RE: Recall - LSC 90K-Certain 2006 Toyota Avalon Vehicles Equipped with the V6 (2GR-FE) Engine
Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVT-i) Oil Hose Replacement - Continuing
Associated Problems 4T1BK36B56U090787

On 10/18/09 I observed a large oil spill in the area of our driveway were my wife parks her car. I immediately
called her at her office, approximately two miles from our residence. I contacted her on her cell phone and
informed her of the spill. I asked her if the engine showed a overheated condition and she informed me that it did not. She also informed me that she was on the way home,wanted to see the spill and that we would decide what to do when she got home. She arrived home several minute later. I showed her the spill and the oil trail out the driveway and down the street. She observed the spill and expressed the opinion that it might be someone else's car or truck for she didn't feel or observe any problems; and the instruments never showed the engine overheating or the oil level as being low.

I proceeded to raise the hood, checked the oil level several times and observed that there was no oil on the dipstick. My wife and I than got into my vehicle and followed an intermittent oil trail to her office confirming that the spill in the driveway was from her Avalon.

We contacted Gateway Service immediately and were directed to flatbed the car to them that day and they would look at it the next day. True to their word, service looked at the the next day and informed my wife that the leak was caused by a problem in the oil line and that it would be repaired at no charge. We picked the car up the next evening and brought the car home. My wife,who is a Real Estate Agent, used the car for several days, complaining that the car didn't appear to be running on all cylinders. I checked the oil level and it appeared that it had been overfilled by approximately a quart of oil. I told my wife of the overfill and suggested she continue to drive it and look for any continuing problems.

We subsequently received the recall LSC 90K-VVT, this recall was for the same problem that was corrected 10/19/09. We called Gateway about the recall and was informed that the car should be brought back to Gateway so that the work could be done according to the recall.

On or around 12/17/09 the Maintenance Light came on. We called Gateway and got an appointment for 12/21/09.

On the way to the 12/21/09 service my wife observed that the Check Engine and VSC lights were on, which wasn't the case the prior evening. I brought the recall with me, service did their magic with the recall and checked the engine for the check engine light, $99.00.

They diagnosed the engine and found that codes P2197 and 2195 were coming up. I was informed that two sensors were defective and had to be replaced, and a new exhaust manifold was required, all this for $1,566.00; approximately.

My first thought was why did I need an exhaust manifold when only two sensors were bad, and……….. was the recall problem possibly - oil, the cause of my sensor/manifold problems, and if oil is the problem what about the catalytic converter; and if the manifold overheated and/or oil caked and baked these same sensors, you see, I have many good questions

I declined the repair, asked if I could drive the car, was informed I could but it may not run correctly.

I subsequently acquired a ActronPocketScan in order to access any "DTC" trouble codes that were coming up for my wife's Avalon and my 4Runner. My 4Runner came up clean.

On 12/23/09 the Avalon showed P2197 and P0158 but not P2195; on 12/27/09 it reflected P2197 and P0158; on 2/9/10 it reflected only P2197. Today, 2/15/10 the only code to appear was P2197; but MIL status reflected Evap, Catalyst and O2 Sensor as being incomplete

The recall was to prevent future problems, we already had/have a problem!!!!

I work on gas, diesel and outboard marine engines in my position as a Maritime Captain;
this smells like some bad cheese from Holland. Tell me these problems are not connected.