Why Toyota?...Why?

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

It's time for a small rant!


The rubber flap thingy in the wheel arch, that I assume protects some delicate-ish stuff behind it, is held on with the must useless pin in the world.
In the last 3 months I have had a rattle on the driver's side, and most recently on the passenger's side. Both because of this stupid pin not doing its job.

Last night I removed said pin from the passenger's side and replaced it with an M6 bolt, washers and a nylock nut. (The drivers side was done on the Aust. Day weekend)
From the photos, you can see that the loosening of the pin and the subsequent rubbing of the rubber has actually worn away some of the metal...







Why doesn't Toyota do this properly , knowing full well that a plastic pin is not going to last the lifetime of the car... It cost me a couple of dollars and 10 minutes of my time...I'm sure the factory could do it cheaper and quicker than that...

[ravenhard Member Find all posts View Profile Close ravenhard]

Basically to reduce weight and cost. I imagine there is dozens of places they could you a proper nut and bolt. But to save a few kgs, which then impacts on fuel economy they use plastic instead

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

I guess...but I couldn't really care less about fuel economy, a bull bar, roof rack, tyres, camping gear etc throws that out the window. I care about build quality and robustness of design. A rattle developing due to a dodgy bit of weight and cost saving is ridiculous!

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

My front right was missing the front pin. It was flapping and rubbing on the wheel. Kept thinking about fixing it. Stepped out of the car in front of Eurong shops on Fraser and saw a pin just lying on the ground. Popped it in and all good.

Sorry to whichever Prado owner is now missing one of theirs.

[maulbeagle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maulbeagle]

hey Spilsy, I haven't looked at mine, but from your photos, it looks like each side is held on by multiple plastic pins/clips. Are you going to replace them all ? Or just wait and see if they come loose ?

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

hey Spilsy, I haven't looked at mine, but from your photos, it looks like each side is held on by multiple plastic pins/clips. Are you going to replace them all ? Or just wait and see if they come loose ?

There's 3 or 4 on each side. I have the bits to replace them all, but they aren't yet annoying me. They will live to see another day.

[Auscanclan Member Find all posts View Profile Close Auscanclan]

Just imagine the millions Toyota saves by using the plastic pins.

Same applies to the wiring in the car. The gage is just enough for things to run but all should be larger. Imagine you head lights being wired with the proper gage wiring?

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Just imagine the millions Toyota saves by using the plastic pins.

Same applies to the wiring in the car. The gage is just enough for things to run but all should be larger. Imagine you head lights being wired with the proper gage wiring?

I would say its a fair bit. Ever heard of the American Airlines Olive? - In the 1980s, Robert Crandall, then head of the airline, calculated that if you removed just one olive from every salad served to passengers, nobody would notice … and the airline would save $100,000 a year

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

I just don't have any plastic shield there any more. Nothing to fall out and can get to the side of the engine bay easier
It was like that when we bought it.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Just imagine the millions Toyota saves by using the plastic pins.

I can imagine, but I'd be more than happy to pay the extra 30 cents (this came out of my backside) per bolt replacing a plastic pin on top of my $65k to be assured that the thing wont develop rattles once it leaves the factory.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I can imagine, but I'd be more than happy to pay the extra 30 cents (this came out of my backside) per bolt replacing a plastic pin on top of my $65k to be assured that the thing wont develop rattles once it leaves the factory.

Yeah but there are probably 500 other potential minor issues that could be solved by better hardware, you might be willing to pay a few dollars more but most wouldn't.

You see it everyday on the pages of this forum and elsewhere, people can't and don't look past the $$, everyone wants more and more but aren't willing to pay more for it, something has to suffer.

In another lifetime when I worked in a car factory they had a deal whereby if an employee could save the company money then they would receive half the first years savings as a bonus. One guy I knew worked out we were fitting a clip that was no longer needed, he got over $1000 for that suggestion in the early 90's. Bit like the Olive example.

Cheers Andrew

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

I'm reminded of a story long ago of a Japanese car maker analysing the famous VW bug.

Amongst other things, they apparently found what they considered to be two thousand unnecessary welds and fastenings.

True story.

(probably)

(maybe).

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

It's time for a small rant!


The rubber flap thingy in the wheel arch, that I assume protects some delicate-ish stuff behind it, is held on with the must useless pin in the world.
In the last 3 months I have had a rattle on the driver's side, and most recently on the passenger's side. Both because of this stupid pin not doing its job.

Last night I removed said pin from the passenger's side and replaced it with an M6 bolt, washers and a nylock nut. (The drivers side was done on the Aust. Day weekend)
From the photos, you can see that the loosening of the pin and the subsequent rubbing of the rubber has actually worn away some of the metal...

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Why doesn't Toyota do this properly , knowing full well that a plastic pin is not going to last the lifetime of the car... It cost me a couple of dollars and 10 minutes of my time...I'm sure the factory could do it cheaper and quicker than that...

That's nothing.

What you have to look forward to is those rubber flaps falling apart.
Wait till you ask mr Toyo for a price on those. Rubber is cheap ehhhh? Not!!!
Now there's lots of Prados running around with no flaps, no problems.

[juc33_prado Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close juc33_prado]

My front right was missing the front pin. It was flapping and rubbing on the wheel. Kept thinking about fixing it. Stepped out of the car in front of Eurong shops on Fraser and saw a pin just lying on the ground. Popped it in and all good.

Sorry to whichever Prado owner is now missing one of theirs.

I think that's my mates, can you return it please.