Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
SUVs Toyota Highlander Toyota Highlander Maintenance and Repair
4692 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 3:26 PM
You are in the Toyota Highlander Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
|
I cleaned the Idle Speed Control Valve on my 2001 V6 over the weekend, and it cured my high warm idle. I had just additionally started to get an erratic cold idle. It's kind of a pain. There are a couple writeups online, one on Tundra Solutions, but they aren't quite right. The ISCV is attached to the bottom of the throttle body, and you need to remove the throttle body to get the ISCV off. Perhaps if you're really good and you have some trick tools you could get it off the throttle body without removing the throttle body - I didn't try, and its a good thing. Its a good thing because the ISCV is held to the throttle body by four Phillips head screws, and I stripped two of them before going to an impact driver for the 3rd and 4th, which made me very nervous on the aluminum throttle body. I replaced the fasteners with cap screws. There's a lot more to it, but once I got it cleaned and reassembled, there was a coolant leak from the hose attached to the ISCV. Same original clamp, perhaps I should have replaced them. Grrr. I removed the air cleaner and intake hoses again, and ran the car without them, which of course throws a diagnostic code and illuminates the check engine light. Plus, the hose didn't leak in that condition! So, I put if back together, there was initially a slight leak which has now stopped, the idle is fine in all scenarios, and the CEL has gone out after several cycles. I'd still do it again to save the $500 or so, but I wouldn't suggest others try it unless they're mechanically adventurous and have a good selection of tools. Jonas |
|
|
Replying to: irishcasey (Aug 26, 2008 6:26 pm) The smoke and excessive oil consumption concern me and lead me to think you have a valve guide problem. Smoking tailpipe at idle is a dead giveaway. The oil consumption, while alarming, is not excessive for an engine with bad guides. A vacuum test will reveal for sure if you have bad valve guides. Plug a vacuum gauge into any available below throttle port and let the engine idle. A sound engine will show between 15-19 inches. A vibrating reading indicates bad valve guides. Valve guide replacement is expensive, essentially involves an engine top end, or head rebuild. In an otherwise sound vehicle, probably worth the expense. You could have bad rings, but I doubt that, as you would be seeing smoke out the tailpipe all the time. You can test for bad rings, as well as bad valves amongst other things, by performing a cylinder leakdown test. If your vacuum test is normal, I would follow up with a compression test, then a leak down test. Failing these tests would result in a total engine rebuild, or replacement. More expensive, and might not be worth the cost. Good luck. Ray |
|
|
My HL's odometer shows 4602 mile at the moment and it has been showing a message "need engine oil change/ maintainance soon" message on the display everytime I start it. Is it just a reminder due to the number of miles I have driven or does it actually have some relationship to the current quality of the engine oil? Toyota recommends oil change every 5k, do you guys always do it at the dealership? Or is a regular place around the corner ok as well? Is there any difference?
|
|
|
Replying to: jilin74 (Sep 25, 2008 7:44 am)  I have always gone to the dealership. It's not much more expensive than an independent shop and then they have the record should you have a problem under warranty. I would never go to one of the "quicky lube" places. I've heard/read too many horror stories about them.
|
|
| For about the last several years we have heard a clunk sound in the rear of our 2002 Highlander when we hit a bump. Our dealer has repeatedly dismissed this until now. The mechanic told my wife that we need to replace the driver side rearradial arm cam bolts which will cost around $585.00 for parts and labor. Just what is this part of the car? | |
|
Replying to: lmacmil (Sep 26, 2008 6:54 am) My '08 HL had the same message appear at almost the exact same mileage, and I'm just guessing that the likelihood of me having the same # of starts, time the engine is on, and average coolant temperature as jilin74 is pretty low. The message is simply a reminder that you're approaching a manufacturer's recommended service interval. My dealer charged $24.95 for the oil/filter change and $12.00 for the tire rotation (also recommended  5K). Together, that's about what I would have paid for just the oil/filter change at the local oil joint (a.k.a. high school auto shop). I feel better knowing the work was done by factory-trained people, that Toyota has a record of all work performed, and the price is well within reason.
|
|
|
Replying to: mdhutton (Sep 26, 2008 9:22 pm) On my Olds Intrigue, there was an algorithm involved because it came on much sooner in the winter (more cold starts, lower engine temps, etc.) than it did in the summer. |
|
|
|
| I am trying to change wiper blades on my 2003 HL but the old blades won't budge. Can anyone please give me a tip on how to remove the original wiper blades. Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks. | |
I have a 2004 Toyota Highlander that I keep in pristine condition, however, it has developed a nasty mildew smell over the last 6 months that I could not correct. Finally, I took it into the dealer and they told me that my sun roof drains were clogged and that is what probably caused this condition. They cleaned them out and deodorized/sanitized the ventilation system. It cost me $160 for this service and the smell still has not discipated. Any feedback on this issue would be appreciated.
|
|
|
Replying to: ohmygosh (Oct 06, 2008 10:11 am) Also check under your front floor carpet for dampness/odor. |
|
You are here:
Forums
SUVs Toyota Highlander Toyota Highlander Maintenance and Repair
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Toyota Highlander
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
