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Rubber plugs installed at pre-delivery inspection?

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by drager21, Jul 14, 2017.

  1. drager21

    drager21 Junior Member

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    Yesterday, a little over 4 months after I ordered it, I finally received my Prime from a dealer in the San Antonio area. As many have mentioned and experienced, these dealers know almost nothing about the Prime. I think that is even worse in the Gulf States area because there are almost none being sold - this is only the 2nd one at this dealership, and from what I can tell probably one of only 12-15 in the whole area. For that reason, I was really trying to make sure everything was covered at the pre-delivery inspection, especially anything specific to the Prime. When I saw the charge cable in the back still in the package, I knew they had not done any pre-charge, then upon inspection of fluids found that there was no windshield fluid. Everything else from the PDI looked okay, until I completely emptied the glove compartment at home and found what is in the attached pics. The instructions on the package say "To Pre-Delivery Inspector. Insert these rubber plugs into the holes of the center floor side member extensions" Any clue what these are or where they go? I've looked all over the floor of the car to see if they fit into/over anything, but nothing obvious. I've already notified the dealer and asked what these are and also for a copy of the PDI checklist to see if they missed anything else.
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah those go into holes in the underside near the rear wheel wells. I would just pop them in myself. Save getting more grief with a return visit.

    Check your tire pressures too.

    Seems like they've dropped the ball, ask for partial refund of the PDI charge?
     
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    This is where they go on third gen. Front of vehicle to the right side:

    upload_2017-7-14_20-28-51.png
     
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  4. alexcue

    alexcue Active Member

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    Are those tires out of alignment or what? :p
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Somebody took that with a fish eye and posted here way back when. It's the "go to" pic for 3rd gen underside.
     
  6. drager21

    drager21 Junior Member

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    Thanks! Popped right in there. Yes, I checked the tire pressures and they are all good. I'm waiting for the salesperson to call me back tomorrow and then I'm going to talk to him about the cost of the PDI vs their error rate. ;)
     
  7. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    The pre-delivery service instructions are in Toyota bulletin T-SB-0156-16, “2017 Prius Prime Pre-Delivery Service (PDS)”; there is also a check sheet, T-SB-0155-16. I couldn’t find any free sources for these documents, but both are readily available to dealers, of course, and to the public by subscription to techinfo.toyota.com.

    Under the circumstances, it would be reasonable for @drager21 to insist not only on a copy of the bulletin, but also that the dealer repeat the pre-delivery service and provide, as evidence that all of the required tasks have actually been done, a completed, signed copy of the check sheet (two pages), along with printouts of the “Health Check” results from the Techstream diagnostic system (showing the VIN and date) and of the 12-volt battery status from the digital battery analyzer.

    Be sure they use a new gasket when they check the hybrid transaxle fluid level. (In the Repair Manual, under Drivetrain: P610 Hybrid Transmission/Transaxle: Hybrid Transaxle Fluid: On-Vehicle Inspection, see item 2(d).)
    The labor for pre-delivery service is reimbursed by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., just like a warranty repair, so if the dealer didn’t actually do it, but submitted a claim, then Toyota has been defrauded. They take this seriously, and if @drager21 can’t get complete satisfaction from the dealer, a complaint to Toyota, especially if accompanied by the photo of the uninstalled hole plugs, might get results.

    The relevant provisions, by the way, are in Policy 2.4, “Preparation of Vehicles for Delivery,” in the Toyota Warranty Policy and Procedures Manual, also found on techinfo.toyota.com.
     
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  8. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Yes, do this. The ride was a little stiff driving the car back from the dealer. When I got home I grabbed my tire gauge. Sure enough, 45psi in every tire. I mean, I want high mileage, but not that high. 36 in them now. Glad I caught that early on. Shame on dealer for not looking at that. I wonder what else they missed?
     
  9. pineprius

    pineprius 15th Hole #4

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    My Prime came with 50psi in the tires from the factory, so much for dealer pre delivery service. Another thread also reported this. Talk about a harsh and noisy ride.
     
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  10. Washingtonian

    Washingtonian Senior Member

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    What is their purpose and why wouldn't they be installed at the factory?
     
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    For shipping pins is my speculation. They're heavy reinforced plate. Good loc for rear jackstands btw.
     
  12. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    If I had a car delivered with 50psi in the tires I'd be happy as I wouldn't have to bother to inflate them so you can't please everyone.

    My 2000 Oldsmobile was delivered without washer fluid although it was checked off on the pre-delivery list--slackers everywhere.

    Ironic that Toyota doesn't care when the dealer screws the customer but "takes it seriously" when their dealer screws them.
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It's all good, as long as it doesn't "get back to them". Sounds about right. :whistle:
     
  14. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    As Mendel mentioned, the holes are tie down points for shipping. The plugs are likely to just keep water and dirt from getting up in there afterwards. I had purchased a nearly new, used Matrix, and those plugs were still in the plastic bags.

    As for high tire pressures on delivery, this is likely to ensure the pressure doesn't get low enough to damage the tire while the car is being shipped. I heard(rumor) BMW or Mercedes pumps up the tires to 80psi :eek: before loading them onto the ship.
     
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  15. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    The high tire pressure aboard ship may be so the lashings can be tightened and the car isn't on bouncy tires during rough weather. The lashings need to be secure as well as quick on & off in port. If the car was bouncy a lashing would loosen on the down-bounce and maybe fall out. One car loose would knock another loose, they would knock more cars loose, they all go to one side, then---
    [​IMG]

    Your PDI inspection problems are nothing compared to the local Mazda dealer--when the Mrs. took the new CX9 in for its initial, free, oil change, they touched nothing. They called her from the waiting room after an hour and gave her the car (but no paperwork) with a smile. I checked when she got home* and the oil was a half quart low and dirty. Called them, got the same guy, he couldn't believe me until I asked him to look at the record on his computer. Oops, no oil nor filter charged to this job.

    *You get what you inspect, not what you expect.
     
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  16. Krzysiek_KTA

    Krzysiek_KTA Active Member

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    Actually I used to work on those monstrous car carriers in 90's. Lashing of the cars to car deck has very little or nothing to do with stability of the ship - they reason is to protect the precious cargo from unwanted motions = damage.

    That is exactly the reason for higher tire pressure. Ship's lashings can easily add over 50% more load on the tires, so increasing the pressure makes perfect sense.
     
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  17. drager21

    drager21 Junior Member

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    I received a copy of the checklist earlier this week, and it was obvious it was rushed through. I found a couple other things they missed and a couple of missing values that are supposed to be recorded on the checklist. The salesperson was very quick to agree we should re-do the PDI, and had the service manager contact me. I took it back in yesterday and original technician performed the PDI under the supervision of the service manager("training opportunity"), who went over the PDI checklist with me afterwards and gave me a copy. It took a little over an hour, so I think they were a little more thorough this time.
     
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  18. eluo

    eluo Member

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    Is this where the rubber plug supposed to go? Location of this picture is under the rear seat. Just front of the rear wheel. IMG_20180311_195607.jpg
    If so, I'm missing the plug from pre-delivery service and it is not in the glove compartment. :(

    Can someone share the pre-delivery service checklist? I'm wondering if I am missing anything else.
     
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  19. eluo

    eluo Member

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    Any harm with not plugging up the hole? Rust, wind drag? Thinking I can use ducktape to cover the hole if this is of any concern.
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah that's definitely the spot. Interesting.

    Dealership owes you the caps, and they should know all about them, have the part number.

    BTW, that's a strong point, and likely an excellent place for safety stand, better than the scissor jack location, which is no stretch.
     
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