[OpTicaL]

Noticed this on the shocks a few days after I got my car back from the dealership. Does it look like a leak?

 

[Chris-Garage]

clean it off and check on it a week later

 

[BrickPig]

I doubt it. A leak would come from the sliding area and would run down the shock body. It's unlikely to leak at the attachment end where it's theoretically sealed.

It's probably leftover lube from the install. Wipe it off and check again after a few days, but I'll bet it will stay clean.

 

[OpTicaL]

Got it, will wait for the shop's diagnostic and see what they have to say.

 

[OpTicaL]

BrickPig, just wanna let you know your guides have been super helpful! I'm trying to find a guide to remove the rear fascia on a 2013 xB, but even without a guide it shouldn't be too hard, right?

I want to remove it, inspect it and reinstall it because the guys at the dealership didn't install it correctly and the corner of the bumper (passenger side) is sticking out and not flush the the rest of the rear quarter panel.

 

[BrickPig]

Thanks! My guess is that the rear fascia would be similar to the front, however I've never had a need to remove my rear fascia so I can't say for sure.

I'm guessing since you have a 2013, why not take it back and have them fix it?

(I see you have springs, TRD shocks, and rear sway bar. Did you get the front strut tower brace too? Just need alloy wheels and serious summer tires and you should handle really well!)

 

[OpTicaL]

Yes TRD strut bar too (feels like a go cart around turns, lol), I went for the entire TRD package less the exhaust and brake kit. I also went for their 17" wheels and leather package (3rd party), total cost out the door was $200 shy of $25k (which included a $1500 rebate).

I've taken the car back to them over half-dozen times now, for various reasons. I bought my car brand new little over a month ago and it's been in the shop longer than it's been in my garage. I'm honestly questioning their expertise and attention to detail when doing any kind of repair or maintenance work. Every time I get my car back I discover a new problem.

I much rather do it myself, I'm not afraid of DIY. I've already replaced the rear interior panel myself (involves removing the rear seats and everything under the cargo mat) because some dumbass tech didn't know how to pop open the plastic cover that accesses to the rear shock nut, can you believe that? All it takes is a flathead screwdriver and it pops right out, but instead they roughed it up so bad a brand new panel had to be ordered.

 

[SUNKIST "lunch box"]

Usually when the shocks start leaking it's more of a black fluid you see. < cause dirt sticks to it >
BTW u need to adjust your sway bar, the end links are pulling towards the drivers' side. You need to loosen the brackets on the cross member & move the bar towards the passenger side until the end links are even with inside of the rear wheel.

 

[BrickPig]

I'm honestly questioning their expertise and attention to detail when doing any kind of repair or maintenance work.

I much rather do it myself, I'm not afraid of DIY.

Unfortunately a lot of dealer's maintenance shops are like that since they handle dozens, perhaps hundreds, of cars a week. Most car owners don't pay attention to details, especially if it's under the car. Sometimes if you let the service rep know you are paying attention you get better results (but not always). You'd think with all the time your car has been in the shop, they would know you are paying attention...

Yeah agree on DIY especially when the details matter to you.

 

[OpTicaL]

BTW u need to adjust your sway bar, the end links are pulling towards the drivers' side. You need to loosen the brackets on the cross member & move the bar towards the passenger side until the end links are even with inside of the rear wheel.

I brought it back to the dealer and had them adjust it, which made it my 6th return visit.

You know what pissed me off the most? Them telling me that it's "normal" for the sway bar to move to one side like that. It is obviously not "normal" because the idiot who reinstalled it didn't measure where to place the bushing clamps (23.5cm inward from the beam axle reinforcement, according to TRD manual) because the bushing clamps were installed off-center the rsb was shifted to the driver side.

What has me worried are the end links, being pushed so far to one side, will it bend the end links or the beam axle where the end links are bolted. I'll have to wait till this weekend and have my buddy inspect their work. I'm afraid after this weekend I'll notice something new and end up bringing it back for the 7th time

Since they documented that "the rsb and clamps shifting to one side is normal" corporate is gonna get a laugh out of this. What makes it even more sad is this was all done by their master tech, what a joke.

 

[isk1tz]

Next time you go to the dealer just take your favorite lube. Honestly all dealers are jokes it doesn't matter what their selling or who works there Certifications and "years of experience" mean nothing.

I know a guy that is a tech at a dealership who would rather take his car somewhere to have it worked on than do it himself. That's some confidence.

Invest in a good set of tools, jacks, stands, and plant a nice tree. There's no telling how many times my tools have paid for themselves. Will you screw up a few times? Yes. Yes you will, and you will make a couple extra trips to the parts store from time to time but after you start doing your own work and realize how much better you feel driving your car and the knowledge you will gain it will all be worth it.

 

[gs_aristo]

^^ you still have to understand not everyone is inclined to do such work regardless.

 

[isk1tz]

^^ you still have to understand not everyone is inclined to do such work regardless.

I get that, and that's why places like dealerships stay in business. I know some people don't like busing knuckles, some people don't want to understand what goes on under their car. It is my personal opinion though that if you trust someone else to set up your car, especially when you get into the tuning of suspension and engine management, your not going to get whats best for you, your going to get what works for most.

That's the xB though, if I had known what I know now about it, I wouldn't have gotten one. From a reliability standpoint yeah it's going to start tomorrow, and I could probably keep it the next 10 years and spend very little on keeping it going save for tires, brakes, oil, etc. These cars were made to be tinkered on, but not like they used to be. My Celica was built to be taken apart, the Scion didn't get that in the same way and it shows for me.

I've digressed entirely now but the point is do your own work and it's worth the investment of time. You will get exactly what you want, and you will know what is actually happening under your car. That said the xB is the perfect car to not work on, if your going to have one, because you shouldn't need too very often.

 

[Chris-Garage]

isk1tz: dont mean to get off topic, but i bet he went there for warranty that he got due to the Stealership installing TRD parts. Sometimes is better to get stuff installed at dealership cause every time you come back they will take care of it, if not then you keep coming till it gets done correctly. It might be a hassle but it will get taken care of. (i dont work for any scion dealer) just my 2 cents.

 

[isk1tz]

isk1tz: dont mean to get off topic, but i bet he went there for warranty that he got due to the Stealership installing TRD parts. Sometimes is better to get stuff installed at dealership cause every time you come back they will take care of it, if not then you keep coming till it gets done correctly. It might be a hassle but it will get taken care of. (i dont work for any scion dealer) just my 2 cents.

Well to be fair I probably steered it off topic to begin with, I see where your going with it still being a warranty thing. I haven't ever bought anything new and likely never will for several reasons.

I just can't see something like this being worth that much of a hassle (for me anyway), it's like the oil leak problems the other people are having. For what your wasting in gas and time some people could probably just have the work done and break even. It seems like everytime I hear of someone going to a dealership here or in real life their car just never comes back the same.

I know everyone is different and warranties may affect how you maintain your vehicle so I see where it may beneficial but at a point it certainly can't be worth it. The OP said it himself it's been in the shop more than in his own garage.