Interested in selling your old car and are located within the Washington DMV area msg me at Vehiclehunterz@gmail.com The toyota rav4 second gen is one of the better looking suv's. Definatly the better looking rav4. It's a cute Ute
If you take the headrest off of the driver and passenger seats and move the seat all the way forward and lean the back all the way down, it lines up with the back seats making a full lounge bed to lay on.
Just fixed my 2001 rav 4 over 10 mechanics said transmission needed to be replaced well i replaced all O2 sensors with oem denso and wala no more transmission problems no more check engine. Also sent my ecu to get fixed for $80 it didn’t need it but i wanted the newest software update on it. 220,000 miles got her back on the road.
A great and very watchable review, thank you . I have today just bought a 2003 with 103k on the clock, it drove very well on the test drive and your review had put my mind at rest that I've made the right choice. Many thanks.
Toyota should restart production: it's a classic like the VW beetle, except it works. Everywhere, every inch of that gen RAV4 is brilliance in Japanese design. DIY oil change takes 10 minutes, without jacks. Tranny fix is a reco ECU, sent the next day for $150, with instructions, and takes 20 minutes to change it. They stay like new after 20 years and if you change the oil on schedule they never stop. Well done, a great video.
Here in the UK, We've owned a 2004 black RAV4 like this one for 10 years now. It's now done over 200,000 miles. Ok, we've spent a lot on it over the 10 years, but it drives and sounds like new. From time to time, I'll get a comment saying things like, wow your car looks amazing for it's age. We love it. It's going to have to go next year, I'm gonna miss it so much.
Does that go for the G1 as well? I’ve heard the 96 to 2 thousandths have transmission issues and head gasket issues but apparently it is a one to $300 fix to just take out the ECU and either get a new one or have it rebuilt.
@@sibp901 buying a 2003 AWD with 185k, had the same concern about the transmission - linked to the ecm issue - this owner has had it for 17 years, she got the Ecm replaced a long time ago under recall, no issues since. Do you know if yours has the original ecm?
I have a 5 door RAV4 2003 2.0vvti with manual transmission. The interior does have lots of cheap plastic but it's features are actually quite ergonomic, simple and well thought out. The easily removable rear seats are great and the low loading height at the rear is useful. This car is ideal for converting into a weekend camper with some 2"x4" and ply boards to make a DIY removable camp bed, there are videos on youtube showing how.
Really awesome to hear. Jealous you found a manual. Just bought a 2003 AWD w/ automatic w/ 185k miles. Stoked to turn it into an all around, do a little bit of everything including camping, type vehicle.
@@gsabella4 Mine still only has 86k miles. When I bought it there were 60k miles on the clock but the check engine light was on and I got a good price. There was nothing wrong with it.
I have a 2002 Rav4 as well and they are excellent AWD vehicles. Cheap on gas and based on the Camry and Corolla drive train. With this said, parts are still readily available even in 2023. The second gen Rav4 also were based on a timing chain thus the engine should last as long as the car itself. Only issue is the ECM which is know for its poor soldering on a few of its resistors and capacitors. That's an easy fix though and there's plenty of step by step info on how to DIY this repair yourself. Seals will dry out and leak over time but the Rav4 should easily last 20 to 25 years with minimal care and maintenance. The only things I have changed were the EGR valve, the MAF sensor, (front) transmission drive-line seal, and timing chain tensioner seal.
I have a 2002 Rav4 with low mileage. Recently, at 103,000 miles, the transmission started acting up. I replaced the ECM with a certified rehabbed one for about $250.00. Problem fixed. Transmission saved from bad EMM, before any damage. Problem solved!
I got a 2001 rav4 same trim and color as yours had it for a year now and got it with 160,000 put 18,000 miles and no issues with the ecm, and the awd system is soil used in in the snow this year, and having 6.7 inches of ground clearance came in handy on a very rugged hikeing road I ran into this summer, the only real gripe I have with this thing is going above 60 with the 4 speed transmission is a bit challenging for it going 70 the engine is at 3000 rpms and if you need to get speed in a pinch on the freeway it isn't that great at higher speeds but other than that I love this thing the roof rack is quite nice too
She needs that fifth gear. It might be possible to swap the U140F transmission for the 5 speed U151F. The Avensis has the 1AZ-FE 2.0 litre engine with the U151F tranny, so I think the swap will work.
I have the 2002 black rav4 identical to yours. 200k miles with a life in Chicago so rust is setting in. Timing chain sloppy. AC is shot. Transmission n computer was fixed for free by toyota. Car has been a workhorse. I fear it is near death. Inside of the the engine is new new due to all my oil changes.
I had a 2002 rav4 , traded for a 2011 Toyota sienna. The sienna just does more, it's bigger seats 8, way more comfortable drive, gets better mpg even with a v6 and larger vehicle, and can tow 3500lbs. There's things you need stay away from rav4 . Do NOT get the 2.4l engine, the 2.4L had major headgasket and piston ring problems they are utter garbage. The best years rav4 were 2001-2002 with indestructible 2.0L and a manual transmission. Those will last forever.
I just bought a 2003 with...get this....38000 miles...long story but a squirrel built a nest in front of the airbox - it caught fire - melted the airbox and burned the serpentine belt - all else was just fine - putting in on the road in about a month once my parts come in - what a find!!!
Hi i hope you got the transmission fixed but i was told it is probly not the gearbox but the small electric module wich is renound for going bad on the 2nd gen rav4's from 2002 to 2009 and also the valve stem bolts tend to strip themselves as well but hope all is well for you cheers mate👍🙂🏎🍻
Hi sir. Is it correct that this car having 1Az engine 2000cc consume/eat engine oil of about 1 quarter for every 750 miles it travel means it reduces engine oil with traveling.
Didn't know about the ECU-auto tranny problem. I wonder if that's a worldwide glitch. It seems the rav 4 is more Spartan than the CR-V. Less creature comforts to go around. Is that the case? Btw, The dog matches the vehicle.
Wonderful Wonderful video, many thanks! We have "Pearl" our 2002 Rav4 with 236,274 miles. Legendary reliability, a tank that will not die. We love her! A few quick comments in relation to your posting. Our ECU did go bad about 5 years ago, outside of the 10 year recall that Toyota offered. We immediately parked it within 1/2 miles of transmission acting up. We found a great place in Greenville, SC that exchanges a rebuilt ECU for $250. I removed the "brain" and installed the new one, transmission was never bad, the total problem was the ECU. As Paul Harvey would say, "here's the rest of the story"! Catalytic converters were going bad, so we replaced them. OMG, it's like a sports car now. Zoooom! Final note, the FL sun had finally baked the sun/moon roof too much. It appears to be made of plexiglass so cracks started to appear. We bought a used one on ebay for $265, Thank Heavens! I'll finish with this, your comment on the robust transmission is spot on, we also have a 2002 Coleman Taos popup camper we've drug around and weighs 1,500 pounds. We had UHaul put the hitch on. She isn't going anywhere, oh yeah, PS - the electronics shop in Greenville SC is Circuit Board Medics, big place and incredibly impressive! Mark and Monika
2002 rav4 vvti 175,000 miles just changing the catalytic converter and lambda sensors has new set of tyres and new exhaust system.just have to look at fixing the leaks that are appearing.
Huge RAV4 fan but the 01-03 didn't have ABS brakes and as a result, it was very squirrelly on some wet roads. Caused a couple minor wrecks for me due to not being able to stop. The 04-05 has ABS, a better engine and no problems with the ECM and transmission.
My 2002 RAV4 has 233k miles , bought it used with 44k miles , best $10k I ever spent, every few months I find notes on my windshield from strangers who want to buy it !!…. Never !!!😊
My mom purchased a loaded 2002 RAV4 L new with leather which is now impossible to find. She still drives it to this day and will never replace it because all the new small SUVs are too big. She is still driving it with the original transmission because she made sure to have the ECU for the transmission reprogrammed at the dealership before causing any transmission damage. The ‘02 RAV 4 is a member of the family
I saw some dude set a 2001 for overland with 1 1/2 inch lift, steel bumpers with steel racks, mud tires and a winch.. I didn’t know if he did weld the diffs but it made out the trail faster than the old trail vets on hiluxes and delicas..
Happily my 2002 has only 145K miles and I LOVE it! I live Island of Hawai’i so does show some surface rust on the frame but since made in Japan, it’s holding up better than the rest made elsewhere. Am starting to get occassional interest in someone wanting to buy it now … so get it will become a classic. Hope I can come into some money to give a complete make over ❤
Dont like how the rear gate opens sideways, its an inconvenience when parked in between cars. It took Toyota 17 years to change it until the fourth gen 2013
Love my 2005, only 105,000k, but it's in the garage today with a likely blown head gasket...*tears* The rear cargo area and door are great, so much room..
@@nampam3945 Well it was blowing white smoke out the tailpipe, but Toyota shop told me the engine needed to be replaced. Another reputable mechanic said if they didn’t open it up they couldn’t know for sure, he figured it could be fixed. I do know that even before it died the cylinder heads showed signs of warpage- a mechanic took pics when he attempted to change the leaky valve cover gasket. Either way I didn’t have time to tow it around for multiple opinions, luckily I found another one in even better condition around that time. So I’m rocking another ‘05, life goes on lol..
@@Matasky2010 Good outcome, white smoke says head gasket. Funny how we buy the same thing again. My 2003 got rear ended and written off, so I bought a 2005. Even though the engine has problems which can be pretty huge, we still stick with cars that are 15-20 years old. Toyota build quality is superb.
@@nampam3945 I've read many sources that say that the 2005 RAV4 4 cylinder engine has an excellent reputation for not having serious engine problems if oil & oil filter are changed at 5K intervals. Are you saying you have a 2005 that has had serious engine problems? If yes, what engine problems have you had? Thanks.
Yes I bought it 2001 RAV4 manual transmission everything works I know sometimes feels a little slow but is ok my has 200631 miles and still working like a champ hopefully still running for more miles
Yea bigger car this car was as small as a toyota corrolla but on steroids the new rav4s are as big as a v8 tahoe almost lol not really much of a point or advantage anymore
What about the manual transmissions? do those have the same issue that you are talking about? or does a manual transmission not have the problem that the automatics do?