Fuel Gauge And The Sender Unit

[David Stevo]

Immediately following our first year's service (only did just over 5,000 miles)we unexpectedly ran out of petrol while the gauge was showing 2 full segments. After a lot of hassle from the dealer, we found out there was a service bulletin (number EG-0054T-0410-EN) issued in April 2010 that states there is an issue with the "Tube assy, fuel tank vent" affecting model codes KGJ10, NGJ10 and NUJ10. I don't pretend to know what those model codes refer to! I am told that basically the sender unit in some IQ's is faulty and gives a false reading on the fuel gauge.

The dealer replaced the wrong part (!!) and we ran out again a few days later, this time showing 3 full segments. A second dealer replaced the right part and, touch wood, the car seems to be running ok now.

Toyota GB are giving me a hard time about refunding me some costs I incurred in getting all this sorted out and I have got to the point of threatening legal proceedings. We will see if that solves the attitude problem!

What grinds my gears is that the Technical Service Bulletin says, "Warranty application is limited to correction of a problem based upon a customer's specific complaint." i.e. If the customer does not figure out he has a problem, Toyota won't tell you about it! I find that shocking from a company known for its reliability!

Oh and the dealer who gave me a copy of said Technical Service Bulletin got a huge telling off from Toyota for giving me a copy!

[allenco]

Sounds as if Toyota Customer Service could do with some lessons fron their Japanese masters on the correct way of handling complaints.All these companies have "mission statements" with the usual BS about putting the customer first when in reality they tend to treat the customer with something approaching comtempt.

If this service bulletin is so private and secret it goes against the current trend of openness and clarity etc. considering the apalling problems Toyota have brought on themselves with their attitude concerning safety issues.

Perhaps you should post your copy on this site so we could all be able to persue any complaints more effectively.

Regards

Gerry

[johnan]

Immediately following our first year's service (only did just over 5,000 miles)we unexpectedly ran out of petrol while the gauge was showing 2 full segments. After a lot of hassle from the dealer, we found out there was a service bulletin (number EG-0054T-0410-EN) issued in April 2010 that states there is an issue with the "Tube assy, fuel tank vent" affecting model codes KGJ10, NGJ10 and NUJ10. I don't pretend to know what those model codes refer to! I am told that basically the sender unit in some IQ's is faulty and gives a false reading on the fuel gauge.

The dealer replaced the wrong part (!!) and we ran out again a few days later, this time showing 3 full segments. A second dealer replaced the right part and, touch wood, the car seems to be running ok now.

Toyota GB are giving me a hard time about refunding me some costs I incurred in getting all this sorted out and I have got to the point of threatening legal proceedings. We will see if that solves the attitude problem!

What grinds my gears is that the Technical Service Bulletin says, "Warranty application is limited to correction of a problem based upon a customer's specific complaint." i.e. If the customer does not figure out he has a problem, Toyota won't tell you about it! I find that shocking from a company known for its reliability!

Oh and the dealer who gave me a copy of said Technical Service Bulletin got a huge telling off from Toyota for giving me a copy!

I usually top mine up once a week and for the last two weeks, although the automatic pump cut off has switched off the flow to the car because the tank is full, when I switch on the ignition there is one block not lit on the gauge.

After driving about a bit the top block eventually lights up.

My IQ is a KGJ10 (from the reg. doc.) so I reckon I must have one of the faulty sender units.

It would be very interesting to see that service bulletin, as I don't understand how a faulty vent tube can affect the sender unit.

[David Stevo]

I will scan the bulletin and post it here in the next day or so.

[johnan]

I will scan the bulletin and post it here in the next day or so.

Excellent!

[David Stevo]

I will scan the bulletin and post it here in the next day or so.

Excellent!

Here we are folks.

IQ Service bulletin 13.04.10.pdf

[johnan]

I will scan the bulletin and post it here in the next day or so.

Excellent!

Here we are folks.

Thanks very much David, very helpful.

[Parts-King]

What grinds my gears is that the Technical Service Bulletin says, "Warranty application is limited to correction of a problem based upon a customer's specific complaint." i.e. If the customer does not figure out he has a problem, Toyota won't tell you about it! I find that shocking from a company known for its reliability!

Well that's not quite how it is!

That phrase basically means the dealer is not required to create his own little recall and use up all the available parts

In this instance not every car is affected, and repairs will be done on an "As required" basis

Of course Toyota will tell you if your car is affected by a recall problem, they just dont inform you everytime a bulletin is released, you would need an inbox the size of Google for that!

Unless released on the Tech doc website, ALL TSB's are private and confidential and subject to copyright, that is why your dealer should not have given you a copy

Kingo

[tonyishuk]

Unless released on the Tech doc website, ALL TSB's are private and confidential and subject to copyright, that is why your dealer should not have given you a copy

Kingo

MMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ! Freedom of information act could scupper that ! (Lets not mention the accelerator debarcle !)

Rgds

:D

[stormuk]

Last time I looked Toyota wernt part of the public sector - thus that act holds no meaning

[Parts-King]

Not sure what you mean about the accelerator debacle?

One of the fastest ever recalls in the history of recalls, dealers offering extended opening hours, 24 hours a day insome cases, over 93% of vehicles now inspected or fixed (remember a lot of cars didnt require a fix, just inspection) the other 7% are lost/stolen/written off or customers who will just not have the work done! Hardly a debacle

Any company reserves the right to copyright their material, it does'nt mean they are up to no good. If every single bulletin was released then you would have Fred in the shed making incorrect diagnosis on vehicles as he very often doesnt have access to the proper information. Actually he does have access but wont usually pay for it

Kingo

[Glen Mounk]

My previous employer an AC Delco distributor gave TSB's too all of the shops we sold parts to. There were however GM dealers that would deny certain problems. One of our salesmen had a neighbor who was being billed for some work that should have been covered by a TSB. The GM dealer denied the existence of such TSB, until our salesman went over there with the appropriate TSB. So the big problems with TSB's is the willingness of dealers to admit they even exist. I am sure there will be some Toyota dealers that will deny their existence, while others will be very open to resolving issues under warranty.

The big issue is...... how does the average person learn about TSB's that may apply a problem they are having with their vehicle?

Glen

[Glen Mounk]

My previous employer an AC Delco distributor gave TSB's too all of the shops we sold parts to. There were however GM dealers that would deny certain problems. One of our salesmen had a neighbor who was being billed for some work that should have been covered by a TSB. The GM dealer denied the existence of such TSB, until our salesman went over there with the appropriate TSB. So the big problems with TSB's is the willingness of dealers to admit they even exist. I am sure there will be some Toyota dealers that will deny their existence, while others will be very open to resolving issues under warranty.

The big issue is...... how does the average person learn about TSB's that may apply a problem they are having with their vehicle?

Glen

[BarryIQ]

Not sure what you mean about the accelerator debacle?

One of the fastest ever recalls in the history of recalls, dealers offering extended opening hours, 24 hours a day insome cases, over 93% of vehicles now inspected or fixed (remember a lot of cars didnt require a fix, just inspection) the other 7% are lost/stolen/written off or customers who will just not have the work done! Hardly a debacle

Any company reserves the right to copyright their material, it does'nt mean they are up to no good. If every single bulletin was released then you would have Fred in the shed making incorrect diagnosis on vehicles as he very often doesnt have access to the proper information. Actually he does have access but wont usually pay for it

Kingo

You missed a point... Self imported car won't be look after by local Toyota :(

[David Stevo]

The simple answer would have been for the dealer to be told to check the suspect part at the time of the first service. They could even have replaced it without telling me and I would never have known, if they want to be that private. But to log in a vehicke subject to the TSB and not to check a known issue is silly. To cause me loss and inconvenience because I then have a breakdown and to refuse to cover my expenses is corporate stupidity.

[LA-LA]

My Fuel gauge assembly is changed (no costs and a free rental car for a day!).

[johnan]

Ever since this thread started my previously well behaved fuel gauge/sender has been behaving very erratically..i.e. reads full when it isn't and reads nearly empty when nearly full.

Mr T is going to take it in to see about the steering recall work and the fuel thing at the same time, so I am waiting for him to tell me when the parts for the steering fix are available before I take the car in.

I believe 22nd November is when the parts should begin to get to dealers.

In the mean time I am just topping the tank up every 100miles and keeping an eye on the odometer.