novalty
Member
Well last year the Mrs. and I decided it was time to have a mini-van with having 2 kids, the mid-sized sedan and extended cab pickup were pretty darn full with 2 car seats, and all the gear that goes along with it. So luck happens to shine on us and we find a 2005 Toyota Sienna, an actual little old ladies car, with only 16,400 miles on it. About a month ago, the driver's side door starts making this horrible popping sound as you open it-so I grab my trusty can of WD-40 and spray the hings and the check-rod that goes into the door--that keeps the tension on the door as you open and close. Well that doesn't fix it, so my father-in-law takes a look at it at his garage. The bracket that holds the check-rod inside of door is ripping itself out of the door.
I would warn other owners, but where the last year affected was 2006, you would be out-of-luck as well, in regards to the "Warranty Enhancement" that Toyota did to extend the warranty to 5 years 100,000 miles--instead of actually recalling the defect.
Call a body-shop, and they are familiar with the issue, and direct me to a local dealership to see about warranty/recall. Call the dealership, they tell me I am SOL, as the coverage is for 5 years or 100,000 miles, the van falls well within the mileage with now 25,400 miles, but is 2 years past. Ask what the fix is, and they tell me I need a new door, and replacement cost will run between $2,000 - $3,000.
Now I go to the trusty web, and see a specific website devoted to the issue--which apparently affects 2004-2006 models. Heck even found a Facebook page created for just this issue. So I call Toyota, to beg for mercy with them, and get the same "too bad, so sad" story.
So now, back to the repair shop. They tell me they think they can repair it, so we take it in for an estimate. Well they are confident that they can fix/weld it, which requires:
1.Taking the door off
2. Gutting it of panel, all window & electric items
3. Welding it from the inside
4. Welding it from the outside.
5. Re-painting area affected.
6. Reinstalling the guts of the door
7. Remounting on vehicle.
So the shop calls us back, and says our options are to repair for an estimate of $450, or replace entire door which would be between $1,200 and $1,500 (the replacement door itself being $800.) So looks like the door will go under the knife this week for repair. Have to tell my wife to open and close the door more easily next time, not sure what else to tell her as Toyota couldn't give me an answer when I asked how I could have gotten into the van differently to avoid the door breaking.
I would warn other owners, but where the last year affected was 2006, you would be out-of-luck as well, in regards to the "Warranty Enhancement" that Toyota did to extend the warranty to 5 years 100,000 miles--instead of actually recalling the defect.
Call a body-shop, and they are familiar with the issue, and direct me to a local dealership to see about warranty/recall. Call the dealership, they tell me I am SOL, as the coverage is for 5 years or 100,000 miles, the van falls well within the mileage with now 25,400 miles, but is 2 years past. Ask what the fix is, and they tell me I need a new door, and replacement cost will run between $2,000 - $3,000.
Now I go to the trusty web, and see a specific website devoted to the issue--which apparently affects 2004-2006 models. Heck even found a Facebook page created for just this issue. So I call Toyota, to beg for mercy with them, and get the same "too bad, so sad" story.
So now, back to the repair shop. They tell me they think they can repair it, so we take it in for an estimate. Well they are confident that they can fix/weld it, which requires:
1.Taking the door off
2. Gutting it of panel, all window & electric items
3. Welding it from the inside
4. Welding it from the outside.
5. Re-painting area affected.
6. Reinstalling the guts of the door
7. Remounting on vehicle.
So the shop calls us back, and says our options are to repair for an estimate of $450, or replace entire door which would be between $1,200 and $1,500 (the replacement door itself being $800.) So looks like the door will go under the knife this week for repair. Have to tell my wife to open and close the door more easily next time, not sure what else to tell her as Toyota couldn't give me an answer when I asked how I could have gotten into the van differently to avoid the door breaking.
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