whole article advising some lady that the front end noise on her two wheel drive Ford Aerostar was most assuredly was caused by a failing CV joint. Click said it might be a strut, but upon reflection with brother Clack, he agreed that with 159K on the clock it was more likely the CV joint. They advised her to stop driving the vehicle until she had it repaired, lest she kill her family. They never did print a retraction. LOL

mike hunt

Were the t------------- More commonly, they are missing a few volumes or issues here and there or they have not filed them in an orderly manner so that a tech can easily find the right one. If a tech has to spend 10 or 15 minutes looking for what he needs, he'll pass and take a shot in the dark.

------------ That makes sense but it appears to contradict the paragraph above beginning with "Actually, most".

Again were the topics remembered via reading and comprehension or by performing the actual task at some point?

Actually I do review a lot of TSBs in the form of data extracts. Many cover sub-systems that cross platforms and years. The manufacturers realize their data needs deeper indexes to minimize research time and dead ends. How much billable time is 10 or 15 minutes of research especially if a TSB is not found or doesn't exist?

I have gone to three different Toyota dealerships to inquire about a TSB on installing a "two-way radio" (it is in the title) in a 2003 Tacoma. Three different service managers have told that without the TSB's number they could not help me.

The excessive oil consumption topic is a bit one-off. There are enough possiblities as to cause w/out researching TSBs. The one point I am trying to make clear is that not every tech has the benefit of years of education through experience. This is why different skill levels are assigned to both technicians and tasks.

I enjoy reading your posts Ray O. Your knowledge and experience serves this group well.

regards A.G.

To clarify, the majority of dealerships kept very orderly records and filed TSB's according to subject. I should have said that I've never seen a dealership, technician, or service advisor that was missing all of their TSB's. At most, they were missing a few volumes or issues or had mis-filed them.

The filing system for TSB's is very simple. They are all placed in categories, li.e. "general" for specifications, paint codes, production changes, etc.; "NVH" for conditions related to noise, vibration, and harshness; "Engine" for engine-related conditions, "transmission and transaxle;" "steering and suspension:" "body" and "electrical."

Within each category, a bulletin lists models, serial number ranges, and production dates that the bulletin refers to.

Like I said, I remembered topics by reading and comprehension and then either performing the task myself or directing a dealer service department to perform the task to cure whatever condition the customer was complaining about. The same is probably true at most dealerships although I'm sure that there are service department personnel that have poor memories or don't read the TSB's thoroughly.

IMO, the data extracts published by third parties are not very informative. I believe the third party publishers purposely make the extracts vague enough that you have to purchase the TSB.

When Toyota publishes the TSB subject, it is usually informative enough to lead a pro to the correct one.

IMO, it is not that the dealerships could not help you, it is that they did not want to spend a great deal of time and effort to help someone who was not coming in for service.

I don't think there is a TSB on installing a two-way radio, however, information on installing a two-way radio is included in every factory service manual in the introduction. The information is the same for every vehicle: do not install the transmitter near any ECU's, install the antenna and antenna lead as far as possible from the factory installed antennas and ECU's, don't use in areas where radio transmisions are restricted like blasting zones, and install an in-line fuse for the power supply.

I agree that not every tech has the benefit of years of education through experience, but 5 minutes looking through a TSB binder should be enough for anyone to find what they are looking for.

Thank you for your kind words!

-big snip-

The first time was at the dealership on the day the truck was purchased brand spanking new and I had yet to drive it off the lot. I've never been back The second time was 5k service and the truck was on the alignment rack of a different dealership. The other time I did just walk into a third dealership.

There have been two TSBs issued on the topic, an ham that works in a dealership in NC provided copies of both. The information I was concerned with involved recommended maximum RF output (was 10 and now

regards A.G.

There is not need for a tech to remember TSBs. When one enters in the VIN# all completed, and uncompleted, recalls and TSBs pertaining to that particular vehicle are available on screen.

mike hunt

Mike,

Shhhh! Don't give away trade secrets! People are supposed to think we remember every spec about every vehicle on the road without ever referring to a book or computer!

Thanks - I learned something new today!