Rav4 2003 Transmission ECU concern

[tookien]

I bought a used 2003 Rav4 with 87k miles on it.

As far as I can tell so far, the transmission shifts fine, but I notice lots of complaints about the transmission ECU being faulty. and that about a quarter of 2001 to 2003 (2nd gen) rav4's were affected.

I also read Toyota gave out an extended warranty for 150k miles in the U.S., although I'm in Canada.

Is there anything I can do to check this before hand or make any effort to prevent this problem now?

How can I find out if my vehicle is affected by this? Are there specific model numbers based off the VIN I can do a lookup on or the dealership can find out?

Thanks for any feedback

 

[CT8]

You still bought the car?

 

[supton]

Do the ECU's just kinda up and die? If so, probably nothing you can do. Just take a look now and see what an ECU runs, and be prepared in case it goes.

Is this a 2.4L motor? I'd keep an eye on oil level if so--you should do that period, but the 2.4's did have a rep for drinking oil.

 

[tookien]

Originally Posted by supton
Do the ECU's just kinda up and die? If so, probably nothing you can do. Just take a look now and see what an ECU runs, and be prepared in case it goes.

Is this a 2.4L motor? I'd keep an eye on oil level if so--you should do that period, but the 2.4's did have a rep for drinking oil.


No it's a 2.0L.

I've ran the car now for about 2k miles and it has not burned any oil.

 

[tookien]

Originally Posted by CT8
You still bought the car?


Sure, as I said I bought the car used and only later found out many of the 2nd gen rav 4's have a potentially faulty ECU.

It doesn't affect all rav4's as I know people who have over 300k miles and have not had that issue.

 

[tookien]

I think I'll just get another ECU from the junkyard and replace those faulty resistors.

Keep it as a backup.

In the meantime I'll contact a Toyota dealership and found out what they say...

 

[Gimpy1]

This is where Google is definitely your friend. I just Googled Toyota RAV4 Canada Recalls and got a ton of info. Recalls usually include a VIN range that is affected or production date. I would NOT get a junkyard ECU since it could also be one from the recall and requires reprogramming/re calibration. Replacement ECUs are usually programmed at the dealer and require a dealer level scan tool, junkyard ECU's may be the same part, but that does not mean that they will work on your car, at the very least the car will run like poop, and in some case will not even start since ECU's have security codes that require re calibration (again with a dealer level scan tool)

 

[tookien]

Originally Posted by Gimpy1
This is where Google is definitely your friend. I just Googled Toyota RAV4 Canada Recalls and got a ton of info. Recalls usually include a VIN range that is affected or production date. I would NOT get a junkyard ECU since it could also be one from the recall and requires reprogramming/re calibration. Replacement ECUs are usually programmed at the dealer and require a dealer level scan tool, junkyard ECU's may be the same part, but that does not mean that they will work on your car, at the very least the car will run like poop, and in some case will not even start since ECU's have security codes that require re calibration (again with a dealer level scan tool)


I looked up recalls in Canada for the Rav4 2001-2003, but I do not see any that covers the ECM. Only the extended 150k miles warranty covered in the US.
There were ECM related recalls but those seem to be for other (newer) models.

I will be contacting Toyota Canada customer service.

 

[clinebarger]

I wouldn't worry about future problems with the ECM, You will drive yourself crazy with the internet magnification of potential problems.

It's not like you have a Chrysler product that's a matter of when, Not if the ECM will smoke a driver or have a internal cracked solder joint. Not a knock on Chrysler......Motorola is who manufactured the ECM's!

 

[supton]

Motorola manufactured them? Didn't know that... guess I don't think of them as an auto supplier (they do 2 way radio, so I guess it shouldn't be a surprise).