1998 Toyota Sienna

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR FUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V278000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

I CAME HOME AND TURNED MY IGNITION SWITCH OFF BUT MY 1998 TOYOTA VAN KEPT RUNNING.TURNING THE KEY ON AND OFF DID NOT TURN IT OFF. I TRIED SHUTTING IT DOWN WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. I TRIED TURNING IT OFF AGAIN WHILE MOVING THE GEAR SELECTOR LEVER BUT TO NO AVAIL. I BEGIN TO SMELL BURNING RUBBER. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS BEING TURNED OVER BY THE STARTER WHICH WAS NOT DISENGAGING AND STARTING TO SMOKE. THEN TONS OF SMOKE BEGAN BOILING OFF THE STARTER. I DISCONNECTED THE POSITIVE BATTERY CONNECTION AND THE ENGAGED STARTER STOPPED CRANKING THE ENGINE. HEAVY SMOKE CONTINUED BOILING FROM THE STARTER FOR ABOUT A MINUTE LONGER. I WAS VERY GLAD I WAS NOT INSIDE THE GARAGE BECAUSE I THINK THE STARTER COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE OR THE SMOKE WOULD HAVE SMOTHERED ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, THE ENGINE WOULD REV HIGH EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR WAS IN PARK. THE CONSUMER STATED HE THEN REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE RUNNING. UPDATED 06/22/10. *JB

PROBLEM WITH THE HORN ON MY 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE HORN STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIMES, AND TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AT LEAST 3 TIMES. SPENT OVER $1400 AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. THEY HAVE CHANGED THE RELAY, CHANGED CONTACTS, SANDED CONTACTS, AND STILL, THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. FOR THE MOST PART THE HORN WORKS WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AND COOL. AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 1/2 HOUR TO 1 HOUR, THE HORN STOPS WORKING COMPLETELY. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET IT TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY BY "JIGGLING" THE STEERING WHEEL AND PUSHING THE HORN AT THE SAME TIME WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. IN A NUTSHELL, IT IS VERY ERRATIC AND VIRTUALLY ALWAYS STOPS WORKING WHEN WE ARE ON A ROAD TRIP. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE HORN TYPICALLY DOES NOT WORK AT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SOMEONE ON THE HIGHWAY CUTS ME OFF AND IT'S NECESSARY TO USE THE HORN. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND OTHERWISE RUNS FINE DESPITE HAVING 150,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE BEEN VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE DEALERS AND THEIR OBVIOUS LACK OF EXPERTISE OR PERSISTENCE IN TROUBLESHOOTING THIS UNUSUAL ISSUE. *JB

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMOBLE, IN THAT WHEN SHE TURNS IT OFF, IT STARTS, AND WHEN SHE PUTS IT IN PARK, IT STARTS UP. SHE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, WHO DISCONNECTED THE ALARM SYSTEM, AND THE AUTOMOBILE STOPPED DOING THE ABOVE. SHE STATED THAT THE MECHANIC FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THESE CARS, AND THAT WAS THE EXACT PROBLEM SHE WAS HAVING WITH VEHICLE.*AK