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Rav4 Auto Gearbox Issues.. Ecu Or Gearbox?


boosaraff
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I have the same problem with my much loved RAV4 automatic 2001 3-door.

It is only worth £2000 now and the repairs will cost much more with Toyota. The car is otherwise in perfect working order. Toyota customer services won't do anything unless I pay for their garage to diagnose the problem which I have already paid to have dignosed by my local garage and a mechanic friend.

The issue I have with Toyota is that if they had advised customers 5-10 years ago about this problem in the UK then owners could have had the ECU fixed to prevent the later complications of the automatic transmission etc.

I now have to have it diagnosed by Toyota which will mean paying to be told they cannot diagnose the problem until they fix the ECU. Only then will they be able to say that in fact it is the automatic transmission. I already know its a transmission problem by the colour and taste of the fluid. So I have to pay hundreds of pounds to have it diagnosed and will then be told what do I expect from a 12 year old car that has done over 100,000 miles. If I disagree with the verdict I have to hire a solicitor to ask Toyota to appeal their decision with their head office in Belgium.

Toyota do not have to do any recalls unless it is a safety issue and they say it is not - despite the class action in the USA that had it ruled as a safety issue. Then and only then did Toyota extend the warranties and do a recall in then USA only.

I am just another British wimp who is going to let Toyota get away with this because I can't afford to take it further.

Has anyone had any success in getting Toyota to pay for their transmission and ECU repairs on 2001-2003 models?

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Hmmm well, I wish you every success but I think you are expecting a bit much if I'm honest.

The US has different laws. They sue each other for things that might happen over there and that little plague of nastiness is creeping across the Atlantic slowly but surely. However, over here a test of reasonableness applies for now and I think you might struggle with that one.

I am thinking seriously of buying a little runabout. I've spotted quite an old Starlet that has appeal to me for nostalgic/Toyota anorak reasons but if the engine fails I fully expect to pay more than its value in repairs or scrap it.

Anyhow, good luck.

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  • 1 month later...

Hello I am a new member, I am currently experiencing the same problem with my rav 4, and am in need of advice. I first experienced the problem around a month ago when my car didn't accelerate out of a junction and had lost all power. It would then go into gear but jolt me forwards in the process. I took my car to a local garage and was told there was a blockage in the solenoid? The garage cleared this an gave it back £150 later it was doing the same thing. So I called them straight away and took it back. The garage called an automatic gearbox specialist who advised the control unit and gearbox would need replacing, the advice was if it was not going into gear then damage has been done to the gearbox and if I get the control unit fixed and put back in it would just be the same as gearbox damaged.

Seems like a few of you had the same symptoms though and just had the control unit changed would this be enough for mine or not am so confused. I don't have £2000 to fix and feel Toyota should be accepting this is a dangerous fault as the loss of power can cause serious accidents . Thanks in advance for any advice x

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Hi Natalie

These symptoms are a copy of mine. My Rav (well its my Dad's) is 2003 Auto and the problems of the lost power, then lurching forward started 6 months or so. If i was a betting man, I'd say I'm 90% sure that yours is the ECU.

However you'll find that a lot of garages are oblivious to the problem, saying its the gearbox, engine, this and that etc etc. when it's probably none of those things.

My garage could not identify the problem.... I did, by coming onto this site and finding it out for myself. I printed out the relevant pages and took it to the garage. They agreed to take out the ECU and send it off for me (they actually knew of the company who does it !!!!!). It took about 7 days for it to get re-set. The garage re-installed it. And since then it's been running as smooth as silk, i would say better than it's run for years.

The garage I took it to was in Surrey, near to Redhill....and now they have experience of the fault, they'll know what to do. Of course you could attempt to remove the ECU yourself, or if you know someone who could do it.

I've heard that in USA, the problem has been identified as dangerous and units have been repaired/replaced free of charge. Apparently the UK doesnt see it this way which i think is staggering seeing as the fault is very very dangerous. Losing power at a junction is not funny !!!

Hope this helps....any other questions, just ask.

Paul

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There have been a few members on here recently that have just had the ECU update done and the car has been fine

You might feel Toyota should accept responsibility but at 12 years old, it is unlikely to happen-sorry

Kingo :thumbsup:

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Thanks very much Paul and kingo, for your replies, Paul I don't suppose you have the company in redhill's details do you? Was it that garage who removed the ecu for you and another who repaired it? Sorry to be a trouble but could you please tell me roughly how much this cost you?

I realise Toyota would not cover the car because of the age but it really should be considered a dangerous fault on the vehicle as I nearly had an accident as a result of the loss of power :( prior to this I have only good things to say about my rav but it is used as a family car so hence my concern x

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Natalie

I'll dig out the bill....my father has it as it's his car. If you want you can email me at paull@hartsongs.co.uk.

I have to go out now. It was Auto Services, between Horley and Salfords, on A23. They sent it off to the company recommended on this site. From memory it was a couple of hundred for the unit plus their charge for taking it out and re-installing it.I'll be back later.

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Nice to know that something else good comes from the town of my birth.

No emoticons,so sent very much tongue in cheek!!!!!!!!!

Del

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I used ECU testing. I took the ECU out myself and had the unit back within 5 days. Never had a problem since in fact drives a lot better than it did before the ECU was updated.

If recommend them and I'm sure TOC members get a little discount too

Ash

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Thank you ash it's nice to hear there are some people who have had good experiences from this, have located a company near redhill who take the part out, send it away to be re-conditioned/rebuilt and then returned and they will fit it back in my car. So fingers crossed this all goes well I will report back after x

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Natalie,

You have clearly read this link on the forum.

May I refer yo to another link on the same subject started by Firemac, dated early July and titled " Uh - ho -Looks like the Dreaded Autobox /ECU Failure".

A numer of people responded to this, as I did. Basically the fault starts in the ECU (it is well documented both here and in the USA, but California Laws regarding faulty cars are far stronger than here in Europe, hence the Toyota dealers here accept no responsibility whatsoever and simply quote anything between £3,500 to £4,000 to replace both items!)

However, it is the ECU where the original fault is, so that's where to start. Get that sent to ECU Testing Ltd in Heanor, Derbyshire and they will sort it for around £200.00. Remind them of the 10% discount which Anchorman (code is Don) negotiated a while ago for Toyota Club Forum members. I removed mine from my car on a Monday and posted it that evening. It was completed and returned on the Thursday morning and I refitted it. Different vehicle after that, all problems gone!

(I have no connection with this company other than being a very satisfied customer.)

Removing the ECU is a bit fiddly, not helped by Toyota's use of security screws holding the unit to it's mounting brackets. Fittings are available to suit such screws, but mine were so tight, they broke the tool! (Japanese rock ape on the Production Line...) I had to resort to an angle grinder to remove the heads of said screws, very very carefully!! as very little space.

Other than that, it's just a little care and patience required to both remove and indeed, refit the unit once it's returned from repair.

Yours may respond to that, many do. If there are still issues with the autobox, take the vehicle to a transmission specialist rather than just 'a garage' as they will have the equipment, knowledge and ability to repair any fault within.

Good luck with it, do let us know how you get on.

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Natalie

I'll dig out the bill....my father has it as it's his car. If you want you can email me at paull@hartsongs.co.uk.

I have to go out now. It was Auto Services, between Horley and Salfords, on A23. They sent it off to the company recommended on this site. From memory it was a couple of hundred for the unit plus their charge for taking it out and re-installing it.I'll be back later.

Paul I tried to email you but the email was returned :(

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Natalie

Sorry...my fault.....I put in an extra 'l' ..........paul@hartsongs.co.uk

Paul

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  • 1 month later...

Just wanted to update this forum, I had the ecu taken out of the rav and sent away for testing. There was a fault found and this was fixed and returned. Am happy to update that the rav 4 has been running beautifully since and cost around £360, so much better than the £2000 originally quoted. Thank you to all who replied and helped me x

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Hi

Glad it worked out. I've noticed on our mpg display that we now get an extra few miles on mpg since the ECU was replaced.

I'm sure ours cost us a lot less than what you paid. Did you have other issues too with the car or was it just the ECU

Ash

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Good question, Ash......thought the fix was around 200/250......?

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Mine cost just over £200:00 from ECU Testing, including Anchormans arranged discount.

I suspect Natalie's additional cost was a commercial garage removing, posting and re-fitting the ECU, reading back to her original notes.

But she appears to be a happy bunny, so that's good!

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Mine cost just over £200:00 from ECU Testing, including Anchormans arranged discount.

I suspect Natalie's additional cost was a commercial garage removing, posting and re-fitting the ECU, reading back to her original notes.

But she appears to be a happy bunny, so that's good!

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Yes Annawong that's quite right. Wasn't brave enough to try and do it myself. So paid a garage as I wanted to know it would be done right. I am happy with the result and the garage who did the work called toyotec were very professional and cleaned my car inside and out as part of the service. So it came out like a brand new car. Would reccommend them to anyone. :)

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Think I paid just under £200 but I did remove it myself.

What annoys me more than anything is why Toyota automatically tell you its gearbox that needs replacing.

It's quite clear that its a known fault.

Anyway that's my thoughts

Glad that we all got ECU repaired rather than go down gearbox route

😉

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Good question, Ash......thought the fix was around 200/250......?

Can't fault ECU repairs company to be honest the turn around time was brilliant and the price was good too

😉👍

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As I see it, every Toyota dealer or Toyota 'specialist' repair centre should know about the problem. There is no excuse for this.

Natalie called Toyotec who knew exactly what the problem was, and so they should, and they did a good job for her.

However, any non-Toyota centre could, understandably, struggle with it. Remember, that's what happened to me. My repair centre, (not a Toyota specialist) had no idea what was causing the problem. How did I find out? Your website. I was able to print off everything and take it to the repair centre who then did the job.

What if they'd pulled the car apart to try and find what was causing the problem? I shudder to think.

This proves that this site can be a goldmine and save owners thousands of pounds just by spreading the word.

Which brings me to my struggle trying to get the right fascia for a new audio unit........but that's another topic !

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Completely agree with you.

At the same time I do know someone who did go to Toyota and were quoted an arm and a leg.

Luckily they didn't go ahead and the ECU was repaired.

What fascia are you looking for? Tbere is a good Audio place close to us that supplies fascias

Ash

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