This will document the running costs of this vehicle which I sent home last month to family private use for intending buyers and current owners to compare

Nice one sir

First repair: Front right Headlight bulb

Second repair/replacement: Rear Right Brake light bulb

Third repair/replacement: Air filter (engine). Air filter cost N2,000. Installation charge N500. Total billed N2,500.00

Fourth repair/replacement/adjustment: cabin air filter has had to be taken out and flushed using an air compressor to improve AC cooling. Twice in a space of 1 month at the cost of N100 each

Fifth repair/replacement/adjustment: Plastic trim covering the left side of the middle row seat behind the driver came off and had to be reattached with the help of a panel beater at the cost of N500.00

Sixth repair/replacement/adjustment: After carrying full load 8 passengers and driving through one village road, the rear bumper became dislodged, a panel beater had to be involved in putting it back in order. Cost of the fix: N500.00

According to folklore, the bumper of the Sienna before it was stronger and the likelihood of this happening was next to nil with that generation of the Sienna.

Seventh repair/replacement/adjustment: After driving rather fast on an uneven road due to an emergency, the exhaust pipe broke into two and the characteristic loud exhaust note rent the air, it was therefore necessary to return to vehicle to previous operating parameters.

This resulted in at least 3 different trips to the panel beater.

First time:

Purchase two missing hangers: N1,500.00 and N1,000.00 respectively

Workmanship to fix the cut: N2,000

First time total: N4,500.00

Second time:
Workmanship to fix the cut: N1,000

Second time total: N1,000.00


Third time:
It was discovered that the second fix resulted in the pipe making contact with the body of the car just before the bumper resulting in some vibration being felt through the length and breadth of the vehicle.

So this necessitated several come-backs.

Lesson:Ensure that you personally inspect to ensure that clearances before and after a panel beating work remain the same. If they do not, then do not pay for the repair until this is corrected, failing which, it will be necessary to make come back visits with costs in time and funds to get the problem resolved.


The first comeback indicated that the gasket just before the catalytic converter had deteriorated and so was replaced at the cost of N2,000.00

Workmanship to take apart the joint before the catalytic converter install the gasket and reattach the catalytic converter: N2,000

Third time total: N4,000.00

Repair was by fixing a piece of rubber between the chassis and the exhaust pipe which did not totally mask the problem.

Fourth visit:

To a different panel beater who tried using metal ropes to change the orientation of the exhaust pipe

Repair did not succeed. Cost of Repair: N500.00

The fix that worked, carving a hole that matched the size of the exhaust pipe from a discarded slipper and shoving it around the exhaust pipe to seat between the exhaust pipe and the chassis at home. Cost of the repair: Nil, done at home.

Total expenses on the exhaust pipe: N10,000.00

Additionally it became clear that the vehicle had no catalytic converter, likely the reason for the pending and stored P0420 AND P0430.

Question is: Should I purchase a complete catalytic converter from the gasket to the bumper or just the catalytic converter?

Problem with option 2 is becoming a frequent visitor to the panel beater because the joint has deteriorated.

Second problem with option 2 is the cost of importing that brand new assuming that the local Toyota dealers do not have it in stock. There is also the issue of cost of purchasing the unit brand new locally given the exchange rate palava.

Third problem is purchasing it used, the guarantees provided do not allow for the drive cycles to complete to ascertain if the catalytic converter purchased is in perfect running order and will trip off the check engine light, the VSA and TRAC lights.

Ideal solution is to purchase just the catalytic converter from a reliable aftermarket producer and doing the cut and weld thing - any ideas where to get the perfect exhaust weld one time in Abuja?

https://www.amazon.com/MagnaFlow-23084-Stainless-Catalytic-Converter/dp/compatibility-chart/B009FQL194

Eighth repair/replacement/adjustment: Engine oil change

Oil Filter - N1,500.00
Labor: N750.00
Full Synthetic Engine Oil (5L) : N18,000.00 for 5w30

Next oil change in 10,000 miles

MANNOL Energy Combi LL 5W-30 API SN/CF
Motor oils for cars and transporters > Low viscosity engine oils

Corresponds with requirements / specifications / products:
SAE 5W-30
API SN/CF
ACEA C3
BMW Longlife-04
MB 229.51
PORSCHE C30
VW 504.00/507.00/502.00/505.00/503.01/506.00/
VW 505.01*/506.01**



MANNOL Energy Combi LL is a multigrade synthetic engine oil for modern petrol and turbo diesel engines with pump-injector units as well with or without diesel particulate filters (DPF, FAP). Provides high pump ability at cold cranking. Has optimal viscosity at wide-ranging temperatures. Effectively prevents from wear-out and provides extreme cleanliness of the engine components. Used in engines with prolonged oil-change intervals (Long Life) and without it.


*Except VW PDU engines without LongLife Service (WIV)
**Except V10 PDU engines in Phaeton until February 2006 and R5 PDU engines in Touareg until December 2006

Ninth repair/replacement/adjustment: Bonnet opener

The cable that controls the bonnet opener was not connected to the lever that controls it, fixed

N500 by panel beater

Tenth repair/replacement/adjustment: Rear windshield wiper

Replaced at the cost of N500

Eleventh repair/replacement/adjustment: Failed Starter

Difficulty starting

Starter had to hit with a rod before the vehicle started

Within 24 hours, it developed into a total no-start condition at 160800 miles on the ODO

Worn Brushes in Starter motor

Brand new starter bush bought at the cost of N2,500.00

Electrician Workman to take apart the starter and R&R the new brushes N2,500

Transportation to purchase the starter brush N1,000.00

Pictures later

All the cost of maintenance summary listed sound very reasonable for a free Toyota sent by a family member to careless Nigerians who can't drive with caution.

What happened to the original catalytic converter that disappeared?

As long as you are not paying for the damages everything goes towards the end for that Sienna

Turns out that Sienna at least from 2004 down have a sagging problem at the rear when heavily loaded

Local techs fix the problem by replacing its rear shocks with that from another vehicle

Research points to a better solution though, so I will be purchasing and ensuring that the following is fitted to the ride: an air suspension kit which can be either manual (just air lift springs) or fully automatic (inclusive of air compressors) depending on the cost outlay.

https://www.amazon.com/LIFT-60732-1000-Air-Spring/dp/B000CFS028

Think of the automatic version as no different from what you would expect on a Range Rover from a Toyota Sienna.

This is a must given the state of Nigerian roads which causes the vehicle to exert undue pressure on vehicle components including the exhaust pipes

Here is a post on the same device fitted to a Sienna

http://www.siennachat.com/forum/66-problems-maintenance-repair/11507-air-shocks-2004-sienna-7-passenger.html

To evade the antispam bot I will make another post that contains a link with pictures

This is a picture heavy link showing details of a similar project embarked on by a user on his Sienna http://www.siennachat.com/forum/69-mods-projects/7867-just-bagged-my-sienna.html

MPVGoddess:
Sixth repair/replacement/adjustment: After carrying full load 8 passengers and driving through one village road, the rear bumper became dislodged, a panel beater had to be involved in putting it back in order. Cost of the fix: N500.00

According to folklore, the bumper of the Sienna before it was stronger and the likelihood of this happening was next to nil with that generation of the Sienna.

IMO the person driving wasn't patient enough on the rough road or
The road isn't motorable and should be plied by very high clearance SUVs only or
Some of the passengers should have walked through the worst parts of the road because driving a car till bumper gets dislodged sounds quite carefree/ reckless.

Please how much to clear 2004/2007 Sienna today?