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There's some stuff online but it can be hit or miss.
I am looking to do my first oil change on my 4cyl 2009 Rav4 Limited in about 1000 miles. I have been researching what I need to do, and about soiled myself when I learned the oil filters weren't the simple spin-on canister kinda.
Could you please tell me what types of tools and/or kits I need to do this. I have the 5 qrts of 5w-20, and I have a new filter, but it didn't have new o-rings. I also take it I need a special tool to take off the oil filter...where did you get yours, and if you have a part # please let me know.
Also, if you have any advice for making the process easy (besides going to a real mechanic), please let me know.
Thanks!
http://www.rav4world.com/tsb/2008/T-SB-0318-08.pdf
My brother has a 2007 RAV4 with about 40K. He took it to the STAR Toyota Dealership Service Shop here in Queens, NY. The shop quoted him $2600 for the repair! $800 for parts and $1800 for labor - something seems off as I don't know too many jobs that take 18 hrs to repair (their hourly rate is $100). Anyways does this sound right? They basically said it was the same part as addressed in the TSB - intermediate steering shaft. Anyways, I told my brother he should speak with the district service manager and see if he can get it covered (he'll talk to him Monday hopefully). Seems to me like it is a design flaw since a new shaft had to be "designed" to "address this condition". Unfortunately, appears to be happening to alot of RAV4's just as their passing their warranty mileage based on the posts I've read. Also, doesn't look like service shops are mentioning the TSB as it's probably more work for them to go through the district manager once the car is out of warranty. I bet in a year or so Toyota will issue a recall and reimburse any customers who had to pay out of pocket - the sooner the better for their customers and their image.
not an Assistant Service Manager (service writer), and ask him to explain the charges in the estimate. He should also bring a copy of the TSB with him. If you look at the second page of the TSB, it lists the parts to be replaced and the time allowed to perform the repair. Since the vehicle is out of warranty, your brother will have to pay for parts and labor, but if he speaks to the Service Manager, the manager may be able to work out a compromise. If he still is not satisfied, then he should request to speak to a District Manager.
The problem is the auto up window on the drivers side will not close automatically with the vent visor installed. The window comes up to the closed position, then opens up again half way. This is the anti trap feature that is supposed to keep the window from closing on fingers etc. In order to close it, I have to bring the window up to about 1/2 inch from closed, then STOP it, and then raise it the rest of the way and it closes fine. I would like it to just close using the auto up feature.
Does anybody know if it is possible for the dealer to either adjust the sensitivity of the safety feature, or disable it all together so that I don't have to fiddle to close the drivers window? I already tried sanding down the vent visor flange to thin it out a bit and remove any possible rough spots. I might be able to take off a bit more, but I don't want to weaken the visor and have it break off in a car wash or something.
Any suggestions will be appreciated
The passenger window has the same feature, but works fine.
Now that I've seen all the RAV4 steering problems that are out there, I'm even more determined to BUY HONDA!
now my 08 has 4 new original tires!....but at least i did not have to wrangle over what to replace them with! look for the orphans,they're out there!
Greg
Here is a link to the pics.
http://picasaweb.google.com/pewaukeedp/Rav4#
http://www.nufinish.com/products_scratch.html
It's not prefect but it seemed much better after using it on my cars.
http://www.nufinish.com/buy.html
thanks
Getting it replaced Saturday at a Safelite (dealer WAY too expensive for insurance coverage) - for now I asked them to replace with original Toyota part, but maybe not a good idea? Thanks, appreciate any feedback / experience.
Even a pebble is going to make a chip or a star mark where it hits.. If you don't have that.... then, I'd at least make my case at the dealer.
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In 2010, I had a new A/C compressor , alternater, and Distributor O Ring put in to the tune of $1269.
That was followed by a door that wouldn't close at an estimate of $487. I got on here and read about Dupont Silicone and fixed it.
In 2011 so far, I have had a Timing Belt Tensioner put it as well as Crankshaft Seal and valve cover gasket -- $703.18. The Timing Belt was changed at 105k and the car now has 156k. I checked to see if it was under warrantee which it was and they were going to replace the whole kit, water pump, belt, etc. but the person I took the car to did not take the "kit" saying it was only the tensioner pully. I have to say that I was not comfortable with this and being a woman, I feel that I may have been "taken" on this. Is there a way to find an honest mechanic who won't take advantage of my female status?
Oh did I say the car was still leaking something? So I took it back and was shown that the power steering fluid was leaking. It is now fixed -- $470.
When I took it in, I mentioned that the car was making a clunking sound, not the usual power steering squeak. When I picked it up, I asked if they found out what the noise was. They said there wasn't any noise. Well as I drove out of the station and down two blocks, the noise happened again while I was waiting to take a turn. I am so disgusted and so not trusting, I did not return. I did have a muffler replaced a month ago (under warrantee) and by the person who originally put it on who is another person that I am unsure of as to being taken advantage by him.
In the old days, you took your car into be serviced or repaired (or at least I did) and the mechanic (my cousin) took the car for a ride to see if anything else was going on. He also washed it for me. He is now deceased and his shop is going and I am still trying to find someone I can trust. I admit to being spoiled but I knew that I could trust him and he knew I was not totally ignorant about cars having worked as a teenager in a dealer service dept so he listened to me if I thought something was wrong with my car.
This morning I looked at my car and there is yet another leak under it!!
Do I take it back or do I just chalk it up to a car getting old and it will keep having to be repaired? I really can't afford to buy a new one and I really want another Toyota but maybe this is not the time to buy one.
Sorry for rambling on.
Question: what is my best repair option, A) swap out the entire unit, or part is out?
:mad:
The inside front of the car actually flooded. On Toyota's recomendation all of the carpeting and insolation was removed to confirm that the drains were blocked. Then they charged me $2000 which I was told my insurance (minus deductable) would pay. Has other owners had this problem. Have never heard this happening in any other vehicle.
After the new tire being on, the vibration did seem to ease up a bit... But shortly after it was back to the same vibrations. The driver is not the only person that feels it, sitting in the passenger side & in the rear seats it can be felt. (Not Heard) When feeling it at first, its almost as if you have a low/flat tire.
As of now Toyota claims their is no vibration, atleast not one that they feel.
They claimed to have test drove the car when it was cold, since the vibration can be
felt more easier this way. But yet a 3rd party has to be called in now, & test ride in the vehicle.
If anyone should know or have any suggestions on what the problem may be,
please contact me ASAP. Ive clearly been dealing with this issue awhile &
would like to hear how others may view this issue.
Thanks
After talking to a transmisson shop I found out that there was a recall on the ECM. I spoke to the Toyota dealership and they "reprogramed" the one in my car for $65.00. The car was then taken to a trans shop and I paid $1600. to have the trans rebuilt.
Since that day I have had nothing but problems. Its like this car has a mind of its own.
One minute it may be sluggish in first gear and jerk into second. The next minute 1st is fine but it will jerk into 3rd....sometimes it doesnt go into overdrive at all. The engine is cutting out really bad which it didnt do before. Yesterday I had the cruise control on, and all of a sudden the car accelerated by itself.
Today the car wont hardly move. Each day is different, from moment to moment.
The month of Jan my car was in the trans shop 24days total. He has replaced all of the sensors twice, and thinks the ECM may have been bad.
I spoke with Toyota Customer Experience today and was told that even if the ECM was bad, that I have to pay to have it replaced.
He also told me to find a new mechanic!
After talking to the last owner, there have been 3, I found out that the orig owner had a new trans put in at 65k mi, the 2nd owner had a new trans put in at 125k mi..and I had mine rebuilt at 238k mi.
I cannot afford to purchase an ECM, and it aggrivates me that they have this warranty coverage dependant upon milage...if its bad its bad!
What should I do?????
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