Lemon law? Not sure what to do anymore.

[yayforaddison]

Blah where to start...

I have just over 5k miles on my FRS, but I feel like its a non stop struggle with problems.

Idle dip is driving me crazy but the dealer here still doesn't have the fix for it and keeps telling me to check back (I've checked back for about 2-3 months).

Fuel pump was replaced once for the crickets under hood sound. Well the noise came back on my way home, took the car back, and now they said the sound is normal.

Condensation in the right tail light was fixed last month and now I have some in the left.

2nd and 3rd gear grinds have gotten so bad, I've been double clutching and not having much luck. Even today I was IN 3rd gear, went to downshift so I pushed my clutch, pit it in nutural, decided to just stay in 3rd, and the car wouldn't even go back into to gear...

I am so stressed and frustrated. This car is only 5-6 months old and has just over 5k miles!! Why am I having so many problems!? I really am unsure what to do but I don't think I want this car anymore. It was supposed to be my daily, but I can't have a daily in and out of the shop as much as it needs. Should I try and see if Toyota will buy it back? Try and call about a possible lemon? I need ideas...

[cnk]

Lemon law usually only pertains to 1 specific issue with the car that the dealer has not been able to rectify after X number of days. You would have to check with your state laws to see if you qualify. Unfortunately, this is what usually happens with a first year car. Honestly I don't consider the condensation issue to be much of a problem, just take it in and get it replaced. This is not the first car with this issue and it seems to be becoming more prevalent. I know my sister's RSX had the same issue with condensation in the taillights.

For the crickets, have you tried filling up with Shell gas instead? Many have reported that they went away afterwards.

For the idle dip, unless you have also received a CEL, then there isn't much ground to stand on. If you did get a CEL and you're saying that your dealer hasn't done anything, have you tried calling Scion corporate? Some have had success that way.

I don't know what to tell you about the gears grinding though. . .haven't heard much about that issue. Have you checked fluid levels? Changed fluid to see if it will go away?

[yayforaddison]

As far as using shell, it's pretty much the main station I fill up at. No luck with the shell gas here. I e tried other stations tho with no luck.

The idle dip is crazy in my car. No CEL, but the idle dips low enough in my car for all the dash lights to come on. It's driving me up the wall.

With the grinding gears, I feel like at 5k miles, me having to change the fluids already just sounds crazy. A car this new and already needs work on the transmission.



Sorry for the rant, I'm just very heated today after getting in the car and not being able to have a single normal drive without one of these issues popping up on my way to work.

[Toxic78]

There are posts in the Mechanical Maintenance (Oil, Fluids, Break-In, Servicing) forums regarding the grinding and how a fluid change will either fix it or occur much less frequently.

Take a look at this for starters
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16604

There are other threads where people have changed the fluid out and noticed a lot of metal particulates on the magnetic drain plug.

[TOMIMOTO]

Originally Posted by Toxic78

There are posts in the Mechanical Maintenance (Oil, Fluids, Break-In, Servicing) forums regarding the grinding and how a fluid change will either fix it or occur much less frequently.

Take a look at this for starters
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16604

There are other threads where people have changed the fluid out and noticed a lot of metal particulates on the magnetic drain plug.

I've also seen threads of people getting their cars with little to no tranny/diff fluid in there. I would definitely check it out.

[Dezoris]

Fluids are a must. There are plenty of other performance oriented cars, not just the BRZ/FRS that has benefited greatly from changing trans/diff fluid right away. And some where oil changes earlier smooth out minor quirks in engine performance.

I have tail light condensation as well, swapped it once. Came back and I just ignored it and it evaporated in a month. Also had idle dip, but got a CEL. ECU has been on back order now for over 2 months.

[yayforaddison]

I think you guys are missing the point that I'm kind of fed up. Some of these things going wrong are a bit obsessive to need worked on this early.

I did my first oil change at 1,200 miles. Second at 4,000. Some people were saying it would help with the idle dip. No luck.

I had just gotten my fuel pump replaced and the noise came back once I got home.

I had just gotten my tail light replaced and a week later the other one had condensation.

Needing to change my transmission fluid this early just seems so extreme. What happens if I change it, and it's still grinding?



My fear is that after all this frustration, and replacing stuff this early, 30k miles down the road, near the end of my warranty, I'll still be stuck with the car and wish I would have done something sooner.

Last year I bought a car, the 3rd month it was in the shop 23 times for MAJOR mechanical problems. I don't want this car to put me through that same hell, look back and say, "why did I not do something when I had the chance".

[Toxic78]

I can understand your frustration, especially since your car has been in 23 times in 3 months, that's absurd. Even though its extreme to replace diff/tranny fluid in a new car, it comes with benefits but I understand still worrying about the grinding even after putting new fluid in.

Best of luck

[Dezoris]

Constant grinds are a more major problem. Some notchiness and cold shift issues are one thing straight up grinding is obviously not normal.

Given your situation I would generate a case with Scion and slowly escalate and grind up the chain along with getting a district technician on the dealer side involved and work on a buy back of your car. But you know already the work and patience you will need to follow through on this. Ane no one is going to care enough about it unless you push it.

I personally have had 6 issues major one unresolved, I get it. We all hit a point where you need to cut your loses.

[raz0rbladez909]

I dunno if KY has a lemon law or not, but typically if your state does try calling a lemon law lawyer and they should be able to tell you whether you have a case or not. Usually they will go after the car company to foot the bill so you pay nothing out of pocket, at least thats how it was in California for me.

[fistpoint]

You could always add it to the plethora of used FR-S's out there now...probably for the same reasons.

Since they are somewhat difficult to find in exact colors, you might have several people in your area trying to find one. Selling privately you might not lose too much money at all.

[Shizzaw]

I feel your pain. I didn't have any of the same problems you are having with the exception of the idle dip, but I did have my CEL and ASL light at 200 miles and now had my engine completely crap out at 3790 miles. I've owned it since August and its now been in the shop twice for a total of 42 days...and counting. I'm told parts are on backorder now so who knows when I'll get it back. Hopefully before Christmas but I am seriously considering the same thing...lemon law. I've already contacted corporate for both problems. Tomorrow I will be contacting a lawyer to see my options.

[yayforaddison]

Ugh yea I really don't want to do it, but I think I need to. I don't want to go through the stress I did with the car I bought last year. I ended up selling the car for $4k less then I paid, and I sold it only 9 months after I bought it.

I love this car but this is so overwhelming. I am such a busy person and don't have time to keep going into the dealer. I bought this car to drive daily and bought a project to play with. Just sold the project and now I'm worried about being carless. I hope Toyota understands and just wants to buy it back. If not, I'm taking it to get the other stuff fixed again and again until its considered a lemon.

[yayforaddison]

Originally Posted by Shizzaw

I feel your pain. I didn't have any of the same problems you are having with the exception of the idle dip, but I did have my CEL and ASL light at 200 miles and now had my engine completely crap out at 3790 miles. I've owned it since August and its now been in the shop twice for a total of 42 days...and counting. I'm told parts are on backorder now so who knows when I'll get it back. Hopefully before Christmas but I am seriously considering the same thing...lemon law. I've already contacted corporate for both problems. Tomorrow I will be contacting a lawyer to see my options.

I'm sorry to hear about this by the way.

Here in KY if its in the shop for 30+ days, it's a lemon.