6.0

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
95,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replaced AC/blower fuse (1 reports)
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problem #1

Aug 162010

Celica GT 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

Took car to Desert Toyota in Tucson with the blinking AC light. They said it was blinking because the serpentine belt was old and cracked, causing it to slip. They recommended replacement and a radiator flush to the tune of $314. They completed those repairs and provided a punch list of about $2000 recomended repairs. 4 miles from the dealership the splash guard under the engine falls off as I'm driving down the road. Took to dealership following day, they "fixed" the splash guard. AC light still blinking, they need to do "further diagnostics which could cost $600-700".

Following week the AC and blower motor both die and the splash guard falls of again. Take it to dealership on way to work, all I wanted was for them to check the fuses for the AC/blower, (I couldn't find the instrument fuse panel). Again they report all fuses good, need to do "further diagnostics". Got home that evening, finally located the instument fuse box (it was behind what I thought was a speaker on the passenger side on the console). Pulled the fuse indicated as the AC/blower fuse in the owners manual and it was blown. Replaced it and system works fine, by the way when I googled the blinking AC light, the overwhelming response was the cabin air filter. The dealership told me the vehicle did not have a cabin air filter, although their parts department sold me one for $35 (about a $5 part) I replaced it myself.

Called the 1-800 number for Toyota customer service, after explaining in detail my issue I was told dealerships were franchised and they had no control of the customer service departments, however Desert Toyota customer service representative would be calling me next week. Olivia, Desert Toyota's customer service rep called Tuesday of following week to inform me that they are not going to do anything about it. I wouldn't let them work on my daughters trike at this point, knowing first hand the ineptness of the technicians at desert Toyota. I would like to have the splash guard replaced, which fell off after they worked on it, but that's not their fault either. They can recommend replacing leaking struts and replacing belt tensioners, but the splash guard that was supposedly not on properly was never mentioned. SCREWED WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A KISS!

- James C., Tucson, AZ, US