[abs182]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

Yea I am going the aftermarket way. Now the only thing left is to find a good mechanic here in Vadodara whom I can trust with my car since I would not be able to donate time during the repair process. I knew of several in Delhi but finding one here is the challenge. Got a reference for a mechanic in Surat. If I don't find any good person in Vadodara then would make a trip to Surat. Or in the utmost scenario would not mind driving down to Delhi too.

Mohit to be honest I don't know any competent mechanic in the areas which will be easier for you to access. Honestly since I stick to the service stations for my work don't really have any idea about a good mechanic who will be able to do the job. Nevertheless lemme find out of someone if I can and will get back to you.

[drmohitg]

My car's AC has once again stopped cooling effectively. The problem once occured in delhi 6 months after I bought the car. The AC had stopped cooling suddenly. The service centre guys diagnosed it as leakage of gas and refilled the same free of cost. They also put a leak detector ( dye of some sort?) in with the gas which they said would help them find a leak, if any at the 10k kms service or before if the problem recurred. But the AC was working fine and they told me that there was no leak seen at the 10k km service. Now following the 20k service last week the car's AC has again started disappointing. Its unable to cool the car, although the compressor is working since it does cool the car in the end. What I felt is that it cools the car in the evenings and night but fails to achieve the same in the daytime. But yesterday even in the evening it failed to cool the car for like 15-20 minutes. The car was parked in shade and it was around 8pm when I took it out. After the first 15 minutes the cooling suddenly started and then worked fine the whole time.

Have booked an appointment for tomorrow. What can be the probable causes for the same? Is it possible again due to leakage of gas? In that case what can be the possible causes for the same since the last time around they failed to identify the leak. Right now they will cover it under warranty and I don't want them to wash there hands away again by just filling up the gas and risk possible replacements of faulty parts later once I run out of warranty. Also What can be the other possible causes of the same?

[dkaile]

Seems like a gas leakage to me. It looks like the last refilling was not done without identifying all leaks or the leak is at a place which is unreachable/invisible to naked eye like in the cooling coil e.g. inside the cabin. Cooling Coil failure/leakage is also a common defect in the Corolla.

[drmohitg]

Originally Posted by dkaile

Seems like a gas leakage to me. It looks like the last refilling was not done without identifying all leaks or the leak is at a place which is unreachable/invisible to naked eye like in the cooling coil e.g. inside the cabin. Cooling Coil failure/leakage is also a common defect in the Corolla.

Well seems like all the common defects have collectively come to haunt me. Sir I would be taking my car in for check up tomorrow. So if the leak is in the cooling coil then can it be not identified easily? Also if a leak is present in the coil then what is the solution to it? Just closure of the leakage or a change of the whole system? I am asking because I want to ensure that before the warranty runs out I have a logical solution to this problem. I am sure the dealer would not hesitate in just refilling the gas again and the day warranty gets over claim otherwise and advice change of faulty parts.

[dkaile]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

So if the leak is in the cooling coil then can it be not identified easily? Also if a leak is present in the coil then what is the solution to it? Just closure of the leakage or a change of the whole system? I am asking because I want to ensure that before the warranty runs out I have a logical solution to this problem. I am sure the dealer would not hesitate in just refilling the gas again and the day warranty gets over claim otherwise and advice change of faulty parts.

Cooling coil leaks are not easy to detect and the unit needs to be dismantled along with the dashboard to reach it. First try to identify all other parameters as normal before venturing into the cooling coil and then insist on it being changed under warranty as the problem has recurred. Do not just be satisfied with a gas refill unless they are able to show you the exact point of leakage.

[drmohitg]

Update

So took the car to the service centre today. As suspected the gas was too low and they have filled it back. They were unable to find a leak anywhere in the circuit expect the cooling coils. The mechanic there felt that there isn't a leak since he said that his machine showed that there was pressure built up in the system which wouldn't have been the case if there was a leakage. Still to be 100% sure they will have to check the cooling coils as the last source of a possible leak. The same would take 3-4 days and they would have to open the whole dash to reach the coils. So what I decided right now is to continue using the car for somemore time. After the top up the AC is back to its usual form and is working fine as of now. I still have 1.5 years left under warranty and would get the dash opened if this problem presents itself again.

Reasons for not opting to get it opened this time:
1. I wasn't keen on opening the whole dash and risking mal-alignment of a small part which would lead to rattles later.
2. Second and more important was that this workshop is quite small compared to Delhi. And I might send the car back to Delhi in some months and will then get it opened there. They inspire a little more confidence.

[dkaile]

Whenever you get time, get the system vaccum checked overnight. If there is fall in vaccum then there definitely is a leak. It can be done at any competent AC repairer. If the leak is confirmed you can take your car the ASC and demand a cooling coil replacement.

[drmohitg]

The car's FE has taken a hit after it came back from the 20k service a month back. Its returning me around 17.2 kmpl right now which is not really bad but earlier it was more around 18.5-19 kmpl ( you can call me greedy ). I think I read somewhere on the forum before that its normal for the FE to drop after servicing. But how long does it take to get back to normal? The car has run 1300 kms since the service. I checked the tire pressure all around and its normal.

[LonelyPlanet]

Mohit - I am facing similar issue after my 10K service even after 1K since service.
I was given the impression that after 10K the FE really zooms up - I have observed otherwise.
Any technical explanation from the gurus ?

[automachine]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

Yea I am going the aftermarket way. Now the only thing left is to find a good mechanic here in Vadodara whom I can trust with my car since I would not be able to donate time during the repair process. I knew of several in Delhi but finding one here is the challenge. Got a reference for a mechanic in Surat. If I don't find any good person in Vadodara then would make a trip to Surat..

I know a garage in vadodara who are skilled in all worksmanship. I would get you their contact number. Its before krishna hotel on dabhoi cross roads on the vadodara bypass.

[automachine]

Apologies for late response. The garage that i mentioned earlier located in Vadodara is maruti motors, opp swastik party plot, nr mahindra showroom, soma talav, kapurai chowkdi road, vadodara. Ph no. 9427147314, kanubhai mistry.

[drmohitg]

Small Update: Nothing much to report per se. The car has completed 25k kms now and is going strong. Another long 1200 km trip planned for this weekend .

Checked the engine oil today to just see if there is any drop in the level as reported by some members. Looked absolutely fine in terms of both quality and quantity.

The AC is working fine right now but then the weather is not too demanding either. Still
I will probably get the dash opened and get the cooling coils checked thoroughly for any leakage before the car runs out of warranty.

As far as the brakes are concerned, I am still running on stock. At my 20k km service 2 months back the SA had told that the rear brake pads had only 4mm thickness left and the discs have also developed lines and he hinted at a possible replacement for both very soon. Currently I am not facing any issues with the brakes and there is no loss of braking ability, vibration during braking or any noise. So in 2 minds whether to go to the service centre and get them replaced as by now the pads should have atleast lost another 1-2 mm. Or the second option is to just keep driving till 30k km and then see what they do and if they change the discs too. My knowledge about assessing the life left in a disc is non existent and hence the apprehension that the service centre people will plead inability to skim the discs and would change both the pads and discs.

[lifebuoy]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

Service update

Only bad part was when 2 careless Service advisers rested there hands over my car while talking with each other and put smudge marks over the boot.

According to the service people the rat got in via the cabin and there is no way he can enter the area from under the car. I find this hard to digest since I am very careful with my car and have never ever left the gate open for a rat to come in, chew away to glory and then easily escape too. But they were adamant that the rat can only access that area from inside the cabin. What do you guys feel?

Originally Posted by sameerg001

And ya Vkools surely blocks a hell lot of heat, i can say it better because, if Vkool's wouldn't have been on your altis, we would have been cooked on THAT day lol

Originally Posted by amartya sinha

My question is, has Toyota given us a relatively high end product, which is in mass production, with a certain defect?
I accept, i can be fleeced once, regarding the disc issue

Is wearing of brake pads and discs, simultaneously, as claimed by ***, within 24K kms. a normal phenomena?

Originally Posted by drmohitg

Update

So took the car to the service centre today. As suspected the gas was too low and they have filled it back. They were unable to find a leak anywhere in the circuit expect the cooling coils.

Reasons for not opting to get it opened this time:
1. I wasn't keen on opening the whole dash and risking mal-alignment of a small part which would lead to rattles later.
2. Second and more important was that this workshop is quite small compared to Delhi. And I might send the car back to Delhi in some months and will then get it opened there. They inspire a little more confidence.

Originally Posted by drmohitg

The car's FE has taken a hit after it came back from the 20k service a month back. Its returning me around 17.2 kmpl right now which is not really bad but earlier it was more around 18.5-19 kmpl ( you can call me greedy ).

Firstly, thanks to Dr Mohit and amartya.sinha for posting an unbiased view of his experiences. I do not own an Toyota, I am a three time TATA owner. However, as a keen reader of others' experiences such as these, I would like to compare the following discussions and posts, some of which I have quoted, with my experiences at TATA dealerships.

1. We are in India, TATA or Toyota does not make a great difference and they have to make do with the mentality and quality consciousness (or the lack of it) from their mechanics. The adamancy that the rat can only enter from the cabin shows that. Each mechanic strive to be a this-or-that bhai who is the last word in that field, I have had numerous experiences of this variety, whether in company dealerships or local garages.

2. I am aghast at Toyota Q care and their emphasis on quality at every marketing angle, yet the issues of brakes, simple things such as A/Cs are not addressed across models and years of so called refinement ? The A/C incident and its occurrence is surprising, considering that the car has superior quality sun control films on. I would not boast of the A/C in the Indica or the Indigo eCS that I own, but they have survived and sustained Delhi summers year after year. The only problem that I had in the Indica's A/C was that the cooler fan sensor going kaput, which resulted in the compressor cutting off due to heat (after about 10 mins of running when moving at 40kph or more and earlier in slow traffic). A gas pressure check is what all roadside mechanics would check, what else did Toyota A.S.S guys do to diagnose the issue is not answered. Similar issues with brake pads / assembly exist with the XUV, yet we take it lightly as an update. My question then is : Is the technology and quality of Toyota worth the money consumers shell out for capital purchase and recurring expenses ?

3. I can see hesitation written all over Dr Mohit's posts with regard to opening the dash (cause of rattles, improper fitting back, etc). He is also doubtful about the ability of the vadodara A.S.S and prefers the Delhi one. Mechanics carelessly leaving smudge marks on the boot at a Toyota A.S.S, these incidents are understandable at roadside garages. Where is the Toyota Quality and standardization in this case.

4. Drop in FE as faced by Dr Mohit. Why would this happen with a Toyota when my 2002 Indica DLE started with an FE of about 16-17 kpl and returned about 15 kpl in Delhi when it was exchanged for the ARIA in 2012 having done appx 1.3L kms and still running fine.

Just my thoughts and unanswered curiosity. Any possible answers or comments are welcome.

[Simple_car]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

As far as the brakes are concerned, I am still running on stock. At my 20k km service 2 months back the SA had told that the rear brake pads had only 4mm thickness left and the discs have also developed lines and he hinted at a possible replacement for both very soon. Currently I am not facing any issues with the brakes and there is no loss of braking ability, vibration during braking or any noise. So in 2 minds whether to go to the service centre and get them replaced as by now the pads should have atleast lost another 1-2 mm. Or the second option is to just keep driving till 30k km and then see what they do and if they change the discs too. My knowledge about assessing the life left in a disc is non existent and hence the apprehension that the service centre people will plead inability to skim the discs and would change both the pads and discs.

Dear Doc,

I would just like to share my knowledge regarding brake discs/rotors. Usually, for most passenger vehicles, the manufacturer of the rotor mentions the maximum and minimum thickness of the rotor. As long as you remain in this range you can use the rotors safely.
As an example, the rotors in my car (not a corolla) had a thickness of 30mm when new. The minimum recommended thickness according to service manual is 28mm. My rotor is 29 mm in thickness (i had to skim it because of a small warp).
If you are not sure of the specifications (or if the service advisors are not willing to share the info) then you can download the service manual of the euro spec corolla and look into it. Its always mentioned in it.
Rotors have to be replaced usually when their thickness has fallen below the minimum recommended specs. Warps can be easily dealt with by skimming.
Please note, there are many more tests by which rotor life is determined, but none of which will be performed at regular A.S.S. You have to take them to specialists for that.
In my opinion, S.A.'s and service centers usually take advantage of our ignorance in this aspect. I for one, do not believe that rotors have to be replaced by 20-30k kms. If taken care of properly, they last the lifetime of the vehicle (i.e. when the vehicle remains with you).

Hope this helps,

Thanks,
Simple_car

[drmohitg]

This Toyota has a mind of its own!! Well I just came back from a long weekend trip with some friends covering a total of 1200 kms. The car performed extremely well throughout and conquered the rain broken roads/highways with ease. Everything was going great but till the last leg of the journey. While entering the Ahmadabad Vadodara expressway, I suddenly felt a lack of throttle/turbo response from the engine. The car failed to pick up speed and the speedometer needle stayed at a constant speed even with me literally standing on the race pedal. The same had happened just 10 minutes back too but went away in less then 5 seconds and I ignored it. This time the feeling of doomsday crept in real fast. And as my luck would have it, I heard the dreaded beep/siren from the car's dashboard. Parked the car on the roadside to see what the problem was. The temperature needle was perfectly normal. The AC was working fine. There was this malfunctioning indicator flashing which on referring to the user manual turned out to be Engine malfunction indicator and comes on if there is a problem with either electrical system around the engine somewhere or any issues with the throttle system. Called my local service outlet but to my shock they didn't pick up. Called the road side 24x7 helpline and a lady answered. Explained to her the problem and she apparently had no idea as to what it can be. So she just suggested that she can arrange for a tow truck if I am unable to drive the car further. I asked her if it would be fine to keep driving since I had little distance left to cover and had to drop my friends at the airport for there evening flights. The lady put me on hold and called Narmada Toyota ( Vadodara dealer) helpline but ofcourse no one answered. She then told the same to me and said she could try East africa Toyota which made me really surprised at there outdated database. If you remeber correctly East Africa Toyota had closed shop and there were some forgery cases against them and Toyota themselves had blacklisted them ( there was a thread also on the forum on the same). Anyways I told her the same and she then contacted the Surat dealership who finally responded. The SA there told me that it was safe for me to drive and I should take the car to the service centre as soon as possible. So finally with fingers crossed I started crawling forward and managed to reach home. Would be dropping in at the service centre tomorrow morning. Will also get the brake pads checked.

Positives:1. The RSA number got connected really fast and the lady heard me out patiently.
2. She put in some effort and contacted the Vadodara dealer followed by ahmedabad and finally Surat.

Negative: 1. Outdated database which includes dealerships that have been themselves been blacklisted by Toyota.
2. The local dealership stays closed on Sunday. Now that was surprising as I thought Sunday was usually the day when everyone has the time to take there cars for servicing.

So now guys any suggestion on what could be the possible culprit? I hope its not something too serious or costly. The car has run 26k kms and is still under warranty.
So finally another BIG "?" on the Toyota Q. I hope I do not start regretting buying this car.

Originally Posted by Simple_car

If you are not sure of the specifications (or if the service advisors are not willing to share the info) then you can download the service manual of the euro spec corolla and look into it. Its always mentioned in it.

Hi thanks for the suggestion. Can you please guide me as to where to find the euro spec manual? Unable to locate one on google. Thanks in advance.