AC heater blower only works on 2 speeds

I have a 1991 Toyota Camry and the heater or AC blower only works on two speeds. I looked for the fan blower motor resister but could not find it...the fan speed works on the 2 higher speeds only.



Response:

The resistor is located under the blower motor housing. It can be removed by removing the 2 holding screws. Review the diagram above for reference.

in the market to buy a used mid-sized sedan

QUESTION:

I am in the market to buy a used mid-sized sedan. I am looking to spend $10,000-12,000. What would be the best deal, and how long could I expect it to last?

ANSWER:

You could purchase a 2003 or 2004 Toyota Camry for that price. I have always been impressed with this car. A well-cared-for Toyota will give you many miles of happy motoring.

The key is difficult to insert / remove from ignition

QUESTION:

I have a 94 Camry. The key is difficult to insert / remove from ignition and won't turn at all. I've tried the spare key and it won't even insert all the way into the lock. Saw online about removing lock cylinder, but can't turn to ACC position

Answer:

You can either drill the lock cylinder which is no picnic or what I do is drive a square shank screw driver into the key slot then put a wrench on the shank and force the tumbler cylinders to the ACC position. Obviously use common sense here not to break the whole housing off. I have had good success at doing it this way.

car is making a low moaning sound when it gets to around

HUB BEARING

Question:


My car is making a low moaning sound when it gets to around 30 to 40 mph. The mechanic I took it to today drove it and said it was the wheel barrings and that it would cost $250 to $350 to fix. It''s a 2001 Toyota Camry. What do you think about this price?

Answer:

If the noise has been verified as that then this is a very fair price. The part is not more than $50 but the labor is intensive on the bearings.

how do i know when my clutch is going out - Toyota Tercel

Question:

I have a 1993 Toyota Tercel, how do I know when my clutch is going out. and about how much will it cost to replace it?

Answer:

If you try to accelerate in 3rd or 4th gear the engine will rev and there will be a burning smell. If the clutch pedal is grabbing high it is usually not good. The clutch kit is about $150 to $175 in the after market. You are looking at about 5 to 6 hours labor, times your local rate usually about $80 to $110 an hour.

WHAT COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING - 2002 Toyota Prius

Recall ID # 06V266000 - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING -

Recall Date:JUL 19, 2006
Model Affected:2002 TOYOTA PRIUS

Summary:ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER MOLDING OF THE RESIN BODY OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENOR INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE BLOCK, ENGINE OIL MAY PENETRATE THE SEAL AND ENTER THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR. THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY ATTACHED TO THE LOCKING TAB OF THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR.

Consequence:ENGINE OIL INSIDE THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE EXPANSION DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE AND COULD DEFORM THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR. THE CONNECTOR MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AND NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy:DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Potential Units Affected:34771
Notes:TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. 60G

Toyota Corolla 1999 and I have trouble to start engine

Question:

I have Toyota Corolla 1999 and I have trouble to start engine. When I turn key on I listen only one click from from starter and nothing. After that I turn key on once again and the engine start normally. It is happen any time when is engine cold or hot. sometimes take me 15 min. to start engine. Battery is new and checked for load, amp.. , salesperson checked start motor - said it is OK. ( 9,5 V ) at that time car started without any problems. I checked crankshaft sensor ( Ohm ). By Haynes book it''s OK. Should I perform some another tests!? or what is problem?



Answer:

This is a very common problem. You are having intermittent starter issues. What happens is you get poor contact inside the starter, usually due to worn starter brushes. This causes an intermittent no start. Vehicle may click one time for 20 minutes and then start fine.


You can verify this by probing the signal wire (small single wire) on the back of the starter with a test light when the vehicle is giving you this no-start problem. Probe the wire with a test light and ground the alligator clip. Now have someone turn the key and see if the test light lights up.


If it lights up, but does not start, you know that you are getting signal to the starter and you are having a problem with the starter itself.


(NOTE: BE CAREFUL WHEN PROBING THE SIGNAL WIRE BECAUSE THE ENGINE MAY START. YOU WILL HAVE YOUR HANDS DOWN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT!! REMEMBER THAT THIS IS AN INTERMITTEN ISSUE, SO EVEN IF IT DOES NOT START 100 TIMES IN A ROW, IT MIGHT START THE NEXT TIME. PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOUR HANDS/BODY IS CLEAR OF ANY MOVING PARTS IN CASE THE ENGINE STARTS.)




The brushes are held by the brush holder (#5 in diagram).
You can take the starter apart, but I would recommend replacing the starter if you are not a skilled technician.

car is shaking badly when I brake

Question:
My car is shaking badly when I brake...especially braking on hills. My guess is that my rotors are bad. I have a 1998 4-cyl. Toyota Camry and I would like to know how much I should expect to pay if the rotors need to be replaced.

Answer:
Rotors installed would be around $100.00 and the Brake pads installed with premium pads would run around $130.00. So parts and labor around $230.00 +tax for complete job. Keep in mind some shops charge a shop supplies fee...

when accelerating the battery power dosent stay on as long as it used to

Question:

I have a Toyota Prius 2003 model when accelerating the battery power doesn't stay on as long as it used to. If going up a hill it used to kick in and help pull then going down or decelerating it would charge the bat. it is wanting to stay in charging mode longer than it used to. Where I was getting 55 mpg it is now down to 48 mpg. I have checked with a couple of dealers and all they can tell me is the numbers on the diagnostic comes up right so nothing is wrong. If I keep the accelerator moving just a we bit going up hill the electric will stay in, almost like the potentionometer is losing contact, can anyone help, or does anyone know what kicks in the electric motor is it electronic or a vacuum switch

Answer:

There was a bulletin regarding the pedal sensor/potentiometer.
There are no vacuum switches involved...only sophisticated Nippondenso Control Modules.

Toyota Prius Hybrid Brake Noise 2004-07

Some 2004-07 Toyota Prius hybrids may produce an annoying squeaking sound when the brake pedal is applied or released. Toyota says the noise is most audible when the key is in the Ready mode with the vehicle not moving. It seems that a defective brake actuator assembly is the likely culprit.

Before condemning the actuator, however, try bleeding the brake system. If the noise goes away, you’re done with the fix. If the noise remains after getting out that last belch of air, replace the brake actuator with an upgraded unit, Part No. 44500-47090.

Best gas mileage vehicles - top 10 in U.S.

America has been broadsided with the $4 gallon and Americans are answering back with buying more fuel efficient vehicles. The Ford F-150 used to be the number one selling vehicle for the past 17 years but not anymore. In May of 2008 that all changed. Now Honda and Toyota has surpassed the mark and have sold more Civics and Corollas than the F-150.

This is a sign to the manufactures and they are taking measures by putting more efforts into creating new Hybrids and spending more on Research for the future "Gas Savers". There strategy so far has been to make the vehicle with less weight and Hybrid Technology .

The following is a list of the Top 10 most fuel efficient vehicles in the U.S. compiled by Car and Driver :

1. Toyota Prius
2. Honda Civic Hybrid
3. Smart Fortwo
4. Nissan Altima Hybrid
5. Toyota Camry Hybrid
6. Volkswagen Jetta TDI
7. 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid
8. Toyota Yaris
9. Mini Cooper/Clubman
10. Honda Fit

Toyota Sienna Fuel Injector leak problem

Question:
Hi, just wondering how would I fix a problem. One of the fuel injectors in the front engine of my 2000 sienna LE is leaking slightly fuel from a mistake I made. I mistaken them to be the "back" spark plugs and lifted the bar holding the 3 front fuel injectors up accidentally and discovered that they''re not the spark plugs. When I put them back on, after changing all the spark plugs (which is a royal pain), it was leaking fuel. Do you have to put some kind of sealant around the injectors so that it wouldn't leak? if so, what kind of sealant should I use? And is this something I can handle or should I take it to a shop? Please advise. Hopefully I didn't damage it or the bar.

Answer:
What has happened is the oring around the top of the Injector is rolled over or is pinched. DO NOT try any sealers of any kind! Remove the bar and check the o rings on all of the injectors sometimes you can save them. If it is nicked or damaged you can buy just the oring at any Toyota dealership. I would recommend replacing all of them and the base seals that the injector seats to in the intake manifold. When installing put a (light coating) of silicone or some type of lubricant, none oil based, on the o rings. Install the injectors into the rail then install the three injectors and rail unit into the NEW oring/seals in the head as an assembly. You will find it much easier this way.

Tesla to make EVs with Toyota, buy NUMMI

Toyota Motor Corp. and Tesla Motors Inc. will become partners to produce electric vehicles at New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. in Fremont, Calif., a plant that Toyota last year ruled too inefficient to keep open.



Tesla will acquire the now-closed NUMMI property and employ 1,000 people building unspecified electric vehicles in a partnership with the world's largest automaker, the companies announced today in Palo Alto, Calif.



Toyota will invest $50 million in the small California-based electric sports maker in exchange for Tesla's common stock when the EV company completes its planned initial public offering.



Speaking at the announcement, Toyota President Akio Toyoda said he admired the entrepreneurial spirit at Tesla and hoped the venture will teach Toyota about quick decision-making and flexibility.



“Decades ago,” Toyoda said, “Toyota was also born as a venture business. By partnering with Tesla, my hope is that all Toyota employees will recall that venture business spirit, and take on the challenges of the future.”



Tesla CEO Elon Musk said his company would spend “a couple of hundred million dollars” preparing NUMMI for the project.



NUMMI, a former joint venture between Toyota and General Motors, closed earlier this year amid a storm of criticism from the plant's UAW work force.



Musk said the negotiations to acquire the closed plant concluded yesterday.



He said that Tesla's next model, a Model S that will debut in 2012, will only account for about 20,000 units a year, but said other models will follow off of the Model S platform.



“We're going to be occupying a little corner,” Musk said.



He said that eventually the project would account for 10,000 jobs, including supplier jobs.



Tesla's Model S is being made possible thanks to a $465 million low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Energy. Until that product appears, Tesla is marketing a two-seat electric sports car that retails for more than $100,000.



Tesla has said that the Model S will sell for closer to $40,000.



Until now, Toyota has expressed little interest in electric cars. The Japanese automaker has staked considerable research and marketing investment on its popular hybrid-drive vehicles, including the Prius and hybrid Camry

Toyota wonders whether owners are misreading acceleration

Toyota's chief quality officer for North America thinks that some of the automaker's recall troubles come from doing a poor job of teaching customers about its cars at the dealership.



Steve St. Angelo -- tapped in March to head the task of repairing Toyota's image in the United States for quality -- thinks some Toyota owners may misunderstand their car's performance features.



“We're realizing that we haven't done a good job of educating our customers about our cars,” St. Angelo said in a phone conversation with Automotive News. “We must do a better job of educating them about the features, especially if they have anything to do with unintended acceleration.”



He said Toyota's radar cruise control system automatically slows down the vehicle if another car comes too close. But after the distance is clear, the car automatically returns to its previous speed -- a feature that could be confused with unintended acceleration, St. Angelo said.



Involve retailers



He said improving customer education will require the involvement of Toyota's U.S. retailers.



St. Angelo, also executive vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, has assigned 200 engineers to travel the United States responding to problems associated with the automaker's safety recalls over unintended acceleration. Those problems resulted in the global recall of 8.5 million vehicles and have damaged Toyota's brand reputation.



Company officials have apologized for the safety problems but originally resisted recalling the vehicles.



St. Angelo said the teams so far have inspected 500 Toyota vehicles in the field that are thought to have related problems. He did not reveal the specific results of the inspections.



He said the task force will continue after the recall problems are resolved.



‘Other issues'



“Once we stabilize these problems, the teams will begin looking at other issues out in the field,” St. Angelo said, without specifying what they would be.



He also said his task force has obtained 150 readout tools for Toyota's event data recorder -- the so-called black box -- for use around the United States and has given 10 to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.



Toyota was publicly chided late last year when it revealed that, while many of its vehicles are equipped with event data recorders that could shine light on why the vehicles might accelerate unintentionally, the company kept only one readout tool in the United States. Readout tools for other automakers' vehicles could not be used on Toyotas.



Critics pointed to the absence of the readout tools as evidence that Toyota's U.S. safety issues were managed in Japan, where managers were unresponsive to U.S. consumer concerns.



St. Angelo said its 150 U.S. readout tools are now more than adequate to analyze vehicle data locally.

Dodge Caliber being probed for sticky pedal issue, U.S. says

Chrysler Group's 2007 Dodge Caliber cars are under federal investigation for unintended acceleration caused by a sticky pedal -- the same type of problem that led to a large Toyota recall this year.



The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it is investigating as many as 161,000 Calibers for an accelerator pedal that “can stick or bind and not return to the idle position when it is released.”



The safety agency has received five customer complaints but no reports of deaths, injuries or crashes.



Chrysler's own investigation has narrowed the population of suspect vehicles to 10,000 that were made during five weeks in March and April 2006, a company spokesman said.



Supplier issue?



The problem appears to be a mechanical one caused by parts made by CTS Corp., of Elkhart, Ind., Chrysler spokesman Nick Cappa said.



A NHTSA official said the automaker had been cooperative.



“The manufacturer is responsible for the performance of the car, and that's who we're investigating,” a NHTSA official said. “Chrysler has been cooperative.”



CTS also was blamed by Toyota Motor Corp. for its sticky gas pedals, which led to a January recall of 2.1 million vehicles.



The supplier denied the Toyota charge, noting that the automaker has recalled millions of other vehicles for unintended acceleration that were not equipped with CTS pedals.



CTS did not immediately respond today to a request for comment.



Electronic defects probed



In the wake of Toyota's worldwide recall of 9 million vehicles for unintended acceleration, NHTSA has been investigating the possible role played by electronic defects in triggering speed control problems across the auto industry.



Toyota's problems have been far more extensive -- and far more severe, with reports of dozens of deaths and injuries -- than the possible defects under investigation at Chrysler.



Chrysler said today that the sticky-pedal problem “is mechanical in nature and not a design or electronic issue.”



Cappa said Chrysler was able to narrow the problem population to 10,000 vehicles after being alerted to customer complaints by NHTSA on April 23 and then comparing complaints to warranty data.



On April 29, NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation, the first stage of a formal investigation, the agency said on its Web site. This review can lead to an engineering analysis and, ultimately, a recall.



Four of the five complainants reported that they had found bushings -- bearings made of brass to allow the pedal to pivot -- on the driver's side floor, NHTSA said.



Without the bushings, the pedal arm “can become misaligned” and be prevented from returning to the idle position, the agency said.



Dodge vs. Toyota



The CTS pedals used in the Dodge Calibers are different from those used in the recalled Toyotas, a NHTSA official said.



Chrysler said that since 2003, the Caliber has been equipped with a brake override system that reduces power when both the brake and the gas pedal are depressed.



Most Toyota vehicles have not had a brake override system, which would be mandated under legislation to be discussed at a congressional committee hearing Thursday.



But some consumer complaints to NHTSA raise questions about the effectiveness of the Chrysler brake override system.



One complainant reported that while traveling at 65 mph, the Dodge Caliber accelerated suddenly to over 90 mph, a report on NHTSA's site said. Neither the brakes nor emergency brake could stop the car. It slowed only when the car was put in neutral, the driver said.



Another complainant said that while driving his Caliber at 15 mph, it “abnormally accelerated” to 75 mph. The driver reached over and lifted the pedal with his hand, he said.



One complainant expressed frustration with Chrysler's response to his reports and appealed to NHTSA to investigate.



“I am not getting any satisfaction from Chrysler; they continue to blow me off,” he said. “Please respond; no one else does.”

THE TOYOTA RECALL CRISIS - U.S. auto safety regulators to test Lexus SUV

U.S. regulators will run safety tests on a new Lexus SUV and take action if the Toyota Motor Corp. vehicle does not meet government standards, the top U.S. auto safety official said today.



The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it had received a preliminary report from Consumer Reports before the influential magazine issued a public warning on Tuesday calling the 2010 Lexus GX 460 a "safety risk" and warning against buying the vehicle.



"My compliance staff is going to take a look at several of these vehicles including the test vehicle that was used at Consumer Reports," NHTSA chief David Strickland told reporters on the sidelines of the SAE International 2010 World Congress in Detroit.



In the latest blow to Toyota's reputation, the automaker halted sales of its Lexus GX 460 luxury SUV in the United States on Tuesday after Consumer Reports said the electronic stability control system kicked in late on a sharp curve and gave the vehicle a "non-acceptable" rating.



Toyota has extended the sales suspension on the Lexus GX 460 to other global markets and said earlier today it would conduct safety tests on all of its SUVs. Strickland said NHTSA would use its electronic stability control testing framework to see if the Lexus SUV meets those standards.



Mounting criticism



The automaker has faced stiff criticism from U.S. lawmakers and safety advocates for its handling of massive recalls for defective accelerator pedals in January that prompted an unprecedented suspension of sales and production.



Safety regulators also have sought to impose a record $16.4 million fine against Toyota, accusing the automaker of delays in conducting the recall on sticky accelerator pedals. They are also considering other fines.



Strickland said NHTSA expected a response very soon from Toyota about the proposed fine. Toyota has until Monday to challenge that initial fine, the maximum allowed by U.S. law and the largest that the regulator has ever sought.



He said Toyota "took the proactive step" on the Lexus GX 460, a swift response he hopes other automakers will make.



'More responsive'



He said that since he became administrator in January, "Toyota has definitely been more responsive. The career staff has noted that there has been a change about their level of responsiveness."



NHTSA is looking at several rule changes industrywide to improve vehicle safety, including the possibility of making "black boxes" that can capture data on speed, braking and other details mandatory on all new vehicles.



Other potential changes might address start/stop push button controls, braking systems that take priority over the accelerator and creating a pedal that cannot be entrapped by floormats, all thought to be factors in recent crashes.

Toyota’s cash-cow Lexus brand may be tarnished on ‘safety risk’

Toyota Motor Corp., struggling to recover from record recalls, may not be able to count on its luxury Lexus brand to bolster earnings after Consumer Reports called the GX 460 sport-utility model a “safety risk.”



The designation, accompanied by a “don’t buy” recommendation from the U.S. magazine, may dampen Lexus sales in the nation, which have risen even as Toyota’s overall deliveries fell amid global recalls of more than 8 million vehicles.



“No one is going to purchase a car that has a ‘don’t buy’ rating,” said Koji Endo, managing director of Tokyo-based Advanced Research Japan. “Worse yet, this will deal a severe blow to the image of the entire Lexus lineup.”



Until now, the Lexus brand was largely unscathed by Toyota’s recalls, which have led to U.S. congressional hearings, a rebuke by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, and a proposed $16.4 million fine.



While some Lexus models were called back because of floor mats that might trap gas pedals and cause unintended acceleration, none were involved in later actions to fix sticky accelerators.



Lexus sales in the U.S. jumped 18 percent in the first quarter of this year and accounted for 13 percent of Toyota’s total deliveries in the country. Toyota’s most expensive Lexus models earn at least 10 times the operating profit per vehicle of a Toyota Corolla compact car, according to Advanced Research’s Endo.



Rollover Accidents



Consumer Reports, a non-profit magazine published by New York-based Consumers Union, said Monday that emergency driving tests indicated the 2010 GX 460 model may be prone to rolling over.



The GX’s rear end “slid out until the vehicle was almost sideways before the electronic stability control system was able to regain control” at a Connecticut test track, the magazine said. “In real-world driving, that situation could lead to a rollover accident, which could cause serious injury or death.”



The Lexus division has been the top seller of luxury vehicles in the U.S. on an annual basis for 10 years in a row. The brand tied with General Motors Co.’s Cadillac for the top ranking in a University of Michigan survey of customer satisfaction, the school said in August.



Lexus cars will have the highest average U.S. resale value among 2010 model-year vehicles in five years, according to a study released by Kelley Blue Book in December.



Profitability Pressured



“Buyers who see the Consumer Reports rating may perceive this as a problem across all Lexus models,” said Tadashi Usui, an analyst at Moody’s K.K. in Tokyo. “In that case, because of Lexus’s high margins, we’ll see an impact more on profit than on sales.”



Toyota’s profitability is already being pressured by the cost of incentives the carmaker has introduced to bolster U.S. deliveries. Toyota started offering no-interest loans, discount leases, and free maintenance for some models from March, helping the carmaker raise sales that month by 41 percent from a year earlier. Toyota is extending the offers until May 3.



“These free maintenance offers and such are not adding to Toyota’s bottom line,” said Takashi Aoki, who helps manage about $1 billion at Mizuho Asset Management Co. in Tokyo, including Toyota shares. “And what will happen when the incentive program ends?”



Lawsuits



Toyota is facing at least 177 consumer and shareholder lawsuits seeking class-action status and at least 57 individual suits claiming personal injuries or deaths caused by unintended acceleration incidents. The lawsuits will be combined in a federal court in Santa Ana, Calif., a panel of judges said earlier this month.



The uncertainty surrounding the legal cases will push Toyota to be especially cautious with its dividend payments and profit forecast for the fiscal year started April 1, said Yuuki Sakurai, CEO of Fukoku Capital Management in Tokyo, which manages about $7.5 billion.



“Raising the dividend is out of the question,” Sakurai said. “That would actually upset investors who think it wouldn’t be prudent.”



Toyota will announce its fiscal fourth-quarter and annual earnings results on May 11 in Tokyo.

Now no brake and parking lights

Simple job turned into something major, I hope not. 97 corolla, r. rear brake light not working. Replaced the bulb, everything was working good, decided to replace all bulbs, Antie told me she doesn't remember when they were changed. placed all new bulbs, 1157 for brake lights, 1156 for backup lights. Now no brake and parking lights. Signal and hazard lights are working, I wanted to see if the backup lights worked, guess what, the shifter won't move, like it is stuck.

Answer:
OK in the process you have blown the brake lamp fuse and this also will affect the shift interlock device. so replace the fuse and see if it blows again or not. if not then great, your back on the road, if so then you have a short to ground somewhere in the circuit.

1990 celica car runs ok but has a problem

I just got the car it run but water came out by the engine not radiator,just put new radiator. I don't know if is the water pump.



Response:

Best thing to do......Barrow a Cooling System Pressure Tester from your local Parts Outlet. Pressurize the System without Starting the Engine and check where the leak is. HINT, your Radiator Cap tells you what Pressure your System should run. Also, pressurize the Cap as LOW Blow off Pressure raises Coolant Temp. Coupled with a Replacement Radiator and no History of it you may have a cracked Engine Block.

Toyota executive Irv Miller urged automaker to ‘come clean'

WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) -- A Toyota Motor Corp. executive urged the Japanese automaker to “come clean” in January about mechanical failures in accelerator pedals for some vehicles, after other officials suggested a more cautious approach.



Irv Miller, then a vice president for communications at Toyota's U.S. sales unit, told other officials in an e-mail on Jan. 16 that “the time to hide on this one is over.” The world's largest automaker recalled 2.3 million vehicles in the United States for accelerator pedal flaws the following week.



“We are not protecting our customers by keeping this quiet,” Miller wrote in an e-mail to Toyota executives in the U.S. and Japan, obtained Wednesday.



Toyota faces a proposed fine of $16.4 million after the U.S. Department of Transportation said this week the company “knowingly hid a dangerous defect” that caused its vehicles to accelerate unexpectedly. The carmaker waited at least four months before it told U.S. regulators in January that gas pedals in its vehicles may stick, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said on April 5.



Miller, who retired from Toyota later in January, declined to comment when reached by phone Wednesday. His retirement was announced Dec. 16.



‘Poor job'



“While Toyota does not comment on internal company communications and cannot comment on Mr. Miller's e-mail, we have publicly acknowledged on several occasions that the company did a poor job of communicating during the period preceding our recent recalls,” Toyota's North American unit said Wednesday in a statement.



Toyota has recalled more than 8.5 million vehicles worldwide for flawed parts including accelerator pedals made by CTS Corp., based in Elkhart, Indiana, and floor mats that could jam and cause cars and trucks to accelerate unintentionally.



Miller and other communications staff discussed how the company should respond to a pending television report on unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.



Katsuhiko Koganei, a company communications official based in Torrance, Calif., had said in a message earlier that day that Toyota “should not mention” mechanical failures in gas pedals “because we have not clarified the real cause” and “the remedy for the matter has not been confirmed.”



Mike Michels, a spokesman for Toyota who was also mentioned in the e-mails, declined to elaborate on them. No one at the company advocated hiding or ignoring concerns about accelerator pedals, he said.