97 Rav4 good for the family? - Page 2

hd72m · 12-06-2012, 12:27 PM

If you get it I would run extra ground from battery to motor and to firewall, the RAV4 has a weak ground system and 4.1s are getting old.
It is easy to do and cheap.

hd72m · 12-06-2012, 12:29 PM

Bad ground wearing out axles.

bretts · 12-06-2012, 12:33 PM

thanks for the heads up - i will keep that in mind!

Pim · 12-06-2012, 02:30 PM

Best engine oil is Royal Purple 10W40 by a mile, but it's also quite an expensive one.
Below you can see which capacity is on what version of the RAV4.
Greetz

Pim

**JuneBug** · 12-06-2012, 03:16 PM

Why is the driver's side front wheel different from the rest?

Pim · 12-06-2012, 04:07 PM

Sharp eye James, didn't even see it before you mentioned it. Was looking at other details too closely i guess.

bretts · 12-06-2012, 05:06 PM

Isn't that the spare rim? the spare tire on the back matches up, I just assumed that was the spare tire rim.

edit: after seeing some other rav4s, yes all the rims should match. o_O

g0thamknight · 12-06-2012, 06:33 PM

97s are great. I own one and love it. But if you have 2 kids and another on the way I wouldn't suggest it. The back seat space is rather limited. especially with a car seat. When I first got mine I didn't even think it had a 3rd seat in the back until I was vacuuming and found the seat belt.

bretts · 12-09-2012, 07:35 PM

OK, so I went and checked it out. Everything works except for the hood latch (have to use a screw driver after pulling hood release) and the key fob for the alarm.

also, the after market radio (sony pos) has to be pushed in and held in to change volume/station ect.

other then their being oil leaking some where (front of engine, mostly near the distributor and on the bottom of oil pan) and rust on both front and rear axles..or steering columns... whatever its called where the rotors and what not are connected.

also, the release for the gas tank is rusty, so I'm assuming that either the car was flooded or perhaps they just rust over time since its right under your feet.

I put it in sport mode and drove it around, its not the power I'm use to after driving my truck and it doesn't shift until 4k rmp if you floor it.

the guy offers a 3k/3month warranty and his price is firm at $5200 + ttl (around 5.5k total) which isn't exactly what I'm looking to pay for a car that is leaking oil some where. He claims that is not unusual for aluminum motors, but I'd rather have a chance to prevent that before it happens then buy that problem.

Thanks for the help guys, but I think I'm going to pass on this vehicle. He has mostly toyotas and hondas so he buys good cars - but I think I can find a better one for cheaper

hd72m · 12-09-2012, 11:54 PM

There will be others do not give up.

12-06-2012, 02:30 PM	#14 (permalink)
Pim Advanced Member Country: Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Netherlands Posts: 2,213 Thanks: 6 Thanked 93 Times in 93 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Best engine oil is Royal Purple 10W40 by a mile, but it's also quite an expensive one. Below you can see which capacity is on what version of the RAV4. Greetz Pim __________________ Driving a BMW318i with LPG at the moment. Had a 2.0 RAV4.1 1997 3drs 4WD euro model w/ABS dual sunroof blue two tone previously.

12-06-2012, 03:16 PM	#15 (permalink)
JuneBug Your Humble Administrator Country: Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 9,000 Thanks: 37 Thanked 633 Times in 523 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Why is the driver's side front wheel different from the rest? __________________ James __________________ 2008 Limited V6 2WD "The Silver Bullet" •Tow Prep •Autodim mirror w/compass •Wade deflector •Weathertech visors •BluLogic Bluetooth •QuickLift hood struts •Auto door locks • (((XM))) radio •Homelink •Unswitched 12V outlets

12-06-2012, 04:07 PM	#16 (permalink)
Pim Advanced Member Country: Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Netherlands Posts: 2,213 Thanks: 6 Thanked 93 Times in 93 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Sharp eye James, didn't even see it before you mentioned it. Was looking at other details too closely i guess. __________________ Driving a BMW318i with LPG at the moment. Had a 2.0 RAV4.1 1997 3drs 4WD euro model w/ABS dual sunroof blue two tone previously.

12-06-2012, 12:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
hd72m Advanced Member Country: Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mt. Airy, North Carolina Posts: 1,577 Thanks: 20 Thanked 62 Times in 55 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If you get it I would run extra ground from battery to motor and to firewall, the RAV4 has a weak ground system and 4.1s are getting old. It is easy to do and cheap.

12-06-2012, 12:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
hd72m Advanced Member Country: Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mt. Airy, North Carolina Posts: 1,577 Thanks: 20 Thanked 62 Times in 55 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Bad ground wearing out axles.

12-06-2012, 12:33 PM	#13 (permalink)
bretts Junior Member Country: Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 8 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	thanks for the heads up - i will keep that in mind!

12-06-2012, 05:06 PM	#17 (permalink)
bretts Junior Member Country: Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 8 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Isn't that the spare rim? the spare tire on the back matches up, I just assumed that was the spare tire rim. edit: after seeing some other rav4s, yes all the rims should match. o_O

12-06-2012, 06:33 PM	#18 (permalink)
g0thamknight Junior Member Country: Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 17 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Feedback Score: 0 reviews	97s are great. I own one and love it. But if you have 2 kids and another on the way I wouldn't suggest it. The back seat space is rather limited. especially with a car seat. When I first got mine I didn't even think it had a 3rd seat in the back until I was vacuuming and found the seat belt.

12-09-2012, 07:35 PM	#19 (permalink)
bretts Junior Member Country: Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 8 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	OK, so I went and checked it out. Everything works except for the hood latch (have to use a screw driver after pulling hood release) and the key fob for the alarm. also, the after market radio (sony pos) has to be pushed in and held in to change volume/station ect. other then their being oil leaking some where (front of engine, mostly near the distributor and on the bottom of oil pan) and rust on both front and rear axles..or steering columns... whatever its called where the rotors and what not are connected. also, the release for the gas tank is rusty, so I'm assuming that either the car was flooded or perhaps they just rust over time since its right under your feet. I put it in sport mode and drove it around, its not the power I'm use to after driving my truck and it doesn't shift until 4k rmp if you floor it. the guy offers a 3k/3month warranty and his price is firm at $5200 + ttl (around 5.5k total) which isn't exactly what I'm looking to pay for a car that is leaking oil some where. He claims that is not unusual for aluminum motors, but I'd rather have a chance to prevent that before it happens then buy that problem. Thanks for the help guys, but I think I'm going to pass on this vehicle. He has mostly toyotas and hondas so he buys good cars - but I think I can find a better one for cheaper

12-09-2012, 11:54 PM	#20 (permalink)
hd72m Advanced Member Country: Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mt. Airy, North Carolina Posts: 1,577 Thanks: 20 Thanked 62 Times in 55 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	There will be others do not give up.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
RAV4World.com Advertisement