Urgent Advice Please ! Help !

[bothwell_buyer]

I should have added that my RAV has passed the MOT several times since the brake backplates were removed.

I also have an oil leak from number 2 RAVs 3SGTE turbo engine. We think its from a crankshaft seal but the lump still takes me to 3 figure speeds very very quickly. (On the Scottish Autobahn of course) It does keep my red chips on the driveway oiled, but as long as I keep an eye on the oil level until it goes in for fixing, then theres no harm done. I think I'm checking the oil level every 500 miles. I'll rake over the chuckies to hide the oil mark.

Hi Ian - I was getting to the stage where I was going to PM you and ask you to look at this thread! I seem to remember you talking about the diff and Backplates problem some time ago, but despite the search facility, I couldn't find it. Trust life is treating you a little more gently now?

To be honest, things are mind-blowingly hectic. We have a fleet of 10 trucks, 4 forklifts, another truck which is being soldered back together again after it melted the ecu and other bits after an attempt to jumpstart it... and I've spent all week shifting some racking that we got at a great price back to our warehouse.

However after 4 hours spent at hospital yesterday and another 4 hours today, I seem to have inflamed eyes which accounts for the fuzzy vision following running over copious mini roundabouts with fully laden trucks ! So a bit of rest - how in Gds sake do they expect you to insert eye drops 6 times a day ??

It will give me time to chase up the garage to get number 1 finished so I can drive it while I can still almost see!

But thanks for asking - thats kind!

Still enjoying driving RAV number 2 - will never part with either which means the grave is going to cover a good few lairs lol !

[Zincubus]

I just got a email maessage from Mansellz - sorry but I haven't been on the forum very much - been hectic at our charitys business - Yooz as we have 2 managers down ---well one left the other has girlfriend problems! No advice for the latter fraid.

Anyway having just had a quick look at the last 2 pages... heres my experience

The brake back plates are simply a bit of thin metal that is meant to stop stones etc from getting to the front brake disc. My number 1 RAV (the faster one) had funny scraping noises a few years ago and when I found what it was, I just removed the rusty old backplates. They provide no help to the brake operation in my view - even after I replaced the front brakes with expensive racing brakes. My number 2 RAV still sports the front brake back plates on both sides but then its only done 105,000 miles. Don't bother with the backplates - end of!

The early RAVs only had drum brakes which I have retained on both my RAVs despite using one for racing. And the rear drum brakes don't have back plates. If you have rear discs, same advice as above re the fronts.

The diff mount - well you have 2 options - one is to replace the diff mount (depends how badly split it is, but they are pretty rubbish even when new. I got my rear diff bushes filled with silicon - the type that dries hard but still flexible and it copes with the racing RAV power no bother. A soft rear diff mount will give you all sorts of clunks on both acc elaration and slowing down / changing gear. Try the silicon first before wou support Kingos low fat sandwich diet.

The silicon cartridge you'll get for less than a tenner.

On the 3SFE engine, I found it did use a little oil and as it got older, it used more oil. As long as you check and top up the oil with a reasonable grade oil rather than cheapo stuff, you'll be fine. The engine block has been known to develop crankshaft seal oil leaks but again if not too bad then don't muck about.

On the gearbox, again it depends on where the oil leak is from. get the rear diff mount done first and then see how the car behaves. If you carry weight in the back, then think about getting spring assisters for the rear coil springs - ala caravan type. Also check that the rear springs aren't broken. An MOT should flag that up but not always. They break down near the seat.

By the way, I stopped going near Toyota Dealers for servicing or anything else aside of parts many years ago. Take your car to a small JAP car specialist or as said an independent who doesn't get to doi repairs.

Do get someone to check the gearbox oil - I'm too fat to do anything like that now but I leave that to my friends at the Garage.

Thanks for the very helpful advice / suggestions , thanks to everyone else as well of course .

I'd be going crazy with worry if I hadn't come in here for help .

We don't carry any weight in the back , not even passengers , AARP from the weekly Tesco shop , of course.

What type / grade of engine oil would you recommend ??? They've given me 2 litres of Toyota 5W-30 , is that acceptable , should I need to put any in . Toyota say that it was two litres DOWN when they replaced the oil but we've never had a single drip of oil on our driveway in 6 years and there's no sign of the smoke they mentioned from the exhaust , yesterday or today , we've never noticed any at any other time either - mystery .

As to the silicone trick , if I bought some would the small local garage apply it where you suggested - as I've no idea as to how or where it is liked to go - I'm clueless , seriously !!

You also mentioned getting the gearbox looked at but Toyota have applied some developer to the gearbox which will show where the leak is when I go back in a month . Shall I wait and see what they come up with or shall I take it to the local garage and see what they say . It sounds expensive if they have to take the gearbox out and take it apart just to see what and where the damage is , though .

[bothwell_buyer]

Most beloved member - any decent engine oil will do the trick - Shell/etc - you don't need to buy Toyota cos they actually don't manufacture oil.

Oil needs to be checked for the level ideally every 2 weeks. A wrecked engine is expensive to replace. You'll probably never need to put oil in very often. It - the oil - is cheaper if you buy 5 litres.

I never trust dealers, and nor should you. A Toyota mechanic has to look after a massive range of cars and he/she won't have much experience on the 4.1 model. The RAV4.1 lasts longer than the average Toyota mechanic.

The silicon can be applied by any local small mechanic who can crawl under th car. Avoid large mechanics who might get stuck, and don't take their opinion - cos they wont know.

If Mr T is going to look at the car for nought then fine.

However you can buy a secondhand gearbox for around £250 so its not worth getting the gearbox stripped down cos that will cost big bucks.

My number 2 RAV is waiting to get its 4th gearbox installed following the failure of the previous 3 for what seems mostly odd failures. The used box cost me £240 but its becoming as cheap for me to just buy a RAV4 early model to act as a spares donor.

Don't even thinkl about paying to take the gearbox out to get it checked - just get another if it worries you. If the gearbox is working and these things are bullet proof then stick with it and get a mechanic to check the oil level every 3 months, then if all is well, a check every 6 months.,

Now its time to have a wee relaxant an stop worrying. !! I run 200 miles frequently in my number 2 RAV without any probs.

[Zincubus]

Most beloved member - any decent engine oil will do the trick - Shell/etc - you don't need to buy Toyota cos they actually don't manufacture oil.

Oil needs to be checked for the level ideally every 2 weeks. A wrecked engine is expensive to replace. You'll probably never need to put oil in very often. It - the oil - is cheaper if you buy 5 litres.

I never trust dealers, and nor should you. A Toyota mechanic has to look after a massive range of cars and he/she won't have much experience on the 4.1 model. The RAV4.1 lasts longer than the average Toyota mechanic.

The silicon can be applied by any local small mechanic who can crawl under th car. Avoid large mechanics who might get stuck, and don't take their opinion - cos they wont know.

If Mr T is going to look at the car for nought then fine.

However you can buy a secondhand gearbox for around £250 so its not worth getting the gearbox stripped down cos that will cost big bucks.

My number 2 RAV is waiting to get its 4th gearbox installed following the failure of the previous 3 for what seems mostly odd failures. The used box cost me £240 but its becoming as cheap for me to just buy a RAV4 early model to act as a spares donor.

Don't even thinkl about paying to take the gearbox out to get it checked - just get another if it worries you. If the gearbox is working and these things are bullet proof then stick with it and get a mechanic to check the oil level every 3 months, then if all is well, a check every 6 months.,

Now its time to have a wee relaxant an stop worrying. !! I run 200 miles frequently in my number 2 RAV without any probs.

Thanks again :)

PS

So is the 5W-30 oil they gave me going to be ok then :)

[bothwell_buyer]

The 5W-30 oil will be fine if you put it in the engine to top it up to the stick line. Don't try drinking it unless you have squeaky joints in which case there are other oils you could try.

[three5]

............. Don't try drinking it unless you have squeaky joints in which case there are other oils you could try.

And there was me thinking that you were a devotee of locally manufactured aromatic solvents

[Zincubus]

The 5W-30 oil will be fine if you put it in the engine to top it up to the stick line. Don't try drinking it unless you have squeaky joints in which case there are other oils you could try.

My joints are fine but my nerves are bad with all this hastle :)

Last question .... what type of silicone were you thinking about , there's presumably loads of different types - for different uses ... and what tyoe of store do I get it from ...DIY or a motor spares place .. I'm not hands on guy as you can probably tell :)

[three5]

My joints are fine but my nerves are bad with all this hastle :)

Last question .... what type of silicone were you thinking about , there's presumably loads of different types - for different uses ... and what tyoe of store do I get it from ...DIY or a motor spares place .. I'm not hands on guy as you can probably tell :)

I've never done this particular job, but, from an engineering viewpoint, I'd go to a company that makes and fits double glazing units and get a cartridge of High-modulus silicone. If you are lucky they will have it in a black colour, if not settle for the transparent variety. This stuff is essentially an adhesive and sets to a somewhat tougher consistency than the sort of stuff that you get from B&Q for sealing around baths. Clean the area where you are going to put the stuff with meths, cellulose thinners or ( my favourite ) "panel cleaner" ( from a place that sells car parts or car paint ).

If you are doing the job yourself you will either need a cheap ( £3.99? ) applicator gun for the silicone from B&Q of to borrow one from a mate.

You will need to let the stuff set for 24ish hours after you have applied it. HTH

[Zincubus]

My joints are fine but my nerves are bad with all this hastle :)

Last question .... what type of silicone were you thinking about , there's presumably loads of different types - for different uses ... and what tyoe of store do I get it from ...DIY or a motor spares place .. I'm not hands on guy as you can probably tell :)

I've never done this particular job, but, from an engineering viewpoint, I'd go to a company that makes and fits double glazing units and get a cartridge of High-modulus silicone. If you are lucky they will have it in a black colour, if not settle for the transparent variety. This stuff is essentially an adhesive and sets to a somewhat tougher consistency than the sort of stuff that you get from B&Q for sealing around baths. Clean the area where you are going to put the stuff with meths, cellulose thinners or ( my favourite ) "panel cleaner" ( from a place that sells car parts or car paint ).

If you are doing the job yourself you will either need a cheap ( £3.99? ) applicator gun for the silicone from B&Q of to borrow one from a mate.

You will need to let the stuff set for 24ish hours after you have applied it. HTH

Thanks for that !

All I have to do is find and convince some local mechanic to do it for me .... I'm just as likely to pump the stuff into the back brakes or gearbox or something :)

Wonder what the MOT people would make of the 'fix' , would it pass their test ????

[Zincubus]

Uodate ..

I tried the local garage ( 2 brothers ) today but they weren't interested in trying the diff mount silicon fix .

They did quote me £346 to do the job properly , though , they said it wasn't an urgent fix but best to do it in a couple of months .

Toyota didn't ring me back today with a price for the job - as promised . I will ring them again tomorrow and keep you guys updated .

[Zincubus]

Update

Well after a couple of reminders Toyota eventually rang me and quoted a price of £480 .

The guy said that the job didn't need to be done urgently but call in a couple months and they would check things out ....

I'm wondering abut actually ringing the MOT service station and asking their opinion on how urgent THEY consider the job to be .

[Zincubus]

Anybody there ??

:)

[Zincubus]

I phoned another local garage today and asked for a price for replacing the rear diff mount and he's adamant that he can't quote without seeing under the car to see what the job entails .

Surely they should know what's involved without looking ?

I told him that Toyota had quoted £220 or the diff mount part and kinda expected that they'd be able to estimate a labou figure etc.

I understand it's about 3 hours work ..

[Zincubus]

Incidentally the local guys told me not to worry about the diff mount UNTIL it starts clunking ....

[mabozar]

I feel sorry for you mate,some Mr T. garages are "at it" I posted in here about an experience I had with one in Edinburgh E/W T,I took it in for the timing belt to be changed,after about three hours got a phone call,from them,telling me brakes were effed back and front and they couldnt "road Test "it as it was too dangerous they told me it would be just over a grand to get them sorted and could dothe work before I came in to collect it,I told them to go fly a kite............. drove it home city bypass about 18 miles hee haw wrong with the brakes just mud on them my friendly local garage cleaned the mud off £37

[nikndel]

if it pases a smoke or emmisions test I would just keep a eye on oil usage