Pink Water

[revband]

Hi guys, I have just had my 2011 2.2 D4D Tourer serviced at the local Toyota dealer and they have reported that, quote "Coolant contaminated - unable to identify contaminant - suspect screenwash requires flush and change  £116.29".

Now I am the only person to use the car and the dealer does the servicing, I know for a fact that I have not contaminated it but looking in the header tank shows the coolant at the correct level but a cloudy pink in colour. I can't believe the dealer has deliberately contaminated it, as said the level is correct which indicates nothing has been added.

 

Any ideas?, not the dreaded head gasket I hope but if it could be I need to know because they gave me this report four days before the warranty expired.

[FROSTYBALLS]

The colour of the Toyota Super Long Life coolant is pink.  How have they determined it is contaminated?

[Duggerz]

Can you detect any odour of methanol like screen wash? I would doubt that any dealer would have their personnel deliberately contaminate it, but mistakes do happen. In any case you'll never be able to prove it at this point.

[revband]

Mike, I don't know what makes them say it's contaminated or why they think so, to be honest I didn't know what colour the coolant was as I have never had cause to top it up, the loan car I had while they did it a new Auris didn't have the same colour coolant but they may well have changed the colour in the past five years.

Duggerz, I don't think the dealer would do it either if something had been added then the level would  be too high, nothing I can smell,

As I said my main worry was possible head gasket causing contamination, at least I have a written report from the dealer Re the contamination so if the head gasket does prove to be the reason then I should have no trouble getting it sorted under warranty even though it has now expired.

[Exvec]

So have you ever topped up the screenwash at some point as you say you have had the car for 3 years ?,is it possible that you could have topped the header tank up a bit with screenwash and forgotten about it,as far as the head gasket goes a sniff test should prove one way or another if it is that contaminated.by checking that there are Hydro Carbons within the coolant mixture,is there any sign of white smoke from the exhaust at all?.You could do a simple check by presurerising the system by revving engine at 2000 rpm until the fans kick in,then remove very carefully and slowly the header tank cap use a cloth get some one to rev the engine whilst checking the header tank for any obvoius air bubbles which would indicate a blown head gasket.Hope you get to the bottom of your problem.

 

[revband]

Hi Exvec, no I have never put screenwash in the coolant header tank, I'm sure someone somewhere must have but certainly not me on this or any other car, nothing to smell and no bubbles in sight, was the dealer just looking for extra work?, well if I am honest it wouldn't be the first time they have told me things need doing which didn't.

Warranty expired, it's now time to get it serviced elsewhere I think.

[Heidfirst]

you can take out a Toyota extended warranty up until the car is 10 afaik but that does require servicing to be undertaken at Toyota dealers. & presumably flushing coolant wouldn't be covered as it's a pre-existing condition.

[revband]

Hi heidfirst, yes I considered taking out the warranty, my daughter has my old 2008 Avensis 2.2 and I have now carefully examined the header tank on both cars and the coolant in hers looks identical to mine.

I think the dealer was just looking for work, the day before I took it for service and mot I swapped the wheels round to even wear and the front tyres had 6mm and the rear 5mm at the most worn part, when the dealer rang to advise of the extra work this was the list.

Coolant change

Two rear tyres worn to 2mm

Fuel filter needed change (changed last service)

Pollen filter dirty (changed a month ago)

Air con service (done last year)

Brake fluid change (done last year)

Total £441.46

The car passed it's mot with no adviseries.

When I collected the car I asked them to show me why the tyres needed changing and when we went to look they admitted that the tyres had a good few thousand miles left.

Go figure, I no longer trust this dealer.

Just filled in an online survey sent by Toyota and told them what has happened but don't expect anything to be done.

[estate]

I smell a rat revband. 

Why don't you mention you're concerns to the MD of Toyota GB, his email address is:  paul.vanderburgh@tgb.toyota.co.uk

If there is a problem with the dealership it needs to be highlighted to Toyota GB and let them do an investigation into your concerns. There's nothing to lose and you may get a result in your favour. 

In the future I would try and find a trustworthy garage in your area, it's difficult but there is some honest  garages out there.

I just checked my coolant and it's a pink colour and it was changed 2 months ago by a authorised Toyota garage, not a Toyota dealership.    

 

[Greydog]

Hmmm not just BMW and Volvo Dealers then?? Your local Dealer certainly isn't inspiring any confidence by the sound of things.

Years ago I learned that while the manufacturers warranty is in place there is little found the minute it is close to or has run out they can find all sorts of problems. So I always take an independent Warranty and find a well recommended specialist to carry out the main work. 

As an example £360 per year buys me a warranty on the X5 I use a BMW Porsche specialist that's run by an ex-BMW Tech so he knows his way around the X and his labour rates are less than half the Main Dealer. The X has just undergone some major surgery covered by the warranty which is how I ended up buying a Toyota as a temporary dog wagon (which we are keeping)

If I were you that is the course I would take. Poor and unreliable service shouldn't be rewarded and you don't have to put up with it.