A Few Issues

[scubaladdie]

Okay guys well I'm new on here :)

I've just acquired my mothers 2002 1.8ltr Avensis VVTi as a runabout for long journeys. It has a few issues which I'm seeking advise on:

1) it uses insane amounts of oil ! My old Accord Type-R used far less oil and my current Evo VI uses none at all but this uses roughly a litre every 700 miles. It has done 115k miles, doesn't smoke at all and has no visible leaks, and has always used lots of oil.

2) the CEL is on, and has been on for several years. It has been to 2 Toyota dealerships and numerous other garages and every time the fault codes are read it comes up as the o2 sensor. The o2 sensor has been replaced..... about half a dozen times! Every time it's replaced the light goes out then is back on again after a few hundred miles.

3) recently, all at the same time, the fuel computer stopped working, stereo controls stopped working (it will play CD's but you can't skip tracks or adjust volume) and the clock changed itself to a completely different time. Resetting the clock only lasts a few days before it changes its time to another random time. A few weeks ago the stereo controls suddenly started working again and at the same time the rear wiper came on and couldn't be turned off. After a while it went off and at the same time the stereo controls stopped working again.

I'll be doing a lot of miles in the car and the bodywork, underside and interior are in good order so I want to get it all sorted.

[cmia]

Okay guys well I'm new on here :)

I've just acquired my mothers 2002 1.8ltr Avensis VVTi as a runabout for long journeys. It has a few issues which I'm seeking advise on:

1) it uses insane amounts of oil ! My old Accord Type-R used far less oil and my current Evo VI uses none at all but this uses roughly a litre every 700 miles. It has done 115k miles, doesn't smoke at all and has no visible leaks, and has always used lots of oil.

2) the CEL is on, and has been on for several years. It has been to 2 Toyota dealerships and numerous other garages and every time the fault codes are read it comes up as the o2 sensor. The o2 sensor has been replaced..... about half a dozen times! Every time it's replaced the light goes out then is back on again after a few hundred miles.

3) recently, all at the same time, the fuel computer stopped working, stereo controls stopped working (it will play CD's but you can't skip tracks or adjust volume) and the clock changed itself to a completely different time. Resetting the clock only lasts a few days before it changes its time to another random time. A few weeks ago the stereo controls suddenly started working again and at the same time the rear wiper came on and couldn't be turned off. After a while it went off and at the same time the stereo controls stopped working again.

I'll be doing a lot of miles in the car and the bodywork, underside and interior are in good order so I want to get it all sorted.

1- its a known issue on these engines :( how many miles has it done.

2- if the o2 sensors are going faulty its due to issue 1, the oil is probably killing the sensors.

3- buy yourself a replacement cd unit.

4- the rear wipe motor has water ingress. you need to remove the motor, reseal the rubber bung and dry the motor out.

[scubaladdie]

Cheers mate thanks. It's done 115k miles but has always used massive amounts of oil since my mother bought it with around 60k miles :(

And that's great about the CD unit, is it easy enough to buy a whole new unit?

[Heidfirst]

Toyota had a warranty programme to ameliorate/rectify the oil issue but yours @12 years will be way out of it.

[FROSTYBALLS]

There are these CD units on e-bay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-TOYOTA-AVENSIS-1-8-VVTI-5DR-CD-PLAYER-RADIO-CLIMATE-CONTROL-COMPLETE-UNIT-/131126817669?_trksid=p2054897.l4276

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-TOYOTA-AVENSIS-1-8-VVTI-CD-PLAYER-MP3-RADIO-CLIMATE-CONTROL-COMPLETE-PANEL-/141126897004?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

If you wanted to buy a brand new unit, think you would be limited to getting one in single DIN size. Other members have found difficulty getting a fascia for a double DIN unit - the only fascia available seems to convert the existing space to single DIN - eg.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CT24TY04-TOYOTA-AVENSIS-T22-2001-2004-SILVER-FASCIA-FACIA-ADAPTOR-SURROUND-TRIM-/160874953851

[scubaladdie]

Very helpful thankyou :)

[cmia]

Very helpful thankyou :)

To fix the oil issue I suggest you do the following

Purchase a socket set (decent) Halfords do a small one for about 25£

and a Spark plug remover with a compression tester.

1 - Remove the spart plugs and inspect them for wetness.

2 - Pull the EFI fuse

3 - Compression test the cylinders to see which one is effected.

From their you have two choices to replace the engine, or to rehone the engine block and reinsert new rings.

Whatever happens please ensure the you clean the jets on the pistons and ensures any carbon has been removed.

EDIT..

Under the warranty period Toyota changed the piston design, if needed I could get the part number for you.

Alot of these engines were effected so if you do replace it you may end up with the same issues.