cmose

Have a less then 3 year old 05 tc, just out of the warranty period (by about 2k miles). Driving down the road today and my power steering dies and the car starts over heating. Well, according to the dealership, my drive belt and alternator "fell apart" (that's a direct quote). This really doesn't strike me as something that ought to happen on a barely 3 year old vehicle (I know, I know, sometimes crap just happens). Anyone else out there have any problems with the drive belt or alternator?

Yanki01

i have an 05 and no problems? :knocks on wood: Im guessing you didnt get extended warranty?

SeanstC

uhm.. the alternator itself fell apart or the belt? hell if its the alternator grenading id go to the dealer and rip some butt dude.. wtf..

jbae1221

maybe your belt broke.. that makes sense

InExe

Yea, I think I would be giving the dealership a piece of my mind if I were you. Thats really crappy man.

sciontc_mich

sounds like your dealer wasn't inspecting the drivebelt much during routine maintenance, sometimes these belts do just break. Most of the time they give warning, if you know what you're looking for! Sounds like a lazy dealer.

cmose

yeah it's both the alternator and the drive belt that are trashed, a nice fat near 1k repair bill. I've already given them a good strong piece of my mind but they're standing firm that it's outside the warranty so there is flat out nothing they can do about it...

sciontc_mich

if you do have to pay i wouldn't give them a damn penny for the work. Find another dealer. since the dealer you're going to, I assume that this is the same one that has been doing "routine maintenance" on the car? Then they're idiots! To miss a drivebelt (serpentine belt, one belt for all components) that is wearing is really lazy!

Then I'd stand firm that you're taking your car somewhere else! Stupid dealers, i can see why Toyota service is at the bottom of the survey lists! with treatment like this no wonder!

SeanstC

it is just the belts that are fubared? if so dude replace em yourself for about 50 bucks or less

draxcaliber

call scion corporate, they might decide to push the warranty.

your car shouldn't be two years old, at 38 thousand miles, and the alternator just falls apart. that is either factory defect, or p!$$ poor maitenance by your dealership.

call scion corporate.

cmose

it's not just the belt, the alternator is shot as well...

SeanstC

yeah i agree with drax man.. rail some corporate bung hole dude

sciontc_mich

but i wouldn't pay that damn dealer a penny.. they missed the belt wearing.

wait.. are you saying that the alternator screwed up which cause the belt to shred? if so, i'd be talking to corporate..

cmose

Yeah I'm going to try and call corporate tomorrow as they're currently closed. My impression from the dealer is that the alternator "fell apart" and the drive belt also "fell apart", I'm not clear as to which caused the other or whether they were to coincidental occurrences... I'll definitely be railing on the corporate customer service tomorrow (although I'm reasonably certain it'll get me no where).

Unfortunately I've got to deal with this dealer, it would just be too much of a massive inconvenience to try and tow it to another dealership and have them order the part. Which is completely bollocks I know, but overall I have some faith in them as we've taken several different vehicles to them for a few years now and they are generally pretty good about catching things...

wibblywobbly

what exactly is the 1k repair bill for?

cmose

I'm given to understand that it is mainly the alternator causing that repair bill (820 to be precise)

sciontc_mich

well i just did an internet search for scion tc alternators.. and found them for$141-275..napaonline has them for $164 + core price of $38.50! 100 amp output!!You're saying at your dealership..$820 for an alternator that ? hahaha.. wow you are so getting ripped off! sounds like a GREAT dealership you got there alright!

BZinn1

We need to find someone in the local area to fix it right there at the dealers lot for under $200.......hey if they will not warrenty it fix it your self.........my second car is just out of warenty and I do all the work now myself........as they willnot warenty the drivetrane anymore........screw them.....make them push it to the lot edge and have a Scion group fix it onthe road in like 30 minutes.....

cmose

good god that's a huge labor charge if the part is approx. $200. That's just absurd. Unfortunately I may be too late to do anything about it as I think they were going to start work first thing this morning. Damn damn and double damn. I just got off the phone with scion customer service who is going to "open a case" about it. I'm sure nothing will ever come of that.

blazeplacid

Scion is very good about calling people back.
I submitted a claim about my dealer charging me some extra fees. Scion called me back in about 3 hours and the dealer called me the next day. Thats pretty good customer service