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Author Topic: Why do cars break at the worst times?  (Read 1927 times)

Online wing

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Why do cars break at the worst times?
« on: May 18, 2011, 09:15:10 am »
Moan and whine for me.

Tracy started her trip to Cornwall this morning to get her G license (FINALLY!) and her Yaris broke!  Seriously?  It's making the weirdest noise, sounds like a pulley rubbing or something, all looks smooth under the hood though. 

I gave her the Explorer and now have to bring the Yaris to the dealership... maybe it will be under powertrain warranty still?

Ugh!!!  Good thing she left early, the car was fine until about 30 km later.
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Offline Shnak

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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2011, 09:39:20 am »
Impossible, I don't believe you. Yaris's don't break.
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Offline 5 Wheel Drive

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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2011, 09:41:23 am »
Is the car running ok, or is it just the noise?  Good way to test the highway mileage in the Explorer.

She's going to Cornwall for her test, she couldn't get an appointment at Walkley either?  I'm going to Smith's Falls for my road test to get my M, I couln't get anything at Walkley.
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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2011, 09:58:18 am »
Walkley was booked solid for years, she had to book 2 months ago for Cornwall even!

Car seems to run okay, smooth engine, just a horrible noise that increases with engine RPM.  Sounds like it is coming from the serpentine belt, but everything looks tight and solid.  I'm almost thinking it's the alternator or A/C or idler pulley... looks like the only things that belt goes to. 
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CatsEye68

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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2011, 10:12:25 am »
Quote from: Shnak on May 18, 2011, 09:39:20 am
Impossible, I don't believe you. Yaris's don't break.

Agreed, it must be a troll. Oh, wait a minute... it's the forum admin. Hmmm. OK, prolly not that. ;)

Bad day on the board for Toyota. First an unhappy Matrix owner, now this. It must all be an Obama Motors conspiracy. :rofl2:
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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2011, 10:19:17 am »
Well now that it is cooled off I took a quick look.  Still made the noise, lots of oil (just in case).  Belts are tight...  Must be a pulley that's the only thing that could explain it.

Called Toyota, powertrain they said would cover a water pump but nothing external.  Debating if I should take it to them or to my buddy... if it turns out to be the water pump then it's covered hmmmm.

Probably a good $300-$500 fix depending on what it is... ugh.
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Offline Mike

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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2011, 10:23:27 am »
That sucks.

So she now has to do the G test in an explorer instead of Yaris?  That is a bit of a change
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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2011, 10:29:43 am »
Did some googling.  Most likely causes are water-pump, alternator or just a bad belt.

Since we aren't in a huge rush, I'll take it home, pull the serpentine belt off and see if the car still whines.  Then turn the alternator by hand to see if it whines, I have a feeling this is the culprit for some reason.  And debug from there.  If it's the water pump I'll bring it to Toyota for warranty work, if it's a bad belt or alternator I'll just swap it out.  This is just more annoying than anything....
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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2011, 11:10:58 am »
Looks like there is no idler pulley on the yaris.  What looks like the idler pulley is actually the water pump pulley... maybe the service advisor was onto something.....
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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #9 on: May 18, 2011, 12:58:27 pm »
She Passed!!!
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Offline mrthompson

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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2011, 01:05:09 pm »
Yay!!
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Offline articsteve

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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #11 on: May 18, 2011, 01:12:53 pm »
Get out a can of anything resembling lube such as WD40, PB Blaster (every home wrencher should have a can of that) and spray it into the bearing area.  Observe  :)
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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #12 on: May 18, 2011, 01:15:53 pm »
Of what?  The water pump and alternator?  I'll do one at a time.  I also have a stethoscope I can use.

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Offline Zombie

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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #13 on: May 18, 2011, 01:19:03 pm »
Why do cars break at the worst times?

I don't know maybe along the same lines as why your keys are always in the last place you look.
Realistically is there a good time for a car to break down?
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Offline articsteve

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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #14 on: May 18, 2011, 01:21:39 pm »
Take your pick.

But while it's running I'd spray a penetrating oil into the bearing area of the water pump pulley.  You'll need the can with the straw thingy attached.

With belt turning, get a bar of soap and jam it into both sides of the belt.  Where a heavy glove.

Sorry I gotta go
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Online wing

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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #15 on: May 18, 2011, 01:24:57 pm »
Thanks, yeah stupid straw I always throw it out, I'll see if I can find one in the mess of boxes and junk in my garage!
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Offline 5 Wheel Drive

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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #16 on: May 18, 2011, 02:47:58 pm »
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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #17 on: May 18, 2011, 05:52:12 pm »
So get in the Yaris to limp home.  Start it, weird noise, drive away get to the steer noise stops....ARGH!!!!!
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Offline rrocket

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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #18 on: May 18, 2011, 05:57:24 pm »
Quote from: wing on May 18, 2011, 05:52:12 pm
So get in the Yaris to limp home.  Start it, weird noise, drive away get to the steer noise stops....ARGH!!!!!

Your title reminds me of the "Annals of Improbable Research".  Basically, PhDs, scientists, physicists, etc doing research (in their spare time) on life's most beguiling questions.  Similar to the one you ask.  One of the all time greats is "“Tumbling toast, Murphy’s Law and the fundamental constants” which sought to explain why toast always seems to fall to the ground buttered side down.   ;D



Anyways.....Toyota's rock so much, they are self correcting.   ;D

FWIW, the Yaris is STILL CRs most reliable vehicle...
« Last Edit: May 18, 2011, 06:02:13 pm by rrocket »
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Re: Why do cars break at the worst times?
« Reply #19 on: May 18, 2011, 06:15:49 pm »
The person across the street has 360000km on his, and he wants to break a million
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