Newbie Daft Question - 3 Door Rav4 (2005)

[bobbyvimto]

Hello all! Had an itch I wanted to scratch for a long time so recently took the plunge and picked up 2005 3door RAV - my own 'puddle jumper'. Trying to find a decent day to get it washed (ignoring any chips, dents, scratches that I have overlooked in the middle of buyers enthusiasm!) but I've noticed a couple of things I'm hoping someone could clarify.

1. In 5th gear only, there's a buzzing noise from somewhere in the dash under acceleration - disappears as soon as lifting off the pedal and doesn't appear in any other gear.

2. The drivers sun visor droops about an inch or two - Toyota replacement prices are steep! I'm not bothered about the light coming on with the mirror so does anyone have a cheaper DIY solution - can't seem to remove the visor from the rod that fixes it to the roof. No breakers seem to have a 2nd hand part for the 3 door - seems to be as rare as unicorn poo!

3. Currently sitting on 1/2 worn Bridgestone Duellers - 235 60 16 - anyone suggest a more quiet tyre?

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

BV

[Grumpy stumpy]

I have had the two issues you list , first the buzzing noise, when you next in fifth and underload place your hand onto the gear lever and hold the lever, the sound will probably stop. If this is the case then it's the dredded fifth gear problem, unless it starts to jump out of fifth gear I wouldn't worry about it yet, I fixed mine myself but you have to replace the fifth gear complete around three hours and looking at £300 + for parts or a lot more if you get someone else to do it for you.

2nd the sunvisor another common problem and are expensive from Toyota, I tried various things to fix mine but in the end phoned 7 day parts Toyota spares spoke to Khan and he found me a excellent second hand one for £40 delivered. 0121 3591295.

I have just replaced all four tyres with Hankooks and are very quiet and drives so much better.

Hopefully some help to you, otherwise these are excellent motors.

[bobbyvimto]

Thanks GS! I'll be out in it later so will try the gear lever trick and suss whether it stops the buzzing. Currently it pulls very well in all gears and although I haven't notice any visible vibration from 5th gear I'll obviously try resting my hand on it and check if it's the beginning of the end for the 'box. If so, my local mechanics will welcome me and my credit card with open arms.

Cheers for the number of someone helpful at Toyota - so far locally I've been quoted over £120 for a bit of plastic, wasn't amused.

Hmm, I've had Hankooks on other cars I've owned (this is my first SUV) so will go and look online - the RAV is in good condition for its 10 years, full dealer service history etc. but I've always put decent rubber on any car I've had ... and this wee winter hack is no different.

The trick is trying not to spend £££s fixing this, that and the next thing only to find in the summer I want to chop it in for a decent MR2!

[Grumpy stumpy]

I have one of those Mr2's... Mine is mint and hardly used as its now done 10,700 miles from new 2003. If it is the fifth gear don,t worry too much unless it pops out of gear I wouldn't worry and then if it does any decent mechanic or gearbox place can repair it easily, I have a step by step guide with photos how to do it, it's on this forum somewhere aswell.

Toyota quoted me £168.00 for a sunvisor !!!!

[bobbyvimto]

Have eventually got round to getting the gear issue checked - although there's a louder buzzing noise from 5th gear when cold, there's a definite vibration from 5th gear at all times and two gearbox independents confirmed the 5th gear should be replaced asap. Not sure why the vibration noise is worse when cold (if I push the lever to the side with my hand it 'cures' it) but (sadly) Grumpy stumpy called it right initially so appreciate the advice.

Seems an expensive fix (£600-£700) so I'm in two minds whether to keep the car or get rid and chalk the £££'s I'll lose down to experience - problem is it's kinda grown on me ...and what's a 10yr old car really going to be worth selling it with a dodgy gearbox - decisions, decisions.

Hate cars / love cars / hate cars etc...

[atkiman]

They must change the needle bearing as well, else it'll just come back. And you dont need to remove the gearbox, take the cover off behind the nearside front wheel and get at it that way.as to whether to keep it, depends on mileage/condition and how much you love it,mine is a 46k mile 55 plate, and so far its been dmf and clutch,scv's,new 5th gear and now a bearing, I'm gritting my teeth with it at the minute, but you just gotta love drivin em. I nearly changed it for a ssangyong tivoli, but I'm giving her another go, nothing really comes near a 3 door rav for me , and this is my 3rd

Tony

[bobbyvimto]

Thanks for that information Tony - I've now been to 3 different gearbox 'specialists' now for a quote and every one of them needs to drop the box apparently. It's a bit worrying who to pick if none of them seem to know about accessing it from the nearside front wheel ... so does that mean they don't know about the needle bearing too? (or they do know and just want to justify the labour charges. How very cynical of me to suggest such a thing!

I get what you mean about these cars - it was supposed to be a cheap bit of fun for a year, tops, then try something sporty like an MR2 and now I'm wanting to fix everything! Unfortunately I have no mechanical skills so I'm at the mercy of 'experts' to sort things out. I've a trusted garage but they don't do specialist gearbox work ... and the 'specialists' they use themselves haven't exactly filled me with confidence. Pity none of them have an internet link so I could point them to this website!

Oh and Toyota can't even be bothered returning a call for a quote ... I assume because their invoice will be the same as the price of a new car, haha.

[Grumpy stumpy]

You do not need to drop the box! I done mine myself in less than three hours from under the wheel arch, like has been said before remove passenger wheel, inner plastic shield and gearbox right in front of you, drain oil remove end plate and there is the fifth gear ! I have a step by step guide on how to do I could send you with pictures . Click on link hopefully opens.

http://www.rav4world.com/forums/85-4-1-faults-fixes/64188-5th-gear-popping-out-self-repair.html#post655243

[bobbyvimto]

GP - thanks again for your continued help (and patience), much appreciated. I'm printing out the guide / photos as we speak and might pop round to one of the specialists and show them it. I know, I know, how dare a mere punter tell them how to do their job (!) but if it saves me some money in labour charges and they do a first time fix and replace everything (i.e. the needle bearing - thanks atkiman) then it's a win win.

It'll still be expensive but at least it'll be fixed and I can get back to just enjoying it again.

Still amazed not one of three gearbox specialists didn't know about this access point - unless they all just want to justify £300+ in labour charges...

[Grumpy stumpy]

Any decent gearbox place can do this for you no probs, I just used this guide and found out from kingo what parts I needed,

Hopefully they will be pleased with the info as they then could be able to do others if required.

Just for info if you look on eBay there's a gearbox company selling the genuine Toyota parts you need for £238.99 just type in Toyota RAV4 5 th gear . Kingo on here may be able to supply you the parts cheaper , could drop him a post.

Phil.

[bobbyvimto]

GP - we'll find out sometime next week, have booked it in after confirming original Toyota parts will be used and what they are replacing (using the handy guides and part numbers, cheers). They seem to know the parts to replace inc. the essential needle bearing (their parts quote not far off your eBay price but useful to know re: Kingo's help). Just glad it recently had a new clutch, brakes and major service done - that would have been £££'s on top of everything else. Anyway, it's in the lap of the gods now; needs fixed as can't travel on the motorways in 4th - what a racket - so biting the bullet and hoping it's a first time fix.

...that'll teach me not to have bought the MR2 I looked at before the RAV - just don't tell me that has big bills too! My '94 Carina was hewn out of granite - when did Toyota give up on making unbreakables that only need fuel and tyres?

[Grumpy stumpy]

I've owned well over twenty Toyotas and won,t have anything else. Apart from Lexus !! My mr2 has been great but then again mega low miles. Once you get this issue sorted you be ok.

[bobbyvimto]

Just a quick update - 5th gear replaced with all new parts. Only had the car back a few days so not much mileage / time out to test but so far, so good - absolutely no vibration from the gearstick which also means no related buzzing noise from centre console; the original positive gear selection has been retained and, perhaps just in my head, but reverse seems a little better. It turns out the rumour of a new clutch pre-purchase was actually true - bonus!

Hoping this means the problem is 100% resolved so a big thanks to Grumpy and Atkiman who nailed it right away. Now onto the minor stuff such as slight headlamp fogging, a back seat rattle, whether to bother with a couple of door dings and locating the source of a faint smell of wet dog / stale smoke. 

...all of which I hope can fixed with shampoo, elbow grease and finding the right screw to tighten up. 

[Grumpy stumpy]

Glad all sorted . I've done nearly 40,000 miles since I done mine and it's only now starting to very slightly do it again but not annoying enough to do it again yet so you should be ok for a few years !