Garage Mechanics Are Stumped - Can You Help?

[maggiemac]

My T REG Avensis (Saloon) has been in the local (70 miles away) Toyota dealer for 10 days now. It has been giving me some problems over the last year and now will just not switch on at all. I had travelled about 35 miles when there was a slight stuttering (for a second only) as though fuel was not getting through, later on and whilst driving slowly coming up to the traffic lights at a bridge it just stopped, as though the power had died. The AA man sprayed some substance and said it was not a fuel problem. He checked the fuses and said it was not a fuse problem and also said it was not a relay problem; he thought it was an ECU problem. The car was then sent to the dealer by low loader. The car would not start and for the first time (car has gone by low loader before but started when the mechanic switched on)the computer was able to diagnose and it reported a fault with the immoboliser. The mechanic says he has replaced all the computer boards but the car will still not go. He has my 2 black keys and 1 grey key.

This is an intermittent fault that can go many months before it happens again. Fist time I had driven 70 miles and as I slowed down in a car park it just stopped. AA checked lots of things (it was trying to start when switched on)then took the car home on a low loader. A local garage (not Toyota) had the car for over a week and could find nothing wrong with it. One day it just started again.Next time it was the morning following a 300 mile drive the day before and it just refused to start (it was trying again). Again AA could find no problem and again a few days later it just started straight away. Next time the exact same thing happened i.e. long journey the day before then refusing to start the next day, AA not being able to find the problem, then a couple of days later starting straight away. The recent stuttering when driving is new.

Sorry for this long description; but I am at my wits end and losing confidence in the car and hope somebody out there may have come across this before. I also think the mechanic is going to give up soon, or my car will just start again for no reason! I would have thought that Toyota would have a database of fault finding that dealerships could look at but perhaps not, or perhaps this is unique!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Maggie

[AvensisPT]

Hi there.

My Avensis also stoped and is in the shop for 11 days and went there today and they were with another car changing parts from one to another testing it and it seems its really the fuel pump.

[maggiemac]

My T REG Avensis (Saloon) has been in the local (70 miles away) Toyota dealer for 10 days now. It has been giving me some problems over the last year and now will just not switch on at all. I had travelled about 35 miles when there was a slight stuttering (for a second only) as though fuel was not getting through, later on and whilst driving slowly coming up to the traffic lights at a bridge it just stopped, as though the power had died. The AA man sprayed some substance and said it was not a fuel problem. He checked the fuses and said it was not a fuse problem and also said it was not a relay problem; he thought it was an ECU problem. The car was then sent to the dealer by low loader. The car would not start and for the first time (car has gone by low loader before but started when the mechanic switched on)the computer was able to diagnose and it reported a fault with the immoboliser. The mechanic says he has replaced all the computer boards but the car will still not go. He has my 2 black keys and 1 grey key.

This is an intermittent fault that can go many months before it happens again. Fist time I had driven 70 miles and as I slowed down in a car park it just stopped. AA checked lots of things (it was trying to start when switched on)then took the car home on a low loader. A local garage (not Toyota) had the car for over a week and could find nothing wrong with it. One day it just started again.Next time it was the morning following a 300 mile drive the day before and it just refused to start (it was trying again). Again AA could find no problem and again a few days later it just started straight away. Next time the exact same thing happened i.e. long journey the day before then refusing to start the next day, AA not being able to find the problem, then a couple of days later starting straight away. The recent stuttering when driving is new.

Sorry for this long description; but I am at my wits end and losing confidence in the car and hope somebody out there may have come across this before. I also think the mechanic is going to give up soon, or my car will just start again for no reason! I would have thought that Toyota would have a database of fault finding that dealerships could look at but perhaps not, or perhaps this is unique!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Maggie

Hi there,

Thank you for your kind response. Sorry but I forgot to mention that we have already changed the fuel pump.

Regards

Maggie

[bjw]

Ray 99 is a Toyota technician if he spots I am sure he will give a reply he always very helpful

[cmia]

when you turn the key,

does the car try to start

or is it dead with no lights on the dash?

[maggiemac]

when you turn the key,

does the car try to start

or is it dead with no lights on the dash?

Hi there,

Yes the car did try to start and the lights came on.

Just to let everyone know that I am told the problem is now solved. Apparently the mechanic (who has looked at the car several times before) was determined to sort it out this time, and obviously as the car would not start he had a puzzle to solve. He told me that the egine ecu was not talking to the immobiliser. He then studied the wiring diagrams and found that there was a loose connection behind the glove box. On fixing this I am now told the car starts. I just hope this is finally it and not its usual starting for no apparent reason again! Hopefully I will get it home ok and not be back in a few months time with the same situation.

I dread the bill!

Many thanks to you all for reading and the suggestions made by everyone. I am just so pleased I have found this site.

Maggie

[Penfold]

I dread the bill!

MaggieMac, Why?

These are competent, certificated mechanics who should know what to do. You are not paying for their training.

Tip them well (large crate of beer) but don't be ripped.

[cmia]

I dread the bill!

MaggieMac, Why?

These are competent, certificated mechanics who should know what to do. You are not paying for their training.

Tip them well (large crate of beer) but don't be ripped.

Glad you had it fixed

and the problem shouldnt reoccur

but dont pay them over the odds

[maggiemac]

I dread the bill!

MaggieMac, Why?

These are competent, certificated mechanics who should know what to do. You are not paying for their training.

Tip them well (large crate of beer) but don't be ripped.

Glad you had it fixed

and the problem shouldnt reoccur

but dont pay them over the odds

Hi there,

Just to let you know that the bill came to £205.04. I agree that I should not pay for training and I was ready for a showdown if it was going to cost much more. I accepted the amount as I was relieved the problem had finally been found but also the garage did not charge me anything for 2 previous attempts at solving the problem and then it just started on its own. They also put in a new Battery as they said mine was gassed. So all in all I feel it was worth it to get it fixed (hopefully). I did not pick the car up myself so did not see the mechanic, as long as it stays fixed he will either get a crate of beer or a bottle of whisky on my next visit to the "big city" !

Thank you again

Maggie

[cmia]

Great outcome!