Ottawa FR-S

[pwned88]

What is it with newer cars and tail lights? Mine are frigging fogging and I'm off warranty.

[GodDamage]

Originally Posted by pwned88

What is it with newer cars and tail lights? Mine are frigging fogging and I'm off warranty.

There was an initial manufacturing problem with the FRS/BRZ tail lights, they were being torqued too hard while being sealed at the factory causing fractures in the light

[86gt?]

Originally Posted by UMB FR-S

did you just paint the outside or did you open them up? looks pretty good from the pics

I just did 2 coats on the exterior. Hopefully it holds up. Yeah there was water leaking into them through the gaskets while I was rinsing them during wet sand.

Forgot to mention at the meet that there will be an ecu update available for our cars soon. It will fix the rpm dip at idle and potentially other things as well.

[FRS_Ken]

If you were considering using the UPS Store in Ogdensburg NY ( http://theupsstorelocal.com/2946/pro...iving-services ) to save on shipping costs within the US, there is an available alternative service at the FedEx location in Ogdensburg too.

ROETHEL PARCEL SERVICE
http://roethelparcel.com/1.html

The following additional information was emailed to me outlining the costs and limitations.
These guys are actually cheaper; their $5/package fee is monthly, whereas UPS’ is weekly.
I have not personally used this new service, so let us know if you do and your experience.

Cheers,
Ken

From: Laurellee Roethel [mailto:roethelparcel@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 1:10 PM
To: Ken Boden
Subject: Re: Parcel Service?

Hello,

We charge $5.00 per package or tire, $2.00 per shipping envelope, and $10.00 for any package exceeding 100 lbs. These rates are for thirty (30) days.

If you are shipping freight, then the cost is $25.00 per skid/pallet, for two days , with an additional $5.00 per day after that.

We accept parcels/shipments from any and all carriers, and there is no size limit.

We hold items for the initial thirty day period, after which the charge is doubled for the next thirty days.
After sixty (60) days, we are no longer responsible for your items.

If you have any other questions, feel free to message back or call us.

Thanks,
Raymond

[roddy]

Originally Posted by CBR600RR

FYI to all the ottawa guys:

I am taking my car it to the dealer tomorrow (Tony Graham on Huntclub) to have my right tail light replaced (fishbowled). I also mentioned to them that I had the infamous crickets coming from the fuel pump, and a few other issues like the pinching window seals an rattling door speakers.

After just mentioning this to the service manager on the phone, he said "no problem ill order you new tail lights and a fuel pump that's supposed to fix the crickets and we will replace them when you come in for your appointment. We will also look at your other issues and determine a course of action."

Well the appointment is tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes, if the crickets are gone, and what they might do about my other minor issues.

I took mine in this morning for a right tail light as well...I hope you made out better than I did.

[UMB FR-S]

Originally Posted by 86gt?

I just did 2 coats on the exterior. Hopefully it holds up. Yeah there was water leaking into them through the gaskets while I was rinsing them during wet sand.

Forgot to mention at the meet that there will be an ecu update available for our cars soon. It will fix the rpm dip at idle and potentially other things as well.

did you clear coat it? if not i would recommend doing that also to try and avoid fading.

[CBR600RR]

Originally Posted by roddy

I took mine in this morning for a right tail light as well...I hope you made out better than I did.

The dealer gave me no issues. The tail lights were replaced and the fuel pump as well. I haven't had a chance to listen for the crickets yet though, but I didn't notice them when in the car at a light. Ill update further tomorrow.

[ymboc]

I've lost track of the crickets thread... is the fuel pump the final fix? Is that the end of it?

Did they do many diagnostics before deciding to replace the fuel pump?

[roddy]

Originally Posted by CBR600RR

The dealer gave me no issues. The tail lights were replaced and the fuel pump as well. I haven't had a chance to listen for the crickets yet though, but I didn't notice them when in the car at a light. Ill update further tomorrow.

Long story short... The dealer didn't cause me any grief, Toyota Canada did.

Long version:
My dealership has already replaced one tail light on another customer's car. They saw the water, ordered a combination lamp, and replaced it. Toyota Canada didn't like this and told them to do things a little differently next time... I was the next time. They were instructed to a) remove the lamp assembly and inspect. b) use a heat gun to "dry out" the lamp housing ( LMFAO...sounds like a bean counter's decision, and not the smartest thing I've ever heard). c) send the customer (me) on their way and see if they get a call back when the condensation returns.

I wasn't happy. once the water is in there, it's in there. There's no drying it out. Even if by some miracle the water disappears, I'll still be able to see marks where the water had been running down the inside of the lense. They did as instructed, and as soon as the car was pulled outside, the tail light fogged up. Fail. That's one day of my holidays wasted away on nothing. There is a brand new lamp assembly sitting there, but they can't put it in because they just used the only gasket they had to try something that I (and the tech) knew wouldn't work. GRRR... Now I'm waiting on another gasket (maybe today, maybe Friday) so they can do a proper job of it.

Something to note... The flanged nuts that hold the housing to the body are part of the problem. The flange isn't big enough and barely covers the hole (only about 1mm larger than the hole on top and bottom and the hole is oval, so no coverage to the left and right). Subaru's latest TSB has addressed this with new nuts that have a larger flange. Toyota's TSB (I'm told) doesn't show the new nuts yet. There is a secondary problem that goes along with this... water is not only making it's way into the tail light, but into the trunk as well. Before I took the car in, I removed the interior panels inside the trunk myself. I could see water/dirt marks where water had been getting past the nuts and running down into the bottom of the quarter panel. There are drain holes in the bottom of the 1/4 panel, so water won't accumulate, but still, what a sh!tty design. I went next door to the Subi dealer to see if I could get the proper nuts, but no dice until next week.

My solution? I went to the local nut&bolt store and got some 3/16" X 3/4" O.D. fender washers. The 3/16" I.D. fits the stud on the housing perfectly (and is much easier to find than the actual 5mm stud size), and the 3/4" O.D. should completely cover the mounting holes. I gave the washers to the tech for when I come back. He figures they'll do the job nicely and agrees that the OE nuts are ridiculously small.

Sorry for the novel, but I figured it was worth noting, and giving people a heads-up on.

[CBR600RR]

Originally Posted by CBR600RR

FYI to all the ottawa guys:

I am taking my car it to the dealer tomorrow (Tony Graham on Huntclub) to have my right tail light replaced (fishbowled). I also mentioned to them that I had the infamous crickets coming from the fuel pump, and a few other issues like the pinching window seals an rattling door speakers.

After just mentioning this to the service manager on the phone, he said "no problem ill order you new tail lights and a fuel pump that's supposed to fix the crickets and we will replace them when you come in for your appointment. We will also look at your other issues and determine a course of action."

Well the appointment is tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes, if the crickets are gone, and what they might do about my other minor issues.

Update:

The crickets are definitely gone. I took the car in with a tank full of PetroCan 94 (I have found that this gas causes significant chirping). I drove home last night and then out to a friends house and back. both times driving I forgot to get out and listen for the chirping. This morning I drove into work and when I stopped in the parking garage I left the car in nertral and got out to listed.

Definitely 100% no crickets

[FRS_Ken]

I guess I haven't lived with my FR-S long enough- I don't know what the cricket sound is and I guess I don't really care(?)
Maybe at the next meet up one of you that knows what it is can listen yo mine and tell me if I need work done
To me it is a new car and everything sounds good
My new Yaris runs so silently quiter than my old 05 Corolla, the FR-S does have more engine noise at idle but, meh?

[CBR600RR]

lift the hood and listen for a hich pitched chirping sound

[FRS_Ken]

Tick tick tick ? Can't be that big of a problem...

[Pbrown]

Thanks to Roddy for the writeup on the condensation issue. Have printed it and will be bring the recommendations to Mendes when they confirm my appointment next week to have my second one replaced. Will also come in helpful when I swap mine out next spring. Gonig with the smoked crystal eyes.
On a humorous note, dropped my son off at school today, a beautiful jaguar was parked in the bus lane when I pulled up in front of him in the pornmobile, all the teachers on watch checked out our little car over the jag. That shit never gets old.