ALERT TO TOYOTA OWNERS

Has Toyota notified you about its "Customer Support
Program" for "Engine
Oil Gelation?"

Who: Owners of 1997-2002 Toyota and Lexus vehicles
with 3.0L IMZ V-6
engines and all 1997-2001 Toyota vehicles with the now
discontinued 2.2L
four cylinder engines. Nine models are included.

What: Engine oil sludge accumulation in the oil pan,
valve covers, and/or
cylinder heads with possible symptoms such as blue
smoke on cold start up
and oil consumption. Toyota maintains this "oil
gelation" is caused by the
owner's improper maintenance of the vehicle! The
owners disagree.

When: Former, current, and repeat repairs for
sludge-related damage are
covered for a period of 8 years from date of first
sale or lease with
unlimited mileage. This coverage includes all
reasonable incidental
expenses. If questions, consult with affected owners
in the groups listed
below.

Whe Effective April 3, 2002. Contact the Toyota
hotline at
1-888-802-9436. You'll be asked to show a reasonable
effort (not all oil
change receipts are required) to regularly maintain
your vehicle. Toyota
considers this a generous offer especially since the
owner is at fault!
Proceed cautiously.

What if you have received no letter? OR, you want more
information?

1) First, notify Toyota via certified letter with
return receipt requested
and give your case details. Let it know you have NOT
received your letter.
Ask it when you will get your letter, too.

2) Notify the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration at
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov and the Federal Trade
Commission at
http://www.ftc.gov. NHTSA: 1-800-424-9393.

3) Also, file with the Center for Auto Safety at
http://www.autosafety.org
and Consumer Affairs at
http://www.consumeraffairs.com. Read other owner
stories there.

4) Visit the "Toyota" folder in Cartrackers "Forums"
at
http://www.cartrackers.com and find the links to
articles listed there. You
should also post your own story there for others to
read.

5) Read the third Automotive News article "Toyota
broadens sludge-repair
program--Automaker alters V-6, insists neglect is
cause" by Richard Truett
published on April 4, 2002.

What if you want to do MORE in the way of consumer
action? OR, you don't
qualify for CSP?

6) Join other owners in the "Toyota Sludge Yahoo
Group" at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/toyotasludge. Subscribe
at
." Post at
."

7) Join "Toyota Owners Unite for Resolution" at
http://communities.msn.com/ToyotaOwn...eForResolution.
Read other owner
stories there.

Visit the "Complaint Station for Toyota" at
http://www.thecomplaintstation.com. Please ignore
those who are strongly
countering the legitimate complaints of other Toyota
owners who have had
major problems.

9) Visit Edmund's Town Hall at http://www.edmunds.com.
First, you must
obtain a login and password to be able to access the
original (over 6,000
posts) "Engine Sludge?" discussion that began January
5, 2001. There are
other Toyota sludge discussions. All Toyota sludge
discussions have been
CLOSED at this site as of May, 2002.

10) Read other stories and post your own at
http://www.RipOffReport.com
under "Toyota" or "Lexus."

11) Contact for more resources and
links, as well as to
discuss other concerns with your Toyota vehicle,
customer service, or
warranty issues. Network with other owners to stay
informed on these auto
consumer matters and to work collectively!
Stay-tuned?


Charlene Blake


http://www.petitiononline.com/TMC2003/petition.html