Service 75 000 Km What Did They Do?

April 30, 2010

Last week I had my 75 000 service at Toyota same place where I've been doing it. Close to work so very handy. I didn't go there for the accelerator fix for which I received the letter. I decided to wait and do both things at once. I also reported the 2 problems I had now the passenger cup holder not opening well and making noise (these things suck because I don't use them much and I replaced the drivers one already) and the creek noise coming from the hood during cold weather. They said it was mostly the alternator belt which had too much humidity could require replacement or just a maintenance they only did a maintenance on it.

I also noticed that they are using (at least the card says so) Toyota motor oil not BP anymore. They washed my car and gave me the Eurocare for free this year. I'm guessing this was the compensations for the pedal issue. Not bad the Eurocare costs 12 euros. But its something that most likely I won't use anyway....

Anyway I'm writing this topic mostly because of the car behavior since then. Don't take me wrong the car behavior seems now better it might just be an impression or not. On the day I brought the car from there I decided to stretch a little didn't do it for a while. I was very impressed with the result. I cannot say for sure but it seemed that I was going to hit the 200 Km/h barrier something I never did with it. Once I managed to hit 194 Km/h (GPS reading) going down hill from a mountain in spain. But this time I was making my regular route on the Vasco da Gama bridge, there was no strong winds from behind as it usual sometimes, and I just couldn't verify it because there cars in front. Normally there the max I can get is 180 Km/h or 190 Km/h if i push him well not the case this time.

I didn't try anything after this because during day there is traffic and its not safe to do this stunts and also most likely I couldn't reach the max because there would be cars in front. However I noticed something else yesterday. My car a 1.4 D4D by the way I forgot to mention that at 120 Km/h was making consumptions of 5.5 to 6l/100Km this was the normal for him that is why I was many time just going 100 Km/h to keep the consumption low. Yesterday I decided to hit the instant consumption because I noticed the average was low given the case I was going 120 Km/h this last week. Surprise, surprise, going at 120 I get an instant comsumption of 4.2 to 5l/100km this is a big reduction compared to what I used to see.

So what a hell did they do to my car? 3 possibilities:

- Electronics was reprogrammed (new mapping schemes maybe giving better fuel economy and better power output)

- Accelerator fix 1 (somehow the accelerator has was by default was not working well)

- Accelerator fix 2 (due to the accelerator fix I'm getting wrong readings now)

I have my doubts on the last 2 any ideas?

April 30, 2010

Well that's a strange situation. I'm also from Portugal, my Auris is also a 1.4 D4D like yours.

At 120Km/h, usualy the consumption is about 5.5-6L as you've mentioned. So, mine has 32000kms, I have to wait something like 40000 to get my car realy having soul!!!

Mine did also the pedal thing, and nothing hapened because of that. No diference I can asure you. What it seems that happened is that recently Toyota reprogramed the 1.4 D4D to lower CO2 emissions. Since my car's turbo had to be replaced when it was 13000kms, I felt a small worse difference until 1800RPM. I don't know if is because of that, but consumption did not make a difference back then.

I began to notice smaller consumption after 20000kms, always between 5.5 and 6, never beign greater than 6.2, even when I spend weeks on city traffic!!!

Do you usualy hang around portuguese forums? I usualy pass by Autohoje and Toyotistas!

May 3, 2010

No normally I'm only here. Well I have to make the test of max speed with GPS if possible to be sure something was done. Right now from the reading I say something was done. But you never know readings can be wrong or something. I do know the new Auris is announced to consume 4.5 l/100 thats half a liter less this can only be done having consumptions around what I gave. It can also be that the car is more "loose" now parts are not making so much friction. Lets see I will update this once I get the a clear road to do it.