FAIL - How bad is it to drive without a power steering cap fitted - Yes Toyota Service Dept.......

[Andyfive Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andyfive]

So story goes something like this.....

Dropped my car off to have power steering pump replaced under warranty.

Job done, pick up car and drive down the road and notice the Power Steering reservoir cap sitting on my bonnet. Not impressed Jan...

Returned to dealership and raised the issue politely. (I was fuming but had to be nice)

How bad is it to drive without a power steering cap fitted?

I can't believe the level of incompetence that I have experienced with my local dealer.

[maulbeagle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maulbeagle]

was there a mess of fluid under the bonnet ? I thought the Power Steering system was pressurised so would've made a mess.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

No problem if it hasn't spilled or dirt got in

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

No problem if it hasn't spilled or dirt got in

I agree, very unlikely it's caused an issue in the short drive you had, other than any obvious mess if it spilled.

If it spilled enough to cause an issue you would have heard it, power steering pumps low on oil sound horrendous.

Cheers Andrew

[Andyfive Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andyfive]

Luckily I only drove a short distance. There were some oil drops on the plastics.

Could the steering been affected if I hadn't noticed the missing cap. Ie. Potential danger?

I can’t believe the continued level of incompetence from my dealer. It’s so bad it’s bordering on comical.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

There not under pressure in the reservoir just fluid getting sucked out at the bottom and pumped back in at the side but higher up towards the top, wouldn't be any issues in that short space of time. Nothing to worry about unless you plan on taking it back again when next service is due !!! I certainly wouldn't unless your in an area where service centres are very few n far between then your pretty reliant on them doing a thorough job. Some mechanics just shouldn't hold a certificate or the person who is suppose to check over the vehicle before passing onto customer. I know people make mistakes but this shouldn't have been missed. It's some thing I do when ever I change my oil I check all the caps under the bonnet even if I havnt opened them I just do a 10 second check over just to be sure..... Regards Steve

[Pugaree Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pugaree]

Luckily I only drove a short distance. There were some oil drops on the plastics.

Could the steering been affected if I hadn't noticed the missing cap. Ie. Potential danger?

I can’t believe the continued level of incompetence from my dealer. It’s so bad it’s bordering on comical.

Agree with the other posts, no damage likely. More of a concern is the lack of attention to detail. Can you PM me the workshop, I'm considering dumping the dealer, (if it's who I think it is) and going on my own. I have my own well equipped workshop and can do everything on my own. I've done this for the past 4-5 cars I have had and have had no issues and at least I know the job is done andn done right.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

I'll go one better. On our family Commodore many a year ago, we noticed a slight oil leak on Christmas Eve. We had recently had the car serviced as we were about to head over to Adelaide for a couple of weeks.
Upon inspection, the sump plug was screwed in almost exactly 1/4 of a turn. Had we not picked this up, I'm sure you could imagine the issues that may have arose.
Anyway, dad called up the Holden Dealer in town that had serviced the car, and they informed us that their apprentice had done the work so they would not claim any liability. (correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't an apprentice have his/her work supervised and checked?)

Anyway, we NEVER went back to that dealer and instead drove 65 km up the road to a more reputable dealer.

[Andyfive Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andyfive]

I'll go one better. On our family Commodore many a year ago, we noticed a slight oil leak on Christmas Eve. We had recently had the car serviced as we were about to head over to Adelaide for a couple of weeks.
Upon inspection, the sump plug was screwed in almost exactly 1/4 of a turn. Had we not picked this up, I'm sure you could imagine the issues that may have arose.
Anyway, dad called up the Holden Dealer in town that had serviced the car, and they informed us that their apprentice had done the work so they would not claim any liability. (correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't an apprentice have his/her work supervised and checked?)

Anyway, we NEVER went back to that dealer and instead drove 65 km up the road to a more reputable dealer.

Unfortunately all the dealers in Canberra are owned by the one company. Looks like I'll need to go to Goulburn for any warranty work now.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

My mate was in charge of the jobs being handed out to the mechanics in the mornings when the customer cars come in (workshop controller) and his nephew was also an apprentice there (Toyota) twice his nephew left the oil filter loose one on a cruiser I think the other was a Camry. My mate gave him two warnings one for each, last time he sacked him needless to say they don't have a lot to do with each other but he doesn't care. He said he fu##ed up twice, was warned bad luck. My mate is anal about cars and how there kept including his company car he drives now. Always clean and tidy and spews if he sees a dent in the door from a car park and this is a company car. He was the same when on the shop floor, treat the cars like you would want your treated. He banned them from using mobile phones except during their breaks. Told them if he fought them he would dump it in the oil recycle pit along with a warning letter on their work bench. He hated any stuff ups caused by being negligent and God help you if you pissed off on a Friday arvo with out him checking over the car first. He would call any one back if he found any issues when checking it over prior to handing over to customer and if you didn't answer your phone or didn't come back to fix the issue God help you on Monday morning.... He got a lot of respect from the guys. If you did the right thing you were also rewarded.... Cheers Steve

[Turbo Piston Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Turbo Piston]

My mate was in charge of the jobs being handed out to the mechanics in the mornings when the customer cars come in (workshop controller) and his nephew was also an apprentice there (Toyota) twice his nephew left the oil filter loose one on a cruiser I think the other was a Camry. My mate gave him two warnings one for each, last time he sacked him needless to say they don't have a lot to do with each other but he doesn't care. He said he fu##ed up twice, was warned bad luck. My mate is anal about cars and how there kept including his company car he drives now. Always clean and tidy and spews if he sees a dent in the door from a car park and this is a company car. He was the same when on the shop floor, treat the cars like you would want your treated. He banned them from using mobile phones except during their breaks. Told them if he fought them he would dump it in the oil recycle pit along with a warning letter on their work bench. He hated any stuff ups caused by being negligent and God help you if you pissed off on a Friday arvo with out him checking over the car first. He would call any one back if he found any issues when checking it over prior to handing over to customer and if you didn't answer your phone or didn't come back to fix the issue God help you on Monday morning.... He got a lot of respect from the guys. If you did the right thing you were also rewarded.... Cheers Steve

I respect that!

[shodown Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shodown]

Guy, guys guys. I'll trump in here with my blown motor (no oil), sump plug loose by a half turn (not a Toyota dealership) and rear left caliper bolts not torqued and working their way loose.

I am thinking my Prado is cursed....

End of thread

Steve M, unfortunately it seems like your mate is a dying breed !!!

[Westcoast Mark Member Find all posts View Profile Close Westcoast Mark]

Back in November I think it was received a safety recall letter from Toyota regarding an issue that could affect drivers side airbag.
Booked in with nearest dealership and wife went at the appointed time. After four hours of sitting in the waiting lounge she was told it had already been done, so they didn't need to do anything. Fast forward to three weeks ago, I get another letter form Toyota for the same thing?

Call up the dealership for a please explain which didn't really tell us any thing, so as we were both busy the dealership apologised for it not being fixed last time and said they would send someone around with a loan car and take the Prado in to get fixed. They never showed up by the agreed time so I took our car to work, turns out they forgot and no one came that day at all! So after copping a blast from the wife they promised to get it right on the third attempt, I was ready to go to another dealership by this time. But I took it in and they did fix it, also turns out that the first time it went in they didn't have the part!