Odd 2003 Toyota Matrix Weird thing happened to my brothers car. Heres the scoop, 2003 Toyota Matrix XR with 4390 miles on it. 1.8 liter toyota four banger. Dont blame me for buying it. Its a good daily driver to and from the train for my brothers. It was 1000 miles overdue for an oil change when it started to run rough, skip and lose power. So after the oil change it ran smoothly. This was saturday. Sunday we went out to dinner for mothers day. When we were 20 feet from the restaurant waiting to turn into it, it stalled. After we cranked it over once or twice she started and purred like normal again. Once done with dinner all we wanted to do was get home without breaking down! We made it home safely and i said let it cool down for 20 mins till we bring it to the dealer. Agreed. Later we cranked and cranked but didnt fire. So today we had it towed for free to the dealer by the dealer. They gave us a call at 5:50 and said the head gasket was leaking which caused the overheating that stalled the car! All the heads must be replaced! And the block is cracked! How could this happen? Its a young car. And a toyota. The dealership said that they have to check with Toyota Motor Corparation to see if they should fix it because its under warranty. Any ideas why? ____________ Rob 1972 Riviera
Well, I'm no expert. I know that the motor in the Matrix is wound pretty tight. It's compression ratio is somewhere north of 10:1 (10.3? 10.5?) and the only way that it can tolerate cheap gas is through careful ignition and cam timing and with a hefty cooling system. First thing guys will do that road race them is put vents on the hood. If you had a cooling system problem, it wouldn't surprise me if the head warped or cracked the way that it does on aluminum headed Fords when they overheat. - Freed
The dealer came back and said they would fix it for free. My brothers will have it back Tuesday the 18th. but the rental the dealer gave us recieved a huge, ugly black scratch on the rear bumper from someone who hits the car and took off while it was parked. So we still have to pay for something. __________ Rob 1972 Riviera
Tight clearances I've heard these high tech, high horsepower Japanese engines have such tight clearances and machining tolerances that anything at all that happens can do a lot of destruction.
I dont think so, your bros insurance should cover it! If the dealer says no,get a lawyer. I know your gonna say getting a lawyer will cost more than paying for the damage. It is all a Game,play it,threaten them the way they are threatining you,If it was a dealer loaner and they didn't tell you or offer you ins. thats too bad for them,wait it out they will give in,if you got the B-lls.. Besides it should have been a curtesy car Not a rental seeing as how their brand new,under warranty car failed. I had something similar happen to me over 30 years ago, They made all kinds of threatining remarks and said I would end up in jail.I told them to see me in court!! Never heard nothing again!!
Yes kenny but we have been with the dealer for over 17 years. Not something we are going to break. The Matrix we bought from them was timed just right that an $18,000 car cost us $14,000. The dealer hasnt said anything about the scratch that i know of yet. Insurance might cover it but they are 20 and 17. ___________ Rob 1972 Riviera
Not uncommon with a new engine. Manufacuring flaws can result in early demise. Just think of all the machining problems we've heard/had over the years rebuilding the 455! Cam wipeout, gallery plug in wrong, wrong timing, improperly balanced... a lot can go wrong in there!
42 miles later and the problem started again.:af: I'll be going to the shop in ten minutes to see whats wrong. _______________ Rob 1972 Riviera
This time it was a flase alarm. the fuel door was open so the check engine light came on. Figure that out. Dont know why and dont care anymore. As long as the car works. Glad i have a buick to drive. ____________ Rob 1972 Riviera
