NSR summer project in garage...car not scooter

[Iahawk]

picked up another older vehicle in need of some TLC for my 16 year old daughter. 2001 Toyota Rav4 with 202,000 miles and a lot of neglected / deferred maintenance! Guess I'm a sucker for an old vehicle in need of some love.

Body and interior look very good for age...but undercarriage looks like it was on the Titanic. All rubbers need to be replaced (rad / heater hoses, serpentine belt / tensioner, pwr steering hoses, pcv and vacuum lines, etc.), all fluids, filters, rear shocks, inner tie rod boot, plugs, fog lights.....and much more I'm sure that I'll find.

Sometimes the problem with used Toyotas is people think they are so reliable they neglect to do any maintenance (other than occasional oil changes)!

I restored the headlights and removed and sent out the ECU (engine computer) for refurbishing as that is a known problem on these...computer goes bad and trans shifting goes to h*ll.  Plenty to keep my busy for a while.

[Stig / Major Tom]

An ECU can be refurbished?!
Pricey?

Stig

[Iahawk]

$239 + shipping at circuit board medics. They can either send you a refurbished one (more expensive) or fix the one that you send in (less expensive). I guess over time the circuit boards (which control engine and trans shifting) can have parts burn out or even separate and come loose. It apparently was originally a TSB issue with Toyota and they extended warranties for this known problem.

This company has circuit boards for all kinds of years, makes and models so it is an issue. After I found these guys for this problem I faintly recall using them for a new circuit board for my washing machine years ago. Also a known problem...circuit board burns out and gives fault codes / washer stops working. Any repair person would charge enough to probably convince  you to buy a new washer...but if you could follow a youtube tutorial, remove your circuit board and send it to them, they'd send you a refurbished board. I think it was under $100 9 or 10 years ago (vs $1200+ for a replacement washer). washer is still going strong today after 23 (?) years!

Easy to remove in the Rav4...behind the glovebox. 2 10mm bolts, 6 screws, unplug 5 plugs from it and pull it out! I should have it back Tues or wed.

[Neil955i]

10mm bolts? There's your problem. Who can find a 10mm socket? 🤣

[Iahawk]

10mm bolts? There's your problem. Who can find a 10mm socket? 🤣

haha, right? Lucky for me I bought the ultimate 10mm socket set a few years ago..standard, deep, swivel and impact in both 1/4" and 3/8" drive size!

[Iahawk]

and I received the refurbished ECU today. Installed it this afternoon and took the car on a shakedown run...ECU has to relearn the shifting so 5 runs from 0-60 mph at a normal pace so the car can shift through all 4 gears. Trans shifted perfectly, I was relieved. (car previously had a horrific 2-3 upshift...chugga, chugga, CLUNK!)

This makes about 5 things completed on the car with about another 50 to go!

[Neil955i]

Great progress Hawk, I'm impressed.