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Toyota Avalon Exterior Questions
Iown a 2003 Avalon xls with lunar mist paint.I have been unable to get the proper touch up paint from the dealer.The paint they gave me is bright silver & it sticks out like asore thumb!They say they are trying to get me the proper paint but so far no luck. Anyone having this problem?On the subject of timing chains-belts,Toyota has put out a FYI on its website dated4/14/03 that all Avalons have timing belts.Love yoyr website,very helpful.Thanks.
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I have a 02 Avalon. No sure what type of imperfections you describe. Can you be more specific as to what and where they are. Many chips I have from highway driving, but less now with a Stone guard deflector although not elated about the way it looks. I would use some mild rubbing compound before using baking soda, or test it in a inconspicious area.
Nomad56. Any comments on this??
"Feed the forum"
abfisch
petras-YES! It is an interference engine. -nomad56-
Let me give you some knowledge about this subject that disturbs you. I don't blame you, but take a couple of breaths first and then read on.
As you probably now, many of todays cars have the bumper painted the same as the car. I really dislike this but that is the way they are coming, with the exceptions of BMW and SAAB, which still put a rubber strip around the painted surface itself.
The bumper composition, takes up the paint differently than the metal, and therefore, it reflects differently on different surfaces. Look at differenct color Avalons, at differenct angles. Take my color, an 02 Silver Spruce. The bumper does not exactly match the car, not because the paint is not the same, it is the same paint, but because the plastic takes the color up differently.
If you do not believe me, which is fine, go to an Auto Body Shop, a good one, and ask yourself. Even if they blend colors, they will tell you most of the time that it turns out a little different because of the base. In some colors, maybe yours, there is more contrast.
I hope this helps. Don't beat yourself up about this, as it is a good car, not great, but good car. Read the other forums to concentrate on some of its major flaws.
Good luck.
abfisch
You are right. I am not sure what to tell you, but the info. above, I got from two different sources from Auto Body shops. If they would not put color coded bumpers, than they would not have such a problem, but most, not all of the manufacturers seem to think that color coded bumpers are the thing. I think it is just another way from the car to diminish in value as people bang into it parking and make it look weathered instead of a solid rubber bumper. Just IMO.
It is obvious you keep cars a very long time, something that spurs my interest. You probably pay cash too, something from a long time ago. Please let the forum know your secrets, as the Avalon is a very good car, especially when compared to others in its large car category and getting 200K plus miles on them would only add to its appeal. You probably have some tips on 'keeping a car forever" or at least for a long while.
Thanks.
"Feed the forum"
abfisch
I recently replaced my mirror driver's side as a shopping cart got caught by the wind and busted it. Their is not a auto dimming side view mirror only rearview. I have a 02 XL. I bought the mirror for around $200. It was not easy to put in and took me about 1.5 hours. The entire door trim needs to come off to do it correctly, so that price while high is not too bad.
Toyota should provide folding collapsible mirrors in its flagship car, not the cheap ones that are on them. It has not changed in the new model, and that is a shame.
Good luck.
abfisch
Has any1 here used the 3M Scotchguard film that they sell for paint protection?
Thanks,
MikeS.
Expect to pay about $600 for protection of bumper, edge of the hood and fenders and also the back of mirrors. If you get it done, make certain that you have it installed by an experienced installer.
-born2trance
ps- supposed to rain rest of the week too :P
When my '95 Avalon was just a year or three old...(don't remember just when, ) I had a problem with the sunroof opening all by itself, being closed by me, then opening by itself, over and over again. I found out that Toyota was aware of the problem, but since it wasn't safety-related, only fixed them if owners brought in the car with the complaint of self-opening. The long and short of it was, there WAS a technical service bulletin or a similar directive about the problem,. so I'd check with a dealer and ask about it. They should fix it for free, even after all this time, if it's the same equipment causing the problem. They have, in my opinion, a moral obligation to do the right thing, as they did on my insistance about the wind noise on my '95. Same story---there was a factory-authorized fix, but nobody was notified, 'cause not safety-related. They fixed mine with a whole extensive kit even though I then had over 100,000 miles on it, because I screamed bloody murder about it. Phil
i have a similar issue with my drivers side wndow. It will mysteriously stop working and after a few blows to the door it will work again. I will remoev it one of these days to take a lcoser look. luckily all 3 times they were stuck in the closed position. Its a 96 xls
i have a similar issue with my drivers side wndow. It will mysteriously stop working and after a few blows to the door it will work again. I will remoev it one of these days to take a lcoser look. luckily all 3 times they were stuck in the closed position. Its a 96 xls
I have had both rear and the passenger front window do the same thing on my 96 XLS, though the driver's window continues to function properly. The rear windows only did it once each, but the passenger front window 'sticks' shut from time to time. At first a few 'blows to the door' would do the trick, but eventually that wouldn't work.
I can hear the motor 'click' when the window button is pressed. When I take the door panel off and tap on the window motor or drive guide the window will usually unstick. Sometimes I have to remove the drive guide from the door mount holes. Once the window is free it will work perfectly for some time before sticking shut again. Maybe sticking is the wrong word because the guides and tracks are clean. A better description is the motor has jammed the window full up. It is as if the 'up stop' for the motor has failed and the window is pressed against the top of the track too tightly.
A few months ago, after freeing the window again, I added additional weather strip material at the top of the door to keep the window from going up as far. The window still closes enough that there are no air or water leaks and so far the window continues to respond to the window switch.
Please post your fix for this problem.
maybe this is the reason. So it has never failed in the open position. I was going to chk the wiring from the motor and maybe swap the motor with the one in the rear. now that the weather is warm i need to open/close the window without any worries.
I am considering one for my 05 Avalon as well. I haven't decided I actually need it. I've been riding with the sunroof open all week & there's just not much wind inside the car & the air noise is minimal as well.
What significant benefit will they have?
Tajah
Thanks!
My '03 XL went over a bump...and the rear view mirror fell off. The bracket broke and, of course, it is all made as one piece. Try $180. DIY. This is the mirror with the compass and the auto-dimming feature. The mounting plate stayed on the windshield, the problem was the bracket. And this is a little different from your situation. But someone here knows how to fix your problem. These things happen.
Thanks :confuse:
I honestly had a lot of trouble telling my 96 xl from a 96 Camry. I also found that a lot of parts from the Camry interchange with the Avalons.
MikeS.
http://www.invinca-shield.com/main.htm
Regards,
Mike
140k miles, not much paint left to protect up there now...
Have any of you all applied this product to your Avalon? I just put 2 coats of Z2 and 1 Coat of Z5 to my new Desert Sand Avalon Ltd. and this thing looks awesome- the car looks wet permanently. It looks so good I am afraid to pull it out of the driveway and get it dirty.
Anyone else used this liquid gold yet?
We have quite a few Zainoites that hang out in this discussion:
Zaino Car Polishes/Products--Your Experiences