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Toyota Highlander Maintenance and Repair

4692 messages,  Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 3:26 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Highlander, SUV


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#4534 of 4692
Air Conditioner Filters in 03 Highlander by carterk
Jun 27, 2009 (3:19 pm)
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Can anyone confirm that 03 HL (no-frills model) has a/c filters, the kind which can be replaced? Last year when I was at dealer for oil change, I noticed a flyer for these filters, and asked if I should have mine replaced. Was told that 03 didn't have that feature. This year when in for inspection and oil/filter change, and miracle of miracles, the a/c filters "badly needed replacing." So I said yes. And it was done in just a jiffy. Supposedly that job requires removal of the dashboard. Now I'm wondering.....
I would like to have some backup data before I go to dealer mgt. and ask some serious questions. I've waited several months to do this in order to cool my jets!!
#4535 of 4692
Re: Air Conditioner Filters in 03 Highlander [carterk] by jrfiero
Jun 28, 2009 (5:32 am)
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Replying to: carterk (Jun 27, 2009 3:19 pm)

The interior air filter is in front of the glovebox, and requires no tools to replace. 2001 did not come with them (but they slip right in), all subsequent years did, to my knowledge. After six years they probably were pretty clogged up - You can also take them out and clean them ...
How much did they charge for this service?
 
Jonas
#4536 of 4692
Re: Air Conditioner Filters in 03 Highlander [carterk] by grahampeters
Jun 28, 2009 (11:02 pm)
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Replying to: carterk (Jun 27, 2009 3:19 pm)

G'day
 
Removal is very straightforward. Squeeze in each side of the glovebox very firmly, and lower the glovebox down. Disconnect the string on the return spring assembly if necessary. Be careful as the string end is swaged back on itself and can break at the swage.
 
The fan is directly in front of the glovebox and above it is a plastic panel about 10 inches wide by 1 inch high held in place by two plastic clips at the upper edge. Release the clips and you will find a tray style filter behind. The tray holds a removable paper element that can be removed, shaken out and replaced if required.
 
The complete job takes less than a minute
 
Cheers
 
Graham
#4537 of 4692
heater control by rbm4
Jun 29, 2009 (4:47 pm)
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I just would like say thanks to all who commented on the problem with the nut coming loose behind the knob; I was very fortunate to catch it before the wires broke off. Thanks again!
#4538 of 4692
Radiator fans, AC and no high idle? by worthflorida
Jul 05, 2009 (4:17 pm)
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Just started this past week, my wife tells me that the AC light on the AC switch was blinking. She cycled it and it seemed OK. But this morning it stalled when putting it in drive and the AC was on. I noticed no fan(s) were running and the idle was dead slow (not in high idle to compensate for the AC load. When the engine gets hot enough to call for cooling, both fans kick in at high speed and the engine idle increases and the AC compressor kicks in.
 
Took out my volt-ohm meter and started checking. All fuses are OK, all three fan relays are good. I can bypass the relay contacts with a jumper and the fans turn on but the idle does not. The problem is there is no voltage to operate the relay coils when the AC turned on. With air flow over the AC condenser, the AC will not work until you drive it. Obvious.
 
The check engine light is NOT on. It's either a sensor or the computer is wacked. Anyone have any thoughts or have had this problem?
#4539 of 4692
Brakes! How Many Miles? by nathanbrand
Jul 09, 2009 (12:22 pm)
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My 2004 Highlander has about 55,000 miles. I've just been told that I need all new brake pads and rotors at a dealer cost of about $1,000. The rotors, I was informed, are too rusted to be turned, and so must be replaced. I've had the car in for service and inspection every 5,000 miles, and it went from no problems to this. I've always been careful about getting my brake pads replaced on time, and have never needed replacement rotors (whether it was a Honda, Isuzu, or even my lemon Chrysler).
 
At Midas the mechanic said that this is fairly common now, Rotors are being made to wear out like exhaust systems and typically only last from 40,000 to 60,000 miles. In the past I've driven vehicles over 120,000 miles and never had to replace a rotor. He also said the typical cost is about $425 an axle, although the Highlander rotors are more expensive.
 
I'm wondering what other Highlander (or Toyota) owners experiences have been. If you could reply in the following format:
 
Make: 2004 Highlander
Miles (Before Replacing Brakes): 55,000
Costs: $900
 
I'll try and collect the information and see if my experience is typical. If so, I think it's a shame that automakers have decided to use planned obsolescence in order to boost profits. If Toyota doesn't watch out, they're going to end up in the same shape as US automakers.
#4540 of 4692
Re: Brakes! How Many Miles? [nathanbrand] by bikeman3
Jul 09, 2009 (4:20 pm)
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Replying to: nathanbrand (Jul 09, 2009 12:22 pm)

I have 113000 miles on a 03 HL front rotors turned twice. Rear rotors will be replaced tomorrow for 2nd time. I would not go to Midas, shop around. Good Luck
#4541 of 4692
Re: Brakes! How Many Miles? [nathanbrand] by worthflorida
Jul 09, 2009 (7:30 pm)
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Replying to: nathanbrand (Jul 09, 2009 12:22 pm)

Brakes are like a air filters, they'll last forever if you never use them. For the last decade or more brake components have been made smaller for lighter weight to get better gas mileage and to make up for the smaller rotors, more aggressive disk pads are now used to get the stopping power needed. My mechanic tells me that most BMW's rotors do not last past the first set of pads. The rotors are made of a softer metal to get that good stopping distance we all expect.
 
Other factors are if you live in hilly or mountainous area, you'll use your brake harder than say in Florida where I live. Also, how hard or fast you drive is another factor. Maybe on your first brake pads were replaced a more aggressive pad material. Most pads today are semi metallic, that means there is metal in the pad material to get the friction up. When you see cars with very bad brake dust, most of it is metal dust sticking to the metal wheels.
 
As a general on the first set of pads, the rotors should be good for at least one cut and the end of life when the second set of pads wear out. A lot of repair shops will also want to replace the brake caliper because the dust boots on them can be deteriorating because of the high heat that builds up especially during hard braking. Also, the brake fluid can also be contaminated because of moisture can be absorbed into the brake fluid and the excessive heat from the pads will transfer to the brake fluid and it can boil if it gets hot enough. With anti lock brake systems, you do not want to push this old fluid back into the brake system when the brake piston is pushed back into the caliper.
 
Therefore, a full brake job, at least for the front wheels, could be a set of pads, two rotors, two calipers, fluid flushed, and labor. You did not mention if the brake quote was for two or four wheels. For two, $900 is very high. A repair shop should be a round $450-$500. Today, dealers will charge over $100-125 an hour for labor, and my mechanic on the corner repair shop charges $85 per hour.
 
check out this site for some good info
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/brakes/brake-types/disc-brake.htm
#4542 of 4692
Re: Brakes! How Many Miles? [nathanbrand] by worthflorida
Jul 09, 2009 (7:42 pm)
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Replying to: nathanbrand (Jul 09, 2009 12:22 pm)

I forgot to mention, my 2003 Highlander did go about 55K on the first set of pads and I replaced them with the dustless brakes pads from Autozone. They were about $40. I did the job myself and I did not have to cut the rotors because they were in good shape. There is now 87K on the Highlander and I haven't checked them but the pads to do have wear indicators and I'm not hearing them so there is still pad material left. Looking at the rotors they do not look bad. On the next change of pads I will remove the rotors and get them measured and if there is material left I'll have them cut and reuse them. If there is not enough material left on them I'll need to buy replacements and the last time I looked they were about $90 each at Auto zone.
#4543 of 4692
Re: Radiator fans, AC and no high idle? [worthflorida] by wwest
Jul 09, 2009 (8:14 pm)
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Replying to: worthflorida (Jul 05, 2009 4:17 pm)

Low refrigerant charge....HEAT (condensor) raises the refrigerant pressure just enough to enable the compressor clutch circuit which is locked out with too low refrigerant pressure.
 
Good catch.

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