Rav4 Gearbox

[Mike N]

Hi – I’ve a 1997 RAV4 which needed a replacement gearbox and have fitted one that has done around 35,000 miles so is presumably 2 – 4 years old. It works fine, but….compared with the original it isn’t obvious how it connects to the speedometer and also it has a 3-pin electrical connection (it was 6-pin on the original) that I don’t know the purpose of. If anyone out there has a relatively recent RAV4 and can give me the answer to these two problems I’d be very grateful. Mike

[anchorman]

I'm not having a go at you but I wish everybody would update their profile to show which model (4.1, 4.2 or 4.3) and whether it is petrol or diesel especially if needing technical advice.

If I understand you properly you have 2 connectors on the new gearbox, one for the speedo and one for the reversing light.

The speedo will be at the back near where the drive shafts come out of the final drive. When you say it isn't obvious I take you mean that the original speedo drive isn't the same as the new one. Earlier models were cable driven but later ones are electrical. If this is the case, remove the the electrical drive from the new gearbox, check if the worm drive has the same number of teeth and exchange the old mechanical drive from the old box. If they are both electrical but just different plugs - again just change the speedo drives. They are usually held in by one small bolt and a plate. If the drive teeth are different you have got a pretty big job on your hands. You need to strip out the diff and change the worm drive on the output shaft. This is not a job for an amateur so you may need some help if this is the case. To upgrade the existing speedo from mechanical to the electrical type you will need all of the loom, ECU and instrument cluster so it is easier to try to make the new box the old style.

The reversing light switch is on the top nearer to the front and should be pretty well compatible.

If I have misunderstood your question please clarify or take photos.

Cheers

[Mike N]

Thanks very much for the advice - hope some mechanics on holiday this week can help! It is a RAV-4 AUTO (5 DOOR)

I'm not having a go at you but I wish everybody would update their profile to show which model (4.1, 4.2 or 4.3) and whether it is petrol or diesel especially if needing technical advice.

If I understand you properly you have 2 connectors on the new gearbox, one for the speedo and one for the reversing light.

The speedo will be at the back near where the drive shafts come out of the final drive. When you say it isn't obvious I take you mean that the original speedo drive isn't the same as the new one. Earlier models were cable driven but later ones are electrical. If this is the case, remove the the electrical drive from the new gearbox, check if the worm drive has the same number of teeth and exchange the old mechanical drive from the old box. If they are both electrical but just different plugs - again just change the speedo drives. They are usually held in by one small bolt and a plate. If the drive teeth are different you have got a pretty big job on your hands. You need to strip out the diff and change the worm drive on the output shaft. This is not a job for an amateur so you may need some help if this is the case. To upgrade the existing speedo from mechanical to the electrical type you will need all of the loom, ECU and instrument cluster so it is easier to try to make the new box the old style.

The reversing light switch is on the top nearer to the front and should be pretty well compatible.

If I have misunderstood your question please clarify or take photos.

Cheers

Hi – I’ve a 1997 RAV4 which needed a replacement gearbox and have fitted one that has done around 35,000 miles so is presumably 2 – 4 years old. It works fine, but….compared with the original it isn’t obvious how it connects to the speedometer and also it has a 3-pin electrical connection (it was 6-pin on the original) that I don’t know the purpose of. If anyone out there has a relatively recent RAV4 and can give me the answer to these two problems I’d be very grateful. Mike