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2001 Highlander electrical problem

21 messages,  Last post on Dec 29, 2010 at 10:39 AM

You are in the Toyota Highlander Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Highlander, SUV

Messages Page 3 of 3

#15 of 21 Re: Addressing the CE fault... [phrosut] by steve_ HOST

Dec 15, 2010 (4:46 pm)

Replying to: phrosut (Dec 15, 2010 10:39 am)
Looks like it's $10 to $15 an ounce at Amazon, but a little goes a long way. We used to drive around the outskirts of Boise in the fall when they harvested the mint crop. Talk about aromatic.
 
Can't say that I noticed a lot of mice running from the fields though.
 
Since mice can squeeze into such little spots, you may have to dismantle some interior bits to find all the bad spots (the dealer would up taking most of my sister's dash off). Not fun if they headed that way.

#16 of 21 Re: Mice [steve_] by phrosut

Dec 16, 2010 (10:48 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Dec 15, 2010 4:46 pm)
Since we live in the country, mice have been a problem since the coyotes ate up all of our outside cats.
 
I had an ongoing problem with the HL and mice getting inside though the intake for the heater. They'd build a nest on the cabin filter and eventually tunnel through to the interior.
 
I finally put a layer of course screening (contractors cloth?) over the intake (under the cowling, difficult to install).
 
On our other vehicles, I learned years ago to leave them parked with the hood open to prevent mouse nests in the engine compartment. Since we drive the HL daily I haven't done that... until now.
 
I'll find some pure mint oil, thanks for the Amazon tip. When weather permits I'll check underneath for chewed wires. Amazingly, there's no sign of wire gnawing anywhere in the engine compartment. The bugger did remove three feet of the windshield washer hose tho.
 
Phil

#17 of 21 Mint oil didn't work for us by phrosut

Dec 23, 2010 (10:20 am)

I ordered the mint oil from Amazon. In the interim, I left the hood open each night. No mouse nests. The oil came in day before yesterday. I sprayed the engine, what is left of the firewall insulation, and all around the engine compartment. I left the hood closed last night.
 
This morning... another mouse nest. Dang.
 
I'm gonna look for mothballs today. I'd already tried dryer softener sheets, which also didn't work. (These "remedies" from an RV forum)
 
And I still haven't had a chance to put the car up on ramps to check underneath. I live in CA and my ramps are outside. What a couple of weeks for rain!!
 
Phil

#18 of 21 Re: Hill assist/VSC lights on in dashboard [wwest] by dallas12

Dec 23, 2010 (1:30 pm)

Replying to: wwest (Dec 07, 2010 9:49 am)
I got the code for the CE light and then narrowed it to a electric wiring fault on the engine..forgot the connection name..but as soon as I removed the engine cover saw that the electric wiring might have been cut off by a rat or something. Got the wiring soldered and now it works fine and the warning light on the dash board for hill assist and VSN has gone away after I reset the battery connection. Thanks.

#19 of 21 Re: Mint oil didn't work for us [phrosut] by steve_ HOST

Dec 23, 2010 (2:47 pm)

Replying to: phrosut (Dec 23, 2010 10:20 am)
That's a bummer.
 
I was up at Kings Canyon a few years ago and there must be a varmint problem up there. People would put chicken wire fencing around their cars or they'd put a big tarp on the ground and the drive onto the tarp. Then they'd take the corners of the tarp and pull it up to the roof and tie it off. Sure looked weird, but better than ruined wiring.
 
I guess you'll have a lifetime supply of mint to doctor your hot tea with now.

#20 of 21 rats and wires by phrosut

Dec 23, 2010 (4:03 pm)

I was hoping to a solution like post #18 by dallas12 and just have some wires to repair. I can't find ANY evidence of nibbling anywhere visible from the top. Maybe tomorrow I can get it up on ramps and check underneath. I'll also unplug/replug any connectors I can.
 
Steve, that suggestion was cheap enough... it says it can be used to prevent head lice too and we have a relative that'll be starting school next year...
 
So far the only surefire prevention is to leave the hood open at night, which is what I do with the other vehicles that aren't driven daily. It's just a PIA on a daily driver.
 
Phil

#21 of 21 Re: rats and wires [phrosut] by phrosut

Dec 29, 2010 (10:39 am)

Replying to: phrosut (Dec 23, 2010 4:03 pm)
An update:
 
1) since the "upgrade" of this site, when I try and correct spelling or grammar on a post, I lose most of the post and get the '4- arrows' thing like I'm editing a JPG. I've usually given up after a couple of tries, and now will just make the post without corrections.
 
2) looking for mothballs, I found something resembling a urinal cake in a plastic container for moths. I hung it in the engine compartment. Before putting that in, IF I closed the hood overnight, there'd be a complete nest with an ample store of acorns the next morning.
 
After hanging it in under the hood, and closing the hood overnight, there'd be one 'mouthful' of nesting material and acorns.... like it got there with a full load then decided to leave because of the smell. HOWEVER, that moth thing is almost disolved after only 5 days so that's not gonna work. So I'm leaving the hood open at night and there is no evidence of nesting.
 
Back to the VSC light: I found a spot on the little hose from the air cleaner housing that causes the error after changing filters that had a little chew hole. Fixed it, disconnected the battery to reset, then the light was off. For 20 miles. Now back on. I'd put more details here but...
 
1) this new forum software would prevent it and
2) I don't have a solution or answer yet so who cares?
 
Phil

Messages Page 3 of 3

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