Toyota RAV4 Maintenance and Repair

mark112 · January 2007

Thank you for the response, and my apologies for not being clar enough. What I meant is that even when I brake at slow speeds (like 5 miles per hour), I feel a heavy forward force similar to what happens if you brake suddenly at 30-40 mph.

ecotrklvr · January 2007

It may be that you're feeling the effects of being in a taller vehicle than you're used to. I noticed the same thing when I went from a lowered Maxima to a Honda CR-V.

Feels kinda floaty and tippy while driving, and then the whippiness forward, while stopping. Of course, it's impossible for us to tell from here - perhaps you have a friend that drives a tall vehicle that you could take for a drive. They could tell better that we could here.

mark19 · January 2007

Sounds like one of two things. either the brake booster is faulty and is applying too much pressure. Or you have a sticking brake caliper. Definitely is NOT normal, no matter what someone on here says. I've driven a couple RAV4's and they do not overreact to the brake pedal.

ecotrklvr · January 2007

I just re-read Mark112's original post. It says that "even though the car stops correctly", he feels something unusual. I wonder what kind of car Mark112 drove before the RAV?

rcolbourn · January 2007

I thought I was one of the lucky ones with no drowning noise until today. My V6 Limited 4x2 Rav is 6 months old and has 3800 miles. I started to hear a low numming noise from the car in all gears and park. When I open the door I hear nothing. Sounds like what alot of people have been describing. I will wait a little longer to see if it get worse or goes away before I take it into Toyota service.

manda1 · January 2007

I purchased a 2007 RAV4 in November. Love the car except two things. First was the headrests, too far forward for my tastes. My salesperson switched them for ones in a Scion XB, which I like. I have not given them a thought since.

The second is a rattle in the front passenger door or window. This starts once the car reaches about 40 mph. I took it back to the Toyota dealership where I purchased the vehicle. (I saw the color/style I wanted while out of town, so bought it there.) They could not find the problem, although acknowledged it existed. I thought I would give it a couple more months, while still under warranty, to see if others had this rattle and a solution had surfaced. This time, I will take the car back to my local dealership.

What a disappointing problem on an otherwise great vehicle. Unfortunately most of my mileage is highway, so I hear this the majority of my driving time. Turn up the stereo?

star12 · January 2007

I have a 2006 Hyundai Tucson. Haven't had a new car in 12 yrs. Now, I'm thinking I don't want to drive a car that long again. I'm retired and self-employed. I get a retirement from my federal job. I'm 56. I'm thinking I'd like a new car every few years. I'm thinking to turning in my Tucson and leasing a Toyota Rav4 6 cylinder base. This is a radical thought to me who's driven the same car for 12 yrs. Would like some thoughts on this subject. Thanks. :confuse:

stever · January 2007

Check out the Leasing vs. Purchasing discussion.

ihammer · January 2007

Hi, The droning noise you are describing sounds just like what I have been experiencing in my V6 Limited 4x2 RAV4 (8 months old with almost 15,000 miles). The droning noise in my vehicle started prior to 3,000 miles and continues to this day. After over 4 visits and 2 repair attempts the drone is as loud as always and happens as frequently as it ever did. Toyota has put a good effort into coming up with a fix, but they do not have one yet. Good luck with yours - I hope it gets resolved and sorry to hear that you're having the problem.

amy11 · January 2007

I took my 2001 Rav4 in over 2 weeks ago b/c check engine light was on. Computer read code p1349 - vvt ($814.00 repair). Service tech called when repair finished & said they needed to keep it b/c light came back on. They supposedley found a part not put back on correctly (scary), they fixed it & I went to pick it up. I drove it about 1 mile & light came on. I took it right back to dealer, they (supposedly) found a bad sensor. Replaced, light still on. I am about out of patience. They won't admit it, but I do not believe they know what to do. Any similar experiences/ideas/suggestions?? Thanks, Amy

dgaul · January 2007

The owner's manual for my 2002 Toyota RAV4 states that I am to use Toyota brand ATF only, or damage to the transmission could occer. I just changed the ATF, using Castrol Dexron-III, Mercon, ATF. (I used this brand because the Haynes Repair Manual I own said any Dexron-III ATF is acceptable.) Is there really a chance I could damage my transmission by not using Toyota ATF? Is there really adifference in the Toyota and Castrol brands of ATF?

hngdiep · January 2007

same problem , the noise like flute sound, it appear loudly when going 40 to 45 mph. i drove it back to Toyota dealership. the technician told me that it's probably power train transmission noise, but the guy , who take care my case, told me that it's normal characteristic. i disagreed and this time i will talk to Toyota customer relation manager. my 2007 rav4 v6 sport 2852 miles

torodiesel · January 2007

Here is your solution:

http://rav4world.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7423&highlight=rattle+passenger+mirr- - or

or go to rav4world and do a search on "rattle passenger mirror" and someone posted a "fix" for it. Go to Jeff Warkentin's album to see the picture of the piece he removed. Sounds like it has worked for several people with the same issue.

pekoe · January 2007

i am having the same problem with my 2003 rav4. they have changed the thermostat and thermostat switch and it went on again after two weeks of not going on. have you gotten any helpful feedback on this? i won't take it to toyota, as i know it will cost me a fortune and they won't solve the problem.

amm625 · January 2007

">My 2002 RAV 4 standard had the gas pedal stick this morning- up to 7000rpms - in various gears. :surprise: Scary! AND yesterday a friend had the same situation with her 2001 Camry automatic.

Is this a trend? A recall issue? Anyone else have this problem? How did you solve it?

Hope it doesn't cost a fortune...
Thanks!
AMM

mcdawgg · January 2007

Need more details, but if this is true, I think 7,000 is above redline, so you may really have problems. But if I am understanding correctly, you say in various gears, so I am guessing that this happened several times!?!?

Here's what I can guess: you disengaged the clutch and took your foot off the gas, but the rpm's went up to (you say 7,000), you shifted, released the clutch, then did this again next time you disengaged the clutch.

Either the floor mat is catching the accelerator, or the
the throttle body is very dirty, or ???

No, not a trend at all, and this is the first I have ever heard. By the way, this is a COROLLA forum.

pat · January 2007

By the way, this is a COROLLA forum.

Not anymore! :P

amm625 · January 2007

Yes - I knew

it was a Corolla forum...that's where I was directed when I searched for the problem about a stuck gas pedal AND heck,it was a TOYOTA, etc. Nice to be where the RAV4 and I belong, thanks to the host.

ANYway, it appears to have been a dirty throttle - $55 for the repair, and somewhere online there's a link for a do-it-yourself version that. The floor mat was not stuck on the accelerator...ahem! And the partially depressed (in more ways than one) gas pedal offered some resistance so I knew something was wrong. It remained in place and the rpms increased. Lucky the engine didn't blow.

Thanks for your input folks, supportive and otherwise!

phillipm1 · January 2007

I just took delivery of my 2007 RAV4, V-6, 4-whl. drive yesterday, so I'm a "newbie" to this site. I too have been looking for the location of the oil filter on the V-6 engine without any success. I searched for the subject matter at this site and saw post #150 which provided info. about the location. I got under the car and see what I think is the cannister holding the filter. Is it the one that has the 3-eighths inch Allen hole in the bottom so that you can use a ratchet wrench to loosen it? Does anyone have the Toyota part # for the filter element and do 2 gaskets come with the filter? Thanks in advance for any info. provided and I look forward to visiting this site often for help, specifics, and information. It looks like the people here are very knowledgable and helpful!

dianecmac · February 2007

I've been going crazy with the same problem on my 2002 model for about 4 years or so now. First they said it was the gas cap, then it was the oxygen sensor, then it was the catalytic convertor. Now they say it is the heat sensor. I refused today to have the work done and told them they had to find out what was causing all these sensors to go bad! It doesn't take an advanced degree to figure out that SOMETHING is causing the sensors to go bad. I'm so used to the light being on now, I can't imagine driving without it on! That's pretty sad, isn't it? If anyone gets a sensible answer to this craziness, please let me know!

tjdepere2004 · February 2007

"00 Rav4,auto,2wd,50k miles, shakes very noticeably side to side when driven, not front to back. Tires visibly and hand checked-- roundness good,drive shaft squared visibilly,level on flat ground. Suggestions and recommendation concerning shake much appreciated

tennis6 · February 2007

Dear Amy,

I have a 2006 Rav-4 that has problems worse than that! Right when I drove the car off the lot the check engine, VSC, and 4wd lights came on. I took it back to the dealership thinking maybe it was just as simple as resetting a code, and they told me the fuel sensor was bad. Got that replaced, but then several weeks later, all the lights came on again, and stay on for several days. I took the car back to Toyota, and then they told me it was the gas cap not tight enough. Lights were out, but then then all came back on a little while later. Took the car back again (3rd time!), and they told the fuel sensor had failed! Got that replaced, but now I am sellng the car. Consumer Reports may like the RAV-4, but I believe there are some real problems with this car. When I saw your post, it remined me of the problems I having.

suvshopper4 · February 2007

Really, you are selling it?

jimdrew · February 2007

I have the 2006 V6 and love it even though my radio has gone to the Greek writing again...they will fix it. Keep on the dealership, they will fix it...don't hesitate to call Toyota Customer Care....they will get it fixed for sure.

Jimmy Drew

hannahsmummy · February 2007

I have a 2006 Toyota Rav4 V6 base model. Got it almost a year ago and just turned over 16k on the odometer. Since about October, I've noticed a loud knocking sound coming from what seems to me like the driver's side rear area of the car, perhaps the wheel area - suspension? I've had my local dealership look at it - they drove around in it, had a guy lying down at the back listening for the noise - they couldn't find the cause of it. They did safety inspections, said the car was fine. The noise has continued to be there in some capacity but I just lived with it. Sometimes it seemed like the noise dissipated all together. Well today, it seems like the noise is back and it's HORRENDOUS, and it's worse at lower speeds and driving over bumps in the road. It's driving me nuts, but it seems like my local Toyota dealership can't figure out what it is. It almost sounds like my bumper is about to fall off, but when I look underneath, I see nothing hanging, nothing visible that would make me think that it's the cause of this noise. Has anyone else experienced this issue? I trawled this forum and found issues with droning noises (that's not what this is), and one where a popping noise was coming from the front, not the back. If anyone has heard of this problem or has had a similar issue, what did you do to get it fixed? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

gregorylynn · February 2007

Does the noise happen on flat ground, no bumps? At what speed do you start to hear it? Does it change when you brake at all? Is the noise cyclical, as in rotation of a tire type? Is there any pattern to it or is it irregular? Hard hitting like swinging metal on metal or another sound type?

If it happens at slow speed, find some rough brick like surface or speed bumps, roll your windows down and have someone outside the car as you roll by to determine approx location/corner of car it comes from.

Wiggle all parts, including the exhaust pipe(s), heat guards, anything that moves, to see if it makes any noise.

Greg
Rev4 2006 4WD, V6, Limited, 9500 miles

gregorylynn · February 2007

We get the droning noise *only* when the gas tank is below a 1/4 tank, and it is relatively loud and low frequency in harmonic. So my guess is it a harmonic vibration manifesting at the gas tank, sound produced by vibration translated through the chassis to the gas tank, or the fuel pump as some have mentioned in the droning posts. Toyota are you listening? I will be mentioning to our service advisor in next week or two when we go in for 10K service.

hannahsmummy · February 2007

Thanks for replying. The noise doesn't occur on super smooth surface, it's pretty much things like potholes, cracks in the road that will cause the sound. If I'm driving 70 down the freeway, I don't hear it, more than likely due to surface noise drowning it out, but if I'm tootling between 30 or 40 miles an hour, then any slight bump will cue the noise. There isn't any pattern to it really, and sometimes it's almost like it's gone, like whatever is knocking about got caught up somewhere and doesn't make a peep until it gets dislodged again. It sort of sounds like metal on metal, but denser. Your comment of "hard hitting like swinging metal on metal" would describe it best. I had my husband drive it today, and I asked him if he heard it, and he said "sort of"!!!! Whatever...

I will try all the things you mentioned to see if we can't pin this thing down. It's just frustrating because at times it's really loud and of course it's never loud when it's been at the shop to be looked at...

Many thanks for your input.

Julie

gregorylynn · February 2007

Hi Julie,

Just focus on nailing down if it is a specific wheel/corner of car and look for clearance issues between parts, brackets on tailpipe etc. If the Toyota guys looked at it on a rack, then the suspension is not loaded up and the space between parts is not the same. We ran over a nasty pothole once, probably 6+ inches deep, and the sound we heard was like something hit the underside of the vehicle, *hard*. I thought something broke, but apparently not. It probably was the suspension travel hitting the maximum point and ramming the rubber or metal stop point. Yours happens on small bumps so it is not that. Try finding a place with a rough surface where you can drive left and right tires over it independently to help narrow things down. Or your favorite pothole and run each wheel through it...try 10mph vs 30.

cbmorton · February 2007

Note to those who have experienced the droning noise while idling or at low speeds: a TSB (EG002-07) was released on 6th Feb. regarding this issue.

The title of the TSB is "Whine Noise from Fuel Pump" and applies to 2006 and 2007 RAV4s (applicable VIN ranges are listed in the TSB).

The work involves removing and replacing the fuel pump resistor with an updated part.

gregorylynn · February 2007

Excellent news! Is there a website to monitor for these TSB's?

Thanks,
Greg

cbmorton · February 2007

Subscribers can get them from Tundra Solutions. Some eventually are posted on R4W as well. Another recent TSB covers the "radio displaying strange characters" issue that some people have had.

gregorylynn · February 2007

Thanks, will look there. We had our radio changed out twice, so far the 3rd one is working ok.

jimdrew · February 2007

My second one just went bad too...this is not good for the Toyo image. I will also call Toyo Customer Care and report it. Nice, they change it out, but I have no confidence that the radio will work for a very long time...so sad..

Jimmy Drew

cbmorton · February 2007

I think the Toyota image can withstand a few bad radios, which are manufactured by a different company anyway. You can reference TSB AU001-07 at your dealer - it shows the affected VIN ranges. Replacement radios that also went bad were probably manufactured before they had the fixed radios available.

jimdrew · February 2007

Toyota approved it for their vehicle and charges a hefty amount for it. Also when something breaks and is replaced you expect it to be "fixed". Toyota should have made sure of that. No excuse for Toyota...weather their image can stand a few pokes or not. I love my V6 RAV4 ..but because of the V6. If it were a 4 cylinder I would have taken the CRV....Toyota is slipping and it is obvious in the RAV4.

Jimmy Drew

cbmorton · February 2007

Not as far as I'm concerned - my RAV4 has been excellent and is exactly what I expected from a Toyota. It would take a lot more than a bad radio display to shake my confidence in the vehicle.

gregorylynn · February 2007

The 2006 RAV4 is good vehicle. The V6 motor pulls hard, but the suspension and drivetrain are overhwhelmed at full throttle, with significant torque steer and lane change issues of the same nature I noticed in the Xa car models when I test drove them years ago. The hatch opening sideways is also not desireable; its better to swing it up and provide shade on sunny days and protection from rain etc. on lousy days when loading the vehicle. We have had the radio swapped out 3 times, a piece of trim replaced, about to have the fuel pump serviced per the TSB posted. The electrical system is under powered, when you read the manual it says you can deplete the car battery running the defroster and seat heaters while driving, which is silly, the charging system should be replenishing more than the electrical draw on the system. Brakes are ok. Road noise is significant.

We paid 31K for Rav4 Limited V6 and for a price like this the larger things above should not happen if quality control is doing its job in the design and production phases. I know from being in high tech development, and going through similar processes, Toyota *knew* about these items when they shipped the product. Their management, like any company's, statistically analyze the field risk of occurrence of defects and make the ship/no ship decision for the product on said data. Toyota's problem as covered in the media is management was cutting corners on defects, not reporting them up the food chain, and Toyota was getting burned by increasing customer reports of product defects. Toyota hopefully is correcting these issues and we are using the warranty period to make sure they fix *everything* we see as a defect in our vehicle. Bottom line is we like the vehicle and for my fiancee it works well. It no doubt will be a good long term vehicle for her.

For me as a performance driver, its design issues currently do not work well for my style of driving. I am used to vehicles that are rock solid when you mash the gas, enter a corner, etc. I have fun driving it but I will not drive it in the same manner as my 1999 Merc ML430 for instance, which is uncanny in its ability to stick to the road and corner as an SUV.

cbmorton · February 2007

I agree with your comments on handling - there's nothing particularly remarkable about the RAV4's abilities in that area. Most of the RAV4's fun factor is controlled by your right foot, although I think there's a case to be made that the 2GR-FE is too much engine for the the RAV4 - case in point, the aforementioned torque steer. However, at less than full throttle it manages well enough.

As far as defects go, the only one I can lay claim to is the fuel pump whine - and that seems to have gone away by itself a few months ago. Nothing else about the vehicle has given me any reason to doubt its assembly or component quality. It's too bad not everyone has had the same positive experience!

jimdrew · February 2007

but where can you find the TSB reports for various cars/etc....? Yes, I love the RAV4 V6..it is one terrific engine that is probably one of the best in the world. (I read that somewhere). Toyota is slipping and unfortunately it really comes to view in the vehicle that I bought. Yes, the Sport is a very ruff ride.

Jimmy Drew

wuzzasailor · February 2007

Owners manual says that during first 1000 miles, "Do not drive for a long time at any single speed, either fast or slow." Any ideas on what a 'long time' means? Half hour, 2 hours, six weeks...?

gilvkona · February 2007

What I took it to mean was don't drive it for 1000 at one speed at the beginning. So I postponed my cross country trip while I drove it on the freeway and around town until I got 1000 miles on it. Actaully, I postponed my cross country trip until I had 3000 miles on it.

jim2007 · February 2007

My recently purchased RAV4 has a vibration that is felt throughout the vehicle (seat and steering). After two trips to the Toyota dealer (wheel balancing and road force tests), the dealer says all 2007 RAV4 4wd v6's have the same problem and do not know what to do about the problem. They also said the 4 cylinder models do not have this problem. Has anyone else run into this problem?

wwest · February 2007

Turn off the A/C and see if the vibration abates. To improve FE Toyota is now using a variable displacement A/C compressor and there seems to be some indication that owners are expereincing an unexpected level of vibration from that.

jim2007 · February 2007

I have not used the A/C (it's winter and cold here). The vibration is most noticeble at speeds around 50 mph and above.

lightblue · February 2007

My 01 RAV4 remote control won't unlock the door on the driver side but unlock OK on the ones. Does anyone have the same problem? Do you know how to reset it? Any advice is appreciated.

wwest · February 2007

You may think you're not using the A/C but if you have automatic climate control....

And even with the manual control the A/C will run, with the indicator OFF, in any of the defrost/defog/demist modes unless the OAT is below ~35F.

In cold weather my system spends a lot of time in the partial defrost/defog/demist mode. That's the only reasonable chance of preventing windshield fogging during cold weather in ANY Toyota or Lexus vehicle.

But my dealer sat the two c-best options wherein I can completely disable A/C during the winter months.

andrew17 · February 2007

I posted a message about this issue at the 4Runner site: the owner's manual states that "...a two way radio, cassette tape player or a compact disk player..." could interfere with the SRS and front air bags operations.

Questions:
Is there anybody who ever used a walkie-talkie in a 2006 RAV-4? Does it interfere with the electronic ignition/alarm?

I intend to buy a walkie-talkie capable of transmitting up to 13-15 miles - do I need a license? (I never had one before).

Any advice is highly appreciated! =Andrew17

suvshopper4 · February 2007

"But my dealer sat the two c-best options wherein I can completely disable A/C during the winter months."

What does the first part, "sat the two c-best options" mean?

wwest · February 2007

Ooops, my southern upbringing.

My dealer set the two c-best options.

Toyota RAV4 Maintenance and Repair

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