My daughter dropped her action figure in the gas tank
#48
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Ca
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Picture proof
So as you can see an American doll head is around 12.5 inches in diameter and as big as the whole gas filler door. So you should be safe.
#49
Lexus Test Driver
Long story short, I do have my IS back as of now. No more check engine light. Starts and runs just like it did before this ordeal. I did end up spending more money than expected because they could not replace the fuel filter alone. I had to actually purchase the entire fuel pump,which obviously did cost a pretty penny. The fuel pump replacement including labor, was $676.45. In addition to this, this cost of the initial diagnosis was $220.76 and in addition to this, to tow my car to this dealership in the first place, was $133. So, $1,030.21 later, I have a perfectly running IS. Or so I think. Early Tomorrow morning will be the real test when we leave San Francisco and drive back home to Denver. Approximately 19 hours and 1,267 of driving should be a good test.
#52
Not sure how car dealers work, but in my business, we base our fees on time. If I put a developer on a job for a couple hours to figure out what's wrong, there's a fee for that. Armed with that knowledge, I'm able to provide the client with an estimate to fix the issue. Let's say it's an additional 4 hours to fix it. They approve and we proceed with the fix. All told, I've paid my developer for 6 hours of time. Why would I only charge the client for 4 hours?
#53
Lexus Champion
Not sure how car dealers work, but in my business, we base our fees on time. If I put a developer on a job for a couple hours to figure out what's wrong, there's a fee for that. Armed with that knowledge, I'm able to provide the client with an estimate to fix the issue. Let's say it's an additional 4 hours to fix it. They approve and we proceed with the fix. All told, I've paid my developer for 6 hours of time. Why would I only charge the client for 4 hours?
#54
My old Toyota dealer would not subtract the diagnostic fee from the work. Needless to say I found a new Toyota dealer that did. Most dealers will subtract the diagnostic fee if you let them perform the service. Those that don't are money hungry and should be avoided. Of course in this case the OP didn't have much of a choice because he was not in his local area and was dealing with a potentially VERY serious issue.
#55
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Colorado
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
quick update. We left San Francisco at about 4am this morning, and we're currently stopped at a hotel in Salt Lake City. Both of us are too tired to continue driving to Denver tonight. Anyway, the IS has been absolutely flawless so far. Gas mileage is hovering at about 27 mpg, Cruise control was set at 70.
#56
what a story! glad it was a simple fix, and surprised the head even fit inside the filler hole! it must have been a small head.
my theory is that the head caused a difference in pressure or vacuum on the filler neck which caused the CEL. the CEL will turn on if you don't screw down the gas cap properly. during fill up the rushing fuel caused the doll's hair or even the paint to come off and clog the initial filter screen on the fuel pump.
my theory is that the head caused a difference in pressure or vacuum on the filler neck which caused the CEL. the CEL will turn on if you don't screw down the gas cap properly. during fill up the rushing fuel caused the doll's hair or even the paint to come off and clog the initial filter screen on the fuel pump.
#57
Lexus Test Driver
quick update. We left San Francisco at about 4am this morning, and we're currently stopped at a hotel in Salt Lake City. Both of us are too tired to continue driving to Denver tonight. Anyway, the IS has been absolutely flawless so far. Gas mileage is hovering at about 27 mpg, Cruise control was set at 70.