Shifting Down To Low Gear Struggle

[Dainese]

Hi all. New member but long browser here.

We own a 2002 Rav-4 2.0 D-4D VX since 2006. We had the DMF go on us 3 years ago, the alternator went last year and now finding it a real struggle getting into 2nd and 1st gear when moving and sometime in neutral. More and my pressure in pushing the stick to the left or multiple attempts getting it into them gears is worrying us!

We have the common gear stick shake in most gears around 2000 rpm and have experienced 4 times in the last 12 months the car just cutting out with it dying through the gears as it stops with the engine warning light showing, but once restarted, no light appears and away we go!

My mrs loves driving the car but I think it's time to let it go and upgrade, but the knightmare of choosing the next car and the slight niggles of the Rav-4s problems are causing me concern. Can anyone help put my mind to rest?

[bothwell_buyer]

I'm not an expert on this model of RAV, and as you will know, not a fan of the oil-burning lump.... but

First thought would be the gearchange cables needing adjusted. I think ancs posted something about this months or years ago. Try a search on this forum.

Even on my 4.1s, I sometimes have a problem slamming into 1st gear - maybe asking too much of the sync mesh if there is any left

I've had 3 boxes on number 2 I think now and the gear change differed on each. The latest box seems to not like 2nd so much. I just live with the notchy change.

I'd maybe wonder about the clutch if the car is dragging and not allowing gear changes.... what mileage has it done? (The car or the clutch or both)

I see you are in Wrexham - one of our members (Parts king) works there and I'm sure he'd come along and help you for the price of a pie :lol:

And lastly welcome to the forum :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[local hero]

Hi all. New member but long browser here.

We own a 2002 Rav-4 2.0 D-4D VX since 2006. We had the DMF go on us 3 years ago, the alternator went last year and now finding it a real struggle getting into 2nd and 1st gear when moving and sometime in neutral. More and my pressure in pushing the stick to the left or multiple attempts getting it into them gears is worrying us!

We have the common gear stick shake in most gears around 2000 rpm and have experienced 4 times in the last 12 months the car just cutting out with it dying through the gears as it stops with the engine warning light showing, but once restarted, no light appears and away we go!

My mrs loves driving the car but I think it's time to let it go and upgrade, but the knightmare of choosing the next car and the slight niggles of the Rav-4s problems are causing me concern. Can anyone help put my mind to rest?

Hi Dainese + welcome, I owned the same year + model Rav as you, It is still in my family, My brother has had it the last 4yrs and it is now to be passed down to his daughter.. Like yours it has had the DMF replaced, I am not very proficient technically so cannot advise on your problems, however, having been on here 4yrs now I believe if it is nothing more serious the gear change (linkage) can be adjusted, The cutting out Issue, My bro has just had that fault, and as it was only last week we cannot be 100% sure its cured, but it threw up a fault code 1250 which is turbo related and lubricating and freeing off something in the Turbo hopefully has done the trick, also about 12mths ago he had the SCVs replaced,(suction control valves) these cost about £250, so providing your gearchange is nothing more serious, and it may not need SCVs,not a lot of money and a decent mechanic should be able to sort your problems and your good lady will be able to keep the car she loves. hope this helps till some techy guys come on Stew

PS here is a LINK to my brothers cutting out problem which may help..

[Dainese]

Cheers for the quick replies and friendly welcomes! Our cars give me knightmares as I don't have the knowledge/ability to DIY and been stung in garages in the past. Without knowing a good local mechanic every problem seems 100 times worse!

I hope it's just a case of linkage adjustment Local Hero. The next time the engine cuts out i'll read up on the fault code finding etc. but for now getting the gear change right is top of the very long list with my Focus TDCi having issues too. Hope your issue has been solved though.

I'll hope to get the cable bushes done at the same time as the adjusting as that 2000 rpm shake has been annoying us for over 12 months :)

The car has done 90000 miles Bothwell_Buyer and had the clutch replaced with the DMF at about 65000 miles. The clutch smoked quite a bit once the work had been done especially reversing up hill but that soon went. It doesn't clunk or grind going into gear, just won't freely get into 1st and 2nd. It'll be great to hear from Part King if he can recommend someone local. Cheers both

[CharlieFarlie]

Dainese = Italian for Devil... Makers of some of the finest Motorcycle leathers on the planet.. I have crashed several time wearing the above Dainese kit.......

Charlie wearing above mentioned Dainese Leathers at Donnington park in 2003..Around an hour after this photo was taken said leathers were tested to destruction. R1 motorcycle was completely destroyed ans Charlie was off to Derby Hospital again .......

Charlie.

[Molnboman]

Dainese = Italian for Devil... Makers of some of the finest Motorcycle leathers on the planet.. I have crashed several time wearing the above Dainese kit.......

Charlie wearing above mentioned Dainese Leathers at Donnington park in 2003..Around an hour after this photo was taken said leathers were tested to destruction. R1 motorcycle was completely destroyed ans Charlie was off to Derby Hospital again .......

Charlie.

Ouch!.....yes, I used to share that passion for falling of large Japanese motorcycles....until Mrs Molnboman put a stop to it!....I do miss my bikes.....and there is normally two or three times a years I say "%$(!....I wish I had my bike again! )Dianese leathers were always very tasty and expensive....I loved their boots!...My favourite clothing of choice for the bike were the French Furygan gear....their old stuff was really well made...and heavy guage....think their latest stuff is a bit on the cheap side quality wise....oh those were the days!....get's me all nostalgic...I can feel the pins in my right leg aching....just at the thought of another chance to buy a bike! hahahaha Have you ever checked my old Mates Aero out up in the Scottish borders!....unbelievably good, handmade leather jackets made with pride in Scotland and specialise in period world war 2 stuff and classic 60's!...such lovely people with a HUGE passion for what they do too!...Made me a custom made letterman jacket a few years back...waxed horsehide leather sleeves...AMAZING STUFF!! awesome! http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/

Cheers

A

[Dainese]

Aye, username origins from past 'glory days' when owning a bike was possible before practicality/financial and baby influences take grip of your life. You always have a strong itch to get another, but the mrs is a keen scratcher!

[Dainese]

I was definitely a road biker, out all year and lived for the accelerating from the traffic lights. Living up in North Wales also helped. Charlie I take it you are a real biker, that I have total respect for. I couldn't take my beloved bike on a track day as it'd be like booking myself into hospital!

[bothwell_buyer]

Dainese = Italian for Devil... Makers of some of the finest Motorcycle leathers on the planet.. I have crashed several time wearing the above Dainese kit.......

Charlie wearing above mentioned Dainese Leathers at Donnington park in 2003..Around an hour after this photo was taken said leathers were tested to destruction. R1 motorcycle was completely destroyed ans Charlie was off to Derby Hospital again .......

Charlie.

How on earth can you pedal the damn thing if yer knee is so close to the ground ?

[CharlieFarlie]

Did a lot of road riding but never had the sense to ride with the respect the roads deserve.. After a few crashes decided to go treak only where at least an ambulance was sat in the pit lane for when the inevitable happened ...

I still have 2 R1s.. One being The Beast.. My 99 Track R1 that I built over 2 Years .. It had a kings ransom thrown at it and will still keep up with just about anything on the race track......

The other is an original 98 R1 in the best colours ! This bike is completely and totally original right down to the valve caps .. Still has original tyres and less than 900 miles on it.. It is dry stored in a Yamaha crate at this time.. Was bought and stored as an investment.....

I rode and raced many Yamaha R1s over the Years and had a big passion for building as well as riding.. While loving Cars Bikes will all ways be My main passion in things automotive

Couple of other scratch built bikes

Charlie.

[Tech01]

Hi Dainese,

Welcome to the Club! Getting back to your problems (I have a 2003 D4D with similar mileage)...

First, on the DMF failure, don't fret too much over this, since thousands of diesel owners have suffered this, and cured it either with a replacement DMF, or, in some cases, fitting a single-mass flywheel and conventional clutch in its place (see the numerous reports elsewhere on the site). Unfortunately, don't necessarily expect a replacement DMF to last forever, since these can break up too, and at as little as 20-30,000 miles of use. If a second DMF does give up, then it's certainly time to fit the Blueprint SMF kit.

On the matter of difficulty in getting into/out of gears, then there are two things to check. First, get someone competent to carefully check the clutch pedal action against the recommended workshop settings. If the clutch isn't disengaging properly, then you'll get no end of difficulty. (And check you haven't got a heap of mats under the pedal, too!) Secondly, please ensure you check what grade of oil you have in the gearbox (transaxle). If it's 75W-90, then in cold weather, gears can be really difficult to engage or change. If in doubt, get it drained and refilled with either monograde 75 (from Toyota or elsewhere), or 75W-80. This usually makes a real difference, as many of us have reported.

Both of these checks are easy to do, and you should do them before suspecting or delving into anything else.

Very best regards,

Chris

[Molnboman]

Did a lot of road riding but never had the sense to ride with the respect the roads deserve.. After a few crashes decided to go treak only where at least an ambulance was sat in the pit lane for when the inevitable happened ...

I still have 2 R1s.. One being The Beast.. My 99 Track R1 that I built over 2 Years .. It had a kings ransom thrown at it and will still keep up with just about anything on the race track......

The other is an original 98 R1 in the best colours ! This bike is completely and totally original right down to the valve caps .. Still has original tyres and less than 900 miles on it.. It is dry stored in a Yamaha crate at this time.. Was bought and stored as an investment.....

I rode and raced many Yamaha R1s over the Years and had a big passion for building as well as riding.. While loving Cars Bikes will all ways be My main passion in things automotive

Couple of other scratch built bikes

Charlie.

Some great bike !Removed! there Charlie!.....Lovely!

[bothwell_buyer]

On the mileage thing, and from what you say, I'd still go for checking the cables and the oil as above; then check the clutch action.

Up here I use a garage who specialise in Jap car tuning work and they know their stuff without paying thru the nose for it. They are always busy which is perhaps a good sign.

There must be someone similar down your way?