NHTSA Complaint #11317147 — 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA

THE ORIGINAL WATER BY-P PIPE WAS FAULTY. THE PIPE WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IT WORE OFF AT THE FLANGE. THIS CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK OUT AND CAUSED OVERHEATING, LOSS OF HEAT AND COOLANT. THE NEW PART NUMBER FROM TOYOTA IS 1626875131 WHICH IS NOW MADE OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE STAINLESS STEEL. THE PART FROM THE DEALER LIST 58.04 THE LABOR FROM THE DEALER I WAS QUOTED WAS 6-8 HOURS AND TOTAL PARTS WOULD COST ABOUT $150. WHICH INCLUDED GASKET 1625875021, BOLT W WASHER 90119A0183, GASKET, INTAKE 1717775040, GASKET, THROTTLE 2227175070, AND SUPER LONGLIFE ANTIFREEZE 2 00272SLLC2. I DID THIS WORK MYSELF AND AT THE AGE OF 59 IT WAS BOTH A MENTAL AND PHYSICAL STRAIN. THE INTAKE HAS TO BE TAKEN OFF TO GAIN ACCESS INTO THE VALLEY TO REACH THE WATER BY-P PIPE. I DID THIS WORK IN DEC. 2019. I HAD A HARD TIME SEEING EXACTLY WHERE THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS COMING FROM AND HAD REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE REALIZING THE REAL ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM TOYOTA AS IT COULD CAUSE A CAR TO OVER HEAT AND BLOW A HEAD GASKET BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY PART. IT MUST BE OBVIOUS TO TOYOTA BECAUSE THE PIPE IS NOW STAINLESS STEEL. I'M LUCKY I DIDN'T BREAK ANY INTAKE BOLTS OR FUEL LINES IN THE PROCESS. MY 2009 TOYOTA TRUCK HAS ALMOST 200K AND IS BACK RUNNING WITHOUT LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN GET ANYTHING BACK FOR WHAT I PAID FOR AND MY TIME, BUT PERHAPS THIS WILL HELP OTHERS. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS BEFORE AND DURING THE WORK I PERFORMED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I OR OTHERS CAN DO. THANK YOU. I DID THE WORK IN MY GARAGE