Automatic Transmission Problems Rav4 4.2 2002

[trbj]

Quick update: Saga is continuing....

Another two unhappy norwegian RAV4 automathic transmission owners (2002 model) called me last month.

My advice is clear, - send your ECU to New York and forget any greedy proposal from your local moneygrabbing Toyota dealer!

Trond

[paula57]

Quick update: Saga is continuing....

Another two unhappy norwegian RAV4 automathic transmission owners (2002 model) called me last month.

My advice is clear, - send your ECU to New York and forget any greedy proposal from your local moneygrabbing Toyota dealer!

Trond

Have same problem Toyota dont want to know ...will fight it ,have contacted consumer direct who are reporting matter to Trading Standards as it is a safety issue will try watchdog next!!

[nikolai delia]

Hi, now I'm having this problem too :(

[chubbles]

Having read a few messages I contacted Dom Littlewood (he of 'Don't get done - get Dom fame) hopefully he might help. Screwfix Torx bits as mentioned all have 6 splines - bits with 5 splines are more suitable. I wonder just HOW many Rav 4's in Europe have this problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bobbler]

My engine management light has come on and the auto gearbox is acting up!

I am aware of http://www.rav4ecu.net/documents/warranty.pdf but have little faith in getting anywhere with it.

I have to admit that I fear this will cost more than the car is worth!

[ANNAWONG]

It almost certainly be the faulty ECU..........................

ECU Testing at Heanor, Derbyshire will sort it for around £200:00.

Lot's of references on this forum to support this view. I am one happy customer of ECU Testing, there are many others on here. Don't hesitate, get it done!

[chubbles]

I sent off my ECU to Heanor,Derbyshire, they said they could find no fault - I am now in the process of re-installing the ECU so I can take the car to get a diagnostic scan done. The only problem I have is the sudden loss of drive in top gear on the automatic 'box, no warning lights,no fault codes I am (as yet) aware of. I am still puzzled as to why the loss happened so suddenly. The Toyota dealer did suggest a transmission fluid change as there is a chance one of the channels might be blocked. I am a bit nervous travelling 15 or so miles in third gear to get to the Toyota dealer. Incidently I bought a set of Torx screw drivers with 5 splines from Machine Mart, an excellent set of bits they are. WHY is there always a stubborn screw in an awkward place that resists easy removal?

[bobbler]

It almost certainly be the faulty ECU..........................

ECU Testing at Heanor, Derbyshire will sort it for around £200:00.

Lot's of references on this forum to support this view. I am one happy customer of ECU Testing, there are many others on here. Don't hesitate, get it done!

Thank you for the advice and I really appreciate it but I am no mechanic or even "handy" so the job is beyond me!

I do have a friendly mechanic though. He has suggested taking it to the dealer which I am doing, to see what they suggest.

I will keep you posted!

[bobbler]

Quick update: Saga is continuing....Another two unhappy norwegian RAV4 automathic transmission owners (2002 model) called me last month.My advice is clear, - send your ECU to New York and forget any greedy proposal from your local moneygrabbing Toyota dealer!Trond

Have same problem Toyota dont want to know ...will fight it ,have contacted consumer direct who are reporting matter to Trading Standards as it is a safety issue will try watchdog next!!

Have you had any luck?

[paula57]

Well this saga is still going on ...after numerous letters to Toyota I finally gave up :(...after fitting a new ECU in my 2001 RAV4 I was told I needed a new auto transmission???I contacted CHESTER AUTO TRANSMISSION they took my car and changed the fluid and a pan gasket and could find nothing wrong!!!Would recomend these guys my car still going strong after 2 years!

[bobbler]

Well this saga is still going on ...after numerous letters to Toyota I finally gave up :(...after fitting a new ECU in my 2001 RAV4 I was told I needed a new auto transmission???I contacted CHESTER AUTO TRANSMISSION they took my car and changed the fluid and a pan gasket and could find nothing wrong!!!Would recomend these guys my car still going strong after 2 years!

Who told you it needed a new auto transmission?

Who fitted the new ECU?

Thanks.

I am rally building up to a battle here, although at he moment it is all in my head!

I have very little fact!

Am taking it to a main dealer in the morning to see what they say!

Will post immediately!!!

[Big Kev]

Aye, Gaz min.....lots of battles "were in people's heads" mate......ah mean, look at that wee guy Adolf......how many battles did he actually attend.....?

[paula57]

I took it to my local PREMIER TOYOTA in LLANDUDNO JUNCTION,it wasnt going in to gear so they said I needed a new ECU which I had fitted and then they said I needed a new AUTO TRANSMISSION.I was well aware of the fault on automatics made in these years and rang Toyota customer services but they didnt want to know.I dont think the dealers have much knowledge of automatics ,I would find a garage that just deals with automatics and see what they say.The guys in Chester Auto told me that Toyota often sent automatics to them to sort out.As I say this was 2 years ago and touch wood my Rav is running ok...

[bobbler]

I took it to my local PREMIER TOYOTA in LLANDUDNO JUNCTION,it wasnt going in to gear so they said I needed a new ECU which I had fitted and then they said I needed a new AUTO TRANSMISSION.I was well aware of the fault on automatics made in these years and rang Toyota customer services but they didnt want to know.I dont think the dealers have much knowledge of automatics ,I would find a garage that just deals with automatics and see what they say.The guys in Chester Auto told me that Toyota often sent automatics to them to sort out.As I say this was 2 years ago and touch wood my Rav is running ok...

Did you have the chip and the transmission replaced?

[ANNAWONG]

Good solution Paula!

Either a rebuilt ECU or a replacement, (through ECU Testing Ltd or any other ecu specialist) is the first step. If that doesn't solve the issue then a transmission specialist is the way to go. All a Toyota Dealer will offer is a replacement transmission at around £3,500:00!

You obviously have a good one in Chester. I know a very good one in Doncaster. There are others around the country who will "give a service" like diagnostically testing to source the problem, then going inside and replacing the offending parts for much, much less than Toyota's replacement cost.

Result, happy motoring!

[paula57]

Hi I just had the ECU replaced and then was told by Toyota that I needed a new transmission as well!Thats when I got hold of CHESTER AUTO and they just serviced it ,changed the transmission fluid and a new pan gasket(dont know what that is !!)and it was good to go..Have you seen the other post apparently good auto garage in Doncaster if you are near there ..