Argh!!! Sorry for all the others that are having this issue.
Yes, our van has a "failing hinge" according to the dealer. The funny thing was, I took it in because the door switch (the one that controls the dome light) was sticking (and would set off the alarm). They said the switch was fine (BS, had to buy one and replace it myself because that was easier than convincing them).
I looked at the operation of the door (yeah it lurches a little, but it has always done that) and then I compared it to the other door: exactly the same.
So I went to the dealer and said that the other door works the same. The service writer said that the tech probably didn't check the other door. Great, way to be thorough. So realistically, I have two bad hinges. I call "bad design" Toyota!
After their verdict and crazy expensive quote, I said what about my extended warranty that I bought specifically to cover things like this? "Oh, well hinges are excluded." What the heck? It's not a "hinge" issue, it is a roller issue. Just because the craptastic rollers are attached to a part you call a hinge, that's not my fault. "Well, see, if the part is called a hinge, then we can't replaced under the extended warranty." So I called the Toyota extended warranty place and they said it didn't matter because body mechanical was excluded anyway. So there. OK, I'm hosed.
So, looking at the quote I think there is a lot of fat. They want to paint the part (I don't care) and they were going to farm out the work anyway. I am really looking forward to someone reporting and describing a successful fix to this so I can see if I'm up to it.
Good luck inPhlim, let us know how it turns out.
Yes, our van has a "failing hinge" according to the dealer. The funny thing was, I took it in because the door switch (the one that controls the dome light) was sticking (and would set off the alarm). They said the switch was fine (BS, had to buy one and replace it myself because that was easier than convincing them).
I looked at the operation of the door (yeah it lurches a little, but it has always done that) and then I compared it to the other door: exactly the same.
So I went to the dealer and said that the other door works the same. The service writer said that the tech probably didn't check the other door. Great, way to be thorough. So realistically, I have two bad hinges. I call "bad design" Toyota!
After their verdict and crazy expensive quote, I said what about my extended warranty that I bought specifically to cover things like this? "Oh, well hinges are excluded." What the heck? It's not a "hinge" issue, it is a roller issue. Just because the craptastic rollers are attached to a part you call a hinge, that's not my fault. "Well, see, if the part is called a hinge, then we can't replaced under the extended warranty." So I called the Toyota extended warranty place and they said it didn't matter because body mechanical was excluded anyway. So there. OK, I'm hosed.
So, looking at the quote I think there is a lot of fat. They want to paint the part (I don't care) and they were going to farm out the work anyway. I am really looking forward to someone reporting and describing a successful fix to this so I can see if I'm up to it.
Good luck inPhlim, let us know how it turns out.
