Toyota Highlander:  Signs of a Bad Water Pump

Your Toyota Highlander’s water pump is one of the most crucial parts of the engine.  If it doesn’t pump water through the engine, it’s going to overheat and do a lot of damage.  Typical signs of a bad water pump include overheating, white smoke, a bad smell, rough idle, and more. A water pump works … Read more

Toyota Highlander: Running Hot → Causes

If your Toyota Highlander is running hot, it is a serious problem.  If it gets too hot, it leads to overheating.  A hot engine is usually caused by a few different things, such as the thermostat, water pump, radiator, or outside conditions.     Toyota Highlander Running Hot Symptoms Obviously, the main symptom of running … Read more

Toyota Highlander Rod Knocking Diagnosis

A rod knock is a very serious problem.  If your Toyota Highlander has a knocking rod, it’s almost always going to be caused by a failure of the rod bearing or the rod caps (leading to a spun bearing) or lack of oil.   If you do have a rod knock, don’t ignore it for … Read more

Toyota Highlander: Bad Torque Converter → Symptoms + Diagnosis

Your Toyota Highlander’s torque converter is responsible for converting the energy generated by the engine at the flywheel and transferring it to the transmission, creating a bridge between the engine and the transmission.   In the Toyota Highlander, a bad torque converter is often caused by bad transmission fluid, worn clutches, bad seals, or loose … Read more

Toyota Highlander: Battery Light On – Diagnosis

If your Toyota Highlander’s battery light is on, it is trying to warn you that there is an issue with the charging system. The charging system itself is relatively simple.  The battery light comes on because the voltage level at the battery is too low. Quick Facts Common Causes Faulty Battery, Bad Alternator, Battery Cables, … Read more

Toyota Highlander Burning Smell: Causes + How to Fix

A burning smell is one of the most troublesome problems you can experience in a vehicle.  If your Toyota Highlander has a burning smell, there are many potential causes.   Typically, the smell is caused by some type of fluid (oil, trans fluid, etc…) hitting the exhaust or other hot parts of the engine or … Read more

Toyota Highlander:  Burning Oil Diagnosis

  The engine burning oil is one of the most common problems that a vehicle can encounter, particularly one with high mileage.  If your Toyota Highlander is burning oil it is typically caused by piston rings or valve guides.     How Much Oil Consumption is Normal? Most auto manufacturers are hesitant to tell you … Read more

Toyota Highlander: Backfiring Causes

  One of the more jarring vehicle problems that you can experience is a backfire.  It sounds like a shotgun blast and can scare you if you’re not prepared for it.  If your Toyota Highlander is backfiring, common causes include improper engine timing, bad spark plugs, engine running rich, and plug wires (if so equipped). … Read more