Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - View Single Post - Dealing with dealership over transmission issues

G.I.Choe · 01-08-2014, 12:35 AM

So I've posted in various threads here about the 5th gear grind (lots of threads about this issue) and I was hoping for some feedback and advice.

I purchased my 2013 Scion FR-S in March of 2013. A few months in, I began noticing a quick, short grind when downshifting from 6th to 5th at highway speeds (usually above 65 mph). My fuel pump started chirping too.

I took it in to the dealer (Bob Smith Toyota in La Crescenta, CA), and they told me they were unable to replicate the grind. They ordered a fuel pump and sent me on my way.

While I was waiting for the fuel pump, my 3rd and 4th gears started making a noticeable crunch, but did not feel like they were grinding. I mentioned this to the dealership when I took it back in after the fuel pump had arrived. They said they were unable to replicate it as well. I requested that they perform a tranny fluid swap, as some of the threads here mentioned that the fluid was pretty bad from the factory. They said they'd have to charge me $180 for that. I said no and took it home.

Finally, after a few months of this going in, my 5th gear grind became intolerably loud, but I didn't want to take it back yet again and have them state that it was unable to be reproduced.

Luckily, @way too fast motorsports got in contact with me over these forums and said that he'd do a fluid swap for cheap. He recommended Amsoil, so I went ahead with it. I took a look at the old fluid, it looked like brown-green puke.

Immediately after the fluid swap, I noticed that my 3rd and 4th gear issues went away, but the 5th gear grind was still there. I took it back to WTFMotorsports and he told me it sounded like a synchro issue.

I took it BACK to Bob Smith Toyota, and they sent a mechanic to ride with me while I tried to reproduce it. I was able to do so, and I mentioned the entire above story to him. However, the moment I mentioned the fluid swap, his whole attitude immediately changed and stated that I had "voided my warranty by performing a fluid swap". From the way he talked, he made it sound like I had slapped in a turbocharger or something.

I went on Amsoil's website and on their warranty page (http://www.amsoil.com/warrantysecure.aspx) it specifically states that using their product does not void my warranty. I mean seriously, it's a fucking fluid swap.

What should I do? I'm going back to the dealership on the 16th (they didn't have any rentals for me to use while they documented the issue), should I print that out and show this to them? Is that dealership just incompetent? And have any of you run into dealership issues like these?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

01-08-2014, 12:35 AM	#1
G.I.Choe Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: 2013 Scion FRS Argento Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 79 Thanks: 28 Thanked 41 Times in 17 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Dealing with dealership over transmission issues So I've posted in various threads here about the 5th gear grind (lots of threads about this issue) and I was hoping for some feedback and advice. I purchased my 2013 Scion FR-S in March of 2013. A few months in, I began noticing a quick, short grind when downshifting from 6th to 5th at highway speeds (usually above 65 mph). My fuel pump started chirping too. I took it in to the dealer (Bob Smith Toyota in La Crescenta, CA), and they told me they were unable to replicate the grind. They ordered a fuel pump and sent me on my way. While I was waiting for the fuel pump, my 3rd and 4th gears started making a noticeable crunch, but did not feel like they were grinding. I mentioned this to the dealership when I took it back in after the fuel pump had arrived. They said they were unable to replicate it as well. I requested that they perform a tranny fluid swap, as some of the threads here mentioned that the fluid was pretty bad from the factory. They said they'd have to charge me $180 for that. I said no and took it home. Finally, after a few months of this going in, my 5th gear grind became intolerably loud, but I didn't want to take it back yet again and have them state that it was unable to be reproduced. Luckily, @way too fast motorsports got in contact with me over these forums and said that he'd do a fluid swap for cheap. He recommended Amsoil, so I went ahead with it. I took a look at the old fluid, it looked like brown-green puke. Immediately after the fluid swap, I noticed that my 3rd and 4th gear issues went away, but the 5th gear grind was still there. I took it back to WTFMotorsports and he told me it sounded like a synchro issue. I took it BACK to Bob Smith Toyota, and they sent a mechanic to ride with me while I tried to reproduce it. I was able to do so, and I mentioned the entire above story to him. However, the moment I mentioned the fluid swap, his whole attitude immediately changed and stated that I had "voided my warranty by performing a fluid swap". From the way he talked, he made it sound like I had slapped in a turbocharger or something. I went on Amsoil's website and on their warranty page (http://www.amsoil.com/warrantysecure.aspx) it specifically states that using their product does not void my warranty. I mean seriously, it's a fucking fluid swap. What should I do? I'm going back to the dealership on the 16th (they didn't have any rentals for me to use while they documented the issue), should I print that out and show this to them? Is that dealership just incompetent? And have any of you run into dealership issues like these? Thanks for taking the time to read this.