Compressors - Do Toyota Understand Them?

[chrisio]

I have just got off the phone with Toyota customer relations.

They told me in no uncertain terms that I have been taking the wrong route to sort my ongoing problems.

Basically, the car has not been right from day one.

It hiccups sometimes when accelerating from low speeds, is down on power, seems to hold back and quite frankly does not live up to its 'performance' title.

The car has been back to Toyota World for 'remaps', 'reflash', call it what you like, all failing to cure it.

I told the dealer there was more to it than a simple reset but they insisted that they knew what they were doing.

In desperation I contacted TTE in Germany who developed the car.

They were very helpful and listened to my complaints.

They advised me to take the car back and ask for a new ECU.

Toyota World had the car back on this basis but returned it with a simple 'remap' which turned out to be the famed 'reset'.

I spoke to TTE again who then put me in touch with a company called Merlin International who surprised me in declaring that they actually assembled the modded cars over here in UK, not Germany.

Merlin agreed to go to Toyota World and install a new ECU and undertake other checks to ensure the car was correct.

All fine up to now.

Toyota World insist that they should do more checks on the car before they decide whether a new ECU is needed and thus are unwilling to let Merlin touch the car on their premises.

At this point I called Toyota customer services who told me that Toyota World are correct and TTE has no right to get involved in warranty issues

So, the car has to go in yet again for Toyota to try to find out what is wrong with it, then probably take it back at a later date for another try

I thought Toyota was Toyota, whatever division it was and they would all work together.

Clearly not the case as the customer relations person was bordering on annoyed at me for taking matters in my own hand and having the audacity to try to sort it out myself.

This could well be my fourth and last Toyota....

[pauljack]

I totally agree! i dont think dealers have specialists who know enough about the compressors, ours certainly didnt! It is rediculous i think!

[Chris.S]

Like i said in another thread, im still not happy with the performance of mine and as soon as ive found a decent IS200 the Compressor is going

[MsB]

Merlin fitted the 1st ones over at TTE (a few of us were there when they were doing them), so I can near enough guarantee that TTE & Merlin know what they are talking about.

I can't believe that Toyota won't let Merlin sort it, even on their premises Is it worth writing to Toyota GB at least that way its in black & white ?

[chrisio]

The thing is, I love the car except for these issues.

The man at Merlin was frustrated that Toyota World could not even be bothered to return his calls.

He told me that they assembled the Compressors in Grimsby of all places and also developed the Yaris Turbo

I have a friend who works for Japanese Performance magazine so I will call him up and ask his advice on how to play this

[Chris.S]

might be nice to pay Merlin a visit sometime, perhaps a few of us who have problems could go in a group.

I wonder if they'd answer why my compressor wasnt wired up lol

[cfc1]

When I had a problem with mine I also contacted TTE (guy called Norbert)

they sent someone to fix my problem and my dealer, SDM in Falkirk, were only to pleased of the assistance, I even apologized to the head technician and he said there was absolutely no need as their only concern was the car running as it should and a happy costomer.. 10/10 for SDM Falkirk.

[Chris.S]

shall we have a compressor meet and compare notes

[Pompey Gaz]

The thing is, I love the car except for these issues.

The man at Merlin was frustrated that Toyota World could not even be bothered to return his calls.

He told me that they assembled the Compressors in Grimsby of all places and also developed the Yaris Turbo

I have a friend who works for Japanese Performance magazine so I will call him up and ask his advice on how to play this

where abouts in Grimsby? will go sort it out for you haha, send the boys around

[Norfolk n Chance]

Sorry CTS owner hi-jacking the thread again!

If Merlin are responsible for these motors is it possible they would know about any tweaks that are possible to the ECU?

With regards to the original problem, write to Toyota GB expressing your disgust at the care you've received from the dealer. Toyota take these things very seriously, cc the letter to your local trading standards office as well.

They might not get involved but it'll give Toyota a wake up call if they think their reputation is on the line!

[chrisio]

When I had a problem with mine I also contacted TTE (guy called Norbert)

they sent someone to fix my problem and my dealer, SDM in Falkirk, were only to pleased of the assistance, I even apologized to the head technician and he said there was absolutely no need as their only concern was the car running as it should and a happy costomer.. 10/10 for SDM Falkirk.

Norbert has been advising me from the start and I can't fault his dedication to help.

Poles apart from the self righteous bint at Toyota customer services :censor:

[pauljack]

I only live 40 miles from grimsby and would love my compressor looking at as things have started to go wrong!!!

[Chris.S]

Do you think Merlin would host a Compressors owners meet ?

[chrisio]

Update:

After I talked to Norbert, he called some senior people at Toyota UK and got things moving

The car is now booked in at the dealer in two weeks time and Merlin are going to attend to check everything out and hopefuly sort it out once and for all.

I'll keep you all posted on the results.

I will call Merlin and ask them about some sort of meet.

The guy I spoke to before seemed very helpful so it may happen if we plan it properly.

[OldSkoO1]

Hope you get it sorted - in a way i'm not surprised they dont know what to do with the compressor, sales, service and the mechanics i'm guessing didnt get to go to the toyota training centre in nottingham because the compressor is a Ltd edition so that = limited knowledge.

The dull one on the cs phone line has probably never heard of TTE

Funny you mention the lack of power, there was a compressor left at our local garage which never sold due to something dodgy wrong with it, temperamental pickup, even when fully warm.

[Chris.S]

I think the magnetic clutch doesnt help things either, mine cuts the power on full acceleration

[kimi]

Hope you get it sorted at long last,

i found TTE to be very helpfull with my compressor

on the other hand i found The toyota dealers to be ,,well,,,,crap :shutit:

they really have not got a clue about compressors

[chrisio]

The thing is, the dealers regard it as a 'bolt on special' but as Norbert said, it was built in full association with Toyota and is classed as a full Toyota production model abeit a limited one.

Just for the record, TTE does not actually exist as such except for the products themselves.(Norberts info)

They are now called, and have been for a few years now, Toyota Motorsport so maybe Toyota don't recognise the TTE name anymore with regards to tech support. Who knows

Oh, the supercharger does disengage at high revs (check my earlier posts) where the Lift takes over.

I asked Norbert if it was possible to get more power and he said yes, with an intercooler and timing mods.

He said the thing is, the car was developed with consideration to reliability and driveablity for the average driver.

Like the Cosworths of old, the production cars were way down on capable power purely so Ford didn't have too many warranty issues.

[chrisio]

Update:

The car went into Toyota World this morning and the tech guy from Merlin was due sometime today.

I called Merlin and they have confirmed he is going with all spare parts that may be necessary

I have agreed to let them keep the car for a couple of days to give it plenty of test time so lets see how they get on

The down side is that I now have a bright red Yaris 1.0 courtesy car with no A/C

[Ed_Shek]

Update:

The car went into Toyota World this morning and the tech guy from Merlin was due sometime today.

I called Merlin and they have confirmed he is going with all spare parts that may be necessary

I have agreed to let them keep the car for a couple of days to give it plenty of test time so lets see how they get on

The down side is that I now have a bright red Yaris 1.0 courtesy car with no A/C

Good luck and hope the car's problems get sorted! Was thinking of upgrading to a compressor but I think these posts have put me off for the time being.

[chrisio]

Good luck and hope the car's problems get sorted! Was thinking of upgrading to a compressor but I think these posts have put me off for the time being.

Thanks

Don't be put off by the tales of woe! There must be lots of Compressors out there that behave exactly as they should