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Howdy all, finally got a 3rd gen RAV4

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Locklear

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hows everyone doing? I'm mainly a 4runner (also 3rd gen) guy but the girlfriend wanted a RAV4 (thankfully, the good generation), so after TWO YEARS of searching, I finally found one and bought it. Had to pay the dealer's (not toyota) asking price as they unfortunately knew how fast these sell. Price was... eh, okay. Literally as I was buying it, some 18-19 year old kid came in with cash wanting to buy it. That's how things go down here where I live.

Say hello to Roxanne. Here she is after a mega-detail, clay-bar, and wax job.
Image


Anyway, with that said I figured I'd join the forums to get a bit of help while I am working to refresh it before giving it to her. Oh, and the model we got was a 2010 Sport, with the V6 of course, and I guess it has the option of the third row? Has like 148,452 miles.

Currently, I am planning on doing the following:
  • Oil change, sending an oil sample to Blackstone Labs.
  • Transmission flush and filter replacement. Sending a fluid sample to Blackstone Labs.
  • Instal some kind of valve body kit to stiffen/fix things up. She has a occasional flare but overall shifts good.
  • Front Diff fluid exchange
  • Rear Diff fluid exchange
  • Front and rear full brake refresh, new rotors and pads.
  • Brake fluid flush
  • Coolant flush
  • Replace all 6 spark plugs AND ignition coils (at the time time of course)
  • Upgrade horns to 4th gen 4runner ones. (The stock horns are embarrassing lol)
  • Replace front and rear shocks (I know the fronts are struts, I still call them shocks :p)
  • Replace front and rear coils
  • Replace hand brake handle (finish is ruined for whatever reason)
  • Replace the... top/mini glove-box (?) door as it is cracked.
  • Replace the front lower ball joints. (Why are they upside down...)
  • Replace other bushings and such as needed.

With all of that said... I was curious if there was anything else I should be aware of, either in terms of maintenance OR cool mods n such. I was curious about maybe doing a 1" lift for a bit better of a look... but the main thing I need to do first (besides critical maintenance) is replace the shocks... because HOLY SHIT are the sport shocks horrible! lmao
 
#4 ·
Wow, you got a Sport with V6 and 3rd row? That’s a rare combination! Congratulations and welcome!
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
JLH said:
Welcome & congrats on a fine looking 13 YO RAV. That's going to be one happy GF!
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, she is excited. She's coming from a 2015 Corola which is... awful to say the least. lol

JuneBug said:
Wow, you got a Sport with V6 and 3rd row? That’s a rare combination! Congratulations and welcome!
Click to expand...
Is it? Well cool! Truthfully she wanted the non-sport for the rear spare but it was either this one or an untold additional number of months spent searching... haha!
It did not come with the third row insert, or seats, but I doubt we would ever use them.
 
#6 ·
Locklear said:
Oh yeah, she is excited. She's coming from a 2015 Corola which is... awful to say the least. lol



Is it? Well cool! Truthfully she wanted the non-sport for the rear spare but it was either this one or an untold additional number of months spent searching... haha!
It did not come with the third row insert, or seats, but I doubt we would ever use them.
Click to expand...
A spare would be a must for me as well. You can always buy a compact spare and stow it (safely secured, of course) in the cargo area.
 
#8 ·
paint looks wetter than a lake after the clay 🔥
 
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#12 ·
Jkk624 said:
How much did you pay if you don’t mind me asking? Also I reccomend using Amsoil Signature Series Trans fluid as opposed to Oem WS fluid, really helped smooth out my car.
Click to expand...
According to many posters on this site, WS is generally the recommended fluid. Certainly there are other brands that work fine, but there are also many that don't. Be careful.
 
#13 ·
Locklear said:
Hows everyone doing? I'm mainly a 4runner (also 3rd gen) guy but the girlfriend wanted a RAV4 (thankfully, the good generation), so after TWO YEARS of searching, I finally found one and bought it. Had to pay the dealer's (not toyota) asking price as they unfortunately knew how fast these sell. Price was... eh, okay. Literally as I was buying it, some 18-19 year old kid came in with cash wanting to buy it. That's how things go down here where I live.

Say hello to Roxanne. Here she is after a mega-detail, clay-bar, and wax job.
View attachment 200232

Anyway, with that said I figured I'd join the forums to get a bit of help while I am working to refresh it before giving it to her. Oh, and the model we got was a 2010 Sport, with the V6 of course, and I guess it has the option of the third row? Has like 148,452 miles.

Currently, I am planning on doing the following:
  • Oil change, sending an oil sample to Blackstone Labs.
  • Transmission flush and filter replacement. Sending a fluid sample to Blackstone Labs.
  • Instal some kind of valve body kit to stiffen/fix things up. She has a occasional flare but overall shifts good.
  • Front Diff fluid exchange
  • Rear Diff fluid exchange
  • Front and rear full brake refresh, new rotors and pads.
  • Brake fluid flush
  • Coolant flush
  • Replace all 6 spark plugs AND ignition coils (at the time time of course)
  • Upgrade horns to 4th gen 4runner ones. (The stock horns are embarrassing lol)
  • Replace front and rear shocks (I know the fronts are struts, I still call them shocks :p)
  • Replace front and rear coils
  • Replace hand brake handle (finish is ruined for whatever reason)
  • Replace the... top/mini glove-box (?) door as it is cracked.
  • Replace the front lower ball joints. (Why are they upside down...)
  • Replace other bushings and such as needed.

With all of that said... I was curious if there was anything else I should be aware of, either in terms of maintenance OR cool mods n such. I was curious about maybe doing a 1" lift for a bit better of a look... but the main thing I need to do first (besides critical maintenance) is replace the shocks... because HOLY SHIT are the sport shocks horrible! lmao
Click to expand...

Hey don't let the cost get you down, you're not the only one! I spent six months looking for the same setup, V6 Sport 4x4 and when I found it, it came at a cost. Single owner, all the maintenance records, etc. The dealers know exactly what they have in those, I drove 4 hrs to get mine.

I'll be working through ALOT of the same stuff so keep me/us posted and I'll do the same. Curious about how the suspension goes for you - I'm wondering if the sport tuned OEM stuff is still available or if it makes sense to go with something aftermarket etc. And I may do some rust prevention stuff as well. I need to go back to the manual and see what the 100k maintenance looks like, but I'm probably going to do the suspension now too. And oddly, I'm redoing my hand brake too - at least the brake portion, it's nonexistent. Completely worn away at this point.

I love the way it drives but am still getting used to that touchy gas pedal!
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Jkk624 said:
How much did you pay if you don’t mind me asking? Also I reccomend using Amsoil Signature Series Trans fluid as opposed to Oem WS fluid, really helped smooth out my car.
Click to expand...
About $12,000. Also, an update: My mechanic called me a week ago and said that the only issue he could find besides the brakes (which I already knew were worn out, and the shocks (blown, already known) was that the driveshaft spline part was out of grease. He was going to try to repack it but I was already planning on having the drive shaft modified so I'll probably just have them fix then. (Going to get it modified so it can take greaseable Spicer joints)

Beyond that, he said the car is basically flawless. Though, it does have that transaxle whine but I have no idea to know if the previous owner has the 3 parts replaced or not.

Anyway, for transmission fluid I was thinking about trying Idemitsu WS.

ravenuer said:
According to many posters on this site, WS is generally the recommended fluid. Certainly there are other brands that work fine, but there are also many that don't. Be careful.
Click to expand...
I was thinking about trying Idemitsu WS; I've read a lot of good things about it and performance wise it seems to be the same if not "better". I don't expect it to shift faster or any sillyness like that or course. Lol

darth_faader said:
Hey don't let the cost get you down, you're not the only one! I spent six months looking for the same setup, V6 Sport 4x4 and when I found it, it came at a cost. Single owner, all the maintenance records, etc. The dealers know exactly what they have in those, I drove 4 hrs to get mine.

I'll be working through ALOT of the same stuff so keep me/us posted and I'll do the same. Curious about how the suspension goes for you - I'm wondering if the sport tuned OEM stuff is still available or if it makes sense to go with something aftermarket etc. And I may do some rust prevention stuff as well. I need to go back to the manual and see what the 100k maintenance looks like, but I'm probably going to do the suspension now too. And oddly, I'm redoing my hand brake too - at least the brake portion, it's nonexistent. Completely worn away at this point.

I love the way it drives but am still getting used to that touchy gas pedal!
Click to expand...

Hell yeah man!

So I went with H&R lift coils and KYB shocks/struts. I'm praying it rides well as this was a bit of a gamble. I just think the car will look much more mature with the little 1" lift.

Man, did you get the exodia rotors for it? The 298mm ones I think. They should be the largest/heaviest ones available for the car. I bought those and new pads as well. All OEM so with that and a flush I expect her to stop with authority. With any car I get these days I always get the largest and heaviest rotors that you can possibly put on the car, even if that means changing out the caliper. I honestly feel like most cars have undersized brakes nowadays.

Also ordering some top of the line pirelli tires. The ones that are in the "ultra performance" category. I'm sure that might be a bit of marketing service but they are apparently very good.

I'm also looking into upgrading the stock headlights to Koito 100/90w but I need to confirm if the stock housing can handle the heat. (I'll also install a standalone harness so the stock one won't get overloaded).

Beyond that, im changing the plugs, rear 3 ignition coils (keeping the old 3 as spares for the front 3). Flushing all of the fluids, transmission included. I even got new parking brake "shoes".

I'm hoping to get her back this week so I'll post some photos once I have her.
 
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Locklear
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