Had some strange activity this weekend regarding my auto headlight on/off on our '05 Avalon XL. Seems Saturday was another dark, cloudy and rainy day in New England. Around 5:30 pm the instrument cluster lights kept switching between high and low intensity as it got darker and lighter during the storm. It was annoying behavior for an otherwise fine car!
Does anyone know how to adjust the light sensor to require less light before it activates? Is this something that would need to be done at the dealership? I put the headlight switch to the "on" position, but even that did not stop the hi/lo switching of the instrument cluster lights.
I agree. To safely save fuel on hilly roads, every car BEHIND us would need to have laser cruise...
Now here is another thought. Soon, in congested highways, all cars may travel locked in step behind official pacer drone cars, all keeping their distance by way of laser cruise. Now, if the pacer drones are programmed for optimal fuel efficiency on hills, everybody will benefit!
But on the other hand -- that would constitute ultimate boredom. Forget it; not for me. I'd rather watch the road and use my foot. Fortunately, there aren't that many cars cluttering our hilly roads here -- yet.
A question: did you have to modify anything that would prevent or complicate putting the original grille back if you (or a future owner) wanted?
The answer is "yes". The four plastic bumper tabs that were removed from the lower part of the opening are designed to position the factory grill. If I had to change out the billet and replace it with the original grill, I expect it could be done, but you might have to jury rig the thing to hold it in proper position.
The opening I had to cut in the black plastic filler panel at the top is to enable clearance for two new brackets that fasten to the top of the grill. It would not be affected by reverting to a factory grill.
I'll take some photos of the new grill today or tomorrow and post them. I've never tried to do that, but see that Pat has posted instructions at #5183 on how to go about it. Right now I'm installing some backup sensors, to be followed by chrome wheels and a backup camera later on.
Incidentally, I got a great deal on the chrome wheels - $600, including the chrome center caps and two way shipping (CA to OR). Check out their eBay store under oechromewheels.
Can anyone tell me what the torque on the oil pan drain plug should be. In a previous post (months back) I think I saw something like 31 ft. lbs. That seems a little much. Is this correct???
Comment! I re installed the black plastic filler piece without cutting it. It works fine!! I placed the upper brackets under the grille tabs rather than on top, this seemed to provide more clearance!! Hutch
Some kind soul removed a half-inch of paint from my front passenger door bodyside molding yesterday while I left my '06 Avalon parked in a lot for ten minutes. While I am very angry, I shudder to think of what the sheetmetal would have looked like if I hadn't spent New Year's Day putting that molding on. :mad:
I feel for you and your problem. My Limited is less than two weeks old and so far no dings - knock wood. I, too, ordered the body side molding but didn't stop there. I also went to http://www.autobarn.net/acp20030.html and bought a couple of Park Smart Magnetic Door Guards as a preventative measure against door dings and chipped paint.
When you find yourself in a tight parking spot, just put them on the side of the car and you have another layer of protection. They have a smooth magnetized rubber strip along the top that holds a 25"x 6.5" piece of vinyl on the door without scratching the paint.
Good luck with your touch-up job on the vinyl strip and may you suffer no more dings. A pox on all those who carelessly open their doors when parking.
Hate to burst your bubble but the top four bars in your aftermarket grill are deformed and bent and are not parallel to the other ones nor are they parallel to the hood chrome strip. Also the passenger side top bar droops way low in comparison to the driver side. Maybe you can bend those parts to make them look better, as you have removed some of the tabs that would allow you to put the OEM grille back.
I am considering this vehicle - believe it or not to replace my 02 BMW 530...............does anyone know if you can add in a 3rd party Bluetooth System on this car?
Too bad it does not come standard on the limited. Thanks
I've read, heard or something about the 05 Avalon Limited having an 'acoustic noise reducing front windshield". I talked to my insurance co and they say they have never heard of such a thing. I thought that it was on the spec sheet that was glued to the window, but it isn't mentioned. Anyone know where it is listed??? The glass replacement man says it shows just two windows for the Avalon (with or without the rain sensor), nothing about noise reduction. Either way, he is going to replace it for less than my deductable, and a better rate because it's my cash and not the insurance co. Didn't someone say something about the Avalon w/s being about 3 times the normal is cost? John D
I am aware of the bent bars and have contacted the manufacturer about the situation. In any event, I have no intention of re installing the OEM grill, since this one is such an improvement. Please don't be concerned about my bubble; it is still intact.
The "Acoustic noise-reducing front windshield" is listed under Exterior Features as a standard feature on the Ltd, unavailable on the other models, in the '05 Avalon brochure.
I called a few dealers in the Chicago area, and none of them know of Bluetooth on the Limited. I have heard it is available in the SE, but not yet in the midwest.
Anyone from the Chicago area know of a Limited with this technology offerred?
I have the 06 limited to and mine does the same. The sound is the steering wheel lock. When you shut off the car and then open your door, the steering wheel locks automatically. I found this out because I was in the habit of opening the drivers door before shutting down the engine. If you do it this way (as opposed to turning the car off before opening the door) then the next time you open the drivers door, the car will have a continuous beep to remind you that you shouldn't have done it in that order. You can find this information in the manual as well. Good Luck!
I recently purchased the 06 Avalon Limited after owning our 05 TL for about a year. I guess you can say that there is a cross market for these cars, as I love the TL and I love the Avalon for many of the same reasons. IMHO they are both wonderful cars that I (so far) have no regrets in purchasing. They both are beautiful cars made by manufacturers known for making quality vehicles. Both have quite good audio systems, luxurious interiors, and powerful engines.
Overall: In deciding between the two, this is how I see it. If you want a sporty handling ride buy the TL or if you want a smoother more luxurious handling ride buy the Avalon.
Navigation: If Navigation is important to you, you will like the TL navigation 1-million times better. It is much easier to use and can be used while the vehicle is in motion. On the Avalon, the vehicle must be stopped to search for a destination. Hands down, the Acura has the better navigation.
Bluetooth: Not available in the avalon, very nice feature that is also linked with the navigation], so you can have it call the restaurant you just looked up in your navi and make reservations while you are on the way there.
Power: They both have more than adequate power at all speeds. I count them about equal in this area
Handling: Both handle well. In the Avalon, the car had an unnerving sway on the model without the VSC and Brake Assist, etc... With these features, it handles great. The TL has a much tighter handling that will inspire a much more sportier feel. In the TL you will feel every bump in the road, while in the Avalon you feel like you are floating on a cloud.
Audio: In the TL, I will speak having never really listened to any DVD-audio discs. This being the case IMHO (although I have a fairly discriminating ear) the Avalon provides a slightly crisper and clearer sound, but both are very good.
Comfort: Avalon, hands down... not to discount the the TL as it is quite comfortable as well (in fact better than many competing cars), but not nearly as good as the Avalon. One feature that the Avalon Limited has that I didn't expect to value as much as I now do is the Dynamis Laser cruise control. It will slow the Avalon down to pace the car in front of you or speed you up to your desired speed when you pass them or they change lanes. This system is not perfect and requires a clean car (otherwise it thinks the dirt is a car in front of you) but it is a really cool feature.
Safety: The TL comes standard with most every safety feature, while on the Avalon some are optional.
Hi! Here in the Florida area, Bluetooth is now an available option for $299 on all models. I don't know if it can be installed afterwards, but I intend to find out. -Pete
I've been driving (and enjoying) my new Limited for a couple of weeks but a bit disappointed to discover that the ride is a LOT more firm than my last car, a 97 Lexus ES 300. In fact, the Avalon ride feels to me pretty much the same as the 2007 Camry loaner that the dealer gave me to drive for 2 weeks until my Avalon was ready. Many car reviews refer to the Avalon's "floaty" ride, soaking up the bumps, etc., but I actually find that, while it is a quiet car, it doesn't really "ignore" minor pavement irregularities the way my ES did. (As it's new, I'm assuming there's nothing wrong with the suspension/struts.) Anyone else find that their Avalon registers every little bump in the road? Do Lexus cars just deliver a smoother/softer ride than the Avalon as part of the perceived Lexus "superiority" over other Toyotas?
Have you checked your tire pressure? New cars can be shipped with overinflated tires and, too commonly, dealers release them without having adjusted tire pressure to the correct 32 lb. This happened with my 05 Avalon and also with my previous Camry. Not only will the ride feel too firm, but also the steering will feel light and braking response may be unsafe.
I agree with Havalong on the tire pressure point. I picked up my new Limited two weeks ago and took a tire gauge with me to check them before I started home. Sure enough, the tires all had 37 pounds, which I deflated to 32 for what I consider to be a perfectly comfortable ride.
Personally, I think it's considerably better than that of the 2004 Lexus ES 330 I just sold. Matter of fact, the Avalon is superior in every way, and then some, to the Lexus.
Was offered one of the last new es330's for $30.7 yesterday and 31.7 for a avalon limited,am holding out for the limited. I will be renting a ltd in a few days and will make a choice then,the 06 as far as I know would ride the same as your 04.
Yes,this is one area that I feel the new Avalon has worsened. I do NOT consider my car to have a "floaty" ride. It reacts to every road imperfection, ripple and expansion joint. I do feel that the handling/road holding/steering response has improved over the previous Avalon, but I prefer the ride to be more isolated.
I agree with John. I have a 2000 Avalon XLS, and a 2005 Limited. The old car has a smoother ride. I've always attributed it to the lower profile tires on the new car, giving a slightly more harsh response to small pavement irregularities.
The old car also has a somewhat softer seat, and a larger trunk. Still, I like the new one - it's all about the engine. The new engine, trans makes the new Avy a great combination of performance & mileage.
the 'too soft' ride one of the things that kept the '04 (and earlier) Avalons appealing to folks in the older demographic and likely unappealing to those of us somewhat younger. If you really want to drive something that doesn't 'feel' like an Avalon though, try the Touring model. A relative 'BMW' compared to those older Avs!
Quite interesting to read the recent comments posted about the firm vs. soft ride issue. But, thank you to havanlongavalon (and also dandydon2) re the suggestion to check my tire pressure. I had completely overlooked that and when I did check, you were both right on the money: the tires were inflated to about 37 or 38 psi. As soon as I brought them down to 32, I could feel a huge improvement in the ride and it's a pleasure to finally experience the car's nice ride. (I don't understand why dealerships everywhere are delivering these cars with seriously overinflated tires.) Anyway, thanks again for "zeroing in" on the source of my problem with great results!
(I don't understand why dealerships everywhere are delivering these cars with seriously overinflated tires.) that one is easy - the answer is on that blue screen that says 'average mpg'. Every Avalon I test drove had screen read outs of 27-28 mpg with maybe 100 miles on the cars. Test drives would normally not yield anything close to that kind of economy especially at 'in City' dealers. So let's overinflate the tires, and have the salespeople take the cars on a nice little highway run and the trip computer will say what it needs to say to sell the cars...
Sorry to hear you are disappointed that the Avalon's ride doesn't compare to that of a Lexus. Although manufactured under the same corporate umberlla, I fully agree that the car is not a Lexus. I'm sure that is the case in many other areas as well.
I'm fine with that however, as we are having fun with the money we saved by opting for the car with the "worst" ride, yet (arguably of course) similarly powerful and reliable drivetrain. We are **former** long-term Mercedes owners that love our Avalon and don't miss the MB, its image (not what it used to be), or its maintenance costs one bit.
(I don't understand why dealerships everywhere are delivering these cars with seriously overinflated tires.)
The real reason is to prevent flat spots on the tires from sitting on dealers lots and also from sitting at the plants/factory before delivery. I work for another Japanese car dealership as a tech thats why I know. The tech who did the PDI (pre-delivery inspection) is responsible for adjusting tire pressure. A lot of times, sales people sell vehicles without being PDIed yet due to demand and that is the result. Overinflated tires. From the PDI's I did, before adjustment, I see tire pressures normally set between 40 to 50 psi coming from the factory.
I recently bought a Roady XT for my Tundra. I noticed much more information is displayed on it than on the nav LCD on my Avalon, e.g. song/artist info is truncated, no list of channels, no ability to scroll through a list of channels. Anyone know of a hidden setup screen or menu for the system? I did'nt get any information from the dealer when they installed it and haven't yet asked them about it. thanks.
Over-inflated tires would undoubtedly run "smoother", less roadbed friction, but that would also result in a greater rolling circumference resulting in lower computed mileage than actual and thus lower MPG readout.
re:post #12628. wwest are you sure you stated this the way you intended? I would have bet, that all other things being equal, a car with over inflated tires would get better gas mileage than one with under inflated tires. Am I wrong?
Anyone remember the old days of cars w/nylon tires sitting in cold weather? Tires developed a flat spot that took a 1/2 mile or so of driving w/intense car vibration, to remove flat spot. Radial tires was supposed to take care of this problem..
Just spent a couple of days with a rental 07 Camry, and was struck by how much more commodious the Avalon interior felt to me, even though there isn't much difference on paper between the interior dimensions of the two cars. (I'm 6' 5", 300 lbs.) The Avy driver compartment seems much more spacious, with a less closed-in feeling and less interference from the center console, and the extra rear legroom in the Avy is very noticeable when the front seats are pushed back.
Yes, over-inflated tires will generally give better FE.
But.
If you rely on the onboard computer for MPG readout it will very likely indicate a lower mileage/distance than you actually travelled due to the tires' rolling circumference being greater than with normal inflation.
This article is not directed to Toyota but mentions the rating.
"You know something's amiss when BMW ranks 27th out of 37 brands in overall quality. No,the Ultimate Driving Machine isn't conking out on the highway: BMW tied with Toyota brand for third place in terms of quality defects.
BMW ranks No.3 in fewest defects and No. 36 in fewest design flaws.
Does anyone know where Toyota ranks in design flaws?
WWEST, Thank you for your reply,,,,,so, better gas mileage with over inflated tires, and...the readout will not show how good it really is. Interesting.
I live in Idaho and am interested in purchasing a new Avalon XL in either the pearl white, desert sand or silver pine mica color with the ivory cloth interior. Anyone purchased a new Avalon in the west recently at a good price? Also, when are the 2007 models coming out? Thanks!
Not related to your question...but, as good advice read of all the 2006 transmission problems on this forum...think...then ensure you drive the car you are purchasing at least 200 miles and under all conditions. My transmission hesitates under various conditions, but most of all when turning corners. The service manager says it's normal...duhhhh! I'm waiting to get broadsided when trying to merge into traffic. I continue to persue a correction or buy back.
I bought a light blue Limited two weeks ago at Lithia Toyota in Springfield, Oregon. Paid $300 over invoice. No problems of any sort since then and I don't anticipate any. Best car I've ever had, and this is number 41. If you get one, consider having them add the side bumper molding to the doors before you pick it up. Good investment.
I understand the '07 models should debut this fall. As with the '06, minimal change is expected per all reports. Speculation says Toyota will add the 6 speed trans and perhaps some audio options. Good luck with your purchase. I guarantee you will love driving it!
Comments
If only we existed in a vacuum :-)!
- p.
Had some strange activity this weekend regarding my auto headlight on/off on our '05 Avalon XL. Seems Saturday was another dark, cloudy and rainy day in New England. Around 5:30 pm the instrument cluster lights kept switching between high and low intensity as it got darker and lighter during the storm. It was annoying behavior for an otherwise fine car!
Does anyone know how to adjust the light sensor to require less light before it activates? Is this something that would need to be done at the dealership? I put the headlight switch to the "on" position, but even that did not stop the hi/lo switching of the instrument cluster lights.
Thanks in advance for any info you can offer.
- p.
A question: did you have to modify anything that would prevent or complicate putting the original grille back if you (or a future owner) wanted?
A request: please post photos! Side view or 3/4 view would be great, to see how deep the new grille sits.
havalongavalon
Now here is another thought. Soon, in congested highways, all cars may travel locked in step behind official pacer drone cars, all keeping their distance by way of laser cruise. Now, if the pacer drones are programmed for optimal fuel efficiency on hills, everybody will benefit!
But on the other hand -- that would constitute ultimate boredom. Forget it; not for me. I'd rather watch the road and use my foot. Fortunately, there aren't that many cars cluttering our hilly roads here -- yet.
havalongavalon
The answer is "yes". The four plastic bumper tabs that were removed from the lower part of the opening are designed to position the factory grill. If I had to change out the billet and replace it with the original grill, I expect it could be done, but you might have to jury rig the thing to hold it in proper position.
The opening I had to cut in the black plastic filler panel at the top is to enable clearance for two new brackets that fasten to the top of the grill. It would not be affected by reverting to a factory grill.
I'll take some photos of the new grill today or tomorrow and post them. I've never tried to do that, but see that Pat has posted instructions at #5183 on how to go about it. Right now I'm installing some backup sensors, to be followed by chrome wheels and a backup camera later on.
Incidentally, I got a great deal on the chrome wheels - $600, including the chrome center caps and two way shipping (CA to OR). Check out their eBay store under oechromewheels.
I re installed the black plastic filler piece without cutting it. It works fine!! I placed the upper brackets under the grille tabs rather than on top, this seemed to provide more clearance!!
Hutch
Dandydon
">http://s52.photobucket.com/albums/g4/dandydon10/Avalon Billet Grill/?<img src="
Tried part stores and website and came up empty.
NWBLIZZARD
I feel for you and your problem. My Limited is less than two weeks old and so far no dings - knock wood. I, too, ordered the body side molding but didn't stop there. I also went to http://www.autobarn.net/acp20030.html and bought a couple of Park Smart Magnetic Door Guards as a preventative measure against door dings and chipped paint.
When you find yourself in a tight parking spot, just put them on the side of the car and you have another layer of protection. They have a smooth magnetized rubber strip along the top that holds a 25"x 6.5" piece of vinyl on the door without scratching the paint.
Good luck with your touch-up job on the vinyl strip and may you suffer no more dings. A pox on all those who carelessly open their doors when parking.
Dandydon
Too bad it does not come standard on the limited.
Thanks
Anyone know where it is listed???
The glass replacement man says it shows just two windows for the Avalon (with or without the rain sensor), nothing about noise reduction.
Either way, he is going to replace it for less than my deductable, and a better rate because it's my cash and not the insurance co.
Didn't someone say something about the Avalon w/s being about 3 times the normal is cost?
John D
I am aware of the bent bars and have contacted the manufacturer about the situation. In any event, I have no intention of re installing the OEM grill, since this one is such an improvement. Please don't be concerned about my bubble; it is still intact.
Dandydon
Anyone from the Chicago area know of a Limited with this technology offerred?
Overall: In deciding between the two, this is how I see it. If you want a sporty handling ride buy the TL or if you want a smoother more luxurious handling ride buy the Avalon.
Navigation: If Navigation is important to you, you will like the TL navigation 1-million times better. It is much easier to use and can be used while the vehicle is in motion. On the Avalon, the vehicle must be stopped to search for a destination. Hands down, the Acura has the better navigation.
Bluetooth: Not available in the avalon, very nice feature that is also linked with the navigation], so you can have it call the restaurant you just looked up in your navi and make reservations while you are on the way there.
Power: They both have more than adequate power at all speeds. I count them about equal in this area
Handling: Both handle well. In the Avalon, the car had an unnerving sway on the model without the VSC and Brake Assist, etc... With these features, it handles great. The TL has a much tighter handling that will inspire a much more sportier feel. In the TL you will feel every bump in the road, while in the Avalon you feel like you are floating on a cloud.
Audio: In the TL, I will speak having never really listened to any DVD-audio discs. This being the case IMHO (although I have a fairly discriminating ear) the Avalon provides a slightly crisper and clearer sound, but both are very good.
Comfort: Avalon, hands down... not to discount the the TL as it is quite comfortable as well (in fact better than many competing cars), but not nearly as good as the Avalon. One feature that the Avalon Limited has that I didn't expect to value as much as I now do is the Dynamis Laser cruise control. It will slow the Avalon down to pace the car in front of you or speed you up to your desired speed when you pass them or they change lanes. This system is not perfect and requires a clean car (otherwise it thinks the dirt is a car in front of you) but it is a really cool feature.
Safety: The TL comes standard with most every safety feature, while on the Avalon some are optional.
Here in the Florida area, Bluetooth is now an available option for $299 on all models. I don't know if it can be installed afterwards, but I intend to find out.
-Pete
havalongavalon
Personally, I think it's considerably better than that of the 2004 Lexus ES 330 I just sold. Matter of fact, the Avalon is superior in every way, and then some, to the Lexus.
and 31.7 for a avalon limited,am holding out for the limited. I will be renting a ltd in a few days and will
make a choice then,the 06 as far as I know would ride the
same as your 04.
John in Kansas City
The old car also has a somewhat softer seat, and a larger trunk. Still, I like the new one - it's all about the engine. The new engine, trans makes the new Avy a great combination of performance & mileage.
Max
that one is easy - the answer is on that blue screen that says 'average mpg'. Every Avalon I test drove had screen read outs of 27-28 mpg with maybe 100 miles on the cars. Test drives would normally not yield anything close to that kind of economy especially at 'in City' dealers. So let's overinflate the tires, and have the salespeople take the cars on a nice little highway run and the trip computer will say what it needs to say to sell the cars...
It sure does make a difference on ride quality, eh!
havalongavalon
Sorry to hear you are disappointed that the Avalon's ride doesn't compare to that of a Lexus. Although manufactured under the same corporate umberlla, I fully agree that the car is not a Lexus. I'm sure that is the case in many other areas as well.
I'm fine with that however, as we are having fun with the money we saved by opting for the car with the "worst" ride, yet (arguably of course) similarly powerful and reliable drivetrain. We are **former** long-term Mercedes owners that love our Avalon and don't miss the MB, its image (not what it used to be), or its maintenance costs one bit.
Chacun a son gout... :-)
- P.
The real reason is to prevent flat spots on the tires from sitting on dealers lots and also from sitting at the plants/factory before delivery. I work for another Japanese car dealership as a tech thats why I know. The tech who did the PDI (pre-delivery inspection) is responsible for adjusting tire pressure. A lot of times, sales people sell vehicles without being PDIed yet due to demand and that is the result. Overinflated tires. From the PDI's I did, before adjustment, I see tire pressures normally set between 40 to 50 psi coming from the factory.
But.
If you rely on the onboard computer for MPG readout it will very likely indicate a lower mileage/distance than you actually travelled due to the tires' rolling circumference being greater than with normal inflation.
So, bottom line, all things are not equal.
"You know something's amiss when BMW ranks 27th out of 37 brands in overall quality. No,the Ultimate Driving Machine isn't conking out on the highway: BMW tied with Toyota brand for third place in terms of quality defects.
BMW ranks No.3 in fewest defects and No. 36 in fewest design flaws.
Does anyone know where Toyota ranks in design flaws?
I'm waiting to get broadsided when trying to merge into traffic.
I continue to persue a correction or buy back.
Chuck
I bought a light blue Limited two weeks ago at Lithia Toyota in Springfield, Oregon. Paid $300 over invoice. No problems of any sort since then and I don't anticipate any. Best car I've ever had, and this is number 41. If you get one, consider having them add the side bumper molding to the doors before you pick it up. Good investment.
I understand the '07 models should debut this fall. As with the '06, minimal change is expected per all reports. Speculation says Toyota will add the 6 speed trans and perhaps some audio options. Good luck with your purchase. I guarantee you will love driving it!
Dandydon