- #76 of 101
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Re: Going to Buy New 2009 Avalon Next Week [rpfingsten]
by ksward74
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Jan 01, 2009 (7:17 am)
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Replying to: rpfingsten (Jan 01, 2009 4:53 am)
Well, we live in Oklahoma and just bought our 2nd Avalon. I didn't get the replies in time to help with our decision on which model. Hopefully, the cold weather won't be as bad as up north so the sun roof won't rattle!!! We got the 2008 Limited because they made us a better deal than on the '09 models. It has 6800 miles and had been driven by the Toyota staff. Our first Avalon was a 2001 XL and we were very happy with it, but this '08 Limited is amazing. I don't want to get it out of the garage so I can protect it from car door dings and rocks!!! I've been on vacation so have to go back to work on Monday. We might get snow, so wish me luck on keeping the pearl tri-coat clean!!! I am very happy to be back in the Avalon family. Love my Avalon!!!
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- #77 of 101
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Re: FWD vs RWD [houdini1]
by wwest
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Jan 01, 2009 (6:59 pm)
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Replying to: houdini1 (Dec 30, 2008 8:32 pm)
The TC, Traction Control, on the early LSes, prior to 2000, had a design that was better used with the fuse removed....NO ACTIVATION.
The braking of the rear wheels and engine dethrottling was virtually INSTANT, and seemingly took HOURS to unwind and return control of the throttle to the driver. After a few times with inadvertent activation I tried to religiously remember to turn it off each time I started the LS.
But the biggest mistake was actually yours, not having tire chains installed on the rear when clearly that was what was required.
The law of physics, you know.
"at that point the computer killed the engine.."
The TC in the early LS will so severely dethrottle the engine as to make you think it's stalled, and it doesn't help that it takes so l..o...n....g to "unwind" the dethrotting effect.
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- #78 of 101
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Re: FWD vs RWD [tjc78]
by wwest
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Jan 01, 2009 (7:08 pm)
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Replying to: tjc78 (Dec 31, 2008 5:17 am)
About, or after 2000, these was a divergence in the firmware control for Toyota and Lexus RWD & R/AWD vehicles vs FWD & F/AWD vehicles. Because loss of traction on the driven wheels of a FWD is such a more serious, potentially more serious, matter than loss of traction on the driven wheels of a RWD, the detrottling of FWD vehicles is virtually simultaneous with the detection of wheelspin/slip.
On a RWD dethrottling is often delayed a few hundred milliseconds after wheelspin/slip is detected and braking is applied.
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- #80 of 101
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Re: FWD vs RWD [wwest]
by houdini1
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Jan 01, 2009 (8:19 pm)
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Replying to: wwest (Jan 01, 2009 6:59 pm)
But the biggest mistake was actually yours, not having tire chains installed on the rear when clearly that was what was required.
Chains? Well I guess a snow cat would have been even better. If you had read my post, or comprehended it, you would know that 99.9% of the roads were clear and it was 40+ degrees. Absolutely no indication that chains would be required.
The isolated icy stretch was only about a quarter mile long that I came upon quite unexpectedly. Even if I had chains with me, which I didn't, it would have been impossibly dangerous to stop on this very narrow road and attempt to install them.
If there had been any indication of bad roads I would simply have taken my SUV. Unfortunately there are some circumstances that you just can't foresee.
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- #81 of 101
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Re: Going to Buy New 2009 Avalon Next Week [ncee]
by rpfingsten
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Jan 02, 2009 (1:50 am)
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Replying to: ncee (Jan 01, 2009 5:17 am)
Ncee.... this may not apply to you but you mentioned no sun roof rattle, but you did notice a rattle in the dash. Does it sound like it's coming from the right side ( passenger ) side of the dash? That's what I first heard and thought the rattle was coming from the dash. After I got on the internet and started researching the rattle issues with the avalon, I found a post that someone left saying they heard a rattle on the right side of the dash ( or at least thought that was where the rattle was ) but actually it was from the sun roof. Well, the next time I heard the "dash" area rattle, I opened the visor on the sun roof and pressed lightly against the glass... sure enough, the rattle I thought I heard n the dash, stopped everytime I pressed against the sun roof... I suspect the reason it sounded like it was coming from the dash area is becuase the rattle sound was traveling down the A-pillars into the dash compartment. In any event that's how I discovered it was my sunroof. Dealer said something about sending it to a trim shop where they would have to drop the headliner but since the rattle goes away as soon as the car interior warms from the heater, I elected not to have it worked on. To the gentleman that said they lived in Oklahoma and doubted it would get cold enough for the rattle, well, I live in Louisiana and it gets cold enough here for the rattle so i'm sure it will be cold enough where you live. However since you have an 08 or 09, Toyota may have corrected the problem in the newer models... hope so for your sake... enjoy your Avy... they're very good cars, but hey, I've never owned a car that was perfect.
Roland
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- #82 of 101
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Re: Going to Buy New 2009 Avalon Next Week [rpfingsten]
by ncee
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Jan 02, 2009 (6:02 am)
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Replying to: rpfingsten (Jan 02, 2009 1:50 am)
Right side and sometimes center. I will check the sunroof the next time it happens and see if it goes away. It will be nice to at least know what and where it's coming from.
Skip
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- #83 of 101
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Re: FWD vs RWD [houdini1]
by necro1234
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Jan 02, 2009 (2:36 pm)
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Replying to: houdini1 (Dec 30, 2008 8:32 pm)
Ye I've read/heard some "interesting" stories on the bad side of TC.
I've never had TC (I'm originally from South Africa) and heck, I haven't even had ABS before coming to the US.
We had to learn all the manual ways of pumping the brake and so forth (which I truly believe makes one a better driver than throwing them in something that "thinks" for you at 16)
Anyhow, the 07 XLS I got my grubby paws on has no TC, I've had a few wheel spins on icy roads and the car has had that situation where it wants to pull to the side as traction is lost on one wheel, but so far I've found the car to be very forgiving of getting into situations and pretty easy to get the Avalon out of them all.
So far so good my side *knock wood* 
I've never had much experience in RWD though other than a Dodge Charger rental (which I loved the feel of, thing felt like a 10 ton tank sunk in the ground, felt VERY stable), I don't know that I personally would change to RWD just due to my inexperience with it in a climate that gets snow/ice.
Cheers guys
Sheldon
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- #84 of 101
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Re: Going to Buy New 2009 Avalon Next Week [rpfingsten]
by necro1234
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Jan 02, 2009 (2:42 pm)
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Replying to: rpfingsten (Jan 01, 2009 4:53 am)
Thank you for that post.
I too have a 07 XLS and have also noticed a rattle at time that from your description sounds very much like mine, I have never suspected the sun roof though.
Next time I hear this I'll put pressure on it and see if it also is coming from there.
Thanks again
Sheldon
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- #85 of 101
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Re: FWD vs RWD [necro1234]
by houdini1
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Jan 02, 2009 (3:25 pm)
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Replying to: necro1234 (Jan 02, 2009 2:36 pm)
Yes, I think you are right about learning to drive without tc. It should make you a better driver. I'll know to disengage tc next time in get in a fix like that ! The Avalon is a great car, enjoy, and welcome to the good ol' U.S.A. !
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