Toyota to recall 7.4M cars. 2005-2010 Yaris included.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Yaris Newbie

Hrm, maybe I can get them to replace my window felt as well. I already have parts in hand and they'll be taking the panel off anyway... *crosses fingers*

Anyone venture to comment or show a diagram of what part is actually the culprit in the recall?

Actually they only have to pop the cover on the driver's arm rest to work on the switch assembly, which is this chunk:

Window Switch.jpg

This is a picture of a burnt one from an article on repairing them (http://www.toyotawiki.org/index.php?...indow_switches):

Repairing_faulty_window_switches4.jpg



Basically the switches are switching high current (~10 Amps) to the power window motors. They are directly doing the switching, rather than switching the coil on a relay (as is done with most of the other high-current switching on a vehicle). So, if the contacts are coated with something that is conductive or becomes conductive over time (the carbonization mentioned in the recall article), current flowing through the resistive (partially conductive) material will make it heat up. With the power windows being fused with a single 30A fuse, you have the potential to create up to a 420 Watt heater (14 Volts x 30 Amps) before the fuse blows.