Mica, Thanks for Helping Me Fix My Car!

[lbpesq]

I have a 2001 Toyota Highlander that I bought about 15 years ago with 60K miles on it.  It's been a great car and has survived our son learning how to drive.  I've been saying for years that I want to take it to 300K miles and am pretty close at its current 291K.  A couple of days ago, some of the electrical system just stopped working, including some of the dash lights, the power door lock, the temp gauge, and the mpg/mph average computer readouts.   Yesterday, I noticed that they all worked when the door was open, but failed when the door closed.  Weird??!!  I traced this down to the little push button switch in the door jam.  Push it in, the electrics ceased to function, let it out and everything worked fine.  So what has Mica taught us about funky switches?  Exercise 'em!  So I went around the car and exercised the door jam switch for all four doors and, viola!, everything works fine now! Thanks Mica, I bet you didn't even know you were an auto mechanic!

Bill, tgo

[gtrguy]

I have 2 Highlanders from that first run (with the optional 4 cyl camery engines) and I love them to death. They handle very well and have saved my life more than once due to that fact.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Nice wrenching!
A little zero-residue cleaner might not go amiss, though.

Peter

[David Houck]

Sometimes when we think that Mica is just teaching us something about basses and guitars, she's also teaching us something about life. 

[xlrogue6]

Hey Mica, here's your opportunity to start your own personal(ity) cult! I know, you've already got one, but just in case you're tired of sharing it with the fam...

[mica]

Ha! That's a good one, Bill. I have actually repaired my share of vehicles, back when they were simple enough machines that a 17 year old could change a water pump or a timing belt. I have to watch a YouTube video to learn how to change the headlamp in my mom's car - and found that by watching a few someone figured out how to not dismantle a bunch of the fender area to gain access.

But yes, keep those switches healthy and exercised!!