Re: 2001 Toyota Highlander Radio help needed please.
- From: "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom>
- Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 22:55:57 -0500
"Dan Ward" <danward2318@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:QXnmg.70323$4L1.58187@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
OK so we live in Pasadena Texas where it rains 10 inches in 2 hours and I
woke up one hour too late. Our driveway is pretty steep from house level
down to street level and the highlander was second in the driveway which
leaves it closest to the street. When I woke up the water was already high
but with the angle of the driveway the front end of the Highlander was
high and dry. The back end was what was in trouble. I opened the front
door which was still above water level only to find the rear floor boards
were wet to the touch. I started it up and drove it into the neighbors
yard where it was level and well above the flood waters.
Once the rain stopped I started working on it. It seems that all the
little rubber plugs they put in the bottom of cars are not water tight and
as the water came up they allowed water to enter the floor of the car. The
spare tire wheel well had the most as it was lowest due to angle of the
driveway. Then the rear seat floor boards had about a 1/2 inch of water
above the carpet which quickly dispersed throughout the car once I got it
up on level ground.
Bottom line is the carpet was wet. Seats were dry, no water on doors, no
water on the dash, no water anywhere but on the floor. I worked my way
through college in a body shop and know all to well how to remove seats
and carpets so just as soon as the rain stopped the entire interior came
out so we could get the carpet out and allow the carpet to dry.
I was very surprised to find so many cables under the carpet some of which
wired up to a silver box located a couple of inches above the deck just
behind the rear seat. It says JBL on it and some inquiries tell me it is
the amplifier for the fancy radio that comes in the Highlander.
Here is the part where I get to my questions now that I have explained the
circumstances and extent of the water level. Everything works just like
before the rain with the exception of the stereo. left and right front
speakers just pop and buzz and the rear ones play music but not very
strong and with poor quality.
I'm like 99.99999% sure the amplifier never got wet. The carpet got wet
but amplifier sits well above carpet level. But for sure the cables
between the head unit in the dash and the amplifier which run under the
carpet were well soaked and when I started up the Highlander to move it to
higher ground the stereo was on. Do you think that is when the damage was
done? Do you think it is just the amp or could the head unit be bad as
well?
The dealer can't explain it but there is a different amp if you have
leather seat as compared to cloth seats. One part number for cloth. One
part number for leather. Does anyone know the difference? the dealer
doesn't.
They want $1100.00 for a new amp which is an expensive parts swapping
expense especially if it isn't really bad. Remember I'm darn sure it never
got wet. Is there any place that will check these amplifiers out and
verify it is bad before replacing it?
Has anyone got any ideas?
If any connecters in the wire looms got wet, something may have shorted.
Also, make sure that the speaker cones are not wet.
United Radio in New York is Toyota's warranty repair facility. They also do
retail customer pay work. I'd bet that they can check out the amplifier
and/or radio for a nominal charge.
I've called a couple of dealers and got some pretty silly information. For
example one told me it is their policy to replace all seatbelts and
seatbelt tensioners. I ask why as they never got wet? Their response was
there was moisture in the car and you don't want to take a chance on seat
belts. They also said the replace the amplifier without question. I ask do
they check it before changing it and the answer was no. They told me they
always replace all the speakers. I said but they never got wet. Their
answer was it is just their policy. This entire exchange and I heard
similar from several dealers makes me think flood damage repair is a
racket. Most people have insurance and if insurance will pay for it the
dealers are going to run up the bill.
So I'm thinking since I've done most of the work already I'm on the right
track. I just need to find some help on the radio. Any and all input is
greatly appreciated and I'd like to extend my thanks in advance to anyone
who takes the time to reply to this post.
I've got all the carpet clean and dry and ready to go back in the car. If
it wasn't for the radio problem this would only be a bad experience. But
the radio is trying to make it a darned expensive bad experience.
I would immediately change the fluids on any drivetrain components that were
submerged or even partially submerged, like differentials and transmission,
and as cheap "insurance," also change the engine oil. Make sure that the CV
joint boots are not holding water.
The reason that the dealership replaces the seat belt assemblies is that
some rely on a pendulum or centrifugal device to lock the retractors, and
any time spent in an ultra-humid environment could keep them from locking up
in a crash. I would suspect that insurance covers flood damage most of the
time so owners do not object to having stuff replaced just for good measure.
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
.
- References:
- 2001 Toyota Highlander Radio help needed please.
- From: Dan Ward
- 2001 Toyota Highlander Radio help needed please.
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