Buying a 1995 Rav4 - 4x4 / AWD question

mae7 said:

So the seller of this says it's not 4x4 but I read online a way to check is see if it has what is pictured in this post..

I'm a bit confused what it is as google tells me one thing and chatgpt another..

Cheers

Click to expand...

see if you have cv joints at the front as well as in the rear
it should have cv joints on all four corners for 4X4.
i prefer the 2000 rav 4 as 5 door 4X4 as it has the better setup on the spark.

so the 2 wheel drive versions are as front wheel drive?

so on the 4x4 versions do they split the power equal?
or is it a power ratio like on the sports cars?
if it is what is the power ratio?

iowagold said:

so the 2 wheel drive versions are as front wheel drive?

so on the 4x4 versions do they split the power equal?
or is it a power ratio like on the sports cars?
if it is what is the power ratio?

Click to expand...

As you are aware we have 3 of these and as far as I know power is equal front to back. On your dash under the aircon button is a switch that locks the centre diff for loose surface conditions only!!! My wife has hit that 3 times in a carpark and she gets about 4 metres and the car comes to a halt. So she has to go in the reverse direction to release it. Known as transmission lockup. Very handy button though as we used it extensively on out trip up through the middle of Aus 2 years ago on the Birdsville and Strezlecki tracks and up Big Red, a large sandune that is just out of Birdsville and leads into the Simpson Desert.

iowagold said:

so the 2 wheel drive versions are as front wheel drive?

Click to expand...

Correct.

iowagold said:

so on the 4x4 versions do they split the power equal?

Click to expand...

Depends on whether it’s an automatic or manual transmission. The auto is front drive with a viscous coupler, giving the rears power when the front slips too much. The manual transmission is full time AWD, with the lockable center diff as described by AGS.

The auto is full time AWD. The viscous is a self locking limited slip diff. When it feels a difference between front and rear, it locks them together. Better on road, not as good off road because it allows some slip.

It was the later 4.3 on that weren't full time 4x4.

Ok our 3 cars are all manual so not up with the autos

AGS said:

Ok our 3 cars are all manual so not up with the autos

Click to expand...

I don't think the Autos have the diff lock button?

No, they don't.

my 2000 does not have the diff lockup
i wish it did for ice...

but for now it has real good A/C for the hit temps we are at right now in Iowa.
90's in early june.
and rain so 70-100% humidity at times.
i was good today when i was on a job site.
nice ride home for sure!