RAV4's - what to look out for? **Updated**

[Bling]

So i'm looking at a RAV4 on Sunday, 3dr auto. Not sure on engine at this stage.

Main question:
Anything that is commonly wrong with these?

Looking for a friend as she wants it gone. So just want to see if it's worth tidying up or if better to sell as is with TLC needed. Very slim chance, but I may buy it. Only reason i'm mildly interested is price and the fact it won't knock my teeth out like the bzg. So I just want to know if they are something to be avoided or if they can be ok dailies. Flip side is, I want to know where to look for faults to know whether they could easily flick it off for more if they tidied it up.

What I know: 1997, auto, black, 3dr, ~150k, ~$2k as is.
What I don't know: engine, drivetrain be it fwd or 4wd, know nothing about them.

[Mr Revhead]

So sxa1# rav? Not bad things.
Things to look for:
Leaky front diff seals
Worn rear diff mounts
3s oil leaks
Split steering coloum boot (allows air to blow through firewall)
That's what I remember off top of head

[1I1]

4WD? Rear diff mounts start knocking (about $100 each, theres two). Centre diffs can start to bind on tight turning (can use a different ATF to try to help). We've a lot recently needing rear arm bushes replaced - picked up in wof's

[Bling]

Not sure if 4wd or fwd yet. Doing a bit of homework before I see it this weekend though so I know a little bit more than nothing

Will make a list though, so keep the info coming. It should have been looked after. Pretty sure it's NZ new, and if so I know both owners which is a plus.

What are the rear arm bushes worth?

Cheers

[1I1]

Have to buy a full arm we've been sending the arms around the corner to a supplier who has been making suitable rubber replacements not sure on what its costing.... but its cheaper than buying new arms

[Mr Revhead]

Autolign will have bushes that will fit. They just may not know it

[Dell'Orto]

If its ABS cambelts suck to do on them

[strx7]

LF hubs are a common request for them

[Mr Revhead]

Women bashing the wheel on the kerb when parking....

[Looonie]

The fact that they suck gas more than your average K-road $2 hooker?

[Mr Revhead]

Women bashing the wheel on the kerb when parking....

[Bling]

Just going to grab some more paper hang on

[solitaire]

Women bashing the wheel on the kerb when parking....

[Leon]

$2k is massively underpriced.

Will drink lots of petrol though, be warned.

The most common comment I've read is "why does my Rav4 us *so* much petrol", while discussing Ravs

[Elmo]

Watch out for wet grass, even if its the 4wd model its not a 4x4 and it will get stuck on wet grass, or even a slippery car park! You know where I am to call for a recovery. Lol

[bzrspeed]

Watch out for head gaskets.
Have had 3 in the last 2 weeks with blown head gaskets. Seems to be a issue.

[MAC_HATER]

Watch out for wet grass, even if its the 4wd model its not a 4x4 and it will get stuck on wet grass, or even a slippery car park! You know where I am to call for a recovery. Lol

this!

an uncle bought one to go "off roading" with his mates - where their weakest vehicle is a jacked up V8 Hilux Surf on super angry tires and winch

suffice to say he had several litres of piss taken from him when he showed up with a stock Rav and got it stuck in the field carpark thing where the offroad track started - so he decided not to venture on xD

that said - the engine bay has plenty of room for some extra plumbing and a large hairdryer to make it actually capable of some decent performance

[rolla_fxgt]

Fiances mum had one for a work vehicle, a 4wd one, as she had to use on orchards on occasions, and cross fords.
She now has a newer one.

Yes they drink a lot of gas. But they go and go and go. Her's had just had the diff mounts and rear shocks replaced before she upgraded, it was knocking quite a bit.
She had done something rediculos like 250,000 k's in it for work. So it had lasted pretty well for the hard life it was given. Hadn't given any major problems, and to be honnest it wasn't looked after that well.

They do roll a lot! Feels like you could tip over at any moment on a corner. So you will need to adjust your driving style to suit. Also on icey/wet roads they threaten to change ends regularly, with having such a short wheelbase.

Not something you want to put someone tall in the back seat of for any length of time, but apart from that, its a good car for what it does.

[dnalunchie]

my sister has a 94 3sfe rav 4 and MAN that thing drinks gas like crazy. Bet an auto would be even worse.

[Bling]

What sort of fuel usage are we talking here? Ball park anyway. Only reason for considering really is price / comfy ride to work. With the quakes it's become a real drag to daily the Levin. If I got it i'd probably just keep it till I got bored then flick on.

Watch out for wet grass, even if its the 4wd model its not a 4x4 and it will get stuck on wet grass, or even a slippery car park! You know where I am to call for a recovery. Lol

Will keep in mind