Big Problems Toyota Fortuner 2.7l

[Cheops]

Hi All,

I enjoyed my Toyota Fortuner for almost 4 years now (2.7L gasoline version) and have ~65k km on the clocks.

Until about 1,5 week ago, when the battery seemed to have problems. The Toyota dealer confirmed that the alternator fails to charge and also that the air/smog pump is not good anymore including the electronic driver for the air pump. This seems to me VERY quickly to fail. Searching on the internet also doesn't show anything about this kind of failures. I have contacted Toyota Thailand about this case and they are willing to discuss and investigate. Tomorrow morning they will come to my dealer (K-motor at Saphan Mai). The warranty is 3 years, so no warranty left, but this seems way too early to have this kind of big repairs and I'm hoping that Toyota recognizes this as well. We are talking about 40/45k baht here (most of which goes to a new air pump ~30kbaht). They quote 7.8k for a new alternator which seems ok (but I guess the alternator can be revised as well - maybe only the brushes are gone?). Also for me it's not clear why both the air pump and the driving electronics of this pump are failing. Can't it be that the pump fails DUE to the fact the driver fails?

Does anyone have valuable input for me? Anybody with (big) problems with his/her Fortuner?

Any input is welcome. Thanks.

By the way, I have a 2.5 year old daughter, so my driving style can be called normal (not as sporty like the past times )

[Spoonman]

Toyota diesels used to have the Alternator and pump as a single unit, if one died both need needed replacing, maybe this is still the case.

[BSJ]

Hi Cheops, 30k for an air pump is a bit ridiculous! All it does is pump fresh air into the exhaust to ensure the right mixture of exhaust gases & air hit the cat con and combust in the correct manner, thereby allowing no or low levels of pollutants to exit the tailpipe.

The only wear parts are the bearings. Surely they can be replaced??? Much the same for the alternator, plus the carbon brushes maybe worn.....and the other important part, the regulator, will sometimes fail too. But reco-ing the alternator isn't a biggy for any half decent auto electrician.!

[Cheops]

Hi BSJ and Spoonman, thanks for your comments!

Unfortunatly the air pump of a Fortuner is indeed ridiculous expensive. I asked the partnumbers as well to research on the net and found that also Toyota USA charges quite a lot for this part: Price Airpump

Yesterday-morning I went to my Toyota dealer and there was a representative from Toyota Thailand as well. He brought a technical specialist with him to take a look and confirmed also that normally the airpump should not fail this fast. They will take the airpump to back to their lab for further investigation and Toyota will pay for a new air pump as well the electronic driver for the airpump. For the alternator they told me it can fail after 4 years although they admit that it was a bit fast as well, but he couldn't re-imburse for a new alternator. Anyway I'm happy that they listened to me in the first place and they came to investigate and pay for the airpump+driver. Remember that this is LOS and it's quite difficult to get anything done even if it's within warranty let alone this case where the warranty was already expired, so I'm quite satisfied with this.

I had the choice to repair the alternator, but I needed to do that by myself, which isn't a big problem but takes time and at this point I don't know if it's indeed only the brushes that are bad. The alternator will be repleaced and they give me 10% discount on this as well, which totals to 7k baht for a new one which is quite ok, so I choose to let them put a new one in the car. The old alternator I requested back as well which I can repair by myself (if it's only the brushes) and keep for spare or sell on the net which should fetch about 4k easily.

The guy from Toyota Thailand (senior supervisor customer relations) gave me his businesscard and told me that I can always call him directly in case any issue with my car. He is a very nice guy, speaks fluent English and knows what he is talking about.

BSJ, as for your comment: "All it does is pump fresh air into the exhaust to ensure the right mixture of exhaust gases & air hit the cat con and combust in the correct manner, thereby allowing no or low levels of pollutants to exit the tailpipe. "

I'm not sure of that and I think it's a little more complex. The air/somg pumps in older cars maybe are just only to do above, but in my Toyota I think it's used as in attached diagram (taken from a Toyota Tundra since info on a Fortuner is quite difficult if not impossible to find on the net):

[Gary A]

Parts like the air pump going bad will be a major issue to Toyota. Anything related to pollution control devices are designed to last the life of the vehicle. I'm not at all surprised to see them replace it at their expense. The alternator is a different issue.

[ozsamurai]

Im a bit blown away on the alternator price you have, I just had mine re-built for 1700Bht or could have replaced it for 3500, and I drive a Volvo! Toyota sure has come along way hasn't it, in charging that is....

Oz

ex Honda Employee

[Cheops]

Hi ozsamurai,

if rebuilding means replacing the brushes than 1700 baht is quite expensive. If you mean total rewiring inside than it's cheap. For 3500 baht for sure that will not be a new alternator but a refurbished/remanufactured one. 7.8k baht for a brand new alternator is actually a very decent price. Many alternators are going for more than 10k baht, for brand new ones that is. Also take into account that cars require different alternators depending on the amp needed etc.

By the way, if anybody has good online webshops concerning car spareparts etc. please share them. Thanks.

[BSJ]

Hi Cheops, your right it is a bit more complex than the older ones I was thinking of. From the diagram it looks like it is receiving signals to regulate when and how often the air valves open, plus there is a branch to the exhaust (?) port inside the head.

Glad to hear Toyota is coughing up a new one for ya.

[Cheops]

Hi BSJ,

yes, when I searched for an airpump/smogpump on the net (because I didn't have any knowledge on this as well since all my previous cars didn't had any failures concerning them) I also found many pumps that work indeed as you mentioned, but technology advances quite fast in cars

I'm happy as well that Toyota will take the cost, but they know as well that it shouldn't fail after only 3 years and 10 months. My only worry now is what's next! Can I still trust my Fortuner? Is this an incident case?

In the Netherlands I really loved my old (1992) red Mazdza MX5 (Miata for Americans). If the import into Thailand isn't a pain like it is now I certainly would bring my MX5 to here. I really miss her! I think in the future I will buy another MX5 here, but given the prices I'm not sure a new one is affordable. Anyway I would love to drive a MX5 again, but just as a hobby car, since with a family (I have a daughter of 2,5 years old and another kid on the way) a MX5 is not really practical