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Comments
nguyet "Toyota Avalon Maintenance" Jan 10, 2003 10:59am
- one of the best if not the best long distance cruisers ever, and I've had a few.
- about 29 mpg, on a car with just 1k miles.
- only problem is that I was constantly fiddling with the manual AC dials, almost worth buying the extraneious bells and whistles just to get the auto temo control.
~alpha
It is almost always feezing even when you offset the ac by boosting the temperature control to provide more heat to offset the cold (I have to set the "auto" temperature at about 85 degrees to begin to be comfortable.
Is there a fix or a TSB for this?
How are you? Super I hope!
Anyhow, that's what puzzles me about the Camry, but you do have a good point that they're both built at the same plant in KY! Have a great weekend!
Sunshine60105!
Again, like I said, compared to Avalon and Highlander, you could purchase a high end Camry and have $$$, if you are really concerned, buy the premium extended warranty.
~alpha
What is the current holdback percent on this model and should I subtract all or part from my offering price?
I like the Avalon XLS climate control, in hot weather it runs the fan on slow, closes the outside air and cools the car. In a mile or two the fan speeds up and the outside is turned on. It does take a few miles or about 5 minutes till things get cool, and then gradually as the temp reaches the set temp on the dash, then the fan blower slows down and if get warm, say by opening a window the fan will speed up to take care of the needed cooling. My biggest problem is my wife wants to manipulate the blower speed, air intake and that takes it off of Auto. I would smack her, but she bruises too easily, much bigger problem! Driving happily in Pennsylvnia.
Trailering up to 2000lbs it is rated, with a tongue weight of I believe 300lbs but check this. You would be best served to hook up a Modulite light wiring harness for a small trailer, and wire it internally through the car. This way you can flap the plug inside instead of letting it dangle outside. This is a direct hook up to the battery. Find a reliable electric auto guy to do this. The hitch can be done by a driveway mechanic. Mine came out perfect.
#2347. What maitenance items are you referring to??? Do you intend to do them all yourself?? Oil changes every 5K, transmission at 60K then every 30K, change the A/C Filter every year, by taking the glove box out. Be more specific and I would be able to give you a better answer.
Anyway, here are some general rules quick.
1. Anything you can do yourself, do. It is cheaper, and you will have the satifaction of knowing it is done correctly. Yes, the oil filter is right under the manifold. Get some mechanics gloves and a long sleeve shirt.
2. There was NO demonstrable difference, measured by a micrometer, in NYC Taxi engines, taken apart after 200K, whether you changed the oil at 3K or 5K. Sooo. unless you like doing it, or get a warm and fuzzy, I would suggest doing it (oil) every 5K, regularly, and I mean regularly. To back this up further, my last car, sold to another soldier here on base (1990 Honda Civic EX) bought new, had 236K on it. It burned about 1/2 a quart every 5K miles. How many people keep their autos longer than this?????(11.5 years with 236K). Point. 5K is fine.
3. I do not have a problem with someone else doing it as long as they are competent. It is not rocket science. The problem is that most who do it, don't really care about your 30K machine. Find someone who cares a little about their work.
4. ATF-No toyota recommendations from corporation. Maybe by dealerships for $70. Honda recommends for SEVERE driving, change (not flush) at 60K, and then every 30K thereafter.
5. A/C filter is behind the glovebox. XL and XLS have slightly different filter. Not hard to do if you take your time and get the exploded views. Change once a year.
6. Note difference between oil filter that came on the car (made in Japan) and the one Toyota sells you at the dealership (made in USA). Very interesting.
Let me know if I can be more help to anyone with a 2000 Avalon or younger.
views (glove box) for the 2001 XL ?
the glove box ?
Thanks,
cusafr
To see these exploded views of the dash, look at the Service(not owners) manual. You may be able to see it at the parts department if they are nice, or you can purchase it. It is expensive however, worth it, if you keep the Avalon for years and do the maintenance yourself. I am unsure if the general repair manual have this in, but Clinton's for example may have it, and would be cheaper.
Don't be afraid of doing it, as long as you take your time and your are careful. It is NOT rocket science or surgery.
A.Fisch
There is no engine change.
Or you could get a Camry SE or Lexus ES330.
~alpha
For Hitches, or Draw Tite Hitches(Brand), you can do a search on the internet. There are plenty of companies that sell the hitches and the Modulite lite wiring harnessess. Or, you can have U-haul sell you it and/or install it. The advantage to not having them touch you car and you doing it yourself, is ...#1. you can torque the bolts exactly like they are supposed to be torqued with a torque wrench, and #2. Even more important, is you can Rust Proof the hitch BEFORE you place it on the car, by spraying it with a couple cans of that rubberized undercoating. This will alleviate any rusty, ugly hitch in years to come. The Draw Tite model fits nicely under the lip of the of the fairing under the bumper. All you see is the receiver female plug.
I am looking for feedback on a set of 16 radials. I know the upgraded Avalon XLS comes with 205/60/16 tires. I assume those will be acceptable on my XL but I was looking toward 215/60/16 or 215/55/16 for the next set. Living in Florida, wet traction is important, as well as, reasonably good mileage. I think I understand the concern for keeping the overall diameter of the new wheel and tire combination very close to the existing setup (for speedometer, etc.) I am expecting to pay $100.+ or so per tire. I have checked out Bridgestone RE950 but it is maybe more of a performance tire than I need. I am also looking at Michelin XGT H4 but it got some bad reviews for early excessive wear. Any comments or suggestions on tire size and/or manufacture and model? All positive and negative feedback welcome. Thanks.
Since you bought the 16" wheels, my advice depends alot if you are going to have someone recalibrate your computer for tire diameter. It can be done, but only by someone who is competent.
Saying that, the easiest and most linear thing to do, is to get a tire size 215/55 H 16. This overall diameter is EXACTLY the same as 205/65 H 15. You will get NO SPEEDO error. Additionally, the 55 seriies ideally requires a 7" wide wheel and I think the 16" Toyota rims are 6" or 6.5", so check with someone in the know with tires.
The caveat to this, is that it is a wider tire and lower profile, so it will give you a little stiffer ride, a little better steering response, and comes out a little of the rear splash guards if you have them.
The 950 Bridgestone is a fine tire as the Michelin. My feeling on tires is they are all good, but it depends on your circumstances and driving situation. Michelin and Goodyear are almost always overpriced. A rain tire would be better for you in Florida. Snow traction does not matter much. Wear rating may be a consideration. The Continental's (?CH95), in 215/55 H 16 are OEM for the E class Mercedes Benz. Same tire, same size. That should give you a decent upgrade.
If this does not suffice, then at an appropriate time, change the incompetent struts that come on the car, replacing them with ones(Tokico HP Gas)that are competent. You will notice a signaficant difference in you vehicle handling, braking(no more front dive at high speeds) without a significant difference in ride quality. Note the PSI tire pressure for the new tires and correlate that with the vehicle weight.
Hope this helps.
If you would, please expand on the requirement for recalibrating the computer for tire diameter. If the overall wheel and tire diameter of the new setup with 215/55/16 is the same as the old setup with 205/65/15, is recalibration required? Maybe, I just don't understand the computer calibration function relative to the wheel and tire size.
I was anticipating the firmer ride, steering response and slash guard issues. I had read your recommendation on the Tokico HP Gas struts in earlier posts and I will check into them.
Your input helps, thanks.
TIRES? Read this board long enough, there will be a recommendation for each and every tire on the market. Everyone's needs/wants are different. I will be switching back to Yokohama Avid's. Go to tirerack.com They have tire ratings based on user input. People who have USED the tires rate their wet, dry, snow traction, noise, comfort, etc. Unfortuneately, like shoes, we can not try tires on. If you do go wider with the tires, you might be able to get into Goodrich "g-force" tires. I have driven on these on the track. They are awesome. (NOTE: It was DRY. I have NOT used them on WET pavement.)
STRUTS? I did a brief write up on the Tokico's in this forum. They are an excellent upgrade. However, I did notice when riding in the back seat, with my head on the headrest, trying to sleep, the car is almost too "sporty"/rigid. -nomad56-
Replacement of the same or all struts on a 2 - 3 year old Toyota could draw the attention of their Zone Service Org.
The likelihood of the problem sequence you posted based on generalized Avy defect statistics is very, very, very, very low. ( 4 verys )
If it's true, then the problem isn't the Avy, it could be your dealership and you should be on the phone to Toyota National Customer Support.
I agree with your assessment except for the wind noise. Maybe I rarely drive over 80 miles per hour. My one complaint is sometimes the car feels like it is bottoming out going over speed bumps or moderate undulations. Perhaps my 2000 XLS with 30,000 miles is due for new shocks.
The JBL sound system is incredible, and to double your pleasure on your long drives, may I suggest the CD Josh Brogan. It is a collection of of "comtemporary" operatic ballads sung both in Italian and English by a young American singer Josh Brogan. My favorite tracks:
1. Alla luce del sole
3. You still you
5. To where you are (he performed that on the Oprah Winfrey show)
9. Starry, starry night
10. Un amore per sempre
Enjoy!
Low speeds banging from rear end passenger side when going over bumps.
Anyone else have any comments/similar problems?
Thanks