Toyota VVT startup rattle repair cost?

[Elkins45]

My wife’s 2009 RAV4 with the 2AR-FE engine is starting to develop the dreaded VVT-I intake gear startup rattle. Has anyone had this repaired recently? What’s a ballpark cost for repair?

 

[UG_Passat]

Check "The Car Care Nut" Youtube channel. He may have done one of those and discussed the cost

 

[doublebase]

That’s the four cylinder model, it should be much less expensive than the V6 2GRFE, because I don’t believe the engine has to come out for the timing cover to come off, and it should only be one timing chain. You can get the entire kit on Amazon for around $200 bucks...actuators, chain, guide, tensioner. Everything. And I’d say roughly 8 hours labor. Probably do the water pump, another $100. Valve cover gaskets $50. Maybe $1,500 at a decent independent shop. IMO.

 

[b_b]

i wouldn't be in any hurry, you can drive years like that. we drove my wife's accord for two years with the start up rattle. never missed a beat.

 

[MalibuRam65]

My wife’s 2009 RAV4 with the 2AR-FE engine is starting to develop the dreaded VVT-I intake gear startup rattle. Has anyone had this repaired recently? What’s a ballpark cost for repair?

Reach out to the car care nut and have him do the VVT-I intake gear he’ll take care of you

 

[michaelluscher]

I'd estimate $600-$900, depending on prevailing labor rates in your area

Didn't @The Critic do a VVT actuator on an Accord or the HG Prius with a cost breakdown?

 

[Elkins45]

Reach out to the car care nut and have him do the VVT-I intake gear he’ll take care of you

Unless he can do it over the Internet that’s really not a very good option.

 

[Elkins45]

Check "The Car Care Nut" Youtube channel. He may have done one of those and discussed the cost

He did a video but didn’t discuss cost. Watching the video is what made me think about fixing it because according to him it will eventually grenade your engine if you don’t.

 

[Nesterenko]

He's in the Chicago area.

 

[supton]

Old thread I know, but I'm not sure if the OP still has the engine? if so, how did it turn out?

 

[Elkins45]

Old thread I know, but I'm not sure if the OP still has the engine? if so, how did it turn out?

Still have it, haven’t done anything. It’s my wife’s second vehicle now. She used to have a job that required her to check the road conditions in winter weather but she doesn’t do that anymore, so she doesn’t need AWD very often. Now it just gets used to haul stuff and transport the dogs so it was only driven 1000 miles last year. She’s still on the fence whether to invest in a repair or just drive it as-is.

My impression is that the paint will fail before the engine does. Road salt has taken a toll over the years.