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Comments
Several prior posts dealt with this "notice" --> "recall" over the past month or so.
I can think of 3reasons why we were told to wait for a letter from Toyota:
1. Not all 2005 Avalons are affected; only the first 4900 or so,
2. The dealers initially didn't know where to look for a defective weld,
3. Toyota only 2-3 weeks ago sent the dealers a special light and instructions to do this inspection.
My car was among the affected. I took it in for an inspection as soon as I heard about this problem through this forum, on May 25. The service manager had received a preliminary notice, but no detailed instructions yet. He and a mechanic looked up & down the steering column, but couldn't see anything strange. The special light arrived 2 weeks ago, the dealer called me and my car was properly inspected on June 10. It passed. The weld is in the upper portion of the steering column, a few inches below the steering wheel.
Yesterday (June 22), 4 weeks after we knew there is a potential problem that needs to be inspected, I received the official letter from Toyota asking me to contact my dealer asap.
To be safe, I suggest that any owners of an Avalon with serial number earlier than 5000 contact your dealer and have the inspection done now, letter or no letter. Only a small number are expected to have deffective welds-- but one of these could be yours.
havalongavalon
I don't have an average speed readout. ( I did in the Volvo, but it did not reset with each engine shut down, only if you manually reset it.) It must be that the average speed is with the Nav. feature on your car. But the distance to go, or fuel range, is on mine. It does not reset each time the engine is cut off. It only resets when the tank is refilled. The same for the average mpg.
It is not as if you are giving up any massive perks by buying elsewhere.
That's what I thought until I received my notice a few days ago. The last numbers of my VIN are 23XXX, a large jump from 5XXX. The steering column welds were checked today and all OK.
Rewop
NWBLIZZARD
Gary
http://photobucket.com/albums/y95/mtpys/
Password is Avy05. Use the capital A & lower case vy.
When I had a Power Port installed and the headrest DVD system done I had them hardwire a power line out of the overhead console for my detector.
MikeS.
Another question: those of you who have this auto-cruise control: do you find it useful or is it too much of a gimmick and more trouble than it's worth?"
Lowest setting is about 100 feet. Yes, other cars will slide over in front of you and you'll get pushed further back. I use it extensively on 2 lane roads and on 4 lane ones when there isn't a lot of traffic. Also, it will stop working whenever the windshield wipers come on. I like it better now then I did a couple months ago but I'm not sure its worth what I paid for it.
Please do a search on this subject and you'll find more on this issue.
MikeS.
Gary
My XL's rear window is way more than slightly distorted. But for quick glances via the rearview mirror, I don't much notice it. If I stared through it at following cars for about two minutes, though, I'd probably get seasick.
At over 60 mph I've got wind noise that sounds a little like a playing card held against the spokes of a moving bicycle rather than a whistling sound. By sitting in the back seat while my wife drove, I located the noise at the vertical section of the small, immobile rear window (driver's side). By holding a folded handkerchief over it, I could stop the noise. I don't expect a dealer would do a thing about this, so I thought of squeezing a small bead of silicon where the rubber seal meets the window. Should I first try the inside or the outside before going for both sides? Or is this a bad idea for either side? Suggestions anyone?
"V-6 is rated 18/27 mpg with manual, 19/28 with automatic. Premium is specified. Mitsubishi says regular is OK; power will drop about 2%."
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2005-06-23-eclipse_x.htm
I am planning to get a 2005 Avalon in the next few weeks, but debating if a 2006 might be worth waiting for. The only reason I would wait, and my biggest hangup, is the sound system - no mp3 option, no iPod option in 2005. Am I missing something? Is there a way to swap out the cassette deck (obsolete in my life) for an mp3 player? Any way of knowing whether the 2006 might have mp3 and/or iPod capability?
Thanks.
In about 6-8 weeks.
At over 60 mph I've got wind noise that sounds a little like a playing card held against the spokes of a moving bicycle rather than a whistling sound. By sitting in the back seat while my wife drove, I located the noise at the vertical section of the small, immobile rear window (driver's side). By holding a folded handkerchief over it, I could stop the noise. I don't expect a dealer would do a thing about this, so I thought of squeezing a small bead of silicon where the rubber seal meets the window. Should I first try the inside or the outside before going for both sides? Or is this a bad idea for either side? Suggestions anyone?
You've done the hard part, let the dealer do the easy part.then you don't have to worry about a warrenty issue.
give the dealer a try. If he slobers it up it's on his dime.
:shades:
Mackabee
My service manager says he hears this all the time and it is related to the 27 computers, the throttle by wire and the 31 MPG rating.
Anyone else experiencing this? Any fixes?
Mack
How is the steering column adjustable in seven ways? Isn't it just tilt and telescopic?
Is there any way to increase or adjust the volume of this sound?
Gary
> hesitation. I'd venture a bet that that glass wouldn't have been installed in a
> vehicle assembled in a factory in Japan..Shame on Toyota for permitting such
> shoddiness in a car this expensive. On second thought, it's not acceptable on
> anyone's car at ANY cost !
I too am very disappointed at the workmanship and assembly quality of the new Avalon. I had several Hondas and Toyotas in my family, include a '90 Accord with 250K+ trouble free miles, a '90 Civic with 200K+ trouble free miles, and a '01 4Runner which got beaten pretty bad on the off-road trails in Lake Tahoe and Death Valley, but still drive like new without a sqeak or rattle. So I pretty much plunge into the '05 Avalon with a leap of faith, assuming fine workmanship and rock solid reliability because it carries the Toyota badge. Unfortunately my Avalon Touring pretty much fell apart the day after I picked up the car...
I had numerous problems in my first 3 months of ownership, including most (if not all) of the common problems reported at this forum (including the pulling to the right issue which is still not fixed after 4 trips to the dealer). In addition, my sunroof got stuck open due to an improperly installed clip on the rail, so I had to drive 40 miles in the rain to the dealer to get it fixed. My radio control cover was stuck closed, so I could not turn off the radio because the button on the steering wheel only let you turn ON but not turn OFF the radio. The interior fit and finish is appalling for a Toyota product to say the least. Almost every single piece of plastic trim is misaligned, and there was excessive form trim sticking out on the B-pillar - I have no idea how this could have passed Toyota's QA check. On bad roads I can hear rattles coming from left, right, and center - I have pretty much given up identifying the source of the rattles, and simply turn on the radio when I hit a bad road :-(
I don't feel like driving a real Toyota when I am driving my Avalon. I feel like driving a big American car. I was given a Scion xB (aka "the box") as a loaner for a week while my Avalon was in the shop to fix the steering problem. I notice that even though the Scion (which is built in Japan) uses cheaper plastic and thinner metal, everything is perfectly aligned and there is no rattle or funny noise. Before buying the Avalon, I considered the TL but was turned away by the numerous quality issues reported on the TL forum. Looks like the TL and Avalon are falling victims to Honda and Toyota's aggressive cost cutting and Americanization. Will Toyota and Honda follow the footsteps of BMW and Mercedez-Benz? It takes years to build a good product, but it takes a lifetime or generations to build a reputation which can be tarnished overnight.
I think the Lexus LS and GS are built in Toyota's Tahara factory which is where my '01 4Runner was built and has been ranked as the top quality plant in the world by JD Powers. So perhaps that is the only safe bet???
This has happened with EVERY car that I bought over the last four decades. Why Oh Why can't the dealer check the pressure before delivery?
As a side-note when we test drove an ES330 the ride was a little rough too. I checked the pressure for the nice sales lady and it registered 38 Lbs around. I suggested that the cars used for test drive have the proper pressure and the ride impression would by much more compelling.
I will pick up my new Avalon Limited this week. I have read several posts regarding the 05 Avalon, like the post from Avalonowner. It scared me big time. Do you think I should re-evaluate my decision regarding the Avalon, even if I have to pay a fine for not taking delivery of the Avalon?
:surprise: :sick:
:shades:
Mackabee
New Topic: Thanks to those who responded about my wind noise concern re the small rear window. I'll take the advice and go to the dealer before trying my own silicone solution.
Another New Topic: XL owners should check cold tire pressures for 29 lb. as recommended. With the correct pressure on the 16" wheels you should get a very smooth ride.
welcome to the new avvy world
i am still waiting for my white pearl blizzard limited avalon to arrive one month left
bro u can test drive the avalon before u decide
good luck
ali
The dealer was more than kind and set up my appointment for a Saturday morning. When I got there they said the mechanic would just plug the computer into the analyzer and set the locking that way. I explained that I was hoping they could use the procedure in the owners manual, since in the future, if the battery is ever disconnected I want to know I can set it back again.
Good thing I asked because it took 20 minutes of the tech's time to get it to work, or so he thought. They allowed me into the service bay and he showed me what he did, exactly as I had tried. I went back out of service while he drove the car out. As soon as I got in and started the car, I shifted from Park and poof the doors locked (Grrrrrr).
I went back in and the tech was shocked, came back out and sure enough it hadn't worked. He tried again with no success. Then he said he would try one more thing, and if that didn't work then he would have to use the analyzer.
The trick (it's not in the manual) is that you have to de-program the default setting first and removing coding is in the manual. Once he removed the default then did the recoding for the 12 MPH setting it worked like a charm. I stood there and watched the whole thing, and then I did it myself.
He asked that when I call Toyota back to tell them it is fixed that I also tell them the manual is missing that one critical step. (second error I've found).
Hope this information helps those that have also been trying to set the door locks to lock at 12 MPH.
When my car was shipped they ordered the splash guards and found out they were only black, I told them that was not my problem, and they will just have to have them painted. Didn't give them a choice or chance to argue. In the same breath I also told them that I had the agreed upon price and they would have to eat whatever extra cost they incurred for the painting.
Well they did it, the guards match the body perfectly, I paid $74 total for them, painted and installed, and the sales manager, salesman and parts manager checked it out on delivery and all agreed it was the best looking LTD they had sold and the only one with matching splash guards.
Just had it to the car wash and the guy that drove it out and dried it came over and said that it was the nicest looking car he's seen, and he was maybe 16 or 17...so it's not just an over 40 something cruiser.... :shades: