Well, it finally happened. The wife's 2004 Rav4 finally died. 150 miles short of 400,000 miles. Wife tried to back out of parking spot at her office at lunch and there was a loud BANG. She thought she hit something. It wouldn't go back. Just revved in reverse. Would still go forward. She called me and I arrived thinking we could push it out of the spot and drive it home if forward still worked. Nope. The tranny grenaded and it wouldn't go into neutral. D1 and D2 wouldn't work either. Decided it was time to put her to pasture. The tranny was slipping bad a couple months ago and I added Lucas anti slip which worked for a few months. Those that have followed me know the tranny wasn't serviced properly. I changed out 1 quart of fluid 3 times over its life.
The junkyard people are like vultures. Called one guy and he offered $350 and said he'd come the next day for it. Another offered me $400 and said he'd be there in 20 minutes (and he was). The first guy called back and offered me more money. Had a bidding war going on a car that doesn't move.
So, it went to the junkyard with almost all factory original parts. Only parts replaced due to malfunction were , starter (2x), fuel pump, 2 brake calipers, A/C radiator fan, 1 sway bar coupling, 1 sun visor, 1 O2 sensor. 1 coil, 1 radiator cap. Radiator, hoses, and thermometer were changed as PM.
Still had the original exhaust, water pump, struts, shocks... It was a really good car. Might still be running if I would have serviced the transmission fluid.
We bought a new Rav4 the same day the old one died. Wanted to get a Hybrid Limited but they are not discounting those much. A non-hybrid XLE Premium well optioned and in the colors my wife wanted, red with black interior was a lot less money. Like $8000 less. I plan to change the ATF in the new Rav4 and hope that will get over 400,000 miles. Fram Ultra filters. Takes 0w16 oil.
The new Rav4 has a lot of technology in it. But it doesn't have homelink or even a nice place to stash the GDO. It has start/stop. My wife was adamantly against it. Saying people would beep at her to get moving and she feared getting rear ended. After half a day driving with start stop she decided it was no big deal. It's a smart system. It only does start/stop when the battery is fully charged it will keep the engine running when the battery starts to drain below a certain level.
The junkyard people are like vultures. Called one guy and he offered $350 and said he'd come the next day for it. Another offered me $400 and said he'd be there in 20 minutes (and he was). The first guy called back and offered me more money. Had a bidding war going on a car that doesn't move.
So, it went to the junkyard with almost all factory original parts. Only parts replaced due to malfunction were , starter (2x), fuel pump, 2 brake calipers, A/C radiator fan, 1 sway bar coupling, 1 sun visor, 1 O2 sensor. 1 coil, 1 radiator cap. Radiator, hoses, and thermometer were changed as PM.
Still had the original exhaust, water pump, struts, shocks... It was a really good car. Might still be running if I would have serviced the transmission fluid.
We bought a new Rav4 the same day the old one died. Wanted to get a Hybrid Limited but they are not discounting those much. A non-hybrid XLE Premium well optioned and in the colors my wife wanted, red with black interior was a lot less money. Like $8000 less. I plan to change the ATF in the new Rav4 and hope that will get over 400,000 miles. Fram Ultra filters. Takes 0w16 oil.
The new Rav4 has a lot of technology in it. But it doesn't have homelink or even a nice place to stash the GDO. It has start/stop. My wife was adamantly against it. Saying people would beep at her to get moving and she feared getting rear ended. After half a day driving with start stop she decided it was no big deal. It's a smart system. It only does start/stop when the battery is fully charged it will keep the engine running when the battery starts to drain below a certain level.
