power seat AND intermittent (sp?) wipers 2000 Avalon

HI,I think this site helped me once before. Our extended warranty has
literally just ended and almost immediately two electrical problems
that I'm wondering if I can work on myself. First the wipers are no
longer variable (easier to spell) the variable speed setting is the
same as the low setting and when they are switched off they stop
whereever which is generally in line of site. Second, just today, the
"back" power control on the driver's seat quit working. Fine for my
5'0" wife not so fine for 6'3" me. Am I doomed to a $2000 (probably
not an exageration) Toyota dealership job?

"needhelp" <gghebay@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1159242448.952843.198080@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> HI,I think this site helped me once before. Our extended warranty has
> literally just ended and almost immediately two electrical problems
> that I'm wondering if I can work on myself. First the wipers are no
> longer variable (easier to spell) the variable speed setting is the
> same as the low setting and when they are switched off they stop
> whereever which is generally in line of site. Second, just today, the
> "back" power control on the driver's seat quit working. Fine for my
> 5'0" wife not so fine for 6'3" me. Am I doomed to a $2000 (probably
> not an exageration) Toyota dealership job?
>[/color]

If you know how to use a volt/ohm meter and know how to rig up a temporary
12 volt power source, you can diagnose this yourself by getting access to
the factory repair manual at techinfo.toyota.com for $10/day. You will need
to look at the BE (body electrical) section for the wipers and for the power
seat. The manual will have tests for checking voltage and continuity at the
switch connectors and motor connectors.

When you are poking around in the steering column and under the seat, DO NOT
MESS WITH ANY BRIGHT YELLOW WIRES OR WIRE HARNESSES! The bright yellow
wires are for the air bags, and if you deploy the air bag, not only will you
need to replace a very expensive component, you may get burned or get the
air bag equivalent of a rug burn. Moving a wire loom aside is not a problem
as long as you do not stretch it, and definitely do not pierce the
insulation or sheathing on the bright yellow harness.

For the intermittent wipers, there are 3 possible causes, in order of
likelihood: 1) wiper switch, 2) wiper motor, and 3) wire harness. On some
cars, the wiper and headlight switches are one piece and you have to
de-energize the air bag and remove the steering wheel to swap the switch but
I think yours has a separate switch than can be changed without having to
mess with the air bag and steering wheel. To remove the steering column
cover, there may be screws on the end of the cover that you have to turn the
steering wheel 90 degrees to expose the screw heads, or the screws may also
be on the bottom of the cover.

For the power seat, the possible causes, in order of likelihood: 1) power
seat switch, 2) sliding seat motor, and 3) wiring harness.

good luck!
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

On 25 Sep 2006 20:47:29 -0700, "needhelp"
<gghebay@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>HI,I think this site helped me once before. Our extended warranty has
>literally just ended and almost immediately two electrical problems
>that I'm wondering if I can work on myself. First the wipers are no
>longer variable (easier to spell) the variable speed setting is the
>same as the low setting and when they are switched off they stop
>whereever which is generally in line of site. Second, just today, the
>"back" power control on the driver's seat quit working. Fine for my
>5'0" wife not so fine for 6'3" me. Am I doomed to a $2000 (probably
>not an exageration) Toyota dealership job?[/color]

Regarding the wipers:

Usually there is a switch inside the wiper motor that
supplies power to the motor until the wipers reach the park
position. If that switch does not work the wiper will stop
were ever they happen to be when power is removed. Variable
wipers operate by sending a short duration of power to the
motor and rely on that switch in the motor to complete the
one wipe cycle. So maybe the switch in the wiper motor is
not making its normal contact, I had one that the grease in
the motor was preventing the normal contact close action.

Hope this helps


Slim