Ask the Car People.SM


Toyota Highlander Maintenance and Repair

5315 messages,  Last post on May 21, 2013 at 11:28 PM

You are in the Toyota Highlander Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Highlander, SUV

Messages Page 423 of 533

#4214 of 5315 Re: Heater Defroster 2001 Highlander [teresa72kcb] by nevadageo

Dec 26, 2007 (12:18 pm)

Replying to: teresa72kcb (Nov 28, 2007 12:47 pm)
I have a 2001 HL. My temperature control "brain" in the dashboard went out (common problem in 2001 HL). Dealer estimate to replace the brain was $800. I found the part online from a Toyota dealer in Virginia for $400 and replaced it myself. Another possibility is servo switch at hot air/cold air door beneath dashboard in center of vehicle. May not be responding to hot/cold dial in temperature contol cluster in dashboard.
 
Alan

#4215 of 5315 HIGHLANDER V6 Firewall side Spark plug removal by jemmich1

Dec 29, 2007 (5:28 pm)

I would like to remove the firewall side V6 spark plugs. It looks as though the intake manifold and throttle assembly must be removed first unless there is a way to tip the engine forward or another approach. Can anyone give a clue?

#4216 of 5315 Loose Heat Control by tsotsi

Jan 01, 2008 (6:55 pm)

I am grateful for those of you who wrote in, describing the potential problem with the Highlander heat control. Today, the heat control knob started to feel loose so I removed the knob and tightened the nut holding the rheostat before the wires got stressed and broke. I also put a drop of Loctite on the threads, hoping it would keep the nut from working loose again.
 
I would like to send a strong message to Toyota that this kind of lousy design and quality control is going to lose them customers. My Highlander is only three years old, with about 27,000 miles -- in other words, just past guarantee. If it hadn't been for this forum I might not have realized how serious a problem the loose knob could turn in to.
 
For those of you who might have the same problem: if your heat control knob suddenly starts feeling shaky, just pull the plastic knob straight off. You will see the flat nut right behind the knob. I wouldn't tighten it too much for fear of breaking something . . . that is why I carefully put a little Loctite on the threads. The nut takes an 11 mm wrench, by the way.
 
Thanks again for this forum and all the useful information on it.

#4217 of 5315 Re: Auto-locking question? [phrosut] by phrosut

Jan 03, 2008 (10:44 am)

Replying to: phrosut (Dec 14, 2007 12:20 pm)
This "auto-locking" feature was happening more frequently since my original post, typically every 2 or 3 days.
 
I changed the fob battery per one answer to my original post. It's been almost 2 weeks and the car hasn't "auto-locked" since the battery change.
 
I'll post if it comes back but it's appearing that a weak fob battery was the cause. Thanks all.
 
Phil

#4218 of 5315 Updated navagation DVD by desertfox1

Jan 04, 2008 (11:56 am)

Has anyone purchased an updated DVD? Do you have to use Toyota's, or can you get them from 3rd party suppliers like Garmin, Tom-Tom or such?
 
Thanks

#4219 of 5315 Alternator Charging Problem by brutus_1

Jan 04, 2008 (3:56 pm)

Hello, I have a 2004 2WD 3.3 Highlander with 80K miles on it. Have been very happy, still have original brakes, put new tires on at 72K miles. No problems...until 2 weeks ago as going through a drive through and made a sharp turn got a whinning noise. Fisrt thought low PS fluid but checked and no. Also didn't change pitch with stop to stop steering wheel turn. 2 days later, battery light came on. and car wouldn't start. OK, time for a new battery. Installed new battery, checked for charging, only 12.2volts. Whining still there...suspect Alternator too. Ordered from Toyota,($330) installed (me), everything fine for almost 2 weeks. Yesterday on expressway all idiot lights lit up. Drove to destination about 1 hour. Checked charging, everything looked good. During local driving, idiot lights lites were normal (off) but when I got on the expressway they again came back on. Suspect internal regulator not doing its job and overcharging system? I saw this once before in Nov 2003 at 42K miles, but problem went away.
Any alternator/regulator input would be helpful. BTW the bearing in the old Alternator felt "gritty" when spun, was probably the reason the battery took a crap.

#4220 of 5315 2004 highlander v4 awd by neldred

Jan 17, 2008 (3:27 pm)

My Toyota just started intermitting blowing cold air when my heat is on. Sometimes it will blow hot for sometime and then just go cold and then warm back up again? Any Ideas what the problem could be.

#4221 of 5315 Undercarriage by meg3

Jan 17, 2008 (5:11 pm)

Hi There,
I have an 04 Highlander....Underneath the front there is a plastic piece that covers the undercarriage of the car. At some point, I went up onto something and the plastic cracked. It is now interfering with my tire when I take a hard turn. I suppose I should take it to the dealership , but expect to be charged a mint...ideas???thanks

#4222 of 5315 Re: 2004 highlander v4 awd [neldred] by lucky_777

Jan 18, 2008 (5:24 am)

Replying to: neldred (Jan 17, 2008 3:27 pm)
look here http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/highlander/32217-heater-quit-sort-of/

#4223 of 5315 Re: 2004 highlander v4 awd [neldred] by tsotsi

Jan 18, 2008 (9:11 am)

Replying to: neldred (Jan 17, 2008 3:27 pm)
I see a posting directing you to tundra solutions. Good idea, but I would guess your heat control rheostat was loose for a long time before the wires fatigued (if that is actually what happened). I strongly recommend that all Highlander owners check the heat control to see if it feels as solidly mounted as the other two switches. If it seems really loose, pull off the knob -- it just pulls straight off -- and tighten the nut underneath.
 
The whole trouble and expense of repairing the problem can be avoided by just tightening that nut, a 5 minute job. Even after reading the postings on this forum I was surprised to find mine was loose. Believe me -- it is worth checking.

Messages Page 423 of 533

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement