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Comments
BTW, We have an '01 HL and love almost every aspect of it. I think the brakes feel a bit mushy but my wife doesn't. Matter of opinion I guess.....
Also, dealer ordered the left side door seal to correct "reed" type wind noise.
Mine does not have the ticking noise -- I do have a steering wheel that "thumps" sometimes. It only "thumps" when the temperature outside is between 70 and 80 degrees - go figure!!!
Maybe if they had auto unlocked it would not have been so bad. More than once at a car wash the attendant closed the door and the car was locked with the engine running and the keys inside. Every time I stopped and exited the vehicle to unload something from the rear, the door was locked.
But, to each his own. I have no idea if the computer can be programmed to do as you request. For your sake, I hope so, but for me .... no thanks.
Happy HL'ing to all.
>Just had the new master cylinder cap installed
>and the brake fluid flushed. What a difference!
>No more mushy brakes.
I'm real interested to hear that. I had the MC fix done, with almost no change to the mushy brakes, and I took it back in because I'm sure they didn't completely bleed the system. Got the same ol' line "they all feel like that".
How long did the MC fix and bleed take, if you waited for it? Toyota says it should take about an hour, mine took 20 minutes.
Happy Holidays and thanks in advance for your response.
If I remember correctly the Oregon state police will not allow chains only on the front.
Happy HL'ing to all ...... and Merry Christmas.
PS, yesterday I washed and waxed my HL. My what a beautiful vehicle!!
I am one month into having my V6 AWD silver non limited. I still just gawk at it every time I park somewhere and marvel at what an awesome vehichle it is. I had spent two years looking for an SUV (almost bought a CR-V, 4 Runner, Forester) and never thought I would find an SUV that was perfect. The Highlander is extremely close! I would like to wax mine too but the weather here is kinda bad right now. This is the second dumping of snow since I picked up the HL and I am overall very impressed with its traction and ground clearance and ability to get through snow.
Injector noise is not a problem in terms of engine life or reliability. It can be a distraction though. Mine does it worse than others when cold and sounds like a diesel engine for a good 5 minutes in cold weather.
There is a "fix" for this and it is a simple matter to wrap insulating tape around the injectors. I haven't bothered with it for mine.
I don't know that this is the same thing ya'll are hearing, but it is a possibility.
Cliffy....thanks for the info on the Tundra and LandCruiser. Thats very helpful.
The tick (for me) is less noticeable when the engine is cold and is only there after it warms up a bit. As far as the outside temp goes....hey, its ALWAYS cold here
Thanks!
A week later I'm back at the dealership to explained that I was stopping for a yellow light and the brake pedal again went almost to the floor and I stopped through the crosswalk into the intersection. And would not continue to drive the HL with this kind of brake failure. (clue here... using the word "brake failure" causes service managers great anxiety they come out to talk with you :-))
Anyway.. The manager comes out and explains that Toyota has never had a brake failure on any vehicle this is a very serious statement. I agree that is a very serious statement BECAUSE IT A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM! (duh :-)
He tells me that my HL has been checked over by a mechanic, that they bled the brakes as a precaution but that everything is fine. (I asked on my prior visit to have the brakes bled but was told it was not necessary). Now he take me for a drive in my HL (he's driving) so he can explain and demonstrate how the ABS works. Well, I'm a easy going guy, so I politely ride along and listen and after about 20 minutes we return to the dealership and thank him for his time and dedication to customer service (I give credit where credit is due) but my concern with mushy brake pedal and lack of stopping still continues. He explained that the work on my HL is now documented should something else happen. I thank him and he heads back to the service area. I get into the drivers seat, put it in gear and drive to the exit. (clue here.. this is the first time I've driven my HL since they bled the brakes) I step on the brake and WOW they stop.. like right now!
Then I finally dawns on me that this service manager has been driven my HL around showing how great it stops and explaining that I must have mistaken to think that the brakes were mushy all the while I was ignorant that the brakes now are working great and not mushy like when I arrived at the dealership.
So, long story short here. Have the brakes bled. Even if you have to take it to a brake place and pay to have it done. It makes a world of difference.
Best regards and happy holidays,
Philip
Ps. I didn't tell my wife about the brake being bled (to make sure it wasn't me being hopeful) so when she returned from driving it, the first thing she said was "wow". What did they do to the brakes to make them work so great?
Not sure that this is possible to figure out by the VIN? Others may know for sure, and I know they will jump in here to let us know if that is possible.
You did know that the month of production is posted on a tag in the driver's door jam, didn't you?
HTHs
Happy Holidays.
Imelda/388
I certainly hope that piston slap is not the problem.
As a matter of fact, I don't see how that could possibly be the problem given the precision and quality parts and close tolerances that I'm sure are built into all Toyota motors. One doesn't get the longevity that Toyotas are noted for by throwing motors together that have piston slap! Now if it was my ' 72 Fiat 128, I would agree with you, as mine did have piston slap big time. Took the factory rep. to okay a new set of pistons, and guess what? No more piston slap.
But that was long ago, and far away.
Piston slap occurs only when a motor is cold and has excessive clearances between the piston skirts and the cylinder walls, and can usually only be detected by loading the motor slightly, and then backing off from it being under a very slight load. It is not heard while at a steady idle. You must rev the engine slightly, and then allow it to come back to idle slowly and listen for the "slap" while the motor is slowing down. This slapping noise that can be heard is the skirt of the piston actually slapping the cylinder walls. It cannot be heard while the motor is idling at a steady idle unless a motor is purposely set up loosely as are motors built for racing.
HTHs
388
BTW, Toyota bought his Sequoia back and he purchased a Land Cruiser AND an Avalon.
Several "possibilities" seemingly for the same symptom (A definate audible tick,tick,tick, while it is idling, regardless of whether it is cold or warmed up.
Injectors?
Selonoids?
Fuel injector pulse?
Valves?
Piston?
KPT KRUNCH; I agree with your concern, re: why do SOME have it and some do not?? I also want it "gone". First step I believe is a consistent "DIAGNOSIS" via toyota technicians/mechanics. That's why it will be very helpfulf to those of us "Tickers" to share specifically what is said and what if anything can/should be done.
p.s. Took it for a 300 mile partial break-in ride and it did not seem to impair performance, but who knows?
PEACE, HEALTH AND HAPPINESS TO ALL.
After reading your statement about how strong your 2002 HL brakes are, it sounds like I need to go down and test drive a 2002 HL and see how it compares with my 2001 HL brakes.
And, in answer to your question about changes in the braking system I'm not aware of any changes but maybe "cliffy1" would be more qualified to answer this question.
Best regards,
Philip
I believe that's close to what some other board members have been told. Others?
Also, I don't think that it is internal (i.e. lifter, piston-slap) but it does merit an explanation. I'll post back after my next dealer visit.
We will be seeing him this evening at the Christmas family gathering.
388
Just wanted to chime in on the engine ticking issue.
I own a '00 Celica GT as well as our new '02 Highlander. I too have had the same engine ticking in my Celica, the dealer has told me this is normal for the Japanese produced engines.
We have the 4 cyl in our H/L.The ticking is due to the louder fuel injectors used with these engines(so I was told).
You should hear the Celi when it gets cold here (Ohio)sounds like a machine gun til it's warmed up
but I have chalked it up to the nature of the beast.(I have had the injectors checked twice and both times they are fine).
BTW the H/L has 10 more HP with the addition of A TRD licence plate frame!!!
Happy Holidays and be Safe
TRDgt
Clearly, not all HLs have mushy brakes, not all HLs that once did do now, not all HLs have the ticking noise.
Don't accept it as an explanation for something you think is a problem. For your future reference, make the service writer explain exactly what your issue is in writing on the invoice or service form or whatever they call it, no matter how many pages it takes or how much they complain that the computer won't let them.
If you are not satisfied with the service, email or write Toyota Customer Service.
It's a pretty nice vehicle, but the service so far, sucks.
My experience also, only noted after I returned home and checked. Ourisman Fairfax Toyota in Fairfax VA only rotated the four tires on the car, and rotated them front to back, rather than across. Acrosss is the Toyota recommendation, in addition to including the spare.
Also, the lug nut torque was way off. To check, I used a torque wrench to loosen the 4 non-locking nuts on the left front. Factory recommended torque is 76 ft-lbs. One nut loosened with the torque wrench set at 80, one at 90, one at 110, and one at 115. FYI, 115 ft-lbs is 151% of the factory spec. Other wheels were similarly uneven, although I didn't check the torque.
Uneven lug nut torque is one of the causes of the dreaded warped brake rotor, so common these days, which makes your brake pedal pulsate in normal braking, and frequently requires replacement of the brake rotors (disks).
also, we would like to cover the leather seats with seat covers. has anyone purchased toyota seat covers. thanks, harold.
Strange because I was NOT in a hurry and NOT tailgating (both of which I am frequently guilty). I can tell you that I am sure the 2000 Land Cruiser I traded in WOULD have stopped with some margin.
In this case, when I saw I had to stop quickly, the brake pedal travel was excessive and I just didn't seem to be have the braking power to stop the 4,300 pounds (car plus me and my girlfriend - she was impressed!). I was going 10-15 mph on contact. Thankfully, no indication at all on my HL. Really nothing on the Civic, although this guy I think is trying to say his cracked paint and loose exhaust pipe occurred because of the contact... not! (And he didn't get the police there, either....)
By the way, ABS never activated even on the wet roads (confirming to me that it didn't brake as hard as it should have) and also ABS DID work the other day in snow in South Bend, Indiana.
Bud Hinckley
I would like to thank all the message board members because without you I would have probably gotten another vehicle and not been satisfied as I am with the Highlander.
Happy Highlanding to all and have a joyous New Year!!!
If you have VSC then its deceleration sensor and yaw detector may have indicated that you never needed the ABS.
Now I don't actually know why there is a deceleration sensor included in this VSC circuit, but...
ABS is primarily intended to keep the vehicle from deviating from the desired line of travel during what would otherwise be "locked wheel" braking.
The traditional ABS design could be readily improved through the use of the VSC's steering wheel position sensor and the yaw sensor to determine if the vehicle is following the correct line of travel during "locked wheel" braking.
The only purpose I can think of for including a deceleration sensor in the vehicle at all is to determine if the "locked wheel" braking circumstance is actually providing enough, or adequate, braking HP.
All of this is just a guess but I have had my 2001 RX300 exhibit the same symtoms you describe and the Lexus service manager explained it away by saying the 2001 version of ABS uses a more moderate pumping technique.
A few days later, ABS did work perfectly in the snow and if anything it activated EARLIER than I would have expected.
Going in tomorrow to have brakes checked...and my first oil change at 1,300 miles. I wonder if the Toyota dealer is going to give me grief when I bring my own Amsoil oil and filter......
You have something wrong with your brake system!! Definitely have the dealer check it. Maybe your brake pads weren't seated well during your break-in.
The excessive pedal travel is actually Brake Assist kicking in. It "sucks" the pedal all the way to the floor when it detects an emergency stop.
I had to stop fast today for someone who slammed on their brakes, and the car stopped so hard I was thrown forward in my seat. Did not this car get best-in-class stopping distance from Consumer Reports??
I was going 10-15 mph on contact. Thankfully, no indication at all on my HL.
No way you were going that fast. If you hit a stopped Civic at 15 mph, there would be some nasty body damage done to both cars. The nose would be all shriveled up!
"Published reports state Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling more than 41,000 Highlander SUVs because of a potential problem with their brakes.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the Highlander brake problem in its monthly list of automotive recalls.
The safety body said the problem with the Highlander's brakes stems from potential leakage of air into the braking system, which can lead to an increase in stopping distances and heightened risks of a crash.
NHTSA said 41,169 of the SUVs from the 2001 model year were included in the recall."
Upon entering the showroom, I noticed that all the Toyota models on display had pinstripes including the HL. Now I don’t care for pinstripes whatsoever but figured they could be removed easily enough but things got worse. Upon checking the interior, I was surprised to see that the standard Metallic Instrument Panel Accents had been replaced with third party woodgrain ones. Except, now get this, the trim around the gearshift and cup holder in the centre console were still the standard metallic.
After pointing out this mismatch, the sales manager’s only reaction was basically “Yeah what’s the problem with that”, unbelievable! I checked the price list for the vehicle and noticed that they were charging $585 Cdn for this disaster of an upgrade.
Why Toyota allows their dealerships to change standard designed features in an automobile at their own whim and ruin them I don’t know.