Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Given that you will be test-driving a RAV4 soon and that you have a "bigger" family than mine, I would recommend that you also take a look at the 2004 2.4L FWD Highlander (base model); it is priced similarly to a loaded RAV4 4WD. The mpg is 22/27, the same as my 4WD auto RAV4.
I called the Toyota service line and asked for help. They are going to open a case on my issue (Thanks Toyota).
The rattle was so obvious this morning (10F~14F sunny) that I kept asking myself on my way to work why the dealer could not reproduce the problem?!
I'll try to tape the rattle, let them hear it, and see what the dealer says.
Next time when I buy a new car I'll take the service inssue into consideration, not just the price.
Dealing with this dealer to get the rattle fixed is a major headache for me now. :-(
I would also think that shaving the edge of the plastic cowl to increase the gap between the windshield and the cowl would also be a solution...it seems that in time the tape would get hard and may start to separate from the windshield and the problem could re-surface????
Mike
I hear that the RAV does not have a bumper...would installing a trailer hitch help reduce damage to the rear of this vehicle?
Mike
I'll tell my dealer on Monday.
You really made my day! :-)
It's true that by design the RAV4's rear is not protected by a bumper (a spare tire is there).
As long as my car insurance is reasonable and I back it up carefully, I am not too worry about this issue.
The 2004 RAV4 is so "fun" to drive that I am starting to worry about getting a speeding ticket.
Seriously, lots of the body side moldings are held on with adhesive tape these days and plenty of front end bras and other accessories get taped on and last the life of the car.
Steve, Host
Thanks for any help.
Please let me know if any of you have found your CDs getting hot to the touch....when I eject at the end of the disc it is really warm...could this damage the discs? and yes I too noticed the difference in the CD volume and radio volume.
Thanks, and safe traveling!
Please provide more info.
Is there a part number for the "Toyota anti-squeak tape"?
When did the dealer fix your rattle using the tape?
Thanks for sharing the info.
I am observing how this dealer is going to handle this issure. This provides me with an opportunity to learn more about this particular dealer (central NJ).
Mike
As 325irav4 pointed out, this rattle is new for the 2004 RAV4. I am hoping a TSB will be issued for the 2004, so that I don't have to convince my dealer that there indeed is a problem.
On my way to work this morning, the weather was cold (20F) and hazy. I used the windshield wipers to clean my windshield. As a result, the windshield cleaning fluid was spread around the base of the windshield. This kind of scared the rattle monster, and the moster nerver dared to distract me.
Please give it a try and see how it works.
P.S. This is also a possible way to mask the rattle, so dear dealer tech staff please don't try this on a customer's car. Thanks!!
By the way, with 35,000 miles, no other problems, other than the rattle and the brake noise, which were both corrected two years ago. The brake issue was NOT a safety issue, just noisy. There was a TSB out for '01 brakes, they just put on new pads I think. It is interesting to note that the Consumer Reports rating on the '01 is perfect except for two categories: brakes and integrity (something like that). It got these bad marks because of the noisy brakes and the cowl rattle.
The Rav is great with all this snow and ice!!
Me, I'm happy to say my '01 has always been rattle-free, except for ONE instance. Go figure.
I really like my 2004 RAV4. The brakes on it feel very confident and quiet.
Also the stability+traction control worked well. We had snow lately. The side of the some roads here still has ice on it. Yesterday morning, when I was making a right trun to get onto a two-lane road, the right wheels slipped because of the ice, so my car did not make a smooth turn; instead it was heading toward the oppoiste lane.
Then, the dashboard beeped (indicating the stability+traction control was working) and I felt the car was pulled back to the travelling lane.
The one thing with the rattle I notice is that it starts on one part of the dash then it moves to another part of the dash. I was thinking of printing out complaints that other Rav4 owners have had and showing the toyota dealer them. Perhaps this would spark something in their minds to get this problem fixed. Luckly my dealership is very friendly and are now giving me a loaner car for the second time.
Is this similar in function to the 3M tape?
Can one see the tape from the base of the windshield?
autumrhythm:
Read the messages posted by 325irrav, just a few before this one. There is a case number for your dealer to get more info about the fix.
As for the Rav4 v. the CRV, I offer this opinion:
I test drove the Rav4 and the Honda CRV. I didn't purchase the CRV for these reasons: 1) all that exterior rubber is outdated, the interior was cheaper looking than the Rav4, and the seats were a horrible plaid.
I purchased the Rav4 for a number of reasons but the reason that I didn't know about but what makes me love the vehicle is, I can see the road. I am 5'3 and, in most vehicles, I can't tell where the road is in relationship to the car. In this vehicle, I feel like I am walking the road because the visiblity is so great with the design of the windshield and the height. I knew the Rav4 was for me because it was the only NEW car that didn't make me nervous during the test drive. I distinctly remember the Acura TL and the Honda Accord. The choices had been narrowed but the nervousness that I felt from not being able to quite see the road made me leery about purchasing those vehicles.
At the time of my purchase, I was driving a 1993 Cavalier. The vehicle was classified as a subcompact but for the 10 years I owned it I never could see anything because the front end was too long.
Anway, if you are a petite female who is 5'4 and under and you like to SEE the road, you will love the Rav4. The last two people I know to purchase the vehicle were 5'3 and under. Clearly, this is a vehicle designed for petite people.
Also, the vehicle is cute. If you are having a hard time deciding do this: when you are driving, look at the CRV that passes you. The first thing you will notice is the rubber. The second thing you will notice is the uncouth underbody. Imagine driving a vehicle that you know the design is antiquated from the minute you drive it off the lot.
Another consideration, the 2004 RAV4 is said to have more HP than the CR-V.
The RAV4 does have some mechanical issues from what I have read but the Honda Accord has way more issues if you listen to consumer reviews. No car is infallible, you just hope that your issues don't cost a arm and a leg and don't occur every other year.
___
If anyone has any questions B4 their purchase, please feel free to email me at
bett1e (the number one) at yahoo dot com
However, I have seen some of the older models and they look very similar to the 2004 (which I didn't know that) but I still am glad I waited.
As long as everyone is happy with their purchase, I think that's all that matters. :-)
I am fixing the rattle by splashing water on the windshield for now. It works for me. Give it a try.
The weather is getting better, above freezing lately. That helps too.
I wish I could get that kind service like the one reported in the previous message.
I have a feeling that Toyota does not take this issue as serious as the rattle of their new Lexus RX330, which had a TSB issued already.
The majority of the RAV4 owners may be younger and less affluent than the owners of a RX330, but they are the *future* of Toyota.
Which car will the young, "rattled" RAV4ers buy when they become affluent?