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Comments
Please file a complaint at NHTSA, maybe they'll go to work on it for us.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
There's the problem: I can modify my driving style to accomodate the hesitation, but why? Eventually, there may be a situation where, ala gib (1639) your life will depend on a properly functioning automobile or someone else's good reflexes. So we lose confidence in the Highlander's abilities and become hesitant drivers with that nagging doubt in the back of our minds.
So how did you come out on the trade? I had been thinking of doing the same, but assumed the trade would be a financial sink hole.
I assume you mean the left flexible brake hose where it attaches to the wheel caliper?
Do you now have a firm pedal - what are the symtoms which have been corrected?
There are a lot of us unhappy with the brakes, and if you've found a way to improve them we'd all appreciate the details.
And who was this shop? Might be worth a drive from VA to PA!
Thanks,
Jonas
At max cool none of the system air flows through this exchanger but it is still being heated to engine operating temperature, ~190F, but the radiant heat therefrom can be substantial when what you need is a cooler surround.
Negativity yes, but it is the problems and solutions board. I do have to say that my HL is a great vehicle and it's all relative. We could be driving Yugos. I would just like to see some proactivity from Toyota rather than non-reactivity.
I had the same problem. Your dealership is wrong and you should smack them. The problem is that the manufacturer forgot to engage the auto feature before shipping the vehicle. Toyoto told me how to fix it on my own through an email.
I believe you just push TILT (to open) and don't let go until the thing opens and closes all the way through the cycle. After that, it's auto baby.
After reading about the problems with the Highlander I think I'll wait awhile. We also own a Camry and while it is a fantastic car it has been extremely frustrating when interacting with either Toyota or Toyota dealers. Its easy to see why Toyota dealers score rather poorly in the J D Power surveys. But when you can sell all (or more) then you can build why worry about unhappy customers.
I did it on a 78 trans am. It solved the problem.
would like to see a pix of where it would go in the HL.
On the trans am (NO factory water shut off valve) the water line was on the fender well _I used a brass hardware store valve. Dealer including factory rep had worked on my car 3 tmes - said it was to specs - friend at a parts store said his moms car had to have a valve put in by him. My valve solved it!!
A vapor lock in the water lines to/from the heat exchanger wouldn't be all that unusual if someone has messed around with the engine coolant system.
If your system was of the automatic climate control type then the price might be justified. If not a vapor lock my guess would be a simple inexpensive servomotor that moves the airflow mixing vanes.
I guess my best advice is to pick the right dealer, both for the best deal and for future service. I saved thousands (yes, thousands) on the first car by driving an hour to a dealer highly recommended by friends and co-workers. The shop is professional and responsive.
Handling on adverse roadbed conditions will be much more beniegn, predictable, and controllable.
Toyota is in denial they have a problem, and therefore it may never be fixed. Based on their nonresponse on this problem and years of denial on oil sludge any problems with Toyotas will be paid for by the owners.
Look at the Honda Pilot, or maybe the new Nissan 2005 Pathfinder.
Seemingly the majority of these delayed acceleration reports have involved only FWD, or front torque biased AWD vehicles, and many of the reports concern delayed acceleration upon accelerating into a turn.
It is my understanding and belief that FWD torque stear is at its worse when turning, the tighter and/or more agressive (high engine output torque) the turn is the more likely the result will be loss of control of the vehicle.
Just a guess at this point, clearly the jury is still out on this one.
These problems are common on the HL, and other problems people on these boards have experienced include warping brake rotors, steering wheel vibration, vibration while idling, windshield contraction noise in cold weather, sunroof creaking noise, wheel bearing noise, and other wind noise problems.
Its difficult to ascertain from posts on these boards how prevalent these problems are. These issues are serious for some and I think this forum is an excellent venue to discuss common problems with others and perhaps even effect changes on the part of the auto manufacturer (I too would like to see the hesitation problem addressed!). After reviewing these posts you'll have to judge for yourself during your test drive if the HL is the right car for you.
Back in '01 when I bought my HL I also looked at the 4Runner (as well as a few other vehicles). The main difference between the two is the 4Runner is a truck-based SUV (its heavier, more like a truck, and can be used for true off-roading) while the Highlander is a car-based SUV (its lighter, more like a car, and can only be used for very light off-roading). Not to contradict wwest, but my cousin who has a farm in Canada says he likes the HL more than the 4Runner (something like "is better and costs less"). Most on these boards say the AWD HL handles great in snow. Also try posting your question on the Toyota 4Runner vs Toyota Highlander discussion -- its common to both the Highlander and 4Runner discussion groups, so you should get a good cross-section of opinions there.
Using the front tire's roadbed contact patch primarily for directional control, lateral forces/stress, and the rear primarily for driving or decel, compression braking, will always result in a more beneign handling vehicle in adverse conditions than will a FWD or front biased AWD.
Especially one that can use chains only on the rear or on all four and is not prone to the hazards of chain use ONLY on the front.
That's not to say that some folks will not find the AWD, or even the FWD HL (RX, etc,) up to the task at hand for them.
But NEVER for me!
As a follow-up to my earlier post regarding my last 'under warranty' visit, I took my HL in this past weekend. Here are the results:
1. Mud Flaps. Advisor says there's no replacement protocol from Toyota. He later said they will replace 1 of them under warranty from their dealership. The other had no visible 'tear'. Had to order the part though.
2. Squeaky Steering Wheel. Advisor says tech could not duplicate the problem. (typical) Said to try again when I come in for the ordered parts.
3. A/C Temp. Said tech tested system at 38 degrees F. which is supposedly normal. (I drove the car yesterday in about 78 degree weather w/A/C at maximum cold. Felt like the system wasn't even on! Tried recirc...no change) Problem seems intermittent....so this one isn't over yet.
4. Rear Wiper Chatter. Advisor blames it on tree sap. No new parts.
5. Child Safety Locks. Completed
6. Ceiling trim. Ordered parts.
7. "Grommet" around exterior rear hatch bezel. Ordered parts.
If anyone shares in any of the above issues, please comment. All-in-all, very disappointed with Toyota...especially one that is assembled in Japan.
Gary
2001 Toyota Highlander V6 2wd (non-Ltd.)
27000 Miles
I've had #1, #5, and #7 done on my car. #7 was done 2 times! Within 4 months! My steering wheel also had a rattle and I got the whole steering column shaft replaced and now it's fine.
My car still had a lot of side wind noise and a rattle coming from the driver's side door at idle, but the dealer says everything was OK in there.
Like taking a warm bottle of milk and putting it in a 40F refrigerator and removing it 5 minutes later expecting it to be chilled.
The evaporator vanes themselves may very well be at 35F but if the airflow isn't slow enough.....
But you can improve the efficiency of the A/C dramatically by eliminating the radiant heaing of the A/C plenum area. Install a manual shutoff valve in the heater's hot water line.
and if recirc is on
with hi speed fan you will never get near 40 degrees ecven on recirc/
my 94 camry puts out under 40 degree air, Highlander is not as good maybe 44 degrees (2 nd speed fan, 40 mph, recirc, 95 degrees outside).
the auto system in my infiniti is not as good as either.
I can not even find the hot water line on the HL -where is it???
recomondations?? The" Bridgestone Dueller" tires that came with it are showing the wear bars at 38000 miles. I'm looking for a quiet all season tire.
This vehicle has everything including the touring and technology packages. I haven't been able to figure everything out yet. The navigation system in incredible. The sound system is remarkable. It even has DVD. Most important the brakes work and it has four years / 60,000 bumper to bumper with a loaner vehicle for any work over 1 day. Time will truly tell, but I think I love this vehicle. If there is a piece of technology this vehicle has it. I think Toyota and Lexus need to play serious catch up. I feel that I was very fortunate to find this vehicle. Drove from Philadelphia to New Hampshire this past weekend, a round trip of 800 miles and the performance and gas mileage were teriffic. So long Toyota.
When I first turn on the system, (max cold, fan on any position, fresh or recirc) the temp feels very cold. After driving about 15 minutes or so, the system feels almost like it shuts off. Little or no cooling. This lasts for about 5-7 minutes or so, then it gets cool again. This happens for pretty much the duration of the drive. I'll bring this up at my next visit as it is really frustrating. I despise the "Cannot duplicate the problem" excuse from Toyota service!!
Can you explain the 'manual shutoof valve' fix? Is this an easy fix and will it cause any negative effects to the HVAC system?
Thanks.
if the air flow stops it may be freezing up (possible low charge) also check the sight gage for bubbles
mine is a manual sytem too - they are the nest I think
Help!! I need more response to my AM radio reception question.(Post #1629)Today we were listening to the AM radio, stopped for lunch, return trip home we had no AM radio reception. None. The car has been taken to dealer but radio was working that day. Are we the only ones with no AM reception?
My Lexus has dashlights on all of the time. It's tough to get used to dim dash board but I'll live through it. Hope we don't experience some of the other things that seem rampant.
The hesitation complaint now totals 3 of 14. I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but if you search the previous posts for "hesitation", you will find you are stuck with toyota's poor design unless the government forces them to take action.
They will stonewall you at the dealer by saying they all do it, contact toyota. toyota will then blow you off.
If there's any consolation, you didn't give toyota an extra 15 grand to buy a Lexus RX330 with the same hazard. Incidentally, they made 10.24 Billion dollars profit last year, (more than ford gm and chrysler combined)How much of that comes from not standing behind their product when they screw up (see post 1647 on a press release on how they ducked their oil sludge problem for years.)