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184 Posts
You better read this if you have lifted your Tundra with Tuff or RCD.
For the past two years I have had a sound that appeared to be on the drivers side right beneath the floor board that sounded exactly like an exhaust leak. So naturally, I assumed in July of '04 that it was the O2/ exhaust manifold TSB everyone was talking about. They changed both of them. Ticking was still there (Note- never heard it under idle, only while accelerating when engine was under load and actually moving). Went back a couple of times, they said there were no leaks and said the engine sounded normal. I knew they were full of it. After some months, I gave up untill it got under my skin again. This time I went to a different dealer and explained to them that the TSB had been done, but the supposed leak is still there. They called me and said they hear it, but Id be better off taking it to the same dealer that did the TSB (this is about a year later now). So I call them and they tell me they wont do nothing for me under warranty since its been over a year. So I figure screw it, I can live with it. So last week I take it in to have them replace the starter and a few other items. I dropped about $1900- ouch and of course I told them about my little friend "ticker". The service rep said he liked challenges and they would figure it out. I left thinking "fat chance of that happening". So he calls when its done and claims the tech found an exhaust leak at the gasket behind the muffler and they replaced it. (he thinks they found the noise) I knew darn well that wasn't it. So I pick it up (tick still there) and drive home and then I start to wonder if Im crazy and imagining this noise. So I call him and tell him Im coming in on Sat and I want the tech to get in the friggin truck with me and drive it so I could show him the sound. For all I know they were just driving it in the parking lot. So he does and the tech confirms that he hears the tick. So I leave the truck and get a call later on that the tech found out they installed the wrong donut gasket last week behind the muffler and now its right. I knew they were still wrong. I go to pick it up and I start to drive off, and there it is. So I parked right back where it was. This time they send 2 techs with me. The sound is still the same, nothings changed, but now the 2nd tech (with the experience) is telling me that my truck sounds normal and there are no leaks and thats that. I drive back, they get out and I go tell the service rep their findings. He knew I wasn't happy, so he says lets let the Quality control manager go for a ride.(so he can tell me Im crazy too is what im thinking at this point) This is where it all changes. There's a young kid/tech 19 years old that over hears my complaint and suggests that the steering shaft boot may be ripped which lets the sound of the engine come in to the cab and sounds exactly like an exhaust leak. He then informs me he drives a tundra too. So I tell him to drive my truck and if it sounds "normal" to him like his truck, then I'll shut up and live with it. He first crawls under my truck and confirms that the boot is ripped. Then he gets in and doesnt drive any further than 20 feet and him and the manager both say they hear it. Im smiling. So I leave with doubts that the boot is the problem, but Im glad they heard it too. They call me the next day and say its done. The young tech was right- the old timers couldnt figure it out and one them had 25 years with Toyota. The crazy thing is that it just wasn't a ticking sound coming in, but a whole lot more noise I didn't even notice, because now my cab sounds like an entirely different truck!!!!! I forgot how quiet the cab was. NOW heres the bad news for all the lifted Tundras. They said it will happen again since the pitch (angle) is different now on the steering shaft from the lift. IT gets better (they did not charge me this time), however, normally this would be about a $500 repair. He said they had to drop the tranny and tear apart the firewall to change the boot (about 8 hours). They even thought it was going to be quick repair untill they doug in. Sorry so long, but I wanted to share the whole story and headache that went with it.:tu:
For the past two years I have had a sound that appeared to be on the drivers side right beneath the floor board that sounded exactly like an exhaust leak. So naturally, I assumed in July of '04 that it was the O2/ exhaust manifold TSB everyone was talking about. They changed both of them. Ticking was still there (Note- never heard it under idle, only while accelerating when engine was under load and actually moving). Went back a couple of times, they said there were no leaks and said the engine sounded normal. I knew they were full of it. After some months, I gave up untill it got under my skin again. This time I went to a different dealer and explained to them that the TSB had been done, but the supposed leak is still there. They called me and said they hear it, but Id be better off taking it to the same dealer that did the TSB (this is about a year later now). So I call them and they tell me they wont do nothing for me under warranty since its been over a year. So I figure screw it, I can live with it. So last week I take it in to have them replace the starter and a few other items. I dropped about $1900- ouch and of course I told them about my little friend "ticker". The service rep said he liked challenges and they would figure it out. I left thinking "fat chance of that happening". So he calls when its done and claims the tech found an exhaust leak at the gasket behind the muffler and they replaced it. (he thinks they found the noise) I knew darn well that wasn't it. So I pick it up (tick still there) and drive home and then I start to wonder if Im crazy and imagining this noise. So I call him and tell him Im coming in on Sat and I want the tech to get in the friggin truck with me and drive it so I could show him the sound. For all I know they were just driving it in the parking lot. So he does and the tech confirms that he hears the tick. So I leave the truck and get a call later on that the tech found out they installed the wrong donut gasket last week behind the muffler and now its right. I knew they were still wrong. I go to pick it up and I start to drive off, and there it is. So I parked right back where it was. This time they send 2 techs with me. The sound is still the same, nothings changed, but now the 2nd tech (with the experience) is telling me that my truck sounds normal and there are no leaks and thats that. I drive back, they get out and I go tell the service rep their findings. He knew I wasn't happy, so he says lets let the Quality control manager go for a ride.(so he can tell me Im crazy too is what im thinking at this point) This is where it all changes. There's a young kid/tech 19 years old that over hears my complaint and suggests that the steering shaft boot may be ripped which lets the sound of the engine come in to the cab and sounds exactly like an exhaust leak. He then informs me he drives a tundra too. So I tell him to drive my truck and if it sounds "normal" to him like his truck, then I'll shut up and live with it. He first crawls under my truck and confirms that the boot is ripped. Then he gets in and doesnt drive any further than 20 feet and him and the manager both say they hear it. Im smiling. So I leave with doubts that the boot is the problem, but Im glad they heard it too. They call me the next day and say its done. The young tech was right- the old timers couldnt figure it out and one them had 25 years with Toyota. The crazy thing is that it just wasn't a ticking sound coming in, but a whole lot more noise I didn't even notice, because now my cab sounds like an entirely different truck!!!!! I forgot how quiet the cab was. NOW heres the bad news for all the lifted Tundras. They said it will happen again since the pitch (angle) is different now on the steering shaft from the lift. IT gets better (they did not charge me this time), however, normally this would be about a $500 repair. He said they had to drop the tranny and tear apart the firewall to change the boot (about 8 hours). They even thought it was going to be quick repair untill they doug in. Sorry so long, but I wanted to share the whole story and headache that went with it.:tu:
Maybe I'll have the a 2008 by then
