Rav4 Auto Gearbox Issues.. Ecu Or Gearbox?

[JackieP]

Yes, I did ask for TOC discount and received about £20 off, then they added postage of £10ish to it but still cheaper than without discount and I expect they add the delivery charge to the price anyway. Still I'm happy just wish I'd gone to them 1st. I didn't as I was worried about posting the ECU so decided to take it to a local ECU repairer. Could have saved about £600 if I'd used them from the off :-( Not sure that I actually needed the new shift solenoid that I had fitted but that's life. All's well that ends well.

Jackie

[yaris781]

Main thing is its all sorted now consider it as a learning experience as my wife says.

If I'm honest I was a little reluctant at sending tbe ECU off however going by all the recommendations from other members I thought it would be the best way forward. I can't remember now what exactly now but am certain a replacement gearbox was mentioned so glad I didn't take that up.

Anyway all good now hopefully should give you worry free gear changes now!

👍

Ash

[ferret51]

I've been following this post being the owner of a 2003 Rav auto myself,glad you have it fixed at last after all the trouble you've had with it,at least you tale could be of help to another Rav 4 owner

Les

[firemac]

I've been following this post being the owner of a 2003 Rav auto myself,glad you have it fixed at last after all the trouble you've had with it,at least you tale could be of help to another Rav 4 owner

Les

Les, does yours have round front fogs and the indicators integral with the headlights or does it have the fogs & indi's in a siamesed unit in the lower bumper? If it's the former, it's the facelift model and I'm pretty sure that those have a modified ECU that eliminates the problem.

[Dave2000]

Have just read the above which has got me thinking about a possible fault on my Rav VX Petrol Auto. The car runs well when warmed up, no jerky changes etc. However when cold, especially in winter, it delays selecting 3rd gear. I often get to 50 mph still in 2nd at around 3000 rpm but it won't change up until it has warmed up somewhat, typically a mile or so into the journey. I would have thought that selecting 3rd would be just speed related and not controlled by temperature. Do you think I have a problem or is this normal for all Auto Rav 4 's.

[firemac]

Have just read the above which has got me thinking about a possible fault on my Rav VX Petrol Auto. The car runs well when warmed up, no jerky changes etc. However when cold, especially in winter, it delays selecting 3rd gear. I often get to 50 mph still in 2nd at around 3000 rpm but it won't change up until it has warmed up somewhat, typically a mile or so into the journey. I would have thought that selecting 3rd would be just speed related and not controlled by temperature. Do you think I have a problem or is this normal for all Auto Rav 4 's.

If it performs perfectly when its warm then I wouldn't worry.

it will take a mile or three to warm the ATF fully and until then, it will hold onto the lower gears a little bit longer. Our two 4.2 autos were the same and it's normal.

In any event yours is a facelift model and therefore should have the upgraded ECU/software from new so you're very unlikely to suffer the gearbox ECU woes.

[yaris781]

Ours is similar too once warned up its fine, have you had the ATF changed? If not have it replaced we change ours every 2nd service, just a thought

[yaris781]

Ours is similar too once warned up its fine, have you had the ATF changed? If not have it replaced we change ours every 2nd service, just a thought

[firemac]

Ours is similar too once warned up its fine, have you had the ATF changed? If not have it replaced we change ours every 2nd service, just a thought

I know that there has been quite a bit of debate on here in the past about whether it's necessary to change the ATF on the 4.2. It doesn't feature on the Toyota service schedule other than a reference to contact your dealer if the car is used in extreme or harsh conditions.

For what it's worth, our 02-reg 4.2 was owned for 11 years from new and never had its ATF replaced. The box was as sweet when we sold it as the day we took delivery. I don't argue with changing the ATF if that's your preference but there have been arguments on here that changing it risks dislodging crud that naturally builds up over time which can then block the oilways, etc.

[yaris781]

We were advised by our dealer to have it changed when we bought the car. It was bought from Toyota in Birmingham and when we bought it were told that on next service it was due to be replaced and will be FOC if we bought the car on the day. So ever since we have been replacing it every 2nd service.

To be honest apart from the ECU we've never really had any issues with the Rav. We also had a D4D on an 03 plate which we sold last year and that was a nightmare.

[firemac]

We were advised by our dealer to have it changed when we bought the car. It was bought from Toyota in Birmingham and when we bought it were told that on next service it was due to be replaced and will be FOC if we bought the car on the day. So ever since we have been replacing it every 2nd service.

To be honest apart from the ECU we've never really had any issues with the Rav. We also had a D4D on an 03 plate which we sold last year and that was a nightmare.

That's interesting, Ash, as I've queried the fact that the ATF wasn't a 4.2 service item with several dealers whilst we owned the car and none of them could explain why it wasn't. On other makes that I've owned in the past, the ATF was usually changed on a routine basis.

Interestingly enough it is a service item on our 4.3 DCAT.

I had a 55-plate 4.2 D4D for a while and, like the petrol 4.2's, it never put a foot wrong.

[Frogitor]

I think I have the dreaded ecu problem. Bought the car in Jan 15 and it sometimes juddered a bit but after 500 miles the problem worsened. It gets hesitant when taking off from a standstill and will now often rev to 4000 rpm before clonking hard into 2nd gear.

I'm now driving very carefully to save damaging the auto gearbox but really need an ecu fix, if this is the problem.

I've seen a company in Byfleet that will fix it if I send it to them. Anyone had any experience of this kind of service. I would go to Toyota, but fear the expense. I bought a scanner but it displayed no codes.

[hartsongs]

it sounds like it Cliff. My Rav is the same age as yours. My experience of the problem is that the ECU was removed by my non Toyota garage and sent off and repaired by a company up north somewhere although I'm sure there are others who could do it. The main issue is to get the garages to acknowledge the problem. There are stories of people having gearboxes replaced etc etc...when the problem is a relatively cheap ECU repair. But it was scary driving it around before the repair...never knew when it would happen.

[Frogitor]

Many thanks for the response Paul. Same for me - the clonking can be severe and certainly doesn't sound healthy! I think I'll take out the ecu and send it off for analysis and repair. I'm very wary of garages and it seems a universal fault. Otherwise, I'm very happy with the car.

[yaris781]

I think I have the dreaded ecu problem. Bought the car in Jan 15 and it sometimes juddered a bit but after 500 miles the problem worsened. It gets hesitant when taking off from a standstill and will now often rev to 4000 rpm before clonking hard into 2nd gear.

I'm now driving very carefully to save damaging the auto gearbox but really need an ecu fix, if this is the problem.

I've seen a company in Byfleet that will fix it if I send it to them. Anyone had any experience of this kind of service. I would go to Toyota, but fear the expense. I bought a scanner but it displayed no codes.

Hi

On a personal experience Toyota advised us that it was the gearbox. We took it to a specialist in gearboxes and he advised the same and offered to recondition the gearbox.

Toyota went on to say that the ECU was not something that would cause a problem.

I came on here and read the advice in here and sent the ECU to ECU testing.

The ECU was faulty and was quoted a price and the ECU was back in the car repaired and guaranteed for life within 4 days.

The car is fantastic and drives as it should.

I'd rather send the ECU off it does sound as if that's the problem.

Toyota will quote you £1000's when it's a simple fix.

Good luck and keep us updated

Sorry forgot to add link here it is and all the best

http://www.ecutesting.com/contact_us.html

[Frogitor]

Thanks Ash. I'll whip it out and send it off. It's a fast service and costs around £300.

[yaris781]

Thanks Ash. I'll whip it out and send it off. It's a fast service and costs around £300.

Ok that's brilliant

Keep us updated

[hartsongs]

Yes, if it's a job you feel confident you can do yourself, then great. This is the power of this site. I came on here after garages had tested this and that and recommended gearbox changes etc etc......I asked the question here and got the answer....the correct one !! I wonder how many more Rav drivers are out there suffering and not knowing that the solution is relatively cheap.

[Frogitor]

I called up the firm this morning and have decided that when the weather improves (hopefully tomorrow!) I'll take out the ECU and send it off. It will cost 295 + vat but this is peanuts to what a dealer would charge, if indeed they identified it as an ECU problem. Could be diagnosed as a gearbox problem and that would cost a bomb.

This community is a real 'sanity saver' - the best thing I did was to join.

Will report back next week when hopefully it's fixed :-)

Thanks to all here

[yaris781]

You will need the Torx security drivers to take the ECU out.

I can't remember the exact name but if you go up further on the thread someone has put a link up.

Most common ones are 6 star type but Toyota use the 5 star bits.

it is straight forward to take out

[hartsongs]

Cliff..actually, my garage did the de-installation and re-installation at a reasonable price....about £50......and they had all the right tools to do the job. This may be because I had to tell them what the fault was as a result of coming to this site. They are not Toyota main dealers or specialists. Looks like you may have to buy some tools to do it.

[Frogitor]

Good points. I have to take out the ECU and send it off for repair. I do have some Torx bits but will check before I start. Anyone know what size 5-point Torx bit is needed for the ECU - T40?

[yaris781]

Not sure what size I had a full set but someone's borrowed it and not bought it back.

Hopefully someone should be able to answer

[Frogitor]

Thanks Ash - I just ordered a set. Should be on it by the weekend. Will report back any problems, tips and end result

[firemac]

I seem to recall that ECUt give a 10% discount if you're a TOC member.