I have an issue regarding the cooling fan and fuses of my 2008 Highlander Sport with less than 1,500 miles.

My initial question is: How easy/hard is to remove and install fuse (individual fuse) and fuse components? I have never done this before. Is it comparable to removing/adding memory sticks (RAM) on computers? Do I need a special tool or will pliers do? How careful do I need to be? I know that if I “fail” I need to have the car towed somewhere! (Specifically, I need to remove and insert P/Ns 82620-48100 and 82620-48090, which are fuses #12-21 and #22-24 respectively, in the engine compartment (p. 458 of the manual).

Car background: I recently moved from the U.S. to Egypt with my U.S. specs 2008 HL. When my car was received at the port, someone tried to jump start it with the poles REVERSED(!), so one of the fuses inside part number 82620-48090 was literally BURNED (I physically saw the broken filament). I ordered this part over the Internet, and had it installed at the dealership. Unfortunately, yesterday the radiator cooling fan in front of the radiator TOTALLY STOPPED WORKING (the fan does not spin at all). The fuse that corresponds to the MAIN FAN is #14, which is included in part 82620-48100. Furthermore, since the fuse part that burned before (part number 82620-48090) is an alternate or backup (p. 459 of manual says "ALT") for part number 82620-48100, it makes sense to me to replace BOTH parts together.

So, my two main questions are (1) How easy/hard is to install those fuses, P/N 82620-48090 and 82620-48100, as well as the "single" spare fuses? Do I need a tool or will pliers suffice?, etc. (2) If I install the fuses correctly and the cooling fan STILL does not work, what else could the cause of the fan not working? The fan does not make a cranky noise or even moves slowly; it just does not move at all.

The dealership in Cairo is far from home and their English is not great, so I really try to avoid them. I REALLY appreciate any help. No one else I know in Egypt has a 2008 Highlander!

Thanks!!

Sahara Highlander

P.S. I have not done any towing, running in the desert, etc. (yet!) The car has driven in roads similar to the U.S. and the weather has not passed 95 degrees yet, but at some point it will pass 110, so I want my cooling fan to work perfectly.