My wife and I own a 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4.0 liter V-6 with an auto trans which we bought new from the dealership with 17 miles showing on the odometer. We also purchased a service contract to include scheduled maintenance up to 75000 miles. The vehicle was purchased from a local dealer, stock with no upgrades, and my wife, the primary operator, has painstakingly kept it in immaculate condition. We have since upgraded wheels and tires, tinted the windows, and I have replaced the stock suspension myself with Fox 2.0 suspenders front and rear and had a reputable shop align the Pavement Princess. My wife hates it when I call it that but hey...  I have become a dedicated D-I-Y mechanic and maintenance pro due largely to the ignorance and lack of customer commitment from this dealer, who will go unnamed, due to my findings with regards to the underpinnings of the vehicle upon my first glance of rolling underneath it, post 75k miles. My question is this. Our 4Runner makes this whining noise akin to the sound of a supercharger, which began around 50,000 miles and of course, dismissed as normal by the dealer we purchased it from. I have replaced pulleys, accessory belt and have tested the alternator myself along with two other sources to verify functionality, all with the same results, yet this whine has not ceased. There are no motor upgrades, bone stock, and all vehicle filters are changed more frequently than recommended. The whine seems to become more intense as the RPM's increase, however there has been no change in drivability or performance that I can tell. It operates as it always has up to the current mileage where it sits at 117,000 miles. I change the oil myself every 5000 miles using Amsoil Signature Series 0W-20 along with new filter, a PIA, but yes, I still do it myself. And I don't buy into their 10,000 mile change intervals, either. I have replaced the trans fluid as well, performing 3 drain and fills each a day apart, vehicle cold, using Toyota rec. WS fluid and verifying fill level using the only modification the vehicle has, a SCANGAUGE II, which simply hooks to the OBD port and reads trans fluid temp so that the fill level is in line with the fluid temp-extremely important as trans fluid expands and contracts in volume as it heats and cools. The vehicle has been on a mild dirt road I think once it it's life, and has otherwise seen nothing but pavement from my wife. The whine persists but doesn't seem to be getting any worse, however, this is not normal and was not indicative of the first 50k miles we owned the vehicle. What gives? What little bearing have they overlooked in their durability testing and at what point am I likely to experience a failure. And alas, we also own a 98 4Runner SR5 that my daughter drives with 238,000 miles and makes no sound like this whatsoever. I once believed the dealerships to be the authority and place to have your vehicle serviced, which in some cases may be true. By and large, however, they are money making machines aimed and designed to gut the average buyer, you and me, out of as much money as they can. The only truth they speak when making bold statements regarding wanting your business and their willingness to hold true to their word is this: "We want your trade!" They sure do, and they need it to stay afloat. Upon further research, my beliefs are that dealers make very little on new cars, aiming their focus at making the big bucks from service, non-warranty of course, and used cars, whereupon your $10,000 average value trade will be blessed with a $5,000 trade in value as they beat you to a pulp to assure their customer lounge has a popcorn stand in exceptional working condition and your favorite Keurig just waiting for your individual brew cup. All of these amenities aimed at making you comfortable while they assess your total maintenance/repair bill or have you signing 100 worthless pieces of paper in an effort to make you feel as though you are committed to buying that new car. HOW DO YOU THINK THEY PAY FOR THAT FANCY DEALERSHIP AND AMENITIES AIMED AT EARNING YOUR BUSINESS? I can tell you this for sure. It is not, I repeat not, from selling you a new car.

Thank you,

Jking4011