Dreaded Limp mode 😖😖

[Crackersmike]

Hi all, can anyone shed some clear light on this continuing fault with these Rav4's please. 😎

I have a RAV4 D4D 2005, current mileage 159000 and Ive had since new. Over these last 4 yrs now, I have had an intermittent fault with my car where by it struggles to give power on acceleration changing up the gears or if you drop down to overtake the power drops and hesitates to catch up again. 🙁  On the few occasions it has gone into limp mode. I stop the car, cut the ignition and restart and the limp mode clears.🙁 On the code reader the most constant code has been the turbo over boost. I have taken it to Toyota who assured me the turbo vanes were sticking. I took the turbo off, sent to a turbo specialist for repair fault diagnose  and was told there was nothing wrong with the turbo or vains.🙁 Refitted and problem still there. 😡 I've been to various garages, all of whom have googled said problem and I've done the following, turbo recon, pressure test on turbo and pipes, clean fuel filter, new fuel filter, new scv's x2, cleaned egr, flushed through revive into intake, and lately new actuator. To no avail this has cost me a small fortune with no results. ☹️  All the Toyota RAV4 sites say something different each time but no conclusion.🤔 Even Toyota can not give no definitive answer to my problem. 😩  My latest episode of limp action has revealed code P1251, now reading the code forums on here they say turbo solenoid. Is this a good fix/ cure or am I throwing more good money at an unfixable problem and just torch the dam thing.... Any answers please!!! 😫😫😫😫😫

the car has been serviced regular each year. 

[Ant-Rav]

U cud be on a sticky wicket with this. I tried in vane to cure it. And could not and got rid of jeep. I have a notion it mite beat u but good luck with it. Someone else here might have an answer. Pity cause they are otherwise a great motor. 

[daveh_rav4]

Yup, but look on the bright side... you are keeping many motor agents in business.  Garages don't want fault free cars; bad for business.  Cars these days are riddled with digital systems, sensors and computer equipment that hardly anyone understands.  A five year old vehicle these days and you have to start thinking of getting a new one.  If the MOT does not get you... the digital sensors will.  It's like the phamisuitical industry... drugs that cure people are bad for business (anti-biotics?), they want drugs that people have to stay on and keep repeat buying (good business).  We are all going to hell in a hand cart... 

Gawd, give me a car from the fiftys, sixtys... when they went wrong it was an easy fix; all mechanical and obvious faults anyone handy with a spanner and a screwdriver could fix.

Good luck...

[Ant-Rav]

There must be a very simple silly reason why these motors do this. The last man I spoke to about it said to get the turbo cleaned out. That the vanes stick sometimes. They get clogged up with carbon. Just an idea. 

[Crackersmike]

3 independent garages said it could be the turbo including Toyota. So after sourcing a good turbo specialist turboworks I sent it to them On receiving my turbo he phoned me to update and said he could find no fault with the turbo or the vains. Yes they were dirty with carbon but that was to be expected with age and mileage, he cleaned and tested and sent back with 24month warranty. £250 lighter plus garage costs £210. 😫😫. I'm reluctant to spend any more other than roll it off west bay cliffs 😀😀

[Ant-Rav]

Aye. I give up to. Very hard to cure. Sorry I'm no help. I changed turbo boost valve and did not fix it either. Good luck. 

[daveh_rav4]

Okay, apart from my cynical post above... one thing I do seem remember reading on a thread here some time ago, and I know nothing about diesels; I hate them, is that the diesel fuel supplied in this country is of a different specification than that used in other countrys, and may be the reason that these turbo's are carboning up more than they would using another specification of fuel oil? 

Google for diesel fuels... perhaps Toyota turbos just don't like the fuel here?

[Ant-Rav]

That's a fair point about the diesel we use here. Tho I owned an 01 D4D Avensis diesel and never had this problem. And I used same diesel in both vehicles. And it was pretty much same engine I think. I was told there was a different brand name of turbo put in the Ravs than was in my old  Avensis. A hard nut to crack. 

[atkiman]

I took mine to a commercial fuel injection company that i used when i ran trucks, they always made my cummins and gardner engines work better. 600 quid and a set of scv's sorted it, shame the 5th gear gear kept failing on a 2005 , 35000 mile car. Diesel rav's seem prone to all sorts of gremlins, to be honest at 159k miles you've done well, let it go would be my suggestion. I changed mine for a ssangyong tivoli xlv 4x4 manual, excellent straight forward uncomplicated motor, and i've had toyotas since 1974, and 3 ravs.

[Bob Twomey]

Hi with regards the limp mode issue the following are often regarded as possible causes:- fuel cap not locking properly ie sealing causing air to draw in under load, oil filler cap not screwed down tightly and undetectable leaks in pipes associated to this car, putting a cheap and cheerful air filter replacement when serviced. Then when you have done that and think that has cured it your engine management light comes on reduced power ensues in the third lane at 70+ mph on the m62 frightening hope anything helps but it hasn't helped me

[Crackersmike]

Hi there, I’ve just change my turbo Solenoid as suggested by earlier comments and I thank all that have posted. But to no avail, problem is still there which makes me want to go down the diesel injection route but reluctant to spend out any more money. The solenoid was genuine from Toyota at a cost of £380 from Toyota, but luckily only paid £150 through a farmers account as he has  Hilux’s. The injection cleaners is quite pricey to do individually, so using diesel injection cleaner fluid from wynns for a few fuel tanks. It’s my last resort and hopefully lasts me till aug/sept when I change it. By by Rav. 😃☹️😢

[ffej]

Hi I had this with mine,,,when you take the EGR off  to clean make sure you clean the port hole that it covers in the block I use the right cleaner for this when I started it up it had a big engine knock then was okay also spray QT85 in to the tubo boost  valve and the one above with red wire connector  let them dry a little while do not use WD40 ,no trouble after this it flew along ,I did cover all this earlier in the forum  ,Jeff 

[Crackersmike]

Hi Jeff, I suppose it’s worth a try. Many thanks. Mike