When I was driving out of town this weekend, the "Maintenance Required" light flicked on on the dash and suddenly I panicked. "That sounds serious!" Miles from home and in unfamiliar territory I wondered if and when the FJ would break down. Fortunately it didn't and I got to my destination safely. After I wiped the sweat from my brow and sighed with relief I cracked open the owner's manual to see what that warning light meant...
Nothing to worry about at all. Apparently the engine oil just needs to be changed as the FJ is due for service. But I checked the oil anyway to make sure there was enough. The hood was easy to pop open and even props itself up. Not being a car guy, I didn't really know what I was looking at in there except it sure was dirty. All that off-roading, I guess. And the coolant seems to be oozing out leaving a pink crust around the cap. I wonder if the dealership cleans under the hood when they do the service.
In any case, I told Vehicle Testing Assistant Mike Schmidt about the service light and he scheduled an appointment. Using the Maintenance Schedule Guide on our site, it says the FJ is due for its 30,000-mile service which entails a cabin air filter, air filter, oil filter, engine oil and spark plug replacement as well as tire rotation. Estimated total cost for parts and labor is $301.23. Yikes.
Production Editor Caroline Pardilla at 27,459 miles
In any case, I told Vehicle Testing Assistant Mike Schmidt about the service light and he scheduled an appointment. Using the Maintenance Schedule Guide on our site, it says the FJ is due for its 30,000-mile service which entails a cabin air filter, air filter, oil filter, engine oil and spark plug replacement as well as tire rotation. Estimated total cost for parts and labor is $301.23. Yikes.
Production Editor Caroline Pardilla at 27,459 miles
billt9 says:
01:06 PM, 06/ 4/07
spark plug replacement at 30,000 miles?
The rest is normal.
chernysh says:
07:16 AM, 06/ 5/07
Isn't 30k normal for spark plug replacement if they aren't platinum tipped?
stingray454 says:
09:18 AM, 06/ 5/07
Why wouldn't they use platinum tipped spark plugs? The last 3 new cars I bought since 1996 all had platinum plugs and 100k mile tune-up intervals. Seems like Toyota took the cheap route without using platinum plugs. I guess they know their core buyer wouldn't notice.
You should have the dealer check out the coolant cap - there shouldn't be that pink crusting going on - that is the residue from a leak, and it shouldn't be leaking.
actualsize says:
11:45 AM, 06/ 5/07
Those overflow tank capss aren't o-ring sealed. My experience has been that if you take something like this off-road, the inevitable sloshing around will push a little coolant past the cap.
kgrgunman says:
03:43 PM, 06/ 5/07
I've got the same 4.0L V6 in my Tacoma and i swear toyota clames they don't need to be changed for 100k miles. i'd still change them before 100k miles but thats what toyota clames for my truck.
stuckinohio says:
12:04 PM, 06/ 6/07
Someone blogging about a particular car on a car site admitting he's not a "car guy". Then there's the part about replacing plugs at 30,000 miles. Odd.
ahightower says:
12:28 PM, 06/ 6/07
"Not being a car guy, I didn't really know what I was looking at in there"...
Oy vey. Are you guys hiring?
As to the recommended service, it all seems appropriate (except the spark plugs), but I can't imagine it costing more than $100.
ew3074 says:
03:11 PM, 06/ 6/07
That's weird...My 03 camry LE hasn't changed any spark plugs.Not until 120k . That's what the mechanic at toyota dealership said.
SubyTrojan says:
05:28 PM, 06/ 6/07
Excellent point, Dan!
stuckinohio, I think you meant "she."
Spark plugs indeed at 30k (required under the terms of the Emissions Control Warranty):
http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/guides.php?v=30&y=2007&int_id=6
isaacl says:
07:54 AM, 06/ 7/07
"NOT A CAR GUY????""
how many people working at edmunds.com WRITING ABOUT CARS would describe themselves as "not a car guy"?????
edmunds.com is the premier source of auto info on the net....
how can you people let people write ABOUT CARS who are not self-described "CAR GUYS??"""
seriously, I just want to know. I'm somewhat crest-fallen here
isaacl says:
08:07 AM, 06/ 7/07
a quick look at the editors page leads me to believe that there are 5 editors who work now for edmunds.com who were NOT INTERESTED in cars BEFORE thier employment here. Is this how it is or am I off-base?
actualsize says:
10:08 AM, 06/ 7/07
Um, guys. Caroline is a car gal. Get it?