Peter, Thanks for the detailed followup. Within the next year or so all Tacomas will be made in the southernmost NAFTA country so it stands to reason more and more components will be sourced there. BTW at every opportunity I have been urging Toyota to 'man up' and change the name of their mid-size pickup from Tacoma to #Toluca to reflect its new production base. No luck so far.....
Actually many of the parts in Toyotas, Hondas, Fords, GM are made all over the world. China, Mexico, Thailand, USA, etc. It is up to the suppliers to ensure no matter where its built the quality is up to their standards. It could have simply been a bad lot. I've worked in the automotive industry for 45 years, started as a technician and now work for an automotive manufacturer. Been there done that.
my blower motor on my 05 Corolla is a denso part made in Japan and still running strong. I guess Toyota trying to cheap out on parts now too to save a few cents on manufacturing! We cannot escape China and Mexico lol
Flyingaceful that’s very true. Just like cheap Chinese made stuff. When dies the company take some responsibility and quality control? They are the ones responsible. In Toyota’s case it’s probably more on Toyota USA since they source parts from manufacturing closer in the US but Toyota as a whole is at fault too.
Greatly appreciate your videos, it confirms what we all fear...Toyota has realize it needs to make money on service and isn't building indestructable cars and trucks any longer. Id still buy Toyota over the other guy's car anyday tho. Thanks for the amazing content!
Ha, at 4:16 we can see the new one was Made in Mexico on the box so it spoiled your surprise a little bit. Can you do a video on replacing the PCV valve on 2009 to 2013 Corolla or Camry?
The Toyota vin used to identify where the vehicle was built. Parts are another story. My 2003 Tacoma was built in Northern California and the workmanship showed it. My son had a Mustang and we bought all new disc brake rotors for his brake job. They were made in three different countries of which the USA was not one of them. I retired from ATT and a long time ago, the phone cords were manufactured in Mexico because of lax environmental laws and cheap labor.
The golden age for japanese cars was in the 80's and 90's and for toyota into the 2000's ... But to compete with the losey American car market they adopted the same practices to stay competitively priced. Thanks UAW ... Chrysler, Ford and Chevy... I typically buy toyota's from the mid 2000's with low miles and they've all been trouble free cars.
My 2002 camry with 208k miles on it has been nearly flawless. Two alternators (non-oem), a starter, O2 sensors, brakes and tires were all I had to replace so far.
Me I love old Nissan's Hondas Toyota's they're just so simple to work on everything is metal The plastics are as tick as a chunk of cheese or a chocolate bar
Stunt Driver - You’re blaming the UAW for Japanese automakers cutting corners..? Uh, yeah, no. Your beloved Toyota start cutting corners to make more money, just around the same time the Detroit automakers were making investments to improve their own quality. It’s not on par, of course, but that’s not the point. The Japanese have found themselves with excessively complicated product lines, spreading resources too thin. Toyota has spent the last few years trying to consolidate their vehicle platforms. They know this a problem, they know the quality has suffered. Bad management decisions in Japan are the problem.
I’ve worked in wholesale parts for 5 years now and usually the brands that we get it that have a higher defective rate are from Mexico. Who knows why? Maybe not strict enough quality control? Also talking to a lot of Toyota dealerships they see Toyota getting there parts from China and Mexico more and more. When I sell someone a Japanese brand or a US brand I am a lot more confident it won’t come back under warranty
Improvements can be made without any outward sign of change in the physical part or part number. I worked in HVAC and we had a problem with the venter motors seizing up on the furnaces we distributed. The company ordered in hundreds of replacements that had the correct bearings installed and had the same part number. No more failures of that type occurred.
I haven`t replaced much on my 2000 Elantra wagon, but what I have replaced or otherwise looked at on it, no ``Made in Mexico`` parts. First and only Mexican-made replacement part was the rear window (got broken out). The heating element worked for almost 2 months before it quit. So, I live with a rear window that doesn`t defrost anymore in the winter. Beyond this one example, yes, anything that comes from that country is junk.
My '96 Tacoma was built in California. My '96 Camry was built in Kentucky. Both blowers were probably made in Japan - not sure. Oh well. They're still working just fine.
Don’t know how to break it to you...but...the whole truck was probably made in Mexico... But maybe not. Maybe San Antonio, Texas. That better? Maybe not....
Peter, thanks for the follow-up on the replacement part. Before we condemn all Mexico and Chinas manufacturing, please note, Toyota has build and supply standards. You can be assured Toyota is reviewing and monitoring their quality and supply sources ...... I stated my blower motor was replaced, but this will not dissuade me from buying more Toyotas, as they are the world premiere auto manufacture.
@@ronjohnson8119 They are a billion dollar company though. I worry even about using a bolt from them that it isn't made from pot metal but sometimes you have no choice.
When you purchase a Toyota vehicle you pretty much buy it for one thing only - quality. If the quality is no longer there, that completely changes the car-buying decision process.
I have had two Camrys, the first went 380,000 miles before I traded it on a 18 and I'm sure it will go well over that. I have also had two 4Runners the first a 98 went 400,000 plus when I traded it for my current 11. Never had a major issue, just regular maintenance. Camry's both made in the US 4Runner, Japan. Really can't tell the difference.
it depends on country/market actually... for example the Corolla Hatch ... for Canadian models, its 100% Japanese ...that am certain. A buddy of mine have 1. Seems US models are not .. (i could be wrong)
We live in the era of china/use and throw So you have to tone down your expectations It's not toyota fault. There is a severe labor shortage in Japan the good old days are gone.
Some new Camry were also imported from Japan at the beginning of the model run cause there were some issues with the Georgetown plant that could not keep up with demand for the new Camry model
Bought a new blower motor for my 96 Camry off of eBay. Original one lasted 307k miles. I was puzzled why used OEM units were going for much more than the aftermarket new one’s.the new aftermarket one didn’t last a year.lesson learned !
Very interesting, I could see from the box where that blower was made and maybe that is why they are so inexpensive to the consumers. Toyota knows they are cheap and will fail. It seems to be a design flaw. At least the motor works. I guess that could also be an opportunity to try your glue method. I am just saying. Enjoy your 4th of July. Also maybe you can make a video on how to find an honest reliable mechanic such as yourself in our area or what to look for in a mechanic.
Most blowers have a toothed lock washer to hold the blade in place. Most blowers are still a very tight fit that have to be pressed off. They obviously didn’t make these right. So I had a idea. Maybe you could trim the tip of the blade on the shaft are to expose the shaft and then put a toothed lock washer on. Maybe it would work and save someone some money. Worth the try for the price.
Since you are a Toyota expert I'm wondering if you can help with this question. I have a 2008 RAV4 AWD with 3.5L V6. It has over 150,000 miles on it and we just love it. But last August while driving back from Canada the CEL (Check engine light) came on. Then seconds later the AWD and VSC lights came on. So now I have 3 yellow lights in the dash lit. The vehicle still drove fine. I pulled over at the next rest stop to check for any loose vacuum hoses, wiring harness, etc. but all seems to be fine. So I just kept driving and was able to make it back home. The next time I started up the car all the lights were off and everything went back to normal. This back and forth kept going on for a couple of months. I checked all the O2 sensors and they all look good. I did notice in the winter months that when the CEL, AWD, and VSC were on the car was only in FWD mode, not AWD. Then for the last few months it was back to normal until yesterday when those 3 lights came back on. The later that day it went back to normal. Do you know what can be happening? Thanks.
They all just replace parts with same until its not covered under warranty anymore . My visor was replaced under warranty, extended when it broke and now I ran out of luck. Bought replacement on ebay for half price.
65 bucks?! That’s cheap for a blower motor. That blower was turning 5 billion times. I’m amazed Toyota had the foresight to make it easy to remove and replace, most other cars the whole dash is coming out.
My last brand new VW MK5, was made in Germany, so many issues, hvac blower, rad fan, CV joints, every single wheel bearing, body panel rust in just 4 years... all in less than 70K miles, not abused, constantly serviced... expensive parts and oils, expensive snotty with “specialized factory trained” grease monkeys in dealerships, expensive specialty tools if want to do it yourself... in end was Just Junk, problems, never again, swore off VWs for ever. Thats me after had over 10 VWs and Audis across 40 years and in a vw fanboys family. Way better reliability from my dodge minivan and my trusty bought used 99 Toyota Camry! These just keep going, much easier for regular service with inexpensive parts too.
Talking about the Toyota parts quality, I notice a shorter life over the years. For example my newer 2010 4 cylinder Camry / 115K miles has developed a clunking sound over bump that is caused by either the lower control arm or the ball joint. However my older 1998 Camry / 206K miles and 1999 Camry / 260K miles run fine with the original control arms and ball joints. All three have sway bar links and bushings replaced as general maintenance. The 99 Camry, made in in Japan, feels in better shape than the 98 Camry, made in Canada.
Larry Reiff lol I did the same thing. I refused to put the factory brand back in but I can’t remember who that was on my 06. The factory KOYO front bearings were junk too. So I tried to be smart and bought timken. Yeah it was a reboxed KOYO but they have a lot of miles now and have held up better than the originals.
I'm looking at a Corolla hatchback parts content 100% Japan. Prefer the sedan over the hatchback but the sedan is not a 100% Japan. I'll probably go with the hatchback.
@Milton Keenes umm no they weren't. 😁. They were mostly made in Canada. From 1988 to 2018 with some local and some Japanese parts. In early 2000's Corollas were also made in the now Tesla plant . The last generation was also built in Mississippi. The current hatchback comes from Japan The sedan is made in Mississippi. 🥺
Some manufacturer somewhere didn't use enough of the more expensive ingredient materials used to make the plastic for the white blower plastic piece, they saved a tiny amount of money on each blower wheel for themselves. But the more expensive plastic ingredients were needed for strength and longevity; the company knew what they were doing, it wasn't a mistake. I'm sure Toyota spoke to them about cutting corners. Nothing to do with the country, everything to do with the profits of one company.
As others have stated many parts and vehicles are being built there. I heard in the very near future all North American Tacomas are going to be built there too. It will be interesting to see if it creates a drop in quality.
Ultimately, is the car manufacturer who sets the quality standard for every part regardless of its country of origin. Chinese quality is relative, look at the iPhone! Everybody buys it despite being made in China, same happens with other products made in that country.
Your views are right on, its the manufacturer’s fault, not the countries or the workers. QC of all products are the responsibility of the manufacturer. It’s funny how the Japanese and Chinese believe the workers in the USA are lazy.
Yes, look at the iPhone- there is a difference between where it is assembles and where the parts come from. The iPhone parts are predominately USA made and assembled in China. The glass, chips, boards, camera - USA made. The u.s. cars are assembled here in the u.s.a but a lot of parts are made outside u.s.
Thank you for doing this important followup video. Yes, it is disappointing, but, as you say it is more of an inconvenience as opposed to some major thousands of dollars component. What is more disappointing is that Toyota just replaces the broken ones with the same garbage. I did notice different numbers on the new motor so MAYBE it really is an improved part. We can hope.
I don't have a problem buying something from certain country. If I am a supplier, I am building the parts exactly as requested by the customer, including raw materials and tolerances while staying within AQL. Otherwise I will be responsible to replace bad parts and even $ for the troubles as agreed on the contract.
I have an 2004 Tacoma with a low fuel light that won’t go away after the truck ran out of gas, all gauges work and was wondering what is wrong so I can fix it thanks 👍
Probably some crud from the bottom of the tank got into the fuel level sensor inside the tank and messed it up. You might need to have a new fuel level sensor installed or remove the old one and immerse it in some solvent. Either way, that is a big job that only a pro can do. Have you tried some gasoline additive in your fuel tank such as Sea Foam? Try that first.
I'm going to keep my '96 Tacoma as long as possible. Aside from maintenance related parts, the only components I've replaced is a starter, blower motor switch and blower motor resistor.
I have a 2017 Rav4 Xle with 70,000 kms and the blower motor started making noise at 50,000 kms. I did’nt have the time to bring it to the dealership until last month so in short the dealership declined the warranty repair. I end up replacing it myself with a TYC brand that comes with lifetime warranty from rockauto. It is sad to see a non japan parts installed in our toyotas. There’s no point paying top dollar for a part that isnt made in U.S or Japan.
I trust the plastic, I trust most of the motor, but there are permanently lubricated bushings or bearings inside there, and if engineers in a clean room design the prototype so that a portion of the clean air is headed back to cool the motor bearings, it should work for life. Then God created dust... Also in low-bid offshore manufacturing, the 4th party lubricant supplier used by the third party blower motor maker for the second-party assembly line makes a bundle by mixing sludge + varsol to create a lubricant that meets first-party Toyota's viscosity specs for these bearings... for a little while.
I own a 2012 VW GTI, made in Germany. 2 more services and I'll have paid as much for fixing it as a paid for the car. Last bill was $6k one before $4k. Germany Vs. Mexico? Not sure Germany comes out the winner. My other two Japanese cars have cost me oil and tires.
Some manufacturer somewhere didn't use enough of the more expensive materials used to make the plastic for the white blower plastic piece, they saved a tiny amount of money on each blower wheel for themselves. But the more expensive plastic ingredients were needed for strength and longevity; the company knew what they were doing, it wasn't a mistake. I'm sure Toyota spoke to them about cutting corners. Nothing to do with the country, everything to do with the profits of one company.
And Nestor Llamas said “it can be repaired”. REPAIRED not REPLACED. The fan assembly isn’t a serviceable item by itself so I am interested in how to repair it? 🤔
How can they compete with Audi, VW or Ford when they make everything in Japan? I hope they still make the most essential parts in Japan. My 2000 Lexus still drives and every sigle button works .
What a shame. Toyota is the best car manufacturer out there. Why they would start making all Tacoma’s in Mexico and using parts sourced from there is beyond me. This will give Honda a chance to pass them up if they’re not careful.
I remember way back in the late 50's that made in Japan was cheap and shoddy. Thanks Peter now I know your name. May I ask where you came from? Happy 4th to you too. :-)
Cool video. Also Scotty Kilmer says that same part made in Mexico or Japan are a lot in reliability terms. BTW What is your option in a Honda Fit manual transmission?
Great video. Speaks for itself. It is way overdue things are made in the USA again or at least in developing countries that deserve a better life. Sad to say that profits overpower quality. Makes me sick to my stomach like I feel I have a....virus. Japan used to make such high quality stuff at lower cost...and it made sense the USA would import. Times have changed and I'm boycotting as much Made in China stuff as possible (able?). Not generally an issue in the past as far as I know with Mexico made stuff, but there we go again, profits over quality. Built in designed obsolescence.
US suppliers are only marginally better. It's impossible to get a real Japanese vehicle. Many times it may be a Japanese robust engineered design. North Americans just don't maintain the assembly quality standards, and don't assemble it correctly. Welcome to 2020 MFG.
I think this boils down to one thing only and that is MONEY! It’s cheaper to manufacture parts made in Mexico, but at the same time disappointing on Toyotas part for risking their reputation.
Why would they change the manufacturing plant. People will still buy their cars even if they start going cheap. Its a TOYOTA they go forever LOL. Thanks for the video BTW
Bet they probably pay $10 for them from Mexico. If they last 3 years happy days, if not its only costing them ten bucks to replace. After 3 years it's $70 for a new part that's half the price of an aftermarket one! Question is, is the aftermarket fan assembly better quality?
I think someone should do some research to find an aftermarket parts that is not made in Mexico and China. If you put the same part in it might go out sooner.
Very disappointing.....I have a 1998 T100 4WD with 402,000 miles on it that has never had any major problems and a 2007 Highlander FWD with nearly 200,000 miles that has also never had any serious problems(both made in Japan)....very sad to see Toyota using these inferior parts on what was once the highest quality auto make in the world (in my opinion)
It said MEXICO right on the outside of the box. Not everything from China or Mexico bad, but mostly they are. They are trying to save money and compete. It is a race to the bottom. I have a 97 VW Golf that was made in Mexico and it has been trouble free. I still drive it. I do agree most things made in Japan or Germany are better quality.
In your previous video you found an aftermarket fan blower, but it cost more than the dealers part. Where was the aftermarket part made? You say you don't like things made in Mexico and China, but then you didn't want to pay the price for one not made there. This is the problem.
Thank you Peter for taking the time to make these videos- I enjoy them all! This one was particularly interesting. Have a great weekend.
Besides being a great resource for us Toyota owners, you also moonlight as a private investigator. Thank you for your skills. Happy Fourth of July!
Peter, Thanks for the detailed followup. Within the next year or so all Tacomas will be made in the southernmost NAFTA country so it stands to reason more and more components will be sourced there. BTW at every opportunity I have been urging Toyota to 'man up' and change the name of their mid-size pickup from Tacoma to #Toluca to reflect its new production base. No luck so far.....
Actually many of the parts in Toyotas, Hondas, Fords, GM are made all over the world. China, Mexico, Thailand, USA, etc. It is up to the suppliers to ensure no matter where its built the quality is up to their standards. It could have simply been a bad lot. I've worked in the automotive industry for 45 years, started as a technician and now work for an automotive manufacturer. Been there done that.
Vladimir_Bone Spur_tRump Land barge? How old are you,12? You apparently never seen a land barge.
Considering they're nicknamed "Tacos" already, I'm not sure they need to be officially renamed to further reflect their Mexican heritage ;-)
Ahahaha!! That is funny!
my blower motor on my 05 Corolla is a denso part made in Japan and still running strong. I guess Toyota trying to cheap out on parts now too to save a few cents on manufacturing! We cannot escape China and Mexico lol
Denso makes great stuff. Some of the stuff is US made also.
Can’t blame Mexico and China, blame Toyota for selecting less quality parts.
Flyingaceful that’s very true. Just like cheap Chinese made stuff. When dies the company take some responsibility and quality control? They are the ones responsible. In Toyota’s case it’s probably more on Toyota USA since they source parts from manufacturing closer in the US but Toyota as a whole is at fault too.
@@whatfreedom7 the biggest Toyota disappointment was that new BMW supra thing they put out
Thanks Peter! This video makes me love "old school" Toyota's even more :) :)
Many Toyota wire harnesses for New current Toyota's also come from "that country". Nice video
Greatly appreciate your videos, it confirms what we all fear...Toyota has realize it needs to make money on service and isn't building indestructable cars and trucks any longer. Id still buy Toyota over the other guy's car anyday tho. Thanks for the amazing content!
Ha, at 4:16 we can see the new one was Made in Mexico on the box so it spoiled your surprise a little bit. Can you do a video on replacing the PCV valve on 2009 to 2013 Corolla or Camry?
The Toyota vin used to identify where the vehicle was built. Parts are another story.
My 2003 Tacoma was built in Northern California and the workmanship showed it.
My son had a Mustang and we bought all new disc brake rotors for his brake job. They were made in three different countries of which the USA was not one of them.
I retired from ATT and a long time ago, the phone cords were manufactured in Mexico because of lax environmental laws and cheap labor.
The golden age for japanese cars was in the 80's and 90's and for toyota into the 2000's ... But to compete with the losey American car market they adopted the same practices to stay competitively priced. Thanks UAW ... Chrysler, Ford and Chevy...
I typically buy toyota's from the mid 2000's with low miles and they've all been trouble free cars.
My 2002 camry with 208k miles on it has been nearly flawless. Two alternators (non-oem), a starter, O2 sensors, brakes and tires were all I had to replace so far.
Me I love old Nissan's Hondas Toyota's they're just so simple to work on everything is metal The plastics are as tick as a chunk of cheese or a chocolate bar
Stunt Driver - You’re blaming the UAW for Japanese automakers cutting corners..? Uh, yeah, no. Your beloved Toyota start cutting corners to make more money, just around the same time the Detroit automakers were making investments to improve their own quality. It’s not on par, of course, but that’s not the point. The Japanese have found themselves with excessively complicated product lines, spreading resources too thin. Toyota has spent the last few years trying to consolidate their vehicle platforms. They know this a problem, they know the quality has suffered. Bad management decisions in Japan are the problem.
@Liam ya Toyota have the least problems and who cares as long as the engine and transmission work who cares if you've no heating it's grand
I’ve worked in wholesale parts for 5 years now and usually the brands that we get it that have a higher defective rate are from Mexico. Who knows why? Maybe not strict enough quality control? Also talking to a lot of Toyota dealerships they see Toyota getting there parts from China and Mexico more and more. When I sell someone a Japanese brand or a US brand I am a lot more confident it won’t come back under warranty
Just like I guessed! What else will fail in the future? Sooner or later the 1st and 2nd gen Tacoma market value will go up!
Improvements can be made without any outward sign of change in the physical part or part number.
I worked in HVAC and we had a problem with the venter motors seizing up on the furnaces we distributed.
The company ordered in hundreds of replacements that had the correct bearings installed and had the same part number.
No more failures of that type occurred.
Thank You
For your Time and
Professionalism
Thanks for the tip. I’ll leave the fan switched off. Only use it when necessary.
Toyota are not going to tool up and manufacture that part. Likely that supplier will have to fund part of the recall cost.
I haven`t replaced much on my 2000 Elantra wagon, but what I have replaced or otherwise looked at on it, no ``Made in Mexico`` parts. First and only Mexican-made replacement part was the rear window (got broken out). The heating element worked for almost 2 months before it quit. So, I live with a rear window that doesn`t defrost anymore in the winter. Beyond this one example, yes, anything that comes from that country is junk.
Thanks for showing this keen to see more similar videos
Oh well! I guess we should buy knock-offs cheaper elsewhere than the dealer knock-offs..... great & informative video...thanks
Where was the after market part made? It cost almost double, maybe the quality was better made. Your the best!
My '96 Tacoma was built in California. My '96 Camry was built in Kentucky. Both blowers were probably made in Japan - not sure. Oh well. They're still working just fine.
Don’t know how to break it to you...but...the whole truck was probably made in Mexico...
But maybe not. Maybe San Antonio, Texas. That better?
Maybe not....
Oh no you got to be kidding Toyota going down the road of Chinese parts assembled in Mexico I can't believe it .
Peter, thanks for the follow-up on the replacement part. Before we condemn all Mexico and Chinas manufacturing, please note, Toyota has build and supply standards. You can be assured Toyota is reviewing and monitoring their quality and supply sources ...... I stated my blower motor was replaced, but this will not dissuade me from buying more Toyotas, as they are the world premiere auto manufacture.
Roflmfao,yea we said that once upon a time about Americans cars also. Things change
It said Mexico right on the box so I knew even before you opened the box .
Every Ford part is Made in Mexico. Maybe Toyota is using Dorman as supplier :lol:
Dorman is mostly junk.
Dorman is complete garbage.
@@ronjohnson8119 They are a billion dollar company though. I worry even about using a bolt from them that it isn't made from pot metal but sometimes you have no choice.
Toyota’s are not like when they were made in Japan
When you purchase a Toyota vehicle you pretty much buy it for one thing only - quality. If the quality is no longer there, that completely changes the car-buying decision process.
I have had two Camrys, the first went 380,000 miles before I traded it on a 18 and I'm sure it will go well over that. I have also had two 4Runners the first a 98 went 400,000 plus when I traded it for my current 11. Never had a major issue, just regular maintenance. Camry's both made in the US 4Runner, Japan. Really can't tell the difference.
it depends on country/market actually... for example the Corolla Hatch ... for Canadian models, its 100% Japanese ...that am certain. A buddy of mine have 1. Seems US models are not .. (i could be wrong)
My 06 US built Tacoma has had paint failures so yeah not great quality.
We live in the era of china/use and throw
So you have to tone down your expectations
It's not toyota fault. There is a severe labor shortage in Japan the good old days are gone.
Some new Camry were also imported from Japan at the beginning of the model run cause there were some issues with the Georgetown plant that could not keep up with demand for the new Camry model
Same story for everything. My 20 year old washer and dryer machines will last longer than if i replace them with new ones today.
My 28 year old Toyota still has the original blower motor.
Great information I actually drive a Volkswagen, now I’m going to check where it was made LOL!
Hehehe, I drive a Passat made in Wolfsburg Germany.
@@andrewlaw I think Passats are the one VW not made in MX.
Bought a new blower motor for my 96 Camry off of eBay. Original one lasted 307k miles. I was puzzled why used OEM units were going for much more than the aftermarket new one’s.the new aftermarket one didn’t last a year.lesson learned !
Very interesting, I could see from the box where that blower was made and maybe that is why they are so inexpensive to the consumers. Toyota knows they are cheap and will fail. It seems to be a design flaw. At least the motor works. I guess that could also be an opportunity to try your glue method. I am just saying. Enjoy your 4th of July. Also maybe you can make a video on how to find an honest reliable mechanic such as yourself in our area or what to look for in a mechanic.
Most blowers have a toothed lock washer to hold the blade in place. Most blowers are still a very tight fit that have to be pressed off. They obviously didn’t make these right.
So I had a idea. Maybe you could trim the tip of the blade on the shaft are to expose the shaft and then put a toothed lock washer on. Maybe it would work and save someone some money. Worth the try for the price.
Good video. 👍
Since you are a Toyota expert I'm wondering if you can help with this question. I have a 2008 RAV4 AWD with 3.5L V6. It has over 150,000 miles on it and we just love it. But last August while driving back from Canada the CEL (Check engine light) came on. Then seconds later the AWD and VSC lights came on. So now I have 3 yellow lights in the dash lit. The vehicle still drove fine. I pulled over at the next rest stop to check for any loose vacuum hoses, wiring harness, etc. but all seems to be fine. So I just kept driving and was able to make it back home. The next time I started up the car all the lights were off and everything went back to normal. This back and forth kept going on for a couple of months. I checked all the O2 sensors and they all look good. I did notice in the winter months that when the CEL, AWD, and VSC were on the car was only in FWD mode, not AWD. Then for the last few months it was back to normal until yesterday when those 3 lights came back on. The later that day it went back to normal. Do you know what can be happening? Thanks.
They all just replace parts with same until its not covered under warranty anymore . My visor was replaced under warranty, extended when it broke and now I ran out of luck. Bought replacement on ebay for half price.
65 bucks?! That’s cheap for a blower motor. That blower was turning 5 billion times. I’m amazed Toyota had the foresight to make it easy to remove and replace, most other cars the whole dash is coming out.
My last brand new VW MK5, was made in Germany, so many issues, hvac blower, rad fan, CV joints, every single wheel bearing, body panel rust in just 4 years... all in less than 70K miles, not abused, constantly serviced... expensive parts and oils, expensive snotty with “specialized factory trained” grease monkeys in dealerships, expensive specialty tools if want to do it yourself... in end was Just Junk, problems, never again, swore off VWs for ever. Thats me after had over 10 VWs and Audis across 40 years and in a vw fanboys family. Way better reliability from my dodge minivan and my trusty bought used 99 Toyota Camry! These just keep going, much easier for regular service with inexpensive parts too.
Talking about the Toyota parts quality, I notice a shorter life over the years. For example my newer 2010 4 cylinder Camry / 115K miles has developed a clunking sound over bump that is caused by either the lower control arm or the ball joint. However my older 1998 Camry / 206K miles and 1999 Camry / 260K miles run fine with the original control arms and ball joints. All three have sway bar links and bushings replaced as general maintenance. The 99 Camry, made in in Japan, feels in better shape than the 98 Camry, made in Canada.
I hear from Scotty that all Tacoma’s are going to made in Mexico in the near future .....
they have been since '06
Humm I’ve read Texas, TN, and CA
Earlier gen 2’s had a issue with squeaky and clicky blowers. Glad to know Toyota managed to make the quAlity even worse.
In this case, a good aftermarket could be better??as a substitute
It probably would have been made in Mexico or China. Take your pick....
For my Tacoma the aftermarket one I put in has lasted years longer than the two factory ones !
Larry Reiff lol I did the same thing. I refused to put the factory brand back in but I can’t remember who that was on my 06. The factory KOYO front bearings were junk too. So I tried to be smart and bought timken. Yeah it was a reboxed KOYO but they have a lot of miles now and have held up better than the originals.
I'm looking at a Corolla hatchback parts content 100% Japan. Prefer the sedan over the hatchback but the sedan is not a 100% Japan. I'll probably go with the hatchback.
Great choice hatchbacks are great for hauling more stuff.
@Milton Keenes umm no they weren't. 😁. They were mostly made in Canada.
From 1988 to 2018 with some local and some Japanese parts. In early 2000's Corollas were also made in the now Tesla plant . The last generation was also built in Mississippi.
The current hatchback comes from Japan
The sedan is made in Mississippi. 🥺
Some manufacturer somewhere didn't use enough of the more expensive ingredient materials used to make the plastic for the white blower plastic piece, they saved a tiny amount of money on each blower wheel for themselves.
But the more expensive plastic ingredients were needed for strength and longevity; the company knew what they were doing, it wasn't a mistake.
I'm sure Toyota spoke to them about cutting corners.
Nothing to do with the country, everything to do with the profits of one company.
Good job!
As others have stated many parts and vehicles are being built there. I heard in the very near future all North American Tacomas are going to be built there too. It will be interesting to see if it creates a drop in quality.
Lasted 141,000 miles. Not bad.
Ultimately, is the car manufacturer who sets the quality standard for every part regardless of its country of origin. Chinese quality is relative, look at the iPhone! Everybody buys it despite being made in China, same happens with other products made in that country.
Your views are right on, its the manufacturer’s fault, not the countries or the workers. QC of all products are the responsibility of the manufacturer. It’s funny how the Japanese and Chinese believe the workers in the USA are lazy.
Yes, look at the iPhone- there is a difference between where it is assembles and where the parts come from. The iPhone parts are predominately USA made and assembled in China. The glass, chips, boards, camera - USA made. The u.s. cars are assembled here in the u.s.a but a lot of parts are made outside u.s.
Thank you for doing this important followup video. Yes, it is disappointing, but, as you say it is more of an inconvenience as opposed to some major thousands of dollars component. What is more disappointing is that Toyota just replaces the broken ones with the same garbage. I did notice different numbers on the new motor so MAYBE it really is an improved part. We can hope.
Still, I hate contributing to the economy of communist China.
Disappointing from a usually great Company :-(
Toyota has taken a big hit on quality over the past 10-15 years.
That’s why it was so cheap! Would cost a lot extra in shipping for a part made in Japan
If you are buying a Toyota or Lexus, better be sure the model is made in Japan. They are just superior
I don't have a problem buying something from certain country. If I am a supplier, I am building the parts exactly as requested by the customer, including raw materials and tolerances while staying within AQL. Otherwise I will be responsible to replace bad parts and even $ for the troubles as agreed on the contract.
I bought top-of-the line Continental Tires about 6 months ago and was very disappointed they were made in Mexico.
Yep, even premium tyre manufacturers outsource now. It's really not worth the extra outlay when you get a mid-range with the same performance.
I have an 2004 Tacoma with a low fuel light that won’t go away after the truck ran out of gas, all gauges work and was wondering what is wrong so I can fix it thanks 👍
Probably some crud from the bottom of the tank got into the fuel level sensor inside the tank and messed it up. You might need to have a new fuel level sensor installed or remove the old one and immerse it in some solvent. Either way, that is a big job that only a pro can do. Have you tried some gasoline additive in your fuel tank such as Sea Foam? Try that first.
That's why we call them a Taco.
I'm going to keep my '96 Tacoma as long as possible. Aside from maintenance related parts, the only components I've replaced is a starter, blower motor switch and blower motor resistor.
Had the same issue on 2013 Prius V.
I have a 2017 Rav4 Xle with 70,000 kms and the blower
motor started making noise at 50,000 kms. I did’nt have the time to bring it to the dealership until last month so in short the dealership declined the warranty repair. I end up replacing it myself with a TYC brand that comes with lifetime warranty from rockauto. It is sad to see a non japan parts installed in our toyotas. There’s no point paying top dollar for a part that isnt made in U.S or Japan.
The only part that has failed on my 12yo Honda is the blower motor (bearing). I should have checked where it is made.
I trust the plastic, I trust most of the motor, but there are permanently lubricated bushings or bearings inside there, and if engineers in a clean room design the prototype so that a portion of the clean air is headed back to cool the motor bearings, it should work for life. Then God created dust...
Also in low-bid offshore manufacturing,
the 4th party lubricant supplier used by the
third party blower motor maker for the
second-party assembly line
makes a bundle by mixing sludge + varsol to create a lubricant that meets
first-party Toyota's viscosity specs for these bearings... for a little while.
I own a 2012 VW GTI, made in Germany. 2 more services and I'll have paid as much for fixing it as a paid for the car. Last bill was $6k one before $4k. Germany Vs. Mexico? Not sure Germany comes out the winner. My other two Japanese cars have cost me oil and tires.
I'm AC automotive technician, and I can say that blower motor can be repaired, don't be lazy, and I'm Mexican VIVA Mexico.
Some manufacturer somewhere didn't use enough of the more expensive materials used to make the plastic for the white blower plastic piece, they saved a tiny amount of money on each blower wheel for themselves.
But the more expensive plastic ingredients were needed for strength and longevity; the company knew what they were doing, it wasn't a mistake. I'm sure Toyota spoke to them about cutting corners.
Nothing to do with the country, everything to do with the profits of one company.
He said the broken piece can't be purchased on its own.
And Nestor Llamas said “it can be repaired”. REPAIRED not REPLACED. The fan assembly isn’t a serviceable item by itself so I am interested in how to repair it? 🤔
Nestor Llamas How sir?
Huh?! For 65 bucks? Who cares. Fixed.
Well, makes sense the Tacoma nickname is the “taco”.
Thank You!
Read the box label Peter..made in Mexico..welcome to the new Toyota..
every tacoma comes with a burito and a mexican coke!
How can they compete with Audi, VW or Ford when they make everything in Japan? I hope they still make the most essential parts in Japan. My 2000 Lexus still drives and every sigle button works .
Where did you get permission to display the Toyota Logo on the wall?
What a shame. Toyota is the best car manufacturer out there. Why they would start making all Tacoma’s in Mexico and using parts sourced from there is beyond me. This will give Honda a chance to pass them up if they’re not careful.
I cannot hear you. Please full captions. Many thanks
He's got plenty of volume, must be an issue on your end.
Compare the labels on the motors ? Maybe it's a different motor in the replacement.
Made in Mexico clutches for Tacoma same problem, junk. 1/3 the life of the Japanese parts.
Buy a aftermarket blower. Maybe it's made better. No harm trying, and its probably cheaper
With this particular failure a clamp around the plastic column over the drive shaft might hold it fine. What do you think?
The blower motor in my 255,000 mile 2000 Tacoma still works fine. I guess it was not made "down south"............Jay
I remember way back in the late 50's that made in Japan was cheap and shoddy. Thanks Peter now I know your name. May I ask where you came from? Happy 4th to you too. :-)
My Mexico made 2016 jetta has no problems so far. engine made in germany. transmission made in japan.
My 2018 stopped blowing all together today 🙄.
Nothing is more expensive than cheap :P
Yep, and a cheap man pays twice as much!
I'm curious if Tacomas are now going to be manufactured in Mexico Will the price come down? I'm guessing probably not.
Sssshhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiitttttttttt........ that part has been failing since the Gen2 Tacoma’s for over ten years now!
If a blower motor fails after only three years, should try aftermarket parts instead.
Cool video. Also Scotty Kilmer says that same part made in Mexico or Japan are a lot in reliability terms.
BTW What is your option in a Honda Fit manual transmission?
Toyota Tacoma production moving to Mexico.
Toyota must have learned their lesson because the entire Tacoma is going to be made in Mexico not just the blower assembly.
Great video. Speaks for itself. It is way overdue things are made in the USA again or at least in developing countries that deserve a better life. Sad to say that profits overpower quality. Makes me sick to my stomach like I feel I have a....virus. Japan used to make such high quality stuff at lower cost...and it made sense the USA would import. Times have changed and I'm boycotting as much Made in China stuff as possible (able?). Not generally an issue in the past as far as I know with Mexico made stuff, but there we go again, profits over quality. Built in designed obsolescence.
US suppliers are only marginally better.
It's impossible to get a real Japanese vehicle. Many times it may be a Japanese robust engineered design. North Americans just don't maintain the assembly quality standards, and don't assemble it correctly.
Welcome to 2020 MFG.
I think this boils down to one thing only and that is MONEY! It’s cheaper to manufacture parts made in Mexico, but at the same time disappointing on Toyotas part for risking their reputation.
Correct me if I'm not mistaken, but isn't the Tacoma going to be assembled in Mexico soon?
Just saying "Hi," because my son's named Nils & he also had a shipmate named Nils! 👍
@@gus473 That's my name, don't wear it out!
Why would they change the manufacturing plant. People will still buy their cars even if they start going cheap. Its a TOYOTA they go forever LOL. Thanks for the video BTW
Is there a way to get aftermarket USA or Japanese parts
Bet they probably pay $10 for them from Mexico. If they last 3 years happy days, if not its only costing them ten bucks to replace. After 3 years it's $70 for a new part that's half the price of an aftermarket one! Question is, is the aftermarket fan assembly better quality?
I heard next year Toyota is going to start making the Tacoma truck in Mexico. Opening a plant down there.
already happened
Just replaced the blower motor on my 2010 Tacoma with a new one from Autozone It has a limited lifetime warranty
I think someone should do some research to find an aftermarket parts that is not made in Mexico and China. If you put the same part in it might go out sooner.
Very disappointing.....I have a 1998 T100 4WD with 402,000 miles on it that has never had any major problems and a 2007 Highlander FWD with nearly 200,000 miles that has also never had any serious problems(both made in Japan)....very sad to see Toyota using these inferior parts on what was once the highest quality auto make in the world (in my opinion)
It said MEXICO right on the outside of the box. Not everything from China or Mexico bad, but mostly they are. They are trying to save money and compete. It is a race to the bottom. I have a 97 VW Golf that was made in Mexico and it has been trouble free. I still drive it. I do agree most things made in Japan or Germany are better quality.
In your previous video you found an aftermarket fan blower, but it cost more than the dealers part. Where was the aftermarket part made? You say you don't like things made in Mexico and China, but then you didn't want to pay the price for one not made there. This is the problem.
When toyota started to use cheap parts that last for 150k 200k km or 10 years, everyone jump in the the wagon ....I miss those 1990 era , BJ80., LJ70,
At least have it made in Taiwan