Leaking coolant and dealer won't fix

[Evoh]

I noticed some coolant on the side of the coolant reservoir and on the hoses nearby. I know it is coolant because it is green. Also, the coolant level for the main reservoir is now below the max. I checked to coolant level about a month ago and it was above max level.

So I decided to bring my car into the dealership to get it checked out and get the ECU recall done also. They told me the coolant level was normal and the green fluid was just condensation even though it was green. I wanted to speak the the tech and show him the leak but he just walked right pass me with no intention of hearing what I had to say. Talking to the service manager and showing him the green fluid was not successful either. I wanted them to do a pressure check but they said they didn't see enough fluid to warrant that. They said it had to be leaking on the ground.

I want to try a different dealership because I don't want that tech to touch my car but I think that I will get the same response. I head horror stories of dealerships but I didn't think they would just refuse to have my car properly checked for a leak when there obviously was one. I went to Autonation Toyota Hayward. I don't have much experience with dealerships so I'm not sure if this is normal behavior. Does anyone in the Bay Area, CA know of a dealership without an asshole tech?

Apologies for the rant.

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[Grady60]

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a27543190/antifreeze-leak/
Maybe this info can help. There’s no reason for the tech to be rude though.

 

[Evoh]

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a27543190/antifreeze-leak/
Maybe this info can help. There’s no reason for the tech to be rude though.

Thanks. I do intend to try and find the leak on my own if going the dealer route proves unsuccessful.

 

[antonio88x]

Wow that's extremely frustrating. They could at least show you some respect as the customer.

 

[MisterSkiz]

Green condensation? lol

Take it somewhere else.

 

[AustinGRSupra]

My Supra is 75% DIY and 25% performance shop. Toyota is clueless. After my tires were rotated and the tech told me, “I hate working on these,” I never went back.

 

[Raidernation]

My Supra is 75% DIY and 25% performance shop. Toyota is clueless. After my tires were rotated and the tech told me, “I hate working on these,” I never went back.

That's my frustration with Toyota/Bmw Supra. The dealerships treat supra onwers like red headed step children or have no clue what they are talking about. One service adviser laughed at me when I asked about a rental because the oil change was going to take 4-6 hours. They had drive to other dealerships to get the oil. Another adviser told me that the oil level readings where readings for the life of the oil. Are you really that clueless? Also who doesn't offer rentals when a car is brought in for a recall. I had to take multiple ubers on Monday to do my errands.

I get it, techs don't like working on these things. Maybe Toyota shouldn't try to sell rebranded BMW's. Corporate needs to hear Supra owners frustrations loud and clear. This whole buying experience has really soured me on Toyota Motor Corp. This will be my last Toyota. I had better customer service on my 370Z which was literally half the price.

 

[Escapist]

That's my frustration with Toyota/Bmw Supra. The dealerships treat supra onwers like red headed step children or have no clue what they are talking about. One service adviser laughed at me when I asked about a rental because the oil change was going to take 4-6 hours. They had drive to other dealerships to get the oil. Another adviser told me that the oil level readings where readings for the life of the oil. Are you really that clueless? Also who doesn't offer rentals when a car is brought in for a recall. I had to take multiple ubers on Monday to do my errands.

I get it, techs don't like working on these things. Maybe Toyota shouldn't try to sell rebranded BMW's. Corporate needs to hear Supra owners frustrations loud and clear. This whole buying experience has really soured me on Toyota Motor Corp. This will be my last Toyota. I had better customer service on my 370Z which was literally half the price.

I've only brought my car into the dealership twice after owning it for a year; once because the clear bra on the bumper wasn't seated correctly, the second time was today for the recall. I also asked for a loaner since it took 2 and a half hours and they weren't offering them anymore. To be fair, new car dealerships have pretty limited inventory right now.

 

[tg_mkv]

That's my frustration with Toyota/Bmw Supra. The dealerships treat supra onwers like red headed step children or have no clue what they are talking about. One service adviser laughed at me when I asked about a rental because the oil change was going to take 4-6 hours. They had drive to other dealerships to get the oil. Another adviser told me that the oil level readings where readings for the life of the oil. Are you really that clueless? Also who doesn't offer rentals when a car is brought in for a recall. I had to take multiple ubers on Monday to do my errands.

I get it, techs don't like working on these things. Maybe Toyota shouldn't try to sell rebranded BMW's. Corporate needs to hear Supra owners frustrations loud and clear. This whole buying experience has really soured me on Toyota Motor Corp. This will be my last Toyota. I had better customer service on my 370Z which was literally half the price.

I totally get this guy's frustrations cause my dealer kinda does the same to me. Had my tires changed recently and one of the techs lost my stem cap and replaced it with some crappy non oem one and they never said a word to me about it until I found out I was losing air from that tire. Tried to tell dealer about it but nobody's batting an eyelash and this isn't the first time they've pulled some dumb crap like this and have tried to ignore it. The buying and servicing experience for these cars is awful and the only thing keeping me with the brand is the car else I'm very close to jumping ship to BMW's M cars.

 

[ToyoBMW]

If the coolant was coming out of the reservoir, it's perfectly normal when your coolant is above the MAX LEVEL. As the car warms and gets hotter, the coolant bubbles and when it's above the MAX LEVEL, it can cause condensation that comes out.

Since now the level is below the MAX LEVEL, just clean off any crusty green gunk and you should be good. This happened to my Rav4 and the explanation and solution from Toyota was correct.

 

[Evoh]

If the coolant was coming out of the reservoir, it's perfectly normal when your coolant is above the MAX LEVEL. As the car warms and gets hotter, the coolant bubbles and when it's above the MAX LEVEL, it can cause condensation that comes out.

Since now the level is below the MAX LEVEL, just clean off any crusty green gunk and you should be good. This happened to my Rav4 and the explanation and solution from Toyota was correct.

Does it come out of the bleeder valve on top of the reservoir? The top of the reservoir is completely clean. The coolant is on the bottom left side of the reservoir and on the hose coming out of the reservoir at the bottom.

I will admit that I took my car to the track on a day that reached 100 degrees about a month ago and its possible that's when the coolant came out. I guess I will clean it and see if it continues to leak. I guess what's frustrating me the most was how to tech didn't even want to explain it to me himself.

 

[Suggs.OR]

If the coolant was coming out of the reservoir, it's perfectly normal when your coolant is above the MAX LEVEL. As the car warms and gets hotter, the coolant bubbles and when it's above the MAX LEVEL, it can cause condensation that comes out.

Since now the level is below the MAX LEVEL, just clean off any crusty green gunk and you should be good. This happened to my Rav4 and the explanation and solution from Toyota was correct.

This is what has been happening with me and track days. I was reassured by my local shop that race BMWs this was pretty normals.

 

[Jomartijr]

My dealer experience has been dismal as well. I couldnt get either of two area dealers ( Ft Worth and Burleson Tx) to take a vibration issue seriously. Once the tech pronounced it "normal, a non issue" Toyota tech assist would not listen.
The service mgr at the selling dealer stated outright Audis, BNWs and Mercedes were over engineered, over complicated and he wouldnt have one. That's almost verbatim.
I'm seriously dissatisfied with Toyota after sale support. Dealers are ready to sell but service depts I've dealt with are just not interested, opting to not work minor issues by claiming "its normal".

 

[ToyoBMW]

My dealer experience has been dismal as well. I couldnt get either of two area dealers ( Ft Worth and Burleson Tx) to take a vibration issue seriously. Once the tech pronounced it "normal, a non issue" Toyota tech assist would not listen.
The service mgr at the selling dealer stated outright Audis, BNWs and Mercedes were over engineered, over complicated and he wouldnt have one. That's almost verbatim.
I'm seriously dissatisfied with Toyota after sale support. Dealers are ready to sell but service depts I've dealt with are just not interested, opting to not work minor issues by claiming "its normal".

I think the experience you have is similar to what I've experienced with the Supra. However with any other Toyota product, the service level would not be so poor.

The reasoning behind the "I don't care because it's normal" attitude, it's because the techs really don't know how to fix the problem. There is not enough support from Toyota Corporate with instructions to fix these problems. So the Toyota techs are stuck, giving answers like "that's normal because we tested another car that had the same sound/vibration".

When a BMW ends up at a Toyota dealership, service will not be the same as a regular Toyota product.

 

[RenRed2]

Wait for the norm to begin - just a few well known caring dealers in an almost regional fashion will provide good service and support. That will mean many will have to drive to them. Most average Toyota dealers will not care about this low volume vehicle. Its going to happen.

The attitude of the simpleton mentioned stating Audi, BMW etc are over engineered is nothing new. It has alot to do with his lack of liquidity in his checkbook as well. Also he is a non enthusiast at a dealer selling boxes and trucks and NASCAR'd out Camry's. Do the math.

1 in 5 dealers are going to be competent with this car overall. Maybe.............

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