Car's got 34,000 and change. Chugging down the Garden State at speed and got that good old grinding noise from up front. Pulled off at the first rest stop, looked underneath: Yep, that's the door hanging down, leading edge of what used to be the hinge in tatters. Jacked the car up a bit, got in there with a Swiss Army knife, wiggled the fasteners off, and pulled the door off. Sheesh. So, used the on-line appointment tool at the dealership I bought the thing at. Next morning verified that the parts department had the engine bottom cover. In the afternoon showed up at the allotted time. Service rep comes up, I hand him the busted door. "This thing was grinding along the GSP last night. I sure haven't done anything odd to the car since I got it." He gets down and takes a look. "Sure looks like this car took major damage from being driven over something." "I've hit the odd parking lot divider, slowly, but never went over anything. Except maybe a snowbank back in December 2009. However, changed the oil myself a couple of times after that and it was in one piece back then." Pulled out the TSB (thanks, Priuschat!) and handed it to him. "This apply to my car? Not sure if the VIN number's right." His eyes got big. Not sure if this was the first time he'd seen this TSB or was surprised I had it. Said, "We'll have to talk this over with Toyota." "Fine with me, if it works, it works." And went off to the waiting room. A couple of hours later a second rep comes out. "The work is free. You're a long time customer and you've had service here, so we want to make it good for you. But there was serious damage under there and most of the plastic connectors aren't even Toyota - somebody just slapped that stuff in there." My thoughts went to the dealership who had done the last service. Told the rep I sure hadn't done anything like that, I was careful with that car. Think he believed me. But I got the car back, new bottom cover, and they even washed the car. But the car sure isn't going back to that dodgy dealer up in Union. KBeck
