Auto Box Or Euc (Or Both)

July 26, 2012

A couple of weeks ago the car, a 2001 VX 2 litre petrol auto, stalled on a ramp in a car park. When we managed to restart the car there was a series of loud clunking noises and the speedometer started swinging violently from side to side and the engine warning and gearbox lights came on. We got the RAC out who diagnosed some sort of gearbox problem and managed to get it to a nearby garage who have had it ever since. The initial problem was put down to a faulty speed sensor so the car didn't know what gear to run in. However, on curing that they found that the car was very slow to go into the next gear from 1 to 2 or 2 to 3 (ie revved like mad before going up a gear). So off the car went to an auto box specialist who took the box to pieces and back again without finding much wrong other than replacing some component, I think they said a "band"(?) that would make it go from 2 to 3. Anyway, problem persists so now they think it's the ECU and it's off to find a new ECU (unless the existing ECU can be checked and if necessary fixed).

Now, on an American forum I read something about how RAV4s of this age had a fault in the ECU that caused excess stress on the autobox or something, and if the ECU wasn't fixed then the auto box would eventually self destruct. Does that sound like what has happened here/ Is this a fault known to UK RAV4 owners too? Should it have been fixed/recalled by Toyota? Can I find out if it was, and if not will they still fix the car for me? And if I need a repair to the ECU or a replacement ECU, can I be sure that it will have been cured of whatever the problem was causing the excess wear so this doesn't happen again?

Any thoughts greatefully received before the blll for unnecessary exploratory work rockets too high...

July 26, 2012

Well there are no guarantees but the ECU is the common problem. I would start there.

July 27, 2012

this is also being posted a couple times on this forum including pictures! search for auto ecu

just to let you all know our nrg is still perfectly shifting gears after de ecu came back from the brooklyn guys in sep 2010.

July 28, 2012

Thanks folks.

A search found these threads with what sound like similar issues:

http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=117915

http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=136139

Is that correct? If so, is there any chance Toyota would do the ECu fix themselves, or will they just tell me to get a new ECU (that might have the same fault on it for all I know). Otherwise, how have repairs gone with the ECU company up in Derby? It's not so far from me and maybe I could drive to them, is it a quick fix that could be done while you wait? I don't like the sound of posting the ECU to the USA and the garage where the car has spent the past few weeks is keen to have it out the way so a quick fix is desirable.

July 28, 2012

Hi,Dave, everyone that have sent their ECUs to the US seem to have been satisified with the result and have found they do a nifty turn-around.

If you mean ECU Testing they are based in Heanor and can be easily found by following the signs to Shipley Park and just before you enter the park they are on the left. Maybe worth giving them a ring to see if they have this sussed.

Hope this is of help.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have this problem

Del