2005-2007 Toyota Avalon

pamc

Hi folks. I have been reading the posts on this site for the last several weeks and I have learned so much. Thank you. I just noticed on the Sirius website that they have teamed up with Toyota, but only for the 2005 and 2006 Camry Solara. I opted against the XM because I prefer the news and talk available on Sirius. I had a "plug and play" in my other vehicle, but I don't want that additional apparatus cluttering up the console in my new car!

So, I have two questions:

1) This one is going to sound stupid I'm sure, :confuse: , but does this mean that when my new Avalon is delivered (next week) that my dealer cannot install a Sirius radio for me?

and

2) Has anyone had a Sirius radio installed in their new Avalon? If so, where did they put it? I ordered the JBL 12 speaker system and am wondering if the cassette player can be removed and a Sirius radio installed.

Thank you for any information you can provide. BTW, I did search for discussions on this topic and found a few posts dating back to March and April, but they did not address these questions specifically.

Pam

rwb2

Mac, since my Limited is one of the ones being recalled, in your opinion is it best to just go along with the dealer telling me to wait until the letter arrives or should I press them for more immediate action. Again, just your opinion.

dan41

Mikes, you are not hearing things. I actually had my Toyota dealership look at my Limited because of a noticeable engine knock I was hearing while at idle. I was told that this noise was "normal" for this new type of engine. I then started two other new Avalons at the dealership and the "knock" was there as well. Great car, great gas mileage, so I'll put up with some engine knock at idle. I'm not sure if this is the same engine manufacturer as the one used in the new Lexus, but this "knock" has also been discussed on the Lexus board, as well. Regards: Dan

mackabee

rwb2, remember this is not a recall. It's a Techniical service bulletin. A recall is done when there have been injuries or fatalies due to a suspected faulty component. TSB's are issued by the manufacturer before there are any accidents or incidents. If it was a matter of life and death you would have been adviced to contact the dealer immediately and the vehicle would probably been towed in.
Mackabee :shades:

mackabee

Pat, this year it just happened that all shades were offered in all these different vehicles, I think I left the Landcruiser out of the mix. Some of the shades are new some are recycled, meaning they've been offered before. I guess their focus groups tell the research and marketing people what they want to see in the vehicles and Toyota obliges.(sp)
Mackabee
:shades:

avalonbob

I've noticed that when I really romp on the engine and then slow down there is a very noticeable rotten egg smell in the cabin. I know in older cars this usually was some issue with the catalytic converter. Has anyone else noticed this? Is this normal on these higher horsepower engines?

Note that this only happens when I really push the car...not under "normal" acceleration conditions.

blaquebyrd

I had a problem programming my home link also. The manual says to press the homelink button twice to program it but I found that if you press and hold the button until the light on the garage door opener blinks twice it works. Of course you do this after you've pressed the learn button on your garage door opener.

paul_p

havalongavalon,

Thanks for taking the time and effort to post your examples of the backup sensors you installed!

- Paul

paul_p

Has anyone installed body side mouldings on their new Avalon? My wife and I want to prevent small dings and scratches. If so, how much did it cost and are you happy with how it looks? Does anyone have pictures of this?

boatsman

Monday night on the show "Las Vegas" they were giving away Avalons they had on display in the casino (as part of the story line). They had a limited raised up and tilted to one side and what you could see of it looked great. Their also was a commercial for the Avalon right after the show ended which was the first commercial I've seen in months. I wonder if they will be doing more product placements in the future.

havalongavalon

Mitsubishi shines in airbag tests, Toyota Avalon and Volvo V70 also log top scores.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - The Mitsubishi Galant on Tuesday took home top honors in a government crash test study, while the Suzuki Verona received the lowest ranking.

The Toyota Avalon and the Volvo V70 also earned across-the-board, five-star ratings in the frontal and side impact safety survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In terms of rollover risk, every passenger car studied scored four stars except the new Ford Mustang, which registered a five-star ranking.

link title

havalongavalon

havalongavalon

Mackabee, thank you for clarifying the difference between a technical service bulletin and a recall.

havalongavalon

havalongavalon

Paul,

you are welcome!

havalongavalon

avalonturing05

IIts good to see you back,I can see you were missing the discussion.

well things got interesting when I found that my car is one of those that might have that steering welding problem. I called also and my vin is in the list.

they better fix it or what ever

2 good news 1. nobody got killed with this problem 2. I heard that the avalon 05
passed the crash test with flying colors. have you herad anything about that?

VVOOOOOOOOMMMMMM /280 hp----my steering colum came off

avalonturing05

thank you "just me"
I see that havalongavalon got the link I was looking for i did not see at first

thanks you both----- Its good to know that when the steering wheel comes off
we can still be save. :

VOOOMMMMMMMM /280 hp

cafpaf

I had my Limited in this morning to correct the door for the cassette and the loose fog lights and to check if my car was part of the TSB for steering. My first experience with my dealer's Toyota service left a little to be desired.
1. The had to order a part for the cassette door. I expected that
2. I was told that there was nothing wrong with the fog lamps. My service advisor said he checked several of the Avalons they had in stock and that they were ALL that way. To which I replied, "Well then there is something wrong with ALL of them the entire assembly should not move back and forth and in and out by 3/16" or so." He advised me to call Toyota
3. I used the word Recall when I discussed the potential steering problem and he assurred me that there was no such recall.

I got home and called Toyota. Needless to say they confirmed the TSB and told me that my car was not part of the recall. The fellow also told me that he was passing my concern along to another specialist who worked exclusively with the 2005 Avalon and that they would get back to me either today or tomorrow, but it didn't seem logical that ALL Avalon fog lamps were loose like this. I will wait to hear from them and pass along anything I find out about the fog lamps.

I know that others have had this problem with the fog lamps. Can you please share your experience in getting the problem resolved. Thanks!

TSB

just__me

This link says it all.. http://www.firstcoastnews.com/money/news-article.aspx?storyid=37792
Avalon http://www.internetautoguide.com/crash-tests/09-int/2005/toyota/avalon/
Check out the other cars below if you want.. This link will take you to any car you want to look up after you type in the details.. http://safercar.gov/

Ford 500 http://www.automotive.com/2005/12/ford/five-hundred/safety/

Buick Lacrosse http://www.automotive.com/2005/12/buick/lacrosse/safety/

Chrysler 300 http://www.automotive.com/2005/12/chrysler/300/safety/

Acura RL http://www.automotive.com/2005/12/acura/rl/safety/

Acura TL http://www.automotive.com/2005/12/acura/tl/safety/

Maxima http://www.automotive.com/2005/12/nissan/maxima/safety/

just__me

Thought this gives some perspective as to how the Avalon is doing compared those that are being compared to it. These are only April Sales..

The flagship Chrysler 300 posted sales of units, an increase of 42 percent over April 2004 sales of 8,734 units when the vehicle was introduced.

Avalon 9,229

LaCrosse 8,612

Ford 500 9,215

Chrysler 300 12,837

avalonbob

I found this info at the safecar.gov site referenced in the previous posting.

Go to this link:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallsearch.cfm

and enter 05V227000 for the NHTSA Campaign ID Number and click Search

This displays a lot of information about the recall. I've pasted it below but it is more readable if you look at it on the safecar.gov site.

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
TOYOTA / AVALON 2005
Manufacturer : TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 05V227000 Recall Date : MAY 13, 2005
Component: STEERING:COLUMN
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 4855
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STEERING YOKE WAS NOT WELDED TO THE STEERING SHAFT. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE YOKE MAY COME OFF FROM THE SHAFT, AND COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL.
Consequence:
LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING YOKE AND SHAFT WELD CONDITION, AND REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236.

jla1

I got my touring 2 weeks ago, I have to say that I love this car but yesterday while stuck on the freeway on bumper to bumper traffic I experienced some hesitation, as far I'm concern is not a big deal yet but I can see some folks annoy by it. Can any body tell me @ what speed I'm supposed to drive on the freeway to get great mileage ........ so far all I get is 18.5 per gallon ....

prakrama

It Shows 27MPG on the display in my new XLS ...is this correct
Average MPG = 27MPG ....if there any caliberation error???

Yesterday I took my XLS and Clocked 150 miles ..so far no issue
but I felt the accelaration in my camry and corolla is more smooth and responds
just the way i press the peddle . My Xls seem to take off suddenly or takes off late.

when I slowly apply the pressure it starts slowly but then quickly races away and leaves all the other vehicle behind

I will drive more during long weekend . regarding the Noice inside the cabin
I felt same as a new camry / corolla ..I havent checked Lexus to compare .

Shocks are ok..I would have preffered better .

Ride is smooth and if it crosses 70...feel more like gliding and fear if I loose control..since I find the road very SMOOTH....
where as in my Camry ..daily I cross 85MPH and still I am very comfortable on freeway and the curves are negotiated with ease .

mikes.

"Mikes, you are not hearing things. I actually had my Toyota dealership look at my Limited because of a noticeable engine knock I was hearing while at idle. I was told that this noise was "normal" for this new type of engine. I then started two other new Avalons at the dealership and the "knock" was there as well. Great car, great gas mileage, so I'll put up with some engine knock at idle. I'm not sure if this is the same engine manufacturer as the one used in the new Lexus, but this "knock" has also been discussed on the Lexus board, as well. Regards: Dan"

Thanks Dan, this is the info I'm looking for.

MikeS.

jordan7

In previous posts I complained about the bad creases in the leather seats. The back of the driver's seat was particularly bad and the service manager admitted it was totally unacceptable. I just got back from the dealer who installed a new leather seat back and it is much better. It did not seem to be a big deal to recover the seat back and the seat did not have to be taken out. I think they did a good job and while I still don't think Toyota did a good job in the leather seats of the new Avalon, at least the seat back no longer bothers my back. Toyota still remains very good to deal with and they strongly back their product.

flipper6

Do not know if it helps but I had the same problem with my 2004 Acura TL. They replaced the catalytic converter and so far the smell has gone away.

avalonbob

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to mention it to the dealer when I take it in for a 3,000 mile oil change. With the TL, did this also happen only when pushing the engine hard?

rrogers2

The front driver side lamp was loose on my XLS. Took it to the dealer and they ordered a part which corrected the problem. They tried frist unsuccessfully to fix and told me the part would have to be ordered. I got NO hassle from my dealer in Stone Mountain GA.

havalongavalon

Just had a look at the steering shaft with the service manager and mechanic and found a good weld, but this may not be the end of the story. The description that is available to the service manager at this point (same as in post #5592) says:

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STEERING YOKE WAS NOT WELDED TO THE STEERING SHAFT. .... DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING YOKE AND SHAFT WELD CONDITION, AND REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY.

There are two places where a steering yoke meets the steering shaft, there is a yoke at each end of the shaft. We saw a good weld at the top end of the shaft, inside the passenger cabin, very close to the brake pedal. But, we saw no weld between the bottom end of the shaft and the bottom yoke. This location must be seen from under the car, using a long angled mirror. Possibly there is no need for a weld at the bottom junction if this piece was assembled in advance, but I'd like to know for sure.

Does anyone know: is the defective or missing weld supposed to be at the top of the steering shaft, or at the bottom of the steering shaft?

Thanks in advance,

havalongavalon

jsouthavalon05

Mine (Touring) got that smell too.. It's fine on normal acc.
Don't know what's going on with 05 AVL. I used to own 99 AVL, for more than 6 years I don't have any problems with it. Got it trade in for 05 AVL after accident, it still looks nice (65000 miles) but the ride isn't. Now got the 05 Touring about 2 months (1800 miles) I love every things on this car, SMOOTH , QUIET, POWERFUL that made me took off hard ( approximately 6000 RPM in 3rd gear)and smoke the guy in NISSAN MAXIMA ( no offend to the maxima owner), then i noticed the smell came out . I'll ask them (toyota service) to take a look when my first OIL change coming.

chipmunk47

Keep the tach under 2000 rpm's

fivestar1

Thanks for the pics. What zone are you in?

barclay3

With fuel range = 25 and the needle a needles width above the E line the low gas warning light came on. Immediately stopped at a gas station (thanks Mackabee) and got 16.5 gallons of gas. By the way, today my mailman hit my mailbox with his truck clobbering it.

justgreat47

does the 3.5 have belt or chain driven cams? if they're chain driven, there will definitely be more noise emanating from the engine...i wouldn't call it a knock, but it's definitely noisier than belts. jackg 90seville 97k

figaromd

so far my impression from reading this board has been that avalon is a smooth ride but ultimately a boring driver's car.

thanks guys, i think i'll go get me a nissan maxima. much more sporty and FUN!

tmeframe

So far, there are no plans for body side-mouldings. I got this straight from the Toyota rep who called me to talk about the problems I'd had with my Avalon XLS (see earlier posts). I relayed to him that I thought that this was a critical issue as the side of my precious vehicle is totally naked to the beatings it could endure from the 5ft doors on a pink 1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKK!

I told him that I wanted those side guards along with the fix for my center console that squeaks much worse than the bed in the honeymoon suite.

Stevemitchell

mackabee

You're very welcome!

Mackabee

pmcb48

Mid-Atlantic region (Virginia).

ejmann

Go to Sportwing.com They have painted moldings for the 05 Avalon. They're about $140 for the set which they paint to match your car. I am also considering them for my new white XLS. Also looking at adding a nice pinstripe too.

307web

If you really care about not getting dings, don't park close to other vehicles and stop having false faith in the protective abilities of tacky glued-on strips.
Body side moldings absolutely do not prevent all dings since they so not line up perfectly with the doors of every vehicle. You will get dings above or below the molding unless you put three different moldings at different heights.

Body side moldings are hardly something considered "critical" since they don't do the job all that well.

johndjr

The letter that Toyota sent to the Safety Board has the following:
It shows under VDS the numb BK36B and under VIS the number 5U001099-5U006875. Dates of mfg 16 Dec '04 - 22 FEB '05.
Lets my car out of it. Away I go this weekend!!
Hope this answers some of the questions.
John D

avalonturing05

When I talked to some huncho in my toyota dealer they did not know what i was talking about ---at first he did not believe me ( its incredible that they are the last to know about this recall) when I told him that I did not trust the car ---I thought for a minute that he turned into the hulk in the phone,but he calmed down after
he read the seriousness of the matter after he read the number 50f compagne
sheet and I told him that anything can happen from here on end so take the car
and lend me one until you fix it ------His problem is that headquarters will issue
letters to the ones involved but I don't thing they have from headquerters how to fix it or even inspect it--------and I clearly heard this in his explination---has anybody got one done yet that is the real question and who has the upgrade and what does it say :lemon: :mad:

voooommmmmm 280/hp hu man my steering wheel is behind my seat :P

lnt

Did they put any more padding on the top above that seam? I think it feels kind of hollow above the seam on the seat backs in both driver's and passenger's side. The seats in my 2000 Avalon were MUCH better than these seats. I may talk to my dealer about working on the seats. My son wants my car when I get ready to trade it in but his back cannot tolerate the seats.

ryandse

so far my impression from reading this board has been that avalon is a smooth ride but ultimately a boring driver's car.

thanks guys, i think i'll go get me a nissan maxima. much more sporty and FUN!

So that's it? I would think one would want to be involved with a test drive before making this final decision. Once I am ready to do some test-drives: I plan to test it against the Infiniti G35, the Lexus GS300, and possilby a few others.

groza

"I've noticed that when I really romp on the engine and then slow down there is a very noticeable rotten egg smell in the cabin."

Ummm, Bob. How can I put this as delicately as possible......Do you have passengers along when you "romp on it" and notice the rotten egg smell?

Do you know where I'm headed with this line of questioning, Bob?

Groza

ski1003

I had my 2005 Avalon XL in for the steering recall. My car was in the first batch of car assembled and was part of the recall vin. The dealer told me that only about 10 to 20 cars may have had the weld problem. Mine turned out ok. Still very happy with my Avalon.

perico1

Okay, I admit I am a little slow when it comes to solving car problems. Toyota says that fact that rust is dripping out of my tailpipe on my new Avalon is normal condensation with a little acid wear in it. How come I have never owned another car that dripped rust out of the tailpipe? I have not seen another post on this forum with this same problem. Am I alone?

Please help me respond intelligently to this issue, oh great and wise posters before I call them back.

avalonbob

Well...it has happened with and without passengers in the car. Now that would seem to implicate me as the source of the smell. However, I've been thoroughly checked out by a doctor and, between the two of us, we determined that the smell must be coming from the Avalon. Maybe if I add some Beano to gas tank this will solve the problem. What do you think?

chipmunk47

I and another "poster" mentioned this too. My dealer said it was nothing to be concerned about.

mikes.

"Have you ruled out that the soft knocking may be linked to your using 87 octane gas? My car was delivered with a full tank of regular (87 octane) and I heard the engine knocking for the first few minutes on cold mornings, but this didn't happen again after I switched to 91, and most recently 89 octane.
Best wishes,
havalongavalon "

Havalongavalon, the type of knocking you refer to is different, usually found during acceleration. Mine is a soft tapping like from a lifter or tappett. Plus I've been running 93 octane the last 3 tanks since I found the noise.

MikeS.

njny

Jordan7
I also have an unacceptable crease right at mid point in my back and am forced to sit slumped to avoid the crease. Did they adjust the height of the crease or is it simply more flush with the surface?

mikes.

"does the 3.5 have belt or chain driven cams? if they're chain driven, there will definitely be more noise emanating from the engine...i wouldn't call it a knock, but it's definitely noisier than belts. jackg 90seville 97k "

Not sure but I believe it is a chain. Good ?. Does anyone know FOR SURE?

MikeS.