Toyota Problems

To fail engine mounts after 54,200 km is unacceptable, I believe Toyota should pay the entire cost of replacing them, not 50 per cent as they seem to be saying. Hit them for the lot. They should replace the fuel-injectors free of charge, they do wear out, and yours is not the only case we've heard of.

Toyota has undoubtedly tested the D-4D engine in Australia and on Australian diesel fuel and I am sure it would not sell the vehicle here if it there were a problem. As for keeping it alive I would service it religiously, and I would take note of the known problem with leaking fuel injector seals that has resulted in a recall in other parts of the world, and led to a policy in NZ of changing them every 45,000 km. Perhaps you should think about changing the seals as per the Kiwi recommendation.

There was a problem with the engines when it they were cold, I understand that it was because of over-fuelling during the time of cold running. I believe Toyota was changing the injectors on complaint vehicles. The leaking injector seals I believe us something else, and the way we know of to check if there is a problem is to inspect the oil pickup in the sump for a build-up of carbon deposits. If the pickup has a carbon buildup the likelihood is that it would eventually block and stave the engine of oil, if there is no carbon present it is unlikely to have a problem. It's best that a dealer check the pickup by inserting a probe through the oil drain hole in the sump.

The Prado V6 has a chain so there's no requirement to change it regularly as there would be if it had a belt. That's why there is no mention of it in the manual. I wouldn't be too concerned about the radiator hoses, but perhaps inspect them for cracking, splitting or perishing and replace them if you find anything that's concerning.

We haven't had any other reports of a failure of the VVTi hubs, but perhaps other readers might tell us of any failures they've had. The outcome you've managed to achieve is a reasonable one.

Given that this is the second such failure on your car and Toyota coughed up for the first one I think you are on solid grounds for a claim against the company. As you have tried the consumer affairs route and that has failed I would consult a lawyer and consider taking the company to court.

As I understand it the offer you've received is the standard offer on the table, and I would accept it.

Your experience is not uncommon. We had a number of reports from Hilux owners in the year of so after the ute was launched, but we thought the reprogramming of the computer had fixed the issue. Perhaps it hasn't. Talk to your Toyota dealer, and also get the advice of an auto transmission expert about fitting an external oil cooler. If you plan to travel over hilly terrain on your next trip it  would be a good idea to fit an extra cooler.

It is expensive, and in my view excessive, but that's what you get when you take your car to a dealer instead of an independent mechanic. There's no point in shopping around in the hope of finding a dealer who doesn't charge as much, they all charge the same, so the next best is to find an independent mechanic who specializes in Toyotas and go there. Parts and labour are sure to be less.

Our LPG experts say it's unlikely to be air in the tank because the installation was done some 18 months ago. The most likely cause is a heat source influencing pressure in the tank, so check for modifications to the exhaust system etc.