5 times to the dealer to fix power doors

[nuclearjack]

My dad bought a 2001 xle sienna fully loaded with two power sliding doors and the extended warranty from the Toyota dealer last month. When he was test driving it, he noticed that the dash light "power door" stayed on all the time. So he brings it in that week for them to fix the power door. Then when he picks it up from the dealer’s lots soon as he puts it in reverse the light comes on and the most annoying buzzer ever starts to go off. So he stops and gives it back to them for another try. This time they do some more adjusting and working on some wiring. He picks up the van again. The sales manager hops in and we go around the block trying the door out 4 or five times. Works great. We leave the lot and stop at my brother’s place. Try the door, power light comes on and buzzer goes off. So back to the dealer it goes where this time they replace the power door motor ($1900 cdn). He gets the van again. This time he gets to keep it for a few days before the same thing with the buzzer. Takes it back and they replace the other doors motor and give it back. Today its back at the dealer’s lot with the same problem the only good thing about all this is that the dealer isn’t charging him for any of it and they are providing him with the rentals. But still he would like to drive the vehicle that he went and purchased. Does anyone know anything about this that maybe his dealer is missing?? ok make that 6 times to the dealer now. and they still cant get it right

[dolieslager]

I have the same model and the same problem...have they been able to fix your dad's sienna yet? If so, what was the problem? Thanks

[Cyber Kahuna]

Originally Posted by dolieslager

I have the same model and the same problem...have they been able to fix your dad's sienna yet? If so, what was the problem? Thanks

I have a 2000 Sienna. I was able to fix the problem. It seems the contacts along the power door become miss-aligned over time, and the contact don't hit each other, making the door think it is open, thereby setting off the open door alarm along with the power door icon on the dash.

All I did was remove the two bolts holding the contacts (they look like a series of buttons, about 7 in a row). I placed a washer behind each bolt, to force the array of contacts away from the door about 1/16 of an inch. I did this for each side of the door.This provided a tighter fit between the contact points and fixed the problem.

[jrenee]

Originally Posted by nuclearjack

My dad bought a 2001 xle sienna fully loaded with two power sliding doors and the extended warranty from the Toyota dealer last month. When he was test driving it, he noticed that the dash light "power door" stayed on all the time. So he brings it in that week for them to fix the power door. Then when he picks it up from the dealer’s lots soon as he puts it in reverse the light comes on and the most annoying buzzer ever starts to go off. So he stops and gives it back to them for another try. This time they do some more adjusting and working on some wiring. He picks up the van again. The sales manager hops in and we go around the block trying the door out 4 or five times. Works great. We leave the lot and stop at my brother’s place. Try the door, power light comes on and buzzer goes off. So back to the dealer it goes where this time they replace the power door motor ($1900 cdn). He gets the van again. This time he gets to keep it for a few days before the same thing with the buzzer. Takes it back and they replace the other doors motor and give it back. Today its back at the dealer’s lot with the same problem the only good thing about all this is that the dealer isn’t charging him for any of it and they are providing him with the rentals. But still he would like to drive the vehicle that he went and purchased. Does anyone know anything about this that maybe his dealer is missing?? ok make that 6 times to the dealer now. and they still cant get it right

I had the power door problem and saved all my invoices from the times I brought it in. After 4+ times, I called the 800 customer service ph# in the manual and they set up a meeting w/ an arbitrator and I had my vehicle replaced w/ a new 2004 Sienna. I frankly did not feel my vehicle was safe, since the door light kept coming on (and yes, the annoying buzzer), plus I lost faith in the dealership to fix it. It might have been something simple like the contacts were misaligned, but why do you buy a newer car in the first place? Because you don't want any problems!! Everything was very easy to fill out, everyone was nice about it, and it didn't take very long for their decision. I say you ask that the vehicle be replaced while it's still under warranty. Who knows what will even happen down the line after the warranty has expired?? Good luck.

[dave2001auto]

Originally Posted by Cyber Kahuna

I have a 2000 Sienna. I was able to fix the problem. It seems the contacts along the power door become miss-aligned over time, and the contact don't hit each other, making the door think it is open, thereby setting off the open door alarm along with the power door icon on the dash.

All I did was remove the two bolts holding the contacts (they look like a series of buttons, about 7 in a row). I placed a washer behind each bolt, to force the array of contacts away from the door about 1/16 of an inch. I did this for each side of the door.This provided a tighter fit between the contact points and fixed the problem.

Are the 7 buttons switches on the door or making electrical connections to the 7 contacts on the door frame? I have a similar problem except the power door light is lite (not the open door) and sometimes the door will not close. Other posting suggest a computer problem but that's $1000 bill. The cold start is not working well again.

Newbie to sienna 2003 (started happen right after the extended warranty expired).