Bummer. These posts make me glad my 4Runner Limited has keyless entry - just touch the door handle and it's locked & alarmed. No garage door opener, the code is programmed into the console. The truck is always locked. Yeah I know it's possible to capture my keyfob RFID signal with the right equipment, and get close to me. Not really worried about hi-tech thieves out here in horse country.
Don't know if I mentioned this before. My 4Runner was stolen out of Liberty Toyota's garage apparently BY THEIR EMPLOYEE while it was there, last year - they were trying to find a parasitic electric leak so it was there around a cpl weeks before stolen. Obviously, their security was wanting. Don't know if they have fixed that since. The general manager held a big employee meeting and told me he plans to address the security.
Here's the story - LONG.
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I've been having quite the odyssey with my 4runner. It had developed a parasitic electric leak. Such that in a half day the new battery would drain below starting volts. Measured as a 3.5amp drain. I took it to Liberty Toyota in Co Springs for them to find it. They couldn't, had it for 2 weeks. They had their top mechanic on it. Then the drain went away without them finding and fixing it. Their explorations apparently changed the impedence on some connector, unplugging and replugging it. Or they caused one of the computers to power cycle, unplugging wires, and reload it's firmware. They tested it for several days and the drain never recurred. I told them, I have no confidence they fixed it and it won't recur.
I went down there to pick it up. They had provided me with a free rental car - a late model low mile Dodge Caravan from Enterprise - I'm 43 miles away. I paid them the $440 for their diagnostics by debit card - I was prepared to battle them as their hourly rate is $130/hr and they worked on it for nearly 2 weeks off and on. I'll be cursed if they are gonna get 4 figures. They told me they cut me a break, only charging for 3 hours so apparently I'm supposed to be happy with that. I was looking at possible legal action and other options I might have to do. At this time these people had lost my confidence and I figured we were done doing business.
They are all paid up so they went to bring the car to the pickup point after they run it through their wash.
Gone.
My 4runner. They can't find it anywhere.
Turns out, one of their employees stole it OUT OF THE GARAGE (not visible on the lot) - per the store manager later, his investigation found the miscreant pried a security-locked garage door open with a jack. They have no security cameras in the garage.
I figured we'll never see it again. It's a highly desirable, low mile, indoor kept, black 4runner Limited. A rare car, all the bells and whistles, heated leather electric captains chairs, sunroof, heated mirrors, excellent audio system with sub and so on. Liberty is a large dealer with hundreds of cars on the lot - not one Limited 4Runner - especially a classy looking black one. 2012 but serviced only by a dealer, never been offroad, looked new - in fact my friends / family asked if it was new. I got a super buy on it - Consumer Reports said I should have paid $4000 more than I did per it's condition & miles. No wonder a Toyota employee stole this cherry car he saw in the shop - I figured it was on the way to a container ship on the coast and West Africa.
Justin Lombardi - GM at Liberty - was apoplectic about it and determined to make me whole. I figured this might turn into a blessing but I'm still wary.
It was discovered gone last Tue. Justin thought it had been taken Sat eve. If so the theft had been undiscovered for 3 days. Plenty of time to get to San Diego / Oakland container docks.
The cops called me Fri and said they found it abandoned in a residential area 3 miles south of the dealer.
I ran down there. It was locked and the key fob gone. Obviously they had been baja-ing it. Somewhat battered, the step boards bent, dented bumper, scratched and my stuff that was boxed in the back was thoroughly jumbled. The cops were there, stayed until the tow truck arrived to haul it back to the dealer. They had fingerprinted the outside and followed us to the dealer so they could do the same inside after they opened it.
Justin met me in the office area - made it clear, after it was stolen and damaged on his watch, he's gonna make me whole. I was skeptical given their behavior so far but this is the Head Banana, says he owns it.
Well I took delivery a week later after they made the truck like new. New running boards, new bumper, paint, and detailed in and out. New key fobs and locks, reprogrammed smart key system. And they are replacing the missing Milwaukee 18v brushless hammer drill stolen out of the back. No charge for having the rental car for 3 weeks. Two free Uber rides to/from home, 43miles one way. And they never applied the $4XX charge on my debit card. Still hasn't appeared on my online bank ledger.
Gotta say, Justin Lombardi GM at Liberty Toyota ia a man of his word - stepped up to the plate and hit a home run. I am writing an appropriate letter he can post if he wants to.
