2005-2007 Toyota Avalon

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Comments

  • finfin Member Posts: 594
    Based on several recent posts, here is some information that some may find useful. And others may already know.

    Tire Diameter - If you are changing rim diameter, nothing will happen to the speedometer and straight line acceleration as long as you make the proper change in tire size. More rim, less sidewall. If the new overall diameter is the same as the old, you are fine. (Rim width, handling, comfort, etc. is another discussion.) Talk to the tire dealer.....

    Gas Mileage - Under 35 mph you may keep the windows down, if you like it that way, and enjoy the ride. After 35 mph you begin to pay a penalty for the enjoyment of the "sounds of the city" you hear. By the time you pass 55 you are in the area of serious gas mileage loss for keeping those windows down. When you get to 70 (approx), the air ON, windows up, will produce equal or better mileage than lowered windows. All cars are different, but aerodynamics is a vital part of modern auto design.

    Avalon, and many others, have an AC compressor that shuts off many times per hour as you drive. You cannot tell it. If you need AC, turn it on, leave it on. And, are you taking a cooler, three suitcases and bicycle on a luggage rack on the top of your Avalon? Get ready to drop 5 mpg or more.. Yes, they are that "slick" moving thru the air. Enjoy your Avy.... :)
  • gbinplanogbinplano Member Posts: 65
    I had the same issue. After some difficulty, my service advisor changed the locking to the 12 mph setting. He said he had to put the vehicle in neutral as described in the owner's guide, but then return the vehicle to park before hitting the lock button. I have not tried to undo his fix, so I cannot verify that it does do the job. Try it and let us know if it solves your problem.

    Greg
  • 5539655396 Member Posts: 529
    Nope. That's what I'm talking about. Why should I not be able to resume just because I drop below 28 or 30 MPH? You're on the road and go through a town, and you need to reset. I would prefer to Resume to my previous highway speed. My LS400 is the same way. Sorry, I don't like it. It should be easy to let the owner select which they prefer.
  • easyrider300measyrider300m Member Posts: 1,116
    I read an aticle recently in a magazine called something like 2006 Car Preview. They did not really like the cornering of the Avalon saying it tended to wallow a fair amount but they did say it stayed in control through the corners. It stated that the new Buicks had firmer handling than the Av and said that the touring model did not really have very sporty handling. It also praised the quality look and feel of the interior and I beleive they compared it to a Lexus in interior quality. It also praised the drive train power. At the end it stated that a teenager probably would not want to borrow it from his grandfather. Obviously the article was written by a reviewer that prefers a driver's car with stiffer handling.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    to a couple of you that these Forums may not be used for buying and selling anything ... thanks.
  • limiteddriverlimiteddriver Member Posts: 234
    Most cruise controls don't work in the 25-30 MPH area so probably it turns the memory off and you have to reset.
  • kinzuakinzua Member Posts: 44
    Sorry Mikes,
    My 2000 XLS operated exactly as described in the previous post. Very annoying. However, my 2005 Limited operates as you describe. I love it. :)
    The laser cruise control is awsome.
  • dydiddydydiddy Member Posts: 3
    I also took delivery on a Blizzard Pearl Avalon Limited on 6/1/05 and wondered about that little compartment. It obviously looked like a cell phone holder to me, however, I didn't know that it could be removed. Thanks for this update. The space is kind of wasted for me with the cell phone holder built in.

    I have a little over 400 miles on my Avalon Limited and have absolutely no complaints or problems. This forum has been very helpful in getting me familiar with the car very quickly. I washed the car by hand for the first time yesterday and fine the fit and finish superior to my 2000 Avalon XLS!

    dydiddy ;)
  • kinzuakinzua Member Posts: 44
    Greg,
    Just tried tjhe proceedure you outlined and it did not work for me. Tried it 4 times. I have an appointment with service tomorrow to have XM installed and this is one af about 5 glitches I have on my list.
    Still :)
  • 5539655396 Member Posts: 529
    "#6587 of 6617 05 Avalon tweaks by 55396 Jun 12, 2005 (1:58 am)

    First, we waited for the re-designed Maxima. No sale. Then, we thought the Avalon would do it. So far, no sale here either. Oh, I love the way the car drives and feels, but I hate the saggy, bloated, oversized image. The rear doors seem too big and the tail lights aren't quite right. Grille is rather blah too. I do like the profile of the new Lexus GS though, but too pricey and doesn't have as much power. I know this is personal taste and I appreciate that others see it as beautiful. Anyway, I like to tweak things to my liking. So, Autoweek just arrived with yet another glowing review of this car. I scanned one of the pictures and tweaked the tail light, rear side window, and darkened the rocker panel area,to see if I liked the effect. How do the changes strike you? They are suttle. Anyone have other ideas? Sorry, I didn't think to scan the picture before I messed with it. The latest issue wasn't posted yet today.

    http://www.myimagestore.info/upload/images/Jjy57084.jpg

    http://www.myimagestore.info/upload/images/peA56953.jpg

    http://www.myimagestore.info/upload/images/WdM53982.jpg "

    My favorite mag, Autoweek, now has the latest issue on their web site. Here is the 05 Avalon article.

    http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=102508
  • limiteddriverlimiteddriver Member Posts: 234
    I've tried it and can't program it either. let us all know the solution. TIA
  • cafpafcafpaf Member Posts: 65
    Well, like Limiteddriver, I attempted to have the storage compartment, part #58813-07010 installed in lieu of the cassette player and like Limited driver they were unable to do so. If one would look at the parts break out sheet, it would certainly seem like a logical replacement, but in reality, no can do. After much research this morning, the Service Manager told me that there is not an additional bracket etc. It would seem that there are three different center consoles. (As an Operations Manager, that just does not make sense to me, but then again I know nothing about the car business) One console is for the Nav system, one for the cassette, and one for the cigarette lighter and ash tray. The part number above is a replacement for the lighter and ash tray but it will not fit the other consoles. Of course the entire console can be replaced at a cost in excess of $500 but that makes little sense.

    Also I was unable to see how the cassette is connected to the radio. Sorry. However, I did learn the entire trim for the center console comes out without tools. First you need to unscrews the shift know and them the lift out the place around the shifter. Then pry up the wood trim starting near the center storage console and the entire thing will come out. It just snaps back together in the reverse fashion as it removal.
  • limiteddriverlimiteddriver Member Posts: 234
    Thanks for the info. You found out more about it than I did. I'll keep my $500 and the cassette player and take the tray back.
  • wynwyn Member Posts: 32
    Had same problem with changing default setting on 2005 Avalon door locks but finally discovered the "secret." Follow instructions in manual, but take your foot off the brake after moving shift lever out of Park. After many failures, it has worked for me on every test since that discovery. Give it a try and good luck!
  • preskevpreskev Member Posts: 1
    Has anyone had any luck disabling the Seat Belt Chime?

    Note: Please no discussions about the benefits of wearing your seat belts or just putting on the seat belt will take care of the issue. This would be a never ending discussion.

    Thanks,
  • topazdantopazdan Member Posts: 9
    I am reading the discussions above about removing the tape deck to gain storage area.
    I would like to know if anyone can lead me to a website, chatroom, blog or source to begin an investigation as to how the inputs into the head unit from the existing tape deck can be used as inputs from my IPOD.
    (all options I have seen for similar MP3 player installs are to substitute out a CD changer, not a tape deck).

    Dan
  • topazdantopazdan Member Posts: 9
    55396
    I agree with your assesment of the styling of the 05 being uninspiring, but it is new. We may come to like it more. I like your idea of trying to tweak the styling.
    On your pics, I cannot tell any difference between the 3 images.
    What should I look for?
    Dan
  • johndjrjohndjr Member Posts: 80
    fin,
    Regarding the windows vs a/c milage. I had always heard what you state. However, there is a TV program titled Myth Busters or something like that. They took two identical cars, measured the gas input to the oz, drove side by side and busted that theory wide open, the a/c car ran out of gas about 4 laps before the windows down car did.
    Now I don't know what to believe.
  • johndjrjohndjr Member Posts: 80
    Mikes,
    I feel sure that my Limited does resume after going through a town etc and speed dropped all the way to a traffic light stop. Then outside of town I went up to about 35 or 40, hit resume and away it went back up to the 65 I had previously set.
    I'll try it again to be positive, but that is the way I normally drive using the speed control due to braces on my legs. If it didn't do that, I feel sure I would have noticed.
    Something else I've got to check out!!!! :confuse:
  • altoalto Member Posts: 7
    well i jus added some tints today and plan on addin 20's sometime next month , do u by any chance have pics of the car
  • mikes.mikes. Member Posts: 337
    "Nope. That's what I'm talking about. Why should I not be able to resume just because I drop below 28 or 30 MPH? You're on the road and go through a town, and you need to reset. I would prefer to Resume to my previous highway speed. My LS400 is the same way. Sorry, I don't like it. It should be easy to let the owner select which they prefer. "

    Blame the lawyers for this "safety" feature. In your original post you said it doesn't have a resume function. My point is that it does, it just doesn't work the way you'd like it to. Sorry about that.

    MikeS.
  • mikes.mikes. Member Posts: 337
    "Sorry Mikes,
    My 2000 XLS operated exactly as described in the previous post. Very annoying."

    Sorry Kinzua, but I have a hard time believing that your 2000 XLS does not have a resume function built into the cruise control. My family and I have 6 Toyota vehicles spread out from 1996 to 2005 and all 6 have a resume function. In the 1996 to 2002 models they all quit at about 25mph and they won't resume. The 05 conks out about 28mph.

    MikeS.
  • mikes.mikes. Member Posts: 337
    I'll be eagerly awaiting what you find out. Thanks for trying.

    MikeS.
  • deaniedeanie Member Posts: 172
    Hi:
    I saw that Mythbusters, and a big problem I had with their experiment was that they limited their cruising speed to 50mph, far less than anyone with a pulse drives on the highway. Had they increased the speed of each vehicle by another 10-20 mph, the results would have been far different. Think about how much force the exerts on you when you open your window at 60-70mph - it's disproportionately greater than at 50.

    Regardless, on an 80+ degree day with humidity to match, there is no speed you could drive at to get cool the way you could with the a/c on.
    Regards,
    Deanie
  • linyguylinyguy Member Posts: 16
    In new 2005 Av Limited. Front seat backs seem to be uncomfortable. The seam in the middle is very tight, unlike the rear seats, where the seam is recessed. Is this normal? If you check your front seat seam against the back seat seam, are they different? I'd hate to complain to the dealer if this is how they are, but it is uncomfortable.
  • soulmastersoulmaster Member Posts: 12
    Hi Alto:
    You are welcome to see my car at link title

    ANY AND ALL MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO VISIT US BY CLICKING THE ABOVE LINK.ALL ARE FREE TO POST PICTURES OR MAKE COMMENTS.NO WHINING PLEASE!!! JUST GOOD CLEAN AVALON ENTHUSIASM
    Cheers,
    Soulmaster
  • retired7retired7 Member Posts: 133
    Thanks for the info. My wife gets a sore back when she sits in the front seats. As she sits back into the front seats, the recessed shape (wings) of the front seat causes her shoulders to push fwd and causes back pain/headache. She is looking for a cushion/foam pad to fill in depression in the seat. Any ideas out there? Thanks in advance for all your help..

    NWBLIZZARD
  • jl618jl618 Member Posts: 64
    Believe I figured it out.

    1. Set parking brake

    2. Close all doors

    3. Turn on ignition

    4. Shift selector lever from "P" to "N"

    5. Within 10 seconds of turning the ignition switch to "ON", press and hold the driver's side power door lock switch in the lock position for 5 seconds, THEN SHIFT SELECTOR LEVER BACK TO "P" WHILE STILL HOLDING DOWN THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH.

    At least, that's what I think I did. At least the locks are working as advertised (lock when going 12 mph or more). Someone else try it and let me know. I don't want to screw it up, as it is working great now.
  • justgreat47justgreat47 Member Posts: 100
    absolutely, in the northeast we are in a brutal humid heat wave and i can't imagine driving with the windows open to save a few bucks...you're sitting in a steel box in the blazing sun!! a/c is not an option; it's a necessity. as far as the fuel economy goes, the heavy a/c use on my caddy shows at least 1.5 mpg drop in economy on the dic..but it's a small price to pay for comfort. jackg 90seville 97k
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    due to the lower aerodynamic drag of todays new cars, you're actually better off fuel efficiency wise with the A/C on rather than with the windows rolled down (the added drag caused by the buffeting defeats any benefit of not running the compressor).

    I cant point to the article, it was a while back, but its worth considering.

    ~alpha
  • haggishaggis Member Posts: 10
    "Has anyone had any luck disabling the Seat Belt Chime?"

    Have you tried earplugs? Or maybe an ipod with a good headset?
  • just__mejust__me Member Posts: 508
    No longer unbelievable... Well I returned from NJ to SC and tried to document the MPG. I filled up some where in MD using Mobil 89 Octane. At 75 miles an hour I got roughly 30.6 MPG. At 70 I got roughly 31.7 MPG. As I entered SC with a quarter a tank to spare, I filled up with BP 93 Octane once again and My blue screen showed I had 395 miles to go, does the computer sense the different Octane and brands??? ( the Mobil showed 355) Anyway at 65 MPH I was getting around 32.2 MPG and at 60 MPH I was getting around 32.6 MPG. At 55 MPH with no A/C I got about 32.8 MPG. So that gives you a rough idea of MPG at varying speeds. In most cases other than the 55 MPH I had the A/C set at the lowest blower speed and set at 72 degrees. Anyhow, the moral of the story is first, I love the MPG, I will accept it, in fact anything over 30 MPG is great compared to my other Avalons. So it's still amazing to me that with more horses for the 05 I get better MPG. I never had the windows or my sun roof open. I never stomped on the gas pedal or made sudden stops. All in all at the slower speeds I am doing better than the 31 MPG my brochure says. It seems to me that everyone at 65 MPH should be getting at least the 31 MPG as posted in the brochure if not using the full blower position of the A/C and not stomping on the gas pedal. I never hit the 33 to 34.3 MPG that I got going to NJ. Maybe it had something to do with the hills in MD or the weather? Maybe on the way going home to SC my tires needed more air. IMHO, all these variables will affect the MPG. So that's my story, I believe we all have a car that will give you at least 31 MPG on the highway, of course it depends on your driving habits. I'm through checking my MPG, now I will just enjoy the ride. I now have approximately 5,600 miles on the car.
  • avaloncruiseravaloncruiser Member Posts: 19
    Just Me wrote: I just basically coasted all the way even through Washington
    LOL now THAT is hard to believe! I live in VA and work in DC....I know the traffic in the Metro DC area....did you come around the Beltway in the middle of the night? Kidding aside, I believe you got GREAT gas milage. I've been extreamly pleased with the gas usage on my 05. On our return from Wildwood at the Jersey shore to Locust Grove VA (15 miles west of Fredericksburg) we used well less then a half tank of gas...much better then my 02 XLS. I didn't take notice to the exact MPG usage though. On a daily basis I drive a combination city/hwy/rural where I cruise at 60 with some slowups and stops and on a regular basis average 26-28 mpg between fill-ups.
  • hank3hank3 Member Posts: 26
    OK I found the rims I was looking for. Who posted the pics of the silver Avalon?. I am not too keen on my limited rims that came with the car. These are the first I have seen that look classy. What kind are they? :surprise:
  • just__mejust__me Member Posts: 508
    No, we were just lucky that traffic was moving nicely and we weren't in the rush hour, same upon going home, yet somewhere in VA. the traffic going North was blocked for miles, whew, lucky again. With my stops and goes locally, city/highway, I average around 26 to 27 similar to yours.
  • 5539655396 Member Posts: 529
    "On your pics, I cannot tell any difference between the 3 images.
    What should I look for?
    Dan "

    The tail light is increased in size on all pix. That, I like. Look closely and you will see the transition in color where the original stops.

    The rocker panel area is shaded darker with a lead pencil, so it is not a color match, but I just wanted to see if if made it look lower and sleeker.

    I extended the blacked out area to the rear on the rear side window. I should have rounded the point though. It doesn't look right the way I have it.
  • avaloncruiseravaloncruiser Member Posts: 19
    OK funny story here. :D This past weekend hubby and I went to the Jersey shore. I have the 05 Limited. We visited with friends on their boat for the day on Saturday. Since I was carrying a beach bag and really didn’t need my handbag I decided to put it in the trunk. Hubby had been driving and when he went to lock the car using the button on the handle it wouldn’t lock. :cry: Since I rarely let him drive my car, I immediately figured he was doing something wrong. Not the case, even I couldn’t get it to lock. So, he locked it with the remote keyless flob. It drove me crazy wondering what went wrong. Then dahhhh like a light bulb turning on, :blush: I realized my mistake (and I knew this safety feature but forgot). My flob was in my handbag in the trunk…..the Avalon didn’t want me to luck the keys in the trunk. No, I am NOT blonde. :shades:

    Denise
  • johndjrjohndjr Member Posts: 80
    MikeS,
    I just got in from town. Tried the speed set at 55. Hit the brakes and slowed to 20mph. Accelerated to 40 and hit the resume position. The car accelerated back up to the 55 no problem.
    I don't know the exact speed at which the speed set will not cut in, but apparently it is somewhere below 40 mph in my car.
    Hope this helps.
    John D
  • havalongavalonhavalongavalon Member Posts: 460
    Hi just me,

    It's great that you got excellent gas mileage on your way back home, as well. Just a reminder that the fuel economy readout in the Avalon blue screen gives a frequent update of the average mpg for the entire travel since last gas fill-up. When you changed speeds from 65 to 60 to 55 MPH, the instantaneous fuel economy improved more than was apparent, because the updated screen readout remained "contaminated" by the prior driving history since your last fill-up.

    It also matters to record how long (how far) you drive at each speed. For example, from your posted information: "at 65 MPH I was getting around 32.2 MPG and at 60 MPH I was getting around 32.6 MPG", I will assume two possibilities, and estimate the actual MPG at 60 MPG for each case::

    Case 1 -- you started at 65 MPH right after filling up and drove 10 minutes at each speed (half the time, half the distance at each speed):

    65 MPH after 10 minutes readout: 32.2 MPG instantaneous: 32.2 MPG
    60 MPH after 10 minutes readout: 32.6 MPG instantaneous: 33.0 MPG

    Case 2 -- you started right after filling up and drove 90 minutes at at 65 MPH followed by 10 minutes at 60 MPH (90 % vs.10% of total time at each speed):

    @65 MPH after 90 minutes (97.5 mi), readout: 32.2 MPG; instantaneous: 32.2 MPG for all 97.5 miles

    @60 MPH after 10 minutes readout: 32.6 MPG (for all 107.5 mi); instantaneous: 37.1 MPG for last 10 miles

    Why this difference? Because

    To cover the first 97.5 miles @ 32.2 MPG you needed 3.027 gallons.
    To cover all 107.5 miles @ average 32.6 MPG you needed 3.2975 gallons.

    Difference = 0.2696 gallons, used to cover the last 10 miles at 60 MPH ==> your instantaneous fuel economy the last 10 miles was actually 37.1 MPG.

    This is the drawback of having only a cumulative average fuel economy readout, and why some of us have posted comments that it would be nice to also have the option of switching to Instantaneous MPG (or to Instantaneous liters/100 km, North of the 49th Parallel), if desired. This should only require a software upgrade and an extra switch.

    havalongavalon
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    high-level math is being committed in here. :sick:

    :shades:
  • avalonturing05avalonturing05 Member Posts: 32
    UNBELIEVABLE :P
  • havalongavalonhavalongavalon Member Posts: 460
    pat HOST and avalonturing05, thanks for your compliments. Actually it would have been simpler to explain this concept using special symbols such as for integration and differentiation that the text editor doesn't seem to have. Pat, how about upgrading it? ;)

    :blush: havalongavalon
  • waterduckwaterduck Member Posts: 4
    The Myth Busters show you were referring to was done in two parts: the first part used a single vehicle and the same driver with a computer to detect differences with the windows open or closed on the miles per gallon. That test showed that having the windows closed marginally increased the miles per gallon. The second test, where they stated that they had "busted the myth" was not properly designed. They used two vehicles and two different drivers but only performed the test once. The experimental design did not compensate for any differences between the two vehicles nor did it deal with slight differences between drivers all of which created the results that they saw. Personally, I believe the computer test was the only real valid one since it eliminated the differences between cars and between drivers. :D
  • limiteddriverlimiteddriver Member Posts: 234
    Maybe I'm mistaken but I thought what was wanted was to slow to 20-30 MPH then hit the resume and return to previous speed. Anyone tried this?
  • limiteddriverlimiteddriver Member Posts: 234
    Can't get your instructions to work, but am still trying.
  • fareastfareast Member Posts: 6
    I do not believe a/c blower speed has any effect on the mpg fuel. If I am wrong please correct me as I am no professional. I believe the compressor is either on or off which is what runs the a/c. Can someone confirm this?
  • ron6ron6 Member Posts: 27
    On my shifter console, just above the letter "P" (Park), is a small 1/2" square plug. I pried it out but I still can't figure out what it is for. Anyone know?
  • tmeframetmeframe Member Posts: 80
    Methinks that's the transmission Emergency Release.

    Steve
  • just__mejust__me Member Posts: 508
    I think that the higher the A/C blower you have on will give you less MPG. JMHO, but I think I'm right, any one else could share. Thanks.
  • just__mejust__me Member Posts: 508
    havalongavalon,Boy you really got me going with your math, kind of interesting. I drove a lot more hours and miles than you posted. For instance in MD where the speed was posted at 55 and 65 I drove at the 65 MPH and did so probably for about three plus hours. When the speed was posted at 70, I was doing 75 MPH for 4 plus hours, than 70 MPH for three plus hours. Nearing the end of my trip in SC, I went on an alternate road where the speed limit is 65 and I did 60 MPH, for more than an hour plus and finally near 278 in distance of home I probably did about a half hour of travel at 55 MPH. I hope this gives you some more insight, anyway thanks my friend. The hours aren't exact, just approximate to my recollection. At least you believe me.
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