Rav4 Giant

[maryk]

I have a Giant which I have had from new so car is approx 8 years old. I have lost a centre cap for one of the alloys and have been told by Toyota GB that these have been discontinued. In spite of the Society of Motor Manuafacturers guidlines that parts should be produced for at least 10 years, Toyota stopped manufacturing parts some considerable time ago. Their attitude to me when I rang was that I couldn't possibly expect them to continue servicing a vehicle that was so old - in other words, they don't expect their cars to last more than seven years max! Further, they wouldn't tell me what other parts on the car had been discontinued, so I do not know whether I am sitting on a time bomb.

Has anyone else had this problem with "special" edition (so special that they should be scrapped after 6 or seven years) RAV 4? Does anyone know where I might get either a wheel or the part - from a breakers etc?

[bothwell_buyer]

I have a Giant which I have had from new so car is approx 8 years old. I have lost a centre cap for one of the alloys and have been told by Toyota GB that these have been discontinued. In spite of the Society of Motor Manuafacturers guidlines that parts should be produced for at least 10 years, Toyota stopped manufacturing parts some considerable time ago. Their attitude to me when I rang was that I couldn't possibly expect them to continue servicing a vehicle that was so old - in other words, they don't expect their cars to last more than seven years max! Further, they wouldn't tell me what other parts on the car had been discontinued, so I do not know whether I am sitting on a time bomb.

Has anyone else had this problem with "special" edition (so special that they should be scrapped after 6 or seven years) RAV 4? Does anyone know where I might get either a wheel or the part - from a breakers etc?

Its a bit of a mixed pot. On general items for the RAV4 4.1, theres a variety of parts available from non-toyota sources. I have found the USA market to provide more spares than in the UK. However for most things, the parts are still easily available .... and I have 2 1994 RAV4s. Sometimes its a bit more difficult getting 2nd hand spares as the cars just last and last. !!

More model specific bits can be harder to get - like the accessories. I cannot get an original 1994 full bull bar - T stopped doing them years ago. Same with the rear step. alloys are notorious for going out of fashion and production....

good luck in your quest....

and a warm if not dry (its peeeeeeein down here today) welcome to the forum,

yer mad pal frae Glasgae

[maryk]

Sounds like you are a fan of the Mk1 RAV4 - any suggestions re reasonably priced replacement alloys? My worry with my particular car is that it has the extra body kit (which they are presumably not making any more) and if I have another incident with a deer (yes we have them down south!) as I did a few years ago, the car will be reduced to scrap.

Lovely sunny day here today!

[local hero]

I have a Giant which I have had from new so car is approx 8 years old. I have lost a centre cap for one of the alloys and have been told by Toyota GB that these have been discontinued. In spite of the Society of Motor Manuafacturers guidlines that parts should be produced for at least 10 years, Toyota stopped manufacturing parts some considerable time ago. Their attitude to me when I rang was that I couldn't possibly expect them to continue servicing a vehicle that was so old - in other words, they don't expect their cars to last more than seven years max! Further, they wouldn't tell me what other parts on the car had been discontinued, so I do not know whether I am sitting on a time bomb.

Has anyone else had this problem with "special" edition (so special that they should be scrapped after 6 or seven years) RAV 4? Does anyone know where I might get either a wheel or the part - from a breakers etc?

IN all honesty, not familiar with a "GIANT" but if you can post a pic of the wheel with centre cap, might help to come up with a solution for you

[maryk]

I have a Giant which I have had from new so car is approx 8 years old. I have lost a centre cap for one of the alloys and have been told by Toyota GB that these have been discontinued. In spite of the Society of Motor Manuafacturers guidlines that parts should be produced for at least 10 years, Toyota stopped manufacturing parts some considerable time ago. Their attitude to me when I rang was that I couldn't possibly expect them to continue servicing a vehicle that was so old - in other words, they don't expect their cars to last more than seven years max! Further, they wouldn't tell me what other parts on the car had been discontinued, so I do not know whether I am sitting on a time bomb.

Has anyone else had this problem with "special" edition (so special that they should be scrapped after 6 or seven years) RAV 4? Does anyone know where I might get either a wheel or the part - from a breakers etc?

IN all honesty, not familiar with a "GIANT" but if you can post a pic of the wheel with centre cap, might help to come up with a solution for you

Will do, when I get home. Thanks

[Bodgit-fixit-run]

Whats it made from?

You might be able to use one of the others as a pattern to get one made up from a small fiberglass or plastics place. If it's an alloy you might be stuck. unless you go for a replica.

[bothwell_buyer]

Sounds like you are a fan of the Mk1 RAV4 - any suggestions re reasonably priced replacement alloys? My worry with my particular car is that it has the extra body kit (which they are presumably not making any more) and if I have another incident with a deer (yes we have them down south!) as I did a few years ago, the car will be reduced to scrap.

Lovely sunny day here today!

Well its a wet and very windy nicht the nicht.

Wheels - I have sets of FOX Racing; MAK Mirrors; DARE Diesel; DARE Drift - the DARE wheels are lightweight and I use them for drag starts - fitted with low low profile tyres.

The FOX are fitted with 235/60x 16. The MAK are 18" and I can't remember the tyre size. The DARE are both 18".

You have many choices - the only thing I found on a set of alloys I had were that they rubbed rubber on full lock.

Number 1 RAV has the full body kit....and the plastic is quite grey now but intact. I'll need to try Autoglym bumper stuff to see if that helps. Number 2 plastics are in good order and colour. I replaced the rear step on number 1 as the steel had corroded. A stainless steeel one I got made up cost £20 !!

Number 2 RAV does not have the body kit and apart from a tow bar is a standard GX.

The original full bullbar on number is beyond help and I'm struggling to find a metal worker who can bend pipe to such a sharp curve....so the bullbar is off the noo.

Got number 2 from the garage today - complete with its 3SGTE turbo engine. It needs shaken down for a few miles before really blasting it. But as its original apart from the engine and new rear sway bar, its a lot more comfortable to drive.... and now I have twins sitting in my driveway!!! :thumbsup:

[Smiler AS]

Hi all, I have hust bought a Rav 4.1 Giant model, guy gave me a spare set of the Giant wheels too, have plenty of the caps.

Will put picture up to confirm thats what you after.

[maryk]

Hi all, I have hust bought a Rav 4.1 Giant model, guy gave me a spare set of the Giant wheels too, have plenty of the caps.

Will put picture up to confirm thats what you after.

Sorry for delay in replying - I had all but given up hope of finding anyone with the centre caps. Could you upload a photo of the caps that you have please? I will also upload (probably not until Thursday now) a photo of my wheels. Are you willing to sell caps on their own?

Out of interest, did you buy the car with two sets of "Giant" wheels or had the seller replaced the original wheels with different alloys?

[bothwell_buyer]

If you go down the route of alloys, try a wider fitting to increase the overall width as it improves cornering and stability

[maryk]

If you go down the route of alloys, try a wider fitting to increase the overall width as it improves cornering and stability

Sounds a good idea but this would mean a new set of tyres as well - the Yokohama tyres that I have still have some life left in them, so bearing in mind the age of the car, if I go for new alloys I'll probably buy the same size. A local alloy dealer has offered me a good price for a set of Wolfrace Rush Shadow Chrome wheels (17") so I'll have a look at those.

[mcwithahammer]

Get one 3D printed and spray 

Edited February 13, 2018 by mcwithahammer
Missed out D

[FROSTYBALLS]

The topic is 9-10 years old, so the OP may have found a solution.