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Toyota Avalon Basic Maintenance Questions

290 messages,  Last post on Jun 16, 2009 at 8:51 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Avalon, Oil, Sedan

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#140 of 290 Re: Toyota Avalon Maintenance [adirondack1] by user777 Sep 12, 2005 (8:36 am)
Replying to: adirondack1 (Sep 11, 2005 7:07 pm) now that you've got the light again, why not go to the local automotive parts store and see if they'll read the code(s) for you. maybe interpreting the code(s) will help you determine what's happening when the ambient is cold.
#141 of 290 Re: Toyota Avalon Maintenance [adirondack1] by abfisch Sep 13, 2005 (8:02 am)
Replying to: adirondack1 (Sep 11, 2005 4:43 pm) Adirondack1:   We live in the same area, only I am on the other side of the Adirondacks near Ft.Drum, NY. Own a 02 Avalon with 73K on it. Here is my take, similar but not exact.   1. Use synthetic oil only in the winter. Change it at 5K intervals. 2. Tranny change at 40-50K, and a full change including filter 80-100K. 3. Brake fluid should be changed, regardless of mileage every 3 years. 4. If you put on 20K like I do, then why not change the water pump, timing belt and radiator fluid ALL at the same time. Timing belt should be done at 80-90K, just about the time the radiator fluid needs changing, the two V belts, and ya might as well do the water pump too cause they are right there.   5. Buy some inexpensive steel Toyota or similar steel wheels and use winter tires on all four. Much surer during the winter time.   Good luck.   abfisch
#142 of 290 Outrageous bill padding by gwestbound Sep 15, 2005 (12:03 pm)
Our Camry has been an excellent car in every respect. Outrageous bill padding caused us to part company with the Toyota dealer.   The car was in the service department for a $150 inspection and oil change, notwithstanding the necessity for some inspection items was suspect. Front and rear brake inspection was included. Simply looking at them inspects front disk brakes. Inspection of rear drum brakes require wheel and drum removal. The service manageress approached me with a grim look on her face and told me the car’s brakes required cleaning, at $50 extra. Front disk brakes require no cleaning. Cleaning rear drum brakes with the drum already removed consists of dropping the drum on the floor upside-down from about 12” so the brake dust drops out, and blowing out the brake assembly with an air hose for a few seconds. In fact, most of the dust drops out when the drum is removed. I asked her if I looked like I had just fallen off a turnip truck. She looked a little sheepish. I haven’t been back since.   We recently replaced our second car with an Acura. Early indications are the Acura dealer has an equally impressive but unnecessary inspection regimen. I’ll put up with it during the warranty period, but then it’s sayonara. My theory is the cars are so good Toyota and Acura dealers have to cheat to achieve acceptable service department profits.
#143 of 290 Oil Filter for 2005 Avalon? by sixpacktr Sep 26, 2005 (3:52 pm)
Got underneath my car last weekend to change the oil. Draining the oil was no problem, but I looked high and low for the oil filter and never could find it. Wal-Mart sold a Fram filter for the car (same as my 2003 Avalon), but where is the filter? I saw, under the car, something that looked like an oil filter adapter, but it was capped off, and the way to take it off was witha a square key, kind of like an allen key but square instead. Is this the filter area? Is it simply the element that needs to be changed? The Toyota maintenance manual says nothing about an oil filter.   Thanks. Replies to this message: fin (Sep 26, 2005 7:52 pm) sixpacktr (Sep 27, 2005 9:05 am) n0v8or (Sep 27, 2005 9:59 am)
#144 of 290 Re: Oil Filter for 2005 Avalon? [sixpacktr] by fin Sep 26, 2005 (7:52 pm)
Replying to: sixpacktr (Sep 26, 2005 3:52 pm) Welcome to the world of filters from long ago, now making a comeback. No more spin-ons. The square hole is for a square drive..to remove the whole thing. The filter is inside. Another member can give you the exact details..but you had it right, the filter element is inside and not really visible. A prior generation filter will not work. Hope this helps.... Replies to this message: sixpacktr (Sep 27, 2005 9:05 am) n0v8or (Sep 27, 2005 9:59 am)
#145 of 290 Re: Oil Filter for 2005 Avalon? [fin] by sixpacktr Sep 27, 2005 (9:05 am)
Replying to: fin (Sep 26, 2005 7:52 pm) Thanks for the input. I thought that was what I was seeing, but wanted to be sure. Now for the $64 question (which may be closer than I want to admit). Where can I get one of these beauties? Obviously Wally World doesn't carry it, and the dealer will probably charge me as much as it costs for the whole oil change. Advance, or Autozone perhaps?   Thanks. Replies to this message: n0v8or (Sep 27, 2005 9:59 am)
#146 of 290 Re: Oil Filter for 2005 Avalon? [sixpacktr] by n0v8or Sep 27, 2005 (9:59 am)
Replying to: sixpacktr (Sep 27, 2005 9:05 am) Go over to the 2005+ Avalon forum and run a search for messages related to "oil filter". You will find all you wanted to know and more. Filter cartridge price from mail order Toyota Dealers is less than $5 if you buy 10 at a time, otherwise closer to $6.   The square plug is for access to a drain. An adapter comes with each filter element. Inserting it in the opening behind the square plug drains all of the old oil out of the filter. You use a 65mM cap-style wrench (type B at Wally-World, $3.99) to subsequently remove the filter housing and replace the cartridge.   Download the PDF file referred to in one of the messages to learn how to replace and position the O-ring seals (new ones come with the filter kit).
#147 of 290 Oil change interval? by brown3 Nov 03, 2005 (11:40 am)
I just got an '06 XLS . . . as part of the deal I get free oil changes at the dealer every 5000 miles, but I was wondering . . . in the past, I've always done the first oil change on a new car at around 1000 miles, figuring the oil was picking up more "stuff" during the break-in period while the parts were wearing in. Is this still considered to be a good idea with new cars like the Avalon? Replies to this message: abfisch (Nov 04, 2005 6:43 am)
#148 of 290 Re: Oil change interval? [brown3] by abfisch Nov 04, 2005 (6:43 am)
Replying to: brown3 (Nov 03, 2005 11:40 am) No harm done. Dealership sounds like a good one. If they continue to want your business, I am sure they would consider it.   Good luck with the new one.   abfisch
#149 of 290 Where are Spark plugs? by shysnow Nov 05, 2005 (7:34 pm)
As I asked in #86, I found only three of them. 3 more spark plugs are waiting for their home. Avalon is the great car, but some parts are little bit hard to maintenance by ourselves. Thanks. Replies to this message: fin (Nov 06, 2005 4:27 am) nosretep (Nov 29, 2005 1:31 pm)

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