Rav4 Gearbox Or Transmission Problems

March 25, 2009

My automatic 5-door Rav 4 (N reg) car makes a very funny juddery noise when I'm in low gears, going up from 1st to 2nd gear, and/or manoeuvring.

The nice men at my local garage say they're not sure, it's possibly the gear box or transmission.

They explained it wouldn't suddenly conk out (so not to worry about driving in fastlanes on motorways), the car would keep going until I parked up at a service station... I just I wouldn't be able to drive off again. But they thought it could be £1500 to fix it...

I love my car. Cos I'm 6ft tall (and quite wide of beam!), it's a perfect size for me. I've only done 105K miles so don't really want to get shot of it; also, I'd never get a 2nd hand car for £1500 that suits me so well, so maybe I'm better off to repair it with a reconditioned gearbox or whatever.

Any cheap ideas for fixing; am I safe to keep driving; do you agree with garage's assessment? Any advice gratefully accepted.

Thanks in advance,

SJ

March 25, 2009

Not the same thing entirely, but................

I had, years ago, a Golf Automatic. I was bowling along, nicely, no funny noises or problems with it changing gear, until I came to a roundabout & stopped, as I hadn't right of way. It put itself into "park" & wouldn't budge out of it.

I rang the AA & told the story. They said that they would be along ASAP.

I stood behind that car on a freezing cold day for 3 hours, because the EEJITS would come up behind me & wait for me to move, even though I had the flashers going. Several sets of friends stopped & asked could they help. They couldn't, but some rang the AA for me too.

Eventually the Guards (Police) arrived, took one look @ me & said to get into the back of the Patrol car & get warm & they would take over directing the traffic. Shortly after that the AA Lifter truck arrived. I don't blame them, as there were cars in ditches all over the place that day.

Moral of the story is, Don't rely on getting stuck @ a Service Station or somewhere handy. :( You probably are aware that you cannot tow an Automatic & have to get a "Lifter"

March 25, 2009

Would one of the very lovely mods' be so kind as to bump this over to the Rav forum?

Not many Rav owners venture over to the dark side of the General forum... :lol:

March 25, 2009

Would one of the very lovely mods' be so kind as to bump this over to the Rav forum?
Not many Rav owners venture over to the dark side of the General forum...

Some do frequent the darkside of the RAV forum but :lol: :lol:

March 25, 2009

My automatic 5-door Rav 4 (N reg) car makes a very funny juddery noise when I'm in low gears, going up from 1st to 2nd gear, and/or manoeuvring.
The nice men at my local garage say they're not sure, it's possibly the gear box or transmission.
They explained it wouldn't suddenly conk out (so not to worry about driving in fastlanes on motorways), the car would keep going until I parked up at a service station... I just I wouldn't be able to drive off again. But they thought it could be £1500 to fix it...
I love my car. Cos I'm 6ft tall (and quite wide of beam!), it's a perfect size for me. I've only done 105K miles so don't really want to get shot of it; also, I'd never get a 2nd hand car for £1500 that suits me so well, so maybe I'm better off to repair it with a reconditioned gearbox or whatever.
Any cheap ideas for fixing; am I safe to keep driving; do you agree with garage's assessment? Any advice gratefully accepted.
Thanks in advance,
SJ

Hi SJ

Having owned 1 of my 1994 RAVs since new, I got to know a little of these cars.... I don't have much experience of the auto box, but I haven't heard much problem about them either.

I would have the rear suspension bushes checked and the rear diff mount bush checked first for wear - these things need done around 80,000 miles otherwise the suspension parts begin to want to leave the rest of the car behind.....

I'll pick up again when this finds its way over to the RAV forum....

March 25, 2009

Despite Bothy's excellent advice & experience, I wouldn't trust a suspected dodgy automatic gearbox :(

My other experience was with my automatic Chevy Monza. Again it came out of the blue. I had been bowling along with no sign of trouble & had to slow down due to traffic. When I went to accelerate again, I found that she was stuck in Low & wouldn't move up through the gears. She got me home though........... slowly.

A great car & never gave any other trouble.

:offtopic: My 2 kids hated it . Never told me, but said it to the Mammy :D It was only last year that I asked why & got an answer. They thought it was a"Posh" car & wanted to be like everyone else :rolleyes:

March 25, 2009

Despite Bothy's excellent advice & experience, I wouldn't trust a suspected dodgy automatic gearbox :(
My other experience was with my automatic Chevy Monza. Again it came out of the blue. I had been bowling along with no sign of trouble & had to slow down due to traffic. When I went to accelerate again, I found that she was stuck in Low & wouldn't move up through the gears. She got me home though........... slowly.
A great car & never gave any other trouble.
My 2 kids hated it . Never told me, but said it to the Mammy :D It was only last year that I asked why & got an answer. They thought it was a"Posh" car & wanted to be like everyone else

don't take this personally ( :eek: ), but maybe it was you they meant :P :P :P (thinks - wonder how many minutes I get before getting hit by a mudgeraetor?)

Just that the rear diff mount is a favourite to cause thumps and bumps when reversing or changing gear. Its cos the rear diff is swinging back and forward on a horizontal axis.

March 25, 2009

Despite Bothy's excellent advice & experience, I wouldn't trust a suspected dodgy automatic gearbox :(
My other experience was with my automatic Chevy Monza. Again it came out of the blue. I had been bowling along with no sign of trouble & had to slow down due to traffic. When I went to accelerate again, I found that she was stuck in Low & wouldn't move up through the gears. She got me home though........... slowly.
A great car & never gave any other trouble.
My 2 kids hated it . Never told me, but said it to the Mammy :D It was only last year that I asked why & got an answer. They thought it was a"Posh" car & wanted to be like everyone else
don't take this personally ( ), but maybe it was you they meant :P :P :P (thinks - wonder how many minutes I get before getting hit by a mudgeraetor?)
Just that the rear diff mount is a favourite to cause thumps and bumps when reversing or changing gear. Its cos the rear diff is swinging back and forward on a horizontal axis.

Don't worry, Bothy :thumbsup: Since I got the hang of you :unsure: I don't take anything you say personally & I hope that the reverse is also true :P