Can Anyone Offer Me Some Encouragement?

[wardp]

A couple of weeks before Christmas my trusty Citroen Xsara was involved in a road accident which rendered it beyond economical repair to use an insurance phrase. So as I needed a car quickly for my work I decided on the Avensis as I had always liked the pre 2003 model and with Toyota's reknown reliability I thought I couldn't go wrong. Last Saturday I picked up my first ever Toyota, an Approved Used 2002 1.8 VVTI Avensis which has had only one owner from new but when I got home I a little disappointed to find that there was no handbook and no key for the locking wheel nuts.

Yesterday things went downhill a little more when I found that the interior light was not working so I switched it on and promptly the radio went off and the central locking did not work. So tomorrow I will be at the dealers door when they open to see just how good the Toyota Approved warranty really is.

After I quick search of the internet I have come across this forum and I am very disturbed to read that the interior light problem appears to be quite common and worse still the oil consumption issue which I now expect at any moment if it is not already inflicted. What's happened to the rock solid reliability that everyone associates with Toyota. Surely it can't all be doom and gloom.

Phil

[mark_n]

The problem with oil consuption only effected a small number of engines which were made about early 2002. I think if you give Toyota your engine number they can tell you if your engine is effected.

[manufan]

The interior light problem has caught me out too..

Dont know the root cause of this but you can firstly replace the 7.5 amp fuse located in the engine compartment (front right hand side) which will bring back the locking and stereo and replace the bulb in the light..

Let me know how you get on with the dealer if you don't mind

Regards

Barry

[JAHill]

Don't know if you've had a look, but eBay can sometimes pop up with the car manual goodies.

[manufan]

as far as i'm aware Haynes are still putting the avensis manual together... Is there know of another publisher for the avensis manual?

[wardp]

Thank you for your replies which I appreciate. This morning I turned up at the dealer unannounced where I was promptly given the services of a technician who sorted out the bulb/fuse problem, he replaced them both and all is fine. However I do wonder if he also fixed a possible short circuit in the interior light.

I also spoke to the sales rep who sold me the car who promptly gave me the locking wheel nut kit and owners handbook. So all was well until half way home the aircon switched itself off and will not work any more. Looks like another trip back to a dealer.

I keep my fingers crossed about the oilconsumption issue as my car was registered at the end of May 2002 it may or may not be affected.

Regards

Phil

[thiambal]

The problem with oil consuption only effected a small number of engines which were made about early 2002. I think if you give Toyota your engine number they can tell you if your engine is effected.

I think there are more engines that just early 2002 ones affected. There are reports on the Avensis forum of Vvti 1.4, 1.6 & 1.8 from 2000-2002 all having problems.

I have tried calling Toyota to find out if mine is one of those affected but did not get any joy - have you any idea how to get hold of this information? Cheers