Just Bought A Rav4 - Questions

[Paul Thomas]

Hi all

I've just bought a 1996 RAV4 GX to go wih my Celica !

What good active UK based forums are there as well as this one ?

There is a sort of hissing/wooshing noise when you accelerate, most noticable in low gears. Any sugestions on what this could be ?

I need to fit a tow bar, any recommendations on kits and how easy is it ?

Anything else I should be aware of on the RAV4 ?

It's done 116,000 miles and the suspension seems a little worn, does anywhere do uprated suspension kits for these ?

[src]

Welcome Paul. As for forums this one is best for UK folks or of course http://www.rav4world.com from folks all over the world including a few UK Folks (Like me).

[freestyle]

Does the noise occur higher in the rev range?

Both the 96 rav-4 GXs i road tested before buying made a noise like that.

[Paul Thomas]

Yes, very noticable with both windows down an accelerating quickly in 1st and 2nd, unfortunately in a city area and I couldn't get up to any high speeds.

I didn't sound like a whining noise so I wasn't concerned about drivetrain problems. It just seemed a bit strange. The owner said something about the mechanic saying it was air moving over . . . - I didn't really take much notice at the time.

Did you buy one anyway ? Any ideas what it could be ?

It didn't seem speed related but rev related. This would probably rule out drive train as that would increase with speed. It wasn't noticable when stationary and reving the engine.

Other than that it looks in good nick, a few bird marks on the roof that obviously wern't cleaned off quickly enough. No rust on body, not even many stonechips.

Quite a bit of surface rust on front wishones and the drive train/diffs etc but I guess this is normal. May get a coat of waxoil when I have a chance.

I have only paid a deposit so far, waiting for the private plate transfer to come off it before I can pay remaining amount and collect it.

I will of course get a HPI check done before I part with the remaining mony.

I paid £3,000 privately for a 1996 'P' with 116K on the clock. Full Toyota Service History until 90k and then a local dealer for the remainder.

How much can I expect to pay for tyres ? (Std steel with hub caps)

The cambelt was done at 60k, when does it need re-doing ?

Anywhere on the internet that specialises in accessories for the RAV4, in particular I think the suspension is getting a bit old ?

I need to fit a tow-bar as well, any recomendations ?

I'm sure I will have hundreds of other questions as well.

[Uncle Bob]

Hi Paul,

good to hear you've sorted out a Rav4, what model is it ...GX ?

Bob ( Uncle Bob to you ).

[Paul Thomas]

Well Bob, you do get around !

Yes it's a GX model. Just waiting for the DVLA to return the V5 before I can collect it.

I was a bit sorry to see the L/R Discovery go though.

So we're a Toyota only family now !

As a fountain of knowledge what can you tell me about the RAV-4 and particularly the 2.0 engine, I believe it is out of a another Toyota ?

[Uncle Bob]

Well Bob, you do get around !

Yes it's a GX model.  Just waiting for the DVLA to return the V5 before I can collect it. 

I was a bit sorry to see the L/R Discovery go though.

So we're a Toyota only family now !

As a fountain of knowledge what can you tell me about the RAV-4 and particularly the 2.0 engine, I believe it is out of a another Toyota ?

Not much to say really, totally reliable, rarely goes wrong, only need to see a main dealer for servicing.

Great cars ( sorry SUV's ) to drive, being 4wd it handles very well ,infact it was the top of it class a few years back.

The engine is a sweet and simple twin cam, its engine code is 3S-FE and as we know that's used in the import gen 6 celica.

In the UK the only other car that shares the same engine is the Toyota Picnic, in the Rav the 3S-FE puts out 126 bhp and has a 0-60 of 11.2 sec (Manual )12.3 Auto, MPG is 22 around town and should be good for 36 plus on a run.

Hope you motors proved to be reliable with the milage on the clock :( ;)

[Paul Thomas]

So why such a low BHP output compared to the import Gen6 ?

Do you know of any on-line suppliers selling accessories/part inc suspension for the RAV4 ?

[src]

So why such a low BHP output compared to the import Gen6 ?

Do you know of any on-line suppliers selling accessories/part inc suspension for the RAV4 ?

The RAV4's 3S-FE engine was tuned for economy rather than performace.

You could try http://www.fourcounties.eu.com/ or http://www.formula4x4.com/

[Uncle Bob]

So why such a low BHP output compared to the import Gen6 ?

Do you know of any on-line suppliers selling accessories/part inc suspension for the RAV4 ?

The gen 6 celica import ,has a 138 bhp 3S-FE,so the Rav4 is only 12 bhp down :( .

[Paul Thomas]

Update on the saga of my RAV-4.

The documents have come back from the DVLA, updated MOT and plate transfer confirmation which is suitable to get plates made. However the V5 will take 4-6 weeks meaning I wouldn't see it before purchasing. Also the MOT expires very soon, not next year as he though when selling it to me. To be fair he has booked it in Sat for a new 12 month MOT and said he will do anything that needs fixing - so I guess you can't say fairer than that !

[steve5]

Yes, very noticable with both windows down an accelerating quickly in 1st and 2nd, unfortunately in a city area and I couldn't get up to any high speeds.

I didn't sound like a whining noise so I wasn't concerned about drivetrain problems.  It just seemed a bit strange.  The owner said something about the mechanic saying it was air moving over . . .  - I didn't really take much notice at the time.

Did you buy one anyway ?  Any ideas what it could be ?

It didn't seem speed related but rev related.  This would probably rule out drive train as that would increase with speed.  It wasn't noticable when stationary and reving the engine.

Other than that it looks in good nick, a few bird marks on the roof that obviously wern't cleaned off quickly enough.  No rust on body, not even many stonechips.

Quite a bit of surface rust on front wishones and the drive train/diffs etc but I guess this is normal.  May get a coat of waxoil when I have a chance.

I have only paid a deposit so far, waiting for the private plate transfer to come off it before I can pay remaining amount and collect it.

I will of course get a HPI check done before I part with the remaining  mony.

I paid £3,000 privately for a 1996 'P' with 116K on the clock.  Full Toyota Service History until 90k and then a local dealer for the remainder.

How much can I expect to pay for tyres ? (Std steel with hub caps)

The cambelt was done at 60k, when does it need re-doing ?

Anywhere on the internet that specialises in accessories for the RAV4, in particular I think the suspension is getting a bit old ?

I need to fit a tow-bar as well, any recomendations ?

I'm sure I will have hundreds of other questions as well.

←

hello paul , Have the same noise problem with mine 96 N GX 75000 . My mechanic took it out with my Dad thrashed it! and said it was a hole in the exhaust somewhere and that it was not a problem till it got bigger.

[alanbradley]

Speaking of exhausts - sometimes you get a tinny rattle from underneath (most noticable when idling) which turns out to be the little shield thing working loose. You can either tighten it or (more commonly) people just have it removed.

My Dad's is a P-reg 5 door with about 98,000 on the clock and has never had anything but routine servicing since he got it about 5 years or so ago. It's not as good a tow car as the Subaru Legacy it replaced though.

If you're ever going off road or regularly driving in crummy conditions then you'll find a decent set of Mud+Snow tyres make a real difference as well as making the car look more manly!

I think that the engine is also tuned for more low down torque than in the Celica, but I'm not too sure.

Hope that's of some use,

Alan