Rav 4 Transmission

[Surfing1975]

Hi all. Thought best I joined this forum as I always seem to get directed to it in my google searches. Its always been a helpful place with some good helpful advice in the past.

I now own a rav4 2001 automatic 2 litre with 75000 on clock. Only bought about 6 months ago. Gear shifting problems from start which has got worse. Sent ecu to ecutesting who diagnosed a fault and repaired and returned. Refitted warmed engine and test drove for 30 mins., lots of stop etc.. problem same if not worse. Pulls away nicely shifts up to second then tries for third 2 times then shifts to 1st with revs screaming. Reverse doesnt jolt as much since fix rather it judders heavily instead. Very disssapointed. Ecutesting fixed ecu so quickly im wondering what they actually did and im sure they didnt test it. Recieved text saying it was faulty so I confirmed payment an gave go ahead. Within half hour they said it was being dispatched.

Anyone any thoughts.

[Red Yaris 54]

Welcome to TOC

Topic moved to RAV Forum

[firemac]

Hi all. Thought best I joined this forum as I always seem to get directed to it in my google searches. Its always been a helpful place with some good helpful advice in the past.

I now own a rav4 2001 automatic 2 litre with 75000 on clock. Only bought about 6 months ago. Gear shifting problems from start which has got worse. Sent ecu to ecutesting who diagnosed a fault and repaired and returned. Refitted warmed engine and test drove for 30 mins., lots of stop etc.. problem same if not worse. Pulls away nicely shifts up to second then tries for third 2 times then shifts to 1st with revs screaming. Reverse doesnt jolt as much since fix rather it judders heavily instead. Very disssapointed. Ecutesting fixed ecu so quickly im wondering what they actually did and im sure they didnt test it. Recieved text saying it was faulty so I confirmed payment an gave go ahead. Within half hour they said it was being dispatched.

Anyone any thoughts.

I used ECUtesting on our 02 RAV last year and the fix was excellent. The turnaround is very quick (4 days or less usually). As far as I'm aware (& I'm no IT expert) the fix doesn't involve fitting any parts or making physical repairs; they re-flash the ECU which I believe means that they remove the old programs & load it up with new software that corrects all the original glitches that can cause the gear changing problems. It sounds as if you've done everything right when re-fitting it so it is possible that there is a problem with the re-flash.

As far as I recall, ECUt give a lifetime warranty on their work so the obvious thing to do is phone them up, explain the problem & arrange to have it sent back to them. A considerable number of members on here have used them with good results and I seem to recall one member who experienced a repeat problem after receiving his unit back from ECUt. He returned it to them, they sorted it and once he refitted it, he had no more problems.

Good luck & keep us informed of progress.

[gjnorthall]

The symptoms you describe are very consistent with the ECU issue on this model. As already suggested, call ECUtesting to report no improvement and return the unit for reprogramming.

[Devon Aygo]

As you are aware the ECU needs repair/reflashing however if the issue has been ongoing for too long damage can be done to the transmission. Toyota's official repair for this issue was a new ECU and replacement transmission with a Toyota reconditioned box.

You may need to employ the services of an Auto gear box specialist and have them check the gear box operation

[ANNAWONG]

ECU Testing are a very reputable organisation and would want to know if you are not satisfied with their work, which clearly, you are not!.

Contact them again and tell them your concerns. I am a very satisfied customer, not only of their work, but their turn round time. Some while ago, I removed an ECU from my RAV 4 and posted it one Monday afternoon. After two or three text's/emails and a couple of conversations, it arrived back on the Thursday morning and I had refitted it by lunchtime. The issue I had was completely cured and has remained so. I cannot speak highly enough of both their actions and their prompt service.

If the transmission itself is faulty it could need one or other of the clutches repairing (if not more!) There will be a transmission repair company in your area who would be able to assist. (Mine is in Doncaster so it's a bit far for you to travel!) Don't go down the Toyota Dealer route. All they will offer is " new ECU, new transmission" which at the last quote I heard of, was approaching 4 grand!

[Surfing1975]

Hi again,

Sent ecu back and it was diagnosed to be working correctly, they rebuilt it again just to be sure and posted it back. Amazing how they are so efficient. Sent it Wednesday and it would of been back in my hands on Friday if not for easter, but Saturday is still awesome. Anyway, not so awesome is that the problem still remains,,huff. I borrowed a ETHOS scanner this evening hoping to clear codes. Plugged machine in and there were no codes stored, I asked the machine to clear codes anyway both on engine and transmission. Problem still persists. Might change transmission fluid and filter before taking to a gearbox specialist to see if they can find fault codes.

cheers all

[firemac]

Hi again,

Sent ecu back and it was diagnosed to be working correctly, they rebuilt it again just to be sure and posted it back. Amazing how they are so efficient. Sent it Wednesday and it would of been back in my hands on Friday if not for easter, but Saturday is still awesome. Anyway, not so awesome is that the problem still remains,,huff. I borrowed a ETHOS scanner this evening hoping to clear codes. Plugged machine in and there were no codes stored, I asked the machine to clear codes anyway both on engine and transmission. Problem still persists. Might change transmission fluid and filter before taking to a gearbox specialist to see if they can find fault codes.

cheers all

Hi Eamonn,

Sorry that you're still having problems. Having re-read your original post, you say "bought about 6 months ago. Gear shifting problems from start which has got worse". The experience on the forum is that, if the ECU problem comes up and the car continues to be driven, the gearbox will destroy itself pretty quickly. That being the case, the box may be buggered although if it is still working to some extent at 6 months + then that is a good sign (the ECU problem leads to total failure pretty quickly) and it may be a totally unrelated issue that has caused your problem. In any event, it would probably be wise not to use the car any more than necessary until you get it looked at by a g/box specialist. It might be an idea to do a bit of research & try to find one who has some experience of Toyota (or Japanese) boxes.

Good luck; I hope you get it sorted.

[Fern]

If the ECU is damaged and the car starts to show symptoms, how long before it would damage and cause a transmission replacement.

[ANNAWONG]

That's a difficult question to answer Colette. Mine had a transmission fault when I bought it, (I later found out!) and it transpired to be partly ECU but partly worn clutches in the autobox. These almost certainly from the ECU issue, but initially it didn't appear so.

A strip down of the box found two clutches needed replacing and a bearing was a bit ropey so was changed at the time. Subsequently it was much improved and for a while all seemed OK. By this time, I had found this forum and read the symptoms and history, all very familiar! and clearly, I hadn't fully rectified the problem. So, I send the unit to ECU Testing one Monday evenings post and a couple of texts confirming a fault, two further phone calls and the unit was back with me on the Thursday morning post and I refitted it by lunchtime.

Absolute transformation! Clearly fresh oil had been installed during the rebuild and around 20,000 miles later (now) it's absolutely trouble free and doing everything it should do without a blemish.

So they don't necessarily get smashed to bits (though that does occur sometimes) but the good advice is, when a problem crops up, get the ECU tested. If that's OK and the problem persists, get it looked at by a transmission expert. NOT a Toyota dealer who will simply quote you for a new box & ECU at around £4,000! These specialists are around in most locales, they just need to be found.

[Surfing1975]

well spoke with gearbox specialists, and they all quoted in the region of £3000 to rebuild transmission and install new ecu. rav cost £3000, can't afford if I even wanted too. Gutted. Nice car in very good condition rendered useless and of scrap value. Sooooo ill have to drop engine/tranny myself and see what happens, oh joy. Any advice welcome. cheersall

[firemac]

Those sound like the sort of prices quoted as standard by Toyota dealers. Presumably the g/box specialists tested and concluded that the box was shot?

Second-hand box from a breaker perhaps?

[ANNAWONG]

If ECU Testing say the unit is OK, then it is!

So it's only the auto box you need to concern yourself with. There have been various people on this forum over time who have found good transmission engineers. I know one in Doncaster, but that's a bit far from Somerset!

I vaguely recollect someone down your way.....maybe they will come on and tell all!

Good luck with it.

[ferret51]

I've been watching this thread as I have a 2003 auto with 69k on it now so wouldnt be to suprised to get the ecu problem anytime (hope not though) It would be handy to know the gearbox engineer in Donny if case I ever need one and I'm only 20 minutes away ?

Les

[Surfing1975]

The specialists that I rang were not interested in helping me with diagnosis only, so not very helpful but after explaining situation they were adamant in their conclusion that the box needed rebuilding. So I am at a loss really, might have to take it to toyota and see if they can give me an honest diagnosis, obviously I will make clear that it is only diagnosis im paying for. If I can rule out electrical/ compter problems I will endevour to purchase a second hand box and install.real busy else where atm as usuall, but will keep you posted. Thanks for all input.

[Surfing1975]

Toyota looked and also said I need new transmission and ecu. Sooooo gutted. Ive listed rav on eBay now if anyones interested.

[gjnorthall]

Toyota will only be interested in service exchanging the gearbox. They wouldn't be accustomed to stripping and repairing units and at their hourly rate, it would cost a fortune. Around £1300 would be a more realistic price from an auto transmission specialist to repair / refurbish the gearbox.