My Rav

[Davepax]

I'm new here so 1st of all I'd like to say Hello.

I've had my Rav almost 2 years now, It's a 52 plate and was registered in 2003. Can someone tell me if that makes my car a 2002 or a 2003? because that's a question which pops up allot when looking for parts. I think I'm probably just being stupid, no need for confirmation of that though.

I haven't had much trouble with the Rav, touch wood n all that. Earlier this year I had DMF failure and due to the cost of replacing those horrible things I had to seek an alternative, I bought and had fitted a solid flywheel and clutch conversion kit at half the price and it seems to be running well.(so far so good)

I'm also waiting on a set of General grabber AT tyres I have on order, I have heard good reports of these tyres and as my Bridgstones are nearing the end of their life I thought I'd give something different a go.

I could do with a little more power though and I have been looking into getting a tuning chip but I find it quite confusing as there are quite a few on the market but at varying prices. I'm worried about the get what you pay for theory but funds are not unlimited. Has anyone had good experiences with a less expensive chip?

Cheers

Dave

[Big Kev]

I'm new here so 1st of all I'd like to say Hello.

I've had my Rav almost 2 years now, It's a 52 plate and was registered in 2003. Can someone tell me if that makes my car a 2002 or a 2003? because that's a question which pops up allot when looking for parts. I think I'm probably just being stupid, no need for confirmation of that though.

I haven't had much trouble with the Rav, touch wood n all that. Earlier this year I had DMF failure and due to the cost of replacing those horrible things I had to seek an alternative, I bought and had fitted a solid flywheel and clutch conversion kit at half the price and it seems to be running well.(so far so good)

I'm also waiting on a set of General grabber AT tyres I have on order, I have heard good reports of these tyres and as my Bridgstones are nearing the end of their life I thought I'd give something different a go.

I could do with a little more power though and I have been looking into getting a tuning chip but I find it quite confusing as there are quite a few on the market but at varying prices. I'm worried about the get what you pay for theory but funds are not unlimited. Has anyone had good experiences with a less expensive chip?

Cheers

Dave

I would start by PM to Kingo, Dave....he may have a "not brand new" Chip Kit and might do you a deal....you're right as far as these things go...you really do get what you pay for (except that official Toyota Chip spoken about t'other night @ £800.00....aye, right...)

Big Kev

[CharlieFarlie]

Your car strictly speaking is a 2003 Parts are best ordered of the Registration or Chassis number..

Re the Chip.. I waited until one eventually came up on eBay.. I paid just over half new price including delivery and K&N filter...

Oh and welcome to the Forum

Wee Charlie.

[MarsKy]

Your car strictly speaking is a 2003 Parts are best ordered of the Registration or Chassis number..

Re the Chip.. I waited until one eventually came up on Ebay.. I paid just over half new price including delivery and K&N filter...

Oh and welcome to the Forum

Wee Charlie.

Surely 2002?

Registered 2003 but probably manufactured 2002, which is what you would base parts on?

[jedi134]

I would presume if you have the square fog lights at the front, you are pre face lift, round fog lights post face lift pre-2000-2003 post 2003-2006

I would have thought the engine parts would be the same though, that goes for suspension mechanics also???

[Davepax]

I would presume if you have the square fog lights at the front, you are pre face lift, round fog lights post face lift pre-2000-2003 post 2003-2006

I would have thought the engine parts would be the same though, that goes for suspension mechanics also???

Thanks guys

It has square fogs so that would make it 2000 - 2003, am I right in saying it would be 2002 to narrow it down and be on the safe side? Although I don't suppose too much has changed.

[CharlieFarlie]

Your car strictly speaking is a 2003 Parts are best ordered of the Registration or Chassis number..

Re the Chip.. I waited until one eventually came up on Ebay.. I paid just over half new price including delivery and K&N filter...

Oh and welcome to the Forum

Wee Charlie.

Surely 2002?

Registered 2003 but probably manufactured 2002, which is what you would base parts on?

For valuation purposes its a 2003 .. For parts I would order off the chassis number.. Unless there was a model change or facelift surely the parts will be the same ??

Most every parts seller and the Dealers will carry all parts on a Data base that reacts to the chassis number......

Wee Charlie.

[jedi134]

Yep say 2002 when asking for parts

Have a look at the sticky here http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=91067

[CharlieFarlie]

Yep say 2002 when asking for parts

Have a look at the sticky here http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=91067

It says in that guide 4.2 2000 to 2005 ?? So will the parts be different then ???

Confused ...

Wee Charlie.

[jedi134]

Face lifted from 2003 (round fog lights)

The 2000-2003 start with different chassic numbers to the 2003-2006`s also from what I remember.

Front fogs are different, rear light lenses are different, not sure but I think the later ones got air con as standared? also the earlier ones had a horrible 2 tone pain job

I dont think the main mechanics are different just cosmetics, but I could be wrong

[firemac]

I'm new here so 1st of all I'd like to say Hello.

I've had my Rav almost 2 years now, It's a 52 plate and was registered in 2003. Can someone tell me if that makes my car a 2002 or a 2003? because that's a question which pops up allot when looking for parts. I think I'm probably just being stupid, no need for confirmation of that though.

I haven't had much trouble with the Rav, touch wood n all that. Earlier this year I had DMF failure and due to the cost of replacing those horrible things I had to seek an alternative, I bought and had fitted a solid flywheel and clutch conversion kit at half the price and it seems to be running well.(so far so good)

I'm also waiting on a set of General grabber AT tyres I have on order, I have heard good reports of these tyres and as my Bridgstones are nearing the end of their life I thought I'd give something different a go.

I could do with a little more power though and I have been looking into getting a tuning chip but I find it quite confusing as there are quite a few on the market but at varying prices. I'm worried about the get what you pay for theory but funds are not unlimited. Has anyone had good experiences with a less expensive chip?

Cheers

Dave

Hi Dave,

If you check the manufacturing tags on your seatbelts they show the dated they were manufactured for Toyota. As most prod'n parts are JIT supply and the belts are amongst the last things fitted before the car is shipped, these give a really good indication of when the car was built which you can compare to reg date (assuming the car hasn't had the belt(s) replaced due to an accident or whatever).

Our 02 was bought in July & the s/b tags say March '02. Our 54 reg was reg'd Sept & the tags say March'04.

This certainly applies to cars made in Japan - don't know about any other builds.

Jim

[Joylove]

Isn't there a build date sticker on the driver's wheel arch in the engine bay?

TBH the pre/post facelift thing is usually the biggie. I don't think the diesel engine changed, only the petrol 2.0 to 2AZ-FE but I might be mistaken.

[dwilson]

Isn't there a build date sticker on the driver's wheel arch in the engine bay?

TBH the pre/post facelift thing is usually the biggie. I don't think the diesel engine changed, only the petrol 2.0 to 2AZ-FE but I might be mistaken.

Not that I can do anything about it but when was the petrol 2.0 to 2AZ-FE change and was it significant?

Thanks

David

[dwilson]

Isn't there a build date sticker on the driver's wheel arch in the engine bay?

TBH the pre/post facelift thing is usually the biggie. I don't think the diesel engine changed, only the petrol 2.0 to 2AZ-FE but I might be mistaken.

Not that I can do anything about it but when was the petrol 2.0 to 2AZ-FE change and was it significant?

Thanks

David

I have looked on wiki - seems to be the second generation

David

[Joylove]

I have looked on wiki - seems to be the second generation

David

Wiki would be where I got my info from too.

I think they were having trouble with emissions on the 1AZ-FE, so they went to 1AZ-FSE at the facelift with direct injection from 2003-2004 then finally 2AZ-FE, which I think was more horsies and a returned to a more simple injection system.

They also added little things like drive-by-wire, cruise control and added traction control at some point on the newer engines.

[Davepax]

Hi Dave,

If you check the manufacturing tags on your seatbelts they show the dated they were manufactured for Toyota. As most prod'n parts are JIT supply and the belts are amongst the last things fitted before the car is shipped, these give a really good indication of when the car was built which you can compare to reg date (assuming the car hasn't had the belt(s) replaced due to an accident or whatever).

Our 02 was bought in July & the s/b tags say March '02. Our 54 reg was reg'd Sept & the tags say March'04.

This certainly applies to cars made in Japan - don't know about any other builds.

Jim

Hi Jim

I just had a look at the date on a seatbelt and it was Dec 2002, Im guessing the seatbelts would be made in a different factory and then transported to where the cars are assembled and because it's so close to the turn of the year I'm guessing it could still go either way. It does seem as though mechanical components are the same so probably doesn't matter.

Dave

[Joylove]

For me the date of importance is the build date from the sticker on the wheel arch. Registration date and component manufacture date could be up to a year out.

[Davepax]

For me the date of importance is the build date from the sticker on the wheel arch. Registration date and component manufacture date could be up to a year out.

I've had a look for this but can't seem to find it. I probably can't see the wood for the trees though.

Thanks

Dave

[firemac]

For me the date of importance is the build date from the sticker on the wheel arch. Registration date and component manufacture date could be up to a year out.

Hi Bob,

These days, I'd find it unlikely that components would be that old. The days of large stock holdings are long gone and manufacturers expect their suppliers/subbies to effectively fund inventory. The knock-on effect means that those suppliers are also likely to carry only minimal stock. The transport companies probably account for 90% of inventory nowadays.

Nevertheless, another reasonably good indication is to check the date stamps on the bottom of things like the ash trays or cubby hole covers in the boot, etc.

[firemac]

Hi Dave,

If you check the manufacturing tags on your seatbelts they show the dated they were manufactured for Toyota. As most prod'n parts are JIT supply and the belts are amongst the last things fitted before the car is shipped, these give a really good indication of when the car was built which you can compare to reg date (assuming the car hasn't had the belt(s) replaced due to an accident or whatever).

Our 02 was bought in July & the s/b tags say March '02. Our 54 reg was reg'd Sept & the tags say March'04.

This certainly applies to cars made in Japan - don't know about any other builds.

Jim

Hi Jim

I just had a look at the date on a seatbelt and it was Dec 2002, Im guessing the seatbelts would be made in a different factory and then transported to where the cars are assembled and because it's so close to the turn of the year I'm guessing it could still go either way. It does seem as though mechanical components are the same so probably doesn't matter.

Dave

Hi Dave,

I'd have said that Dec 02 build + shipping time from Japan + UK distributor's time to prep & allocate to dealer = must have been '03 year model in the showroom.

[drako1]

Hi all, joined August/11, just like to say hi to you all - I have an 03 D-4D XT4 bought this August - sudden powerloss means trip to garage next Tuesday (Intermittent stepper motor grief?) Point of this is I may be able to help your dating query, I've got dating info that may possibly help settle your problem - will post it tomorrow for you once I find it-it's a result of research done before buying my Rav. will do me best!

[Davepax]

Hi Dave,

If you check the manufacturing tags on your seatbelts they show the dated they were manufactured for Toyota. As most prod'n parts are JIT supply and the belts are amongst the last things fitted before the car is shipped, these give a really good indication of when the car was built which you can compare to reg date (assuming the car hasn't had the belt(s) replaced due to an accident or whatever).

Our 02 was bought in July & the s/b tags say March '02. Our 54 reg was reg'd Sept & the tags say March'04.

This certainly applies to cars made in Japan - don't know about any other builds.

Jim

Hi Jim

I just had a look at the date on a seatbelt and it was Dec 2002, Im guessing the seatbelts would be made in a different factory and then transported to where the cars are assembled and because it's so close to the turn of the year I'm guessing it could still go either way. It does seem as though mechanical components are the same so probably doesn't matter.

Dave

Hi Dave,

I'd have said that Dec 02 build + shipping time from Japan + UK distributor's time to prep & allocate to dealer = must have been '03 year model in the showroom.

I was thinking along those lines as well, you're probably right.

[RedRoss]

Is this a trick question re the year?

[Davepax]

Is this a trick question re the year?

Hi RedRoss

It's a 52 plate Rav regestered in 2003 but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a 2003, I was just wondering because when looking for parts they ask what year is your car but they only have a choice between 2002 or 2003. I know it probably doesn't make any difference but It just made me want to know for sure. 03 on the log book and Dec 02 on the seatbelts + shipping time and taking into account the busy time of year would probably suggest to me it would be early 03.