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Toyota Highlander Hybrid Engine Questions
maverick777
Member Posts: 2
Bought a limited version in March and on two occasions since, it just won't start. Turned the key, lights come on, then nothing. Waited a few minutes, then it started right up. Taking it to the dealer for a system check, but has anyone experienced this?
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I'd check the connections and the battery indicator located on the battery itself. Look for any items that might be draining the battery such as open doors, lights etc.
If you find nothing amiss then take it back to the dealership and have them focus on that system.
This hh was bought with moderate front end damage, its all fixed now but it doesnt start!
When i turn ignition on red triangle warning light is on and also it says check vsc system! no ready light what so ever! the electrical kw gauge doesnt move at all it sits at the bottom bellow #0! does anyone have any ideas what could this be?
My HH came to a complete stop on the highway on June 25. The message read "Check Hybrid system" and "Check VSC System" I had to have it towed 50 miles to my dealer. It took them three days to realize the inverter was cooked. If not for the warranty, it would have cost me $7000.00 to replace on top of the $208.00 tow charge. They were told by Toyota that only 1 other case of this had been reported. I am now a little leary of the future when the warranty runs out.
My suggestion is the next time it happens to you, take pictures of the of the gearshift lever and the gauges. We took pictures with our cell phone. I think that helped. You may ask the service mgr if they want to send a mechanic to the car's location when you have the problem. That was one of the suggestions the district Toyota rep said at the hearing.
We have had the same non-starting problem with our '06 HH (55 K miles) for the last two months. We had previously noticed that the dealer who services both our HH and our Prius consistently overfilled the oil, not just a little, but over half a quart. When we last took the Prius in for service, and they overfilled it again, we insisted that they refill, and get it on the mark. The master mechanic agreed that this over-fill could be damaging, and said they would check their metering. He also said that this over fill could reduce mileage, and might cause starting problems, in addition to damaging the engine. The non starting took place when the vehicle had not been used, at least over-night, or after being driven 400 miles after being serviced, and parked on an up slope.
Subsequently we took the HH in for service, and had the fill only to the mark. NO STARTING PROBLEMS IN THE WEEK SINCE. The absence of the problem does not prove the cause, but it is worth checking.
We have experienced this overfill problem in Southern Nevada, Idaho, and Utah, at Toyota Dealerships with both Interminable Wait & Quick Lube operations.
Speculations on overfilling:
Inaccurate metering of new oil.
Inaccurate meter dial setting by grease monkeys.
Not following specifications.
Not changing the oil filter (but charging for it?)
Incomplete removal of old oil, too quick, oil hasn't settled.
Oil viscosity may not be right for the ambient temperature.
Cumulative slight over filling (unlikely as we've used three dealerships.)
If non-start recurs, we'll get back to you. Also be sure the gas cap is TIGHT, but that hasn't been our problem. Computers rule, d a r n it!
Thanks for posting!!!
Okay it's shift to P when starting not parking first off. I went back out and had my camera ready and it started of course. But 15 minutes later I had the shift to p message again. This time I took the picture of it. Also tried it once more right afterwards and then another problem occurred. The whole screen went blank with only the green bulb and the doors open light with no sound from the engine at all. It was like the battery was dead. Then I took the key out and the car started dinging like I still had the key in. The overhead lights were dimmed but stuck on and the parking lights in front of the car are stuck on. The dinging stayed on even when all doors were closed. I'm definitely taking it in now!
I did recently have an oil change, and have gotten the Shift to P message - both seem to have been mentioned in other forum postings where the HiHy does not start, but I did not see anyone posting about the weird noise too.
Any ideas?
May I suggest you perform a test of the battery charge. Should be fully charged and between 12 and 12.5 volts.
If you cannot start the engine, try a jump start like you would with any other vehicle. Once running measure the battery voltage again, should be more than 12.5 volts, between 13 and 15 would be normal.
If this fails, it seems a trip to the dealer is in order.
I am beginning to think there is a systematic failure in the charging systems for HH based on what I have been reading in these posts. I have a hard time believing all the people experiencing problems with the battery running down and failing is because the owners have left a light on.
You would think that Toyota would have sprung the 50 cents or so for a circuit to shut off the interior lights after 10 minutes. My last three cars have had this feature.
BTW, so for our only failure has been a window lift motor, under warrantee.
Car started like dream. Drove out of PL made a couple of stops to merge. couple of L&R Turns. Then enroute to freeway entrance accelerated and moved to center lane to pass city bus disgorging passengers. All of sudden warning displays all over, but no bells, saying "hybrid failure, go to service" of words to that effect.
Luckily work only 10mins from Toyota Dealer and was able to avoid getting onto freeway and take back road to dealership. Left car running with failure displayed on dash for all to see. Grabbed my serivce writer and then sat down for what turned out to be 2hr wait.
End result was diagnosed as ECU failure but part out of stock. Dealer was able to reset/overcome failure mode and let me drive off, thinking part was coming from CA and I could come back in three days to get fix (covered under Hybrid warranty.)
Had two appointments canx as part remained out of stock, and then magically delivered.
After two hours of work I have had car back now nearly two weeks. Runs like a dream and even the problem I had when travelling at 70mph and feeling car hunt as it tried to maintain steady speed has gone away (even though dealer had "reprogrammed" ECU firmware about three months ago -- and complaint still remained.)
Was wondering if others had this problem, especially since ECU was so hard to come by. Either this ECU (failed little so no need for stocks in USA) or (failed a lot and spares across USA were being depleted as a result.)
Thoughts, comments?
Chuck
By the way, I had it changed at Priority Toyota in Petersburg VA. I was quoted $290.00 for the job over the telephone. When I took it in for the appointment, was questioned by the service writer who thought I had a chain. After verifying it indeed has a belt, was called an hour later by the writer who mentioned the price was quoted wrong because the Hybrid requires much more work. Seems funny to me because there is no serpentine belt or other parts to remove from the front of the engine. The dealer honored the price as quoted.
Got a call two hours later informing me the work was completed. Interesting, the Toyota Website and All Data quote 2.7 hours for the belt replacement on the HH.
Dealer gave me back the old belt and reported there was no leakage in the seals or in the water pump.
I am very tempted to do the oil change and air filter replacement myself, then go to an independent mechanic to do the visual inspections called for. I don't see the need for the other services the dealer wants to do as they are not specified in Toyota's literature.
What have others done? What do you think about these added services, like "induction service" and differential oil change? (Not even sure that's relevant as no rear differential on the hybrid.)
I have followed the manufacture's recommendations for maintenance on my '07 HH and have had ZERO problems in 117,000 miles. When you replace your air filter, dont forget the cabin air filter behind the glove box.
Ray
thanks for that tip, too. One weekend I did take off that plastic shield to see how accessible the filter is, and just as you say, there it is.
Do you use an oil filter wrench that fits snugly on the end of the filter (50 mm or something like that, if I recall)? I will need to get one of those.
I used to have an old Mercedes - one of the best features of that car was that the engineers designed the engine so that you could do oil changes from above, using a dipstick tube that sucked oil out that way, and the oil filter was reached from above too.
Would be an interesting "experiment" - to mark the filter inconspicuously, take the car to have an oil and filter change, and see if the filter was actually replaced...
My RX gets oil, oil filter, and air filter every 5-7000 miles and the pollen filter inspected and changed "as needed", now at ~80,000 miles. The ATF was drained and refilled, twice, days apart, at ~40,000 miles due to the transaxle design flaw and hasn't been changed since. But just to be on the safe side I do check the ATF condition, odor and appearance, at each oil change.
How often are you doing this ?
Thanks.
Bill in FL
Depending on the year of your HH, the computer should be maintaining this for you. On my '07, the Maintenance Reminder alert comes up every 5,000 miles.
beside general inspection, I was told that they will change oil, rotate tires, change cabin filter and do fuel injuction services. Cost $300-$350.
Is this sound right? Can I service it somewhere else cheaper?
your input is appreciated.
Thanks.
vsc check. pls help. i have to get to work on tuesday or i am dead...