Newbie

[funkykebab]

Hi All

As the title stats I am a newbie to the site, but not to these forums.

I have just brought the wife a '96 (N) Rav 4 GX 5 door Auto!

Just after a few tips like where to buy a Haynes Manual (or alike) for the Rav.

I am going to be changing all the brakes and the alternaotr soon and would like guidance from the Haynes.

I did all the work on all my old Nissan 100NX's before I sold them, and am currently working on my Volvo S40

So I am members of both owner clubs, and they have been the best sources of info, so I am now hoping to get the same here

Thanks

Matt

[bothwell_buyer]

HELLO AND WELCOME MATT WI THE 5 DOORS AN an auto box...

Haynes manual - its the USA version, availble on fleebay. Or one of the links on the forum gives you how to download the workshop manual.

Changing the brakes....? Wot are you planning on doing?? Pads, discs or more?

On the alternator, is that knackered?? They last a long time on the RAV I found....but the Battery doesn't.

Wheres yer Volvo S40? Is that connected tae yer elbow or somewhere on the skeletal structure???

Have fun here - and if ye look at the most popular post (music) then ye'll need Speakers oan the computer - me? Dinna have Speakers oan ma main computer so its a pointless effort trying tae lip read the songs...!

[shcm]

Welcome on board Matt

[funkykebab]

Thanks guys

And no slagging off me Volvo (she is my new baby) Ok its not jap like my beloved Nissans but for the family its nice and safe!!!!

I have a workshop manual for the S40 but is rubbish!

Is the USA version of the Rav same as ours?

I will be doing the discs and pads, will probably go for greenstuff pads if they do them for the RAV, as for the alternator, I had the car checked by a mechanic and he said the coils in it had gone all a funny colour which means it will need replacing soon.

To be honest I have never bothered untill they have gone completely beofre I have changed them, so will wait and see.

As for changing the stereo....mine has a Sony tape player in it, was this the standard one? if it is how does it come out, I want to put a Pioneer in!

Also wha size are the Speakers?

As you can guess I am a bit of a modder, so a few bits will change!

Matt

[shcm]

Is the USA version of the Rav same as ours?

There's enough similarity for the Haynes manual to be useful. I bought it for the 4.2, but it doesn't cover the diesel (or at least it didn't when I got it) for example.

The 4.1 may be almost identical, so the manual should be OK for you I think, but Bothy's your expert there.

If you've been watching the forum, you'll know we generally only tend to slag of "The vehicle That Must Not Be Named" (begins with H and C), and possibly LRs, so I think your Volvo is relatively safe

Cheers

[funkykebab]

Hi Shcm

My mate on the 100NXC would love your avatar, she is a mad penguin fan!

LOL

Thanks

Matt

[sywy]

Welcome to TOC funky.

I used to have a 100NX when I was younger. Lovely car.

[funkykebab]

I had three, and will have another again when my two little ones are older!

matt

[bothwell_buyer]

Is the USA version of the Rav same as ours?

There's enough similarity for the Haynes manual to be useful. I bought it for the 4.2, but it doesn't cover the diesel (or at least it didn't when I got it) for example.

The 4.1 may be almost identical, so the manual should be OK for you I think, but Bothy's your expert there.

If you've been watching the forum, you'll know we generally only tend to slag of "The vehicle That Must Not Be Named" (begins with H and C), and possibly LRs, so I think your Volvo is relatively safe

Cheers

The manual is ok for the 4.1 version.

I've done the brakes and used green stuff with EBC discs and also used Rotordiscs. Both work well but I found the incresaed heat generated by the better stopping wasn't welcomed by the front calipers and ended up wrecking 2 new sets of discs cos the calipers seized on when extra hot - just a word of warning to save you £400.

As you see, I've replaced the front calipers with KAD 6 pots which are fabulous, and fitted with ferodo pads. Had i not had them fitted, I would have driven straight thru some nutter of a (wuman) driver tonight who pulled out in front of me - an I was only doing 30 after starting to accelrate from a roundabout!!

The KAD solution meant changing the wheels to 18" - 245/45/18 which aid the cornering!

[anchorman]

Take care when buying Ferodo pads to make sure they are "Premium" or "competition" as they do a second line cheap and chearful that was called "Target" but I think is called something else now.