Toyota RAV4 Maintenance and Repair

It's not a miracle cure for really bad scratches, but it will make it better appearing at the least and it's not too expensive to try and see. (one of your cheaper options to try first). Good stuff to have on hand anyway. A lot of places carry their stuff so it should be easy to pick some up to try.

http://www.nufinish.com/buy.html

#784 of 823 Re: Loud knocking noise from rear - maybe suspension? [hannahsmummy] by pyrite

Jul 19, 2010 (8:38 pm)

Replying to: hannahsmummy (Mar 02, 2007 11:36 am)

I have the EXACT same symptoms as this. Roughly began at one year of ownership from brand new and after they rotated the tires. The first trip to the dealership resulted in them not being able to replicate the problem. Its getting worse and Im making another appointment again soon so I can personally take them for a drive and show them. I will also bring up for them to check the tie rod assembly. Hopefully it is the same problem and they can find it. I have a 2009 Rav4 base.

#785 of 823 ecm by daloon

Jul 26, 2010 (4:49 pm)

I need to get my ecm repaired and it's cheaper if i remove it and send it in myself than to have someone else remove it for me. Does anyone know where it is and the best way to remove it?

Replies to this message:

acemechanic (Jul 28, 2010 4:34 pm)

#786 of 823 Re: ecm [daloon] by acemechanic

Jul 28, 2010 (4:34 pm)

Replying to: daloon (Jul 26, 2010 4:49 pm)

First of all, what year is your vehicle? Do you live in California? How many miles are on the vehicle? I would check these things out before you begin to remove and replace parts, because if the vehicle is still under warranty (ECM warranty may be different than 36 mos/36k miles) and you remove and replace parts, it may void whatever warranty you may still have.

#787 of 823 Re: fuse issues [mazdacx7] by rayli

Aug 31, 2010 (11:57 am)

Replying to: mazdacx7 (Feb 12, 2009 5:21 pm)

Where is the power accesores location and how much for fuse?
thanks

#788 of 823 Re: Defective window seal trim [gregorylynn] by jme2

Mar 06, 2011 (4:43 pm)

Replying to: gregorylynn (Nov 15, 2006 1:10 pm)

I have a 2007 Toyota Rav4 and all of the trim around the whole car is literally melting off in most areas around the windows and the plastic trims around the car are drying up and shrinking. Is this happening to anyone else?? I called the Toyota dealer about two months after the warranty ended and the guy who answered the phone said he had never heard of it happening! I find it hard to believe that of all the RAV4 cars they made with this rubber trim I am the only one with this problem. Does anyone else have this problem? Also I know I can't fix it myself and I don't want to spend whole paychecks to get it fixed, Where can I go to get a good deal yet have good quality trims? Please help me!!!!

Replies to this message:

pamf2 (Oct 25, 2011 12:41 pm)
- mpilch (Nov 23, 2012 10:02 am)

#789 of 823 Windshield Issue ? by michaelp1

May 08, 2011 (1:24 pm)

My 2011 Rav4 Limited has less than 500 miles - and a crack that runs from top edge to about three inches from the bottom, making a left and a right in its travels. It first appeared as a much smaller crack four days ago; it actually spread while sitting in my driveway! I can't say that it wasn't a pebble, but honestly don't remember hearing anything. I saw some older posts of people claiming their windshield cracked on it's own - I'm not able to swear to that (I do drive on the highway) but I can say that in my 36 years of driving I have never had a windshield crack spread so rapidly while not driving. Are there reports of any inherent problems with the quality of Toyota windshield, particularly with the Rav4 and its installation? Seems that excessive stress forces are at work even when the car is still.

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.

Replies to this message:

#790 of 823 Re: Windshield Issue ? [michaelp1] by kyfdx HOST

May 08, 2011 (8:24 pm)

Replying to: michaelp1 (May 08, 2011 1:24 pm)

Ask the Safelite guys to look at it, and point out any impact marks.. If there aren't any, it most likely is a defective windshield and Toyota may replace it under warranty...

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.

#791 of 823 1997 Rav4 by rose920

May 09, 2011 (3:16 am)

When does one stop putting money into a car?

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.

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