2000 Toyota Sienna: won't start

Filed Nov 12, 2010 · Electrical · 142,314 miles · TX

I have owned this vehicle since 2003 and have never had any major problems with it. It has always been very reliable. However, on september 21 while driving east on i20 in the dallas area, I accelerated the vehicle while on a slightly steep hill. The engine suddenly quit for a few seconds while I was driving and all the equipment lights came on. It then mysteriously started back again and I kept driving. This happened a couple more times while driving east on illinois avenue in dallas and it finally died completely on the same street . The engine would not start and even the lights would not come on. I was able to pull into the city of dallas's parking lot before the vehicle stopped completely. I had the van towed to one of the toyota dealers in dallas. They checked it out and could not find any problems with it. Then on monday, september 25 the vehicle was completely dead in our garage at home. I jump started the vehicle and drove it again to metroplex toyota on tuesday, october 5. The only thing they found was the intake hose clamp at t-body was very loose and the power door light was coming on. They tightened the hose clamp and re-initialized the power door. Again, on november 11, I was driving east on I 30 when the van completely died in the middle of the highway. Even the hazard lights would not come on. I was stuck in the middle of a busy freeway. Fortunately, I 30 was backed up and no one plowed into the rear because most vehicles drive at 60-70 MPH on that freeway. I had the vehicle towed to metroplex toyota again. This time the only thing they could find wrong was that the battery was not held down tightly. However, while I was going to drive away in the van, I noticed that the power door light was on again and the door would not close properly. We finally decided to leave the vehicle with the dealer for some time so it could be checked out.

Filed Mar 21, 2006 · Engine · MD

I put my car in the shop at coleman toyota telling them the car wouldn't start. They replaced the ignition chamber and then phoned to say the starter was bad too- they charged me about $575. I picked up the car wednesday march 15 and on march 16 the car just stopped as I was driving to work. The car had to be towed to coleman toyota. They phoned to tell me the engine had "locked" and the car was shot. They refuse to refund me the $575 for the unnecessary repairs and refuse to acknowledge that the engine failure due to "gelling" is a manufacturers defect.

Filed Oct 31, 2005 · Electrical · 58,280 miles · CA

When I tried to start my 2000 toyota sienna minivan last week, it did not start normally and it made a strange noise. I turned off the ignition, and the noise continued. I removed the key from the ignition and the car continued to make noise. It appeared that the car was still trying to start, even though the key was no longer in the ignition. The car was making a chugging noise - that might have sounded like it was running to someone not familiar with the car. I did not know how to get the car to stop. I called for a friend to come and help. He arrived approximately five minutes later - the car was chugging continuously all this time and my garage (where the van was parked) was starting to smell. My friend attempted to turn the van on and off again - this had no effect. He opened the hood, (there was some smoke) and eventually disconnected the battery using a wrench - this finally stopped the van. He believes that a fire would have started had he not disconnected the battery. The van was towed to a toyota dealership, where they replaced the starter. They said that the starter must have shorted out and that it was a good thing that we disconnected the battery. This happened in my garage in my home as I was about to take my children to school. I afraid that this defect could have caused a serious fire, damage to my home and possibly serious injury to my children and myself.

Filed Oct 27, 2003 · Engine · 107,650 miles · GA

At 107,000 miles while driving the motor just cut off. Then would not start. I always have changed the oil at every 3000 miles. Now my mechanic says that the camshaft broke. There can be no other answer than that this engine was a sludge defective motor from the manufacturer.

Filed Oct 1, 2001 · Engine · TX

The vehicle cranks but does not start, the vehicle consumes excessive oil due to to the engine being sludged and the rings were bad, the dealer informed consumer that a short block assembly needed to be installed, and would could $6000 because the warranty was considered to be invalid due to improper maintenance.