So my brother took my car to do an oil change, and he told me my car was feeling sluggish so he checked my car. He told me that my two front struts are leaking and it is covered by warrenty so take it to the dealer.

I took it to Central City Philadelphia and they said nothing was wrong with it. It seems as it had a detailed overspray. I asked the lady what that means, she said, 'I don't know what it means.... let me think, did you have you car detailed recently? you over detailed it'

My brother then told me that they are leaking. He's a mechanic, he said they probably wiped the leaking grease off. My other friend told me that dealers do really wanna screw people over especially on warrenty since they get nothing out of it.

Please advise what to do. Should i call Scion Corp up or take it to another dealer later this afternoon ?

 

take it to another dealership and tell the dealership they're morons and will never get your business again - and make sure you tell that to the service manager - not a lackey.

I sure hope your front strut isn't leaking oil... that would be an odd coincidence since it's filled with nitrogen.....

and what about detailing your car? detail overspray from over detailing your car? on your strut?? WHA?? what could you possibly spray in the vicinity of your strut that would be considered overspray? Tire gel? I mean come on....

"Yeah my car feels sluggish" "Well that's because you cleaned it too much" "oh, ok, thanks"

 

take your car to the dealership and tell your front struts are leaking and that you demand them take it out and look at it because it's covered under warranty. they'll replace them for free so dO IT!!! =) anywayz if they keep giving u the runaround take it to different places and have them look at it ...if they say the same thing then it's leaking for sure. i had the same problem except mine wasn't both fronts only my front driver side. i got mine replaced directly from a the dealer...

 

i went to another dealer and told them my story and they said they will go with what the other dealer said. they wil charge me if there is nothing wrong with it... but if there is then they wil replace it

then i told them, "do you know it'll cost more to fix my car if there are leaks on my struts and it causes damage? and it'll also be covered by warenty" and they said yes.... so i am assuming there is nothing wrong with it.... just 'Detail overspray"
and i never washed my tires with any shining products....

we'll see what happens

 

man don't tell the other dealer your story...they'll just take the same side because they know it's a warranty job. just tell them your getting alot of shaking in the car when u hit a bump and u believe it's a leaking strut, bad strut, blown strut what ever but don't tell them u been around and they all told u nothins wrong.

 

PLUS if you know its' leaking for SURE...even if they say its going to cost u for them to look at it ..u have nothin to worry about because as long as it IS leaking then it's warranty.

 

Being a mechanic let me give you some advise...........

your firs coment on dealerships screwing people kinda ____ed me off as I work for a dealership and do everything I can to help people. even it effects me. That is a very common sterotype and really bugs me. yes some techs will try to squeeze their way out of warranty as it doesn't pay as much. however it is their obligation to make sure you don't come back ____ed off. so please just try to give some of us a better name.


detail overspray is not what it sounds like, I'm a honda tech (toyota uses alot of the same parts as honda) and what this means is that yes they are leaking, BUT it is a very small amount of fluid is very common on alot of japanese stuts. this happens during the break in procedure of the shocks/ struts and is nothing to worry about.

do a shock test on the vehicle, Push down on the front end several times, get it moving good. If it pops up and then stops you have nothing to worry about. if it continues to bounce after you let go (goes up then down then up agian) your struts are blown. your dealer will replace them under warranty and you will not be charged with a diagnosis fee, its illegal.

 

if the leak is large enough to run half the strut or has a build up of fluid on the spring base then they are leaking bad enough to replace. if they are leaking enough to make a difference in ride quality you will be able to notice the leak.

take some pictures of the leak, it will really help determine if it is bad enough to worry about.

 

Where does the small amount of fluid during break in come from? Is it something to do with assembly of the strut when it is made?

I don't really understand this. I thought the strut body was a sealed unit for hydraulic pressure, etc..

Paul G.