Probably 99% of the time or more, premature clutch wear is caused by something an operator of the vehicle has done through ignorance or abuse. That's why you're not getting anywhere with the manufacturer or dealership yet. It would be like bringing back a new Mustang stage III complaining that the rear tires are wearing out prematurely claiming the tires are defective. The natural response would be 'yeah right' even if there were something wrong with the tires. If the clutch is wearing out too fast, something is keeping it partially applied much of the time. Often times that would be someone with a habit of resting their foot on the pedal. A linkage, master or slave cylinder problem would be other likely possibilities. Next time you have it fixed, make sure that they check that all the pressure is off when it's supposed to be. OEM tires on new cars often times aren't the greatest. Sometimes you couldn't buy a set like them from a tire store if you wanted to. Also, looking in from the outside, smoked clutch + worn tires = an indication of abuse. Remember, the mechanics you tell this story to don't know you, they know cars. Your original tires were probably just cheap tires. Your fan problem could be from the switch, a relay, or resistor. If I had experience with your car I could tell you the likely cause and where the component was, but I don't. Sorry.

The power door handle has come loose from the body on the passender side of the van I had it apoxed by a body man he said if it comes loose again it would have to be replaced,I was trying to find it on the internet can someone give me some input where to start. Thanks Jerry

sooz: I could not answer your email directlly since your return address was stripped away. From the numbers you got, these possibilities exist: 1. One set of data is correct and the other is in error, but which one? 2. Both sets are in error, but how can you tell? There are are a couple of observations that you can do that does not require any tools. First, check for "dog tracking", by that I mean, does the rear wheels track symetrically with the fronts? For this test, you will need to find a relatively flat space where the vehicle can be driven in a straight line for several car lengths, and the tire tracks must be visible. A vacant parking lot will do nicely such as a school lot after hours, or a steet in a new subdivison under construction. The surface should be wet or covered with something that reveals tire tracks. Pick out an object in the distance and drive in a straight line toward that object. stop after enough distance has been driven to establish tracking. Examine the tracks. Bear in mind that on many vehicles the spacing between the rear wheels are not quite the same as the fronts. A variance of zero to 2 inches is common. Did the rear wheels track symmetrically with the fronts? If yes, then you are half way done. If the rears did not follow the fronts symmetrically, then the rears needs aligning. It is the aiming of the rear wheels that determines if a vehicle 'dog tracks'. Next, examine the front tires' wear pattern. Is it equal across the width of each tire? is a 'feather edge' forming at the tread grooves? Its important to see on which edge the feather is forming. Is the edge toward the outside or the edge toward the inside? If toe-in is excessive the feather edge will be on the inside edge of the tread ribs; If neutral, no freather; and too much toe out, the feather will be on the outer edges of the tread ribs. An out of alignment tire may develop a 'cupping' pattern of wear. Cupping can also appear from out of balance. If you have too much toe -out, you may notice this in handling; The vehicle will tend to wander on the road at speed and require constant attention at speed to hold position in the lane. Straight ahead steering is not stable. Driving long distance is tiring. (The same effect can happen if the side wall and tread stiffness of the rear tires differ from the fronts when different tire types are mounted front versus rear. I recommend that all 4 tires be the same.) If the vehicle has too much toe-in, it may have stable steering but front tire wear will be excessive. Notice that the normal specified range for toe-in favors near neutral to slight toe-in. If you can not trust measurements from your local Toyota dealers, then use an independent tire shop who is equipped with a good alignment machine and has a program of periodically checking his measurement stand. Also, his alignment tech should be certified. If your Toyota dealers are using the same equipments, I would expect that measurements between 2 machines should be within a 1/2 degree of each other.

To those searching for more on the Toyota engine oil sludge or gel matter, please see the following links: http://www.toyotaoilgel.com http://www.uc2.blogspot.com http://www.autosafety.org Follow "toyotasludge" on Twitter.com Watch the Toyota Sludge video on YouTube.com at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs7WI2s-CVw If you have blue/white smoke from the exhaust, especially on start up; check engine light on; excess oil consumption or sudden disappearance of engine oil; failed emissions control components such as the oxygen sensor or catalytic converter; a thrown engine piston rod; or complete engine failure, then be on alert! Notify Toyota via CERTIFED letter with return receipt requested about your problem and ask for full repair coverage under Toyotas Customer Support Program for Engine Oil Gelation. Speak up loudly online if Toyota refuses to honor this program or continues to blame you in the wake of proper vehicle maintenance. If Toyota is totally unresponsive in the wake of a failed engine due to engine oil sludge build up, consider going to the following web sites to voice your concern: http://www.ConsumerAffairs.com http://www.RipOffReport.com Regardless of the Toyota response, be sure to file online vehicle owner complaints at: http://www.autosafety.org The Center for Auto Safety http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Just to make it clear, the Toyota engine oil sludge problemthe one that has attracted so many defamers to follow me around the internetis STILL a problem. There are many later model Toyota models showing signs of the same problem. What is worse, Toyota owners are reporting continued deception at Toyota and Toyota dealerships. Far too many Toyota owners are being told they do not qualify for the CSP repair cost coverage for one reason or another. Still other Toyota model owners who have sludged engines are being asked to pay thousands in repair costs despite proper vehicle maintenance. This is wrong! Toyota Owners Unite for Resolution Charlene Blake cblake@erols.com charleneblake@cox.net