2005 Kluger CVX

[matt_canberra]

Hello all

I am in the market for a 2005 Kluger CVX and have found one that i really like. It's a 2005, silver with nudge bar and rear spoiler... tip top condition, with only 41,000kms on the clock.

I test drove it the other day and found two things mainly:

- very smooth to drive with plenty of power

- high ride when you adjust the electric seat and raise it

Both of the above are good things. However there was one real negative. When i was coming up a small hill and preparing to turn right, the car seemed to lose power and did not know which gear it was in. It was almost like i was pressing the accelerator pedal but it was only just barely moving.

I have read a lot of user reviews about this issue and before i part with my hard earned cash i wanted to see if anyone on here can shed any more info on this "issue" which apparently is common with series 1 model klugers (not sure if it is present in the new model or not).

The car is such a pleasure to drive and i think it looks great (especially with the nudge bar and spoiler) but the one thing which i know will really make me down is the gear box if it is crap - i used to have a mitsubishi magna with a horrible gear box and it caused lots and lots of stress.

I currently own a nissan xtrail, which is beautiful to drive and run and has absolutely no issues at all and is very very quick for a 4 cyl SUV. But it is getting a bit old now and has 85,000kms on it so that is the main reason i am getting rid of it.

By the way i have been looking for a silver Kluger CVX for some time and this is the first one i have found which i am very keen on.

Advice/comments much appreciated.

Regards

Matt

[kwach10]

not an issue in a new one, but we have a 5 speed box, with a manual selector if needed

Why settle for a second best - get a new model for bit more with similar Km, with better accommodation, engine and economy.

or stick with a new x trail - but a diesel - nice drive with excellent engine and 6 speed man box

[Yogi02]

I picked up a 2005 CVX about 6 weeks ago.

I noticed the hesitation as well, I still bought it as it was easier to deal with than an unhappy missus who loved driving it.

Really didn't rate it as a deal breaker as I only noticed it if I pushed it a bit accelerated out of a corner (from a crawl) and it hunted for a gear - only talking a slight hesitation though.

Absolutely love the car - does everything we need it to.

I did the same searches you did and read about all the transmission issues and got quite worried - drove it, loved it.....see what happens I suppose.

I may not have the problem (or as bad?) that others were describing - but have noticed the slight hesitation but went in with eyes open.

I ended up picking one up with 43k for $25k-

Spent a little bit on some genuine toyota parts - towbar(self-fitted), mats, headlight covers and I highly recommend the boot liner (stuff slides around back there like no mans business - and a set of Rhino racks as well.

I was pondering a nudge bar - but I will wait a few months before I do anything else

I recommend driving another one, same model and compare for peace of mind.

Gee - even take one of those flash new new ones for a drive ;)

[Newres]

I have read countless complaints about the Toyota Kluger 2005 transmission. I travelled in Canada for 12 months in 2016 and bought a 2004 Kluger (Highlander) to drive in the extreme conditions and tow a lcamper trailer across the country in the summer holidays. I loved it so much I bought a 2005 Kluger with just 133000 km on the dial when I returned to Australia. It was then I discovered the transmission problem.
I have chased so many online threads. Read all the issues and things people have done to try and solve the issue. None seem to work so I decided to try my own thing.
I bought the vehicle in Sydney in January 2017. It had spent most of it's life on the streets near Marrickville and the occasional trip down the coast to Kiama. A lady driver and in pristine condition. Needless to say the Computer had learnt some really bad fuel and transmission habits over the 11 years. I drove it 500km home. The Transmission fluid was really dark in colour when I bought it so I had a service done and replaced the ATF as soon as I drove home.
Since then the Transmission became impossible to live with. Couldn't decide which gear it should be in when driving at slow speeds and turning into streets where it needed to step down to 2nd or even first. The hesitation was almost 2 seconds. I put up with it for 3 months, thinking it would get better. It didn't. I came to the conclusion that non-compatible transmission fluid was put into the car. I bit the bullet and decided to do some maintenance myself.

1) I dropped the transmission fluid and replaced it with Valvoline synthetic ATF. Recommended for Toyota transmissions.
2) I removed and looked at the MAF sensor. It was coated in filth and took a long time to clean with the appropriate cleaner. I put it back in.
3) I unplugged the battery for 3 hours to drain the Computer to wipe the old history.
4) I used a third party OBDII scanner adaptor from China to check for engine faults. None were present.

That's it.

After a week of driving the car, it had improved tremendously.

1) The engine started properly and was not hunting for the correct revs when cold (MAF) sensor is now working properly.
2) The gear changes from 1st to 2nd were faster and more efficient. The rest of shift points were also much better. 
3) After a week of driving, the hesitation has reduced from 2 seconds up the hill to my house, down to half a second at most. It isn't hunting for the correct gear now.
4) The engine / transmission is running much quieter and smoother.
5) When I manually downshift the transmission to 3rd, 2nd and 1st, they slot in very quickly and the engine responds more quickly as well.
6) On acceleration, the gear shift points are getting better all the time.

On reflection, the computer was not registering the amount of air coming into the engine so the computer was running lean, then rich, then lean when it should have been more constant. This has a direct input into the gear the transmission is going to select, depending on the torque required for the throttle position being read. The 2nd lot of oil allowed me to flush even more ****ty old transmission fluid out leaving more quality fluid in the system.

Just though I would post this. Hope it helps someone out. Cost me $80 for the ATF and MAF sensor cleaner, but it was worth every cent.

I really enjoy the driving experience now. Fuel consumption is under 11.8 L/100 on average so I'm happy.

[campbeam]

It may be a good idea to consider replacing the transmission filter next time. I am sure that your vehicle has the U151F transmission but always best to check/confirm yourself.

 

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/122-highlander-2nd-generation-2008-2013/499217-diy-transmission-filter-change.html

[Newres]

On 5/4/2017 at 8:56 PM, Newres said:

I have read countless complaints about the Toyota Kluger 2005 transmission. I travelled in Canada for 12 months in 2016 and bought a 2004 Kluger (Highlander) to drive in the extreme conditions and tow a lcamper trailer across the country in the summer holidays. I loved it so much I bought a 2005 Kluger with just 133000 km on the dial when I returned to Australia. It was then I discovered the transmission problem.
I have chased so many online threads. Read all the issues and things people have done to try and solve the issue. None seem to work so I decided to try my own thing.
I bought the vehicle in Sydney in January 2017. It had spent most of it's life on the streets near Marrickville and the occasional trip down the coast to Kiama. A lady driver and in pristine condition. Needless to say the Computer had learnt some really bad fuel and transmission habits over the 11 years. I drove it 500km home. The Transmission fluid was really dark in colour when I bought it so I had a service done and replaced the ATF as soon as I drove home.
Since then the Transmission became impossible to live with. Couldn't decide which gear it should be in when driving at slow speeds and turning into streets where it needed to step down to 2nd or even first. The hesitation was almost 2 seconds. I put up with it for 3 months, thinking it would get better. It didn't. I came to the conclusion that non-compatible transmission fluid was put into the car. I bit the bullet and decided to do some maintenance myself.

1) I dropped the transmission fluid and replaced it with Valvoline synthetic ATF. Recommended for Toyota transmissions.
2) I removed and looked at the MAF sensor. It was coated in filth and took a long time to clean with the appropriate cleaner. I put it back in.
3) I unplugged the battery for 3 hours to drain the Computer to wipe the old history.
4) I used a third party OBDII scanner adaptor from China to check for engine faults. None were present.

That's it.

After a week of driving the car, it had improved tremendously.

1) The engine started properly and was not hunting for the correct revs when cold (MAF) sensor is now working properly.
2) The gear changes from 1st to 2nd were faster and more efficient. The rest of shift points were also much better. 
3) After a week of driving, the hesitation has reduced from 2 seconds up the hill to my house, down to half a second at most. It isn't hunting for the correct gear now.
4) The engine / transmission is running much quieter and smoother.
5) When I manually downshift the transmission to 3rd, 2nd and 1st, they slot in very quickly and the engine responds more quickly as well.
6) On acceleration, the gear shift points are getting better all the time.

On reflection, the computer was not registering the amount of air coming into the engine so the computer was running lean, then rich, then lean when it should have been more constant. This has a direct input into the gear the transmission is going to select, depending on the torque required for the throttle position being read. The 2nd lot of oil allowed me to flush even more ****ty old transmission fluid out leaving more quality fluid in the system.

Just though I would post this. Hope it helps someone out. Cost me $80 for the ATF and MAF sensor cleaner, but it was worth every cent.

I really enjoy the driving experience now. Fuel consumption is under 11.8 L/100 on average so I'm happy.

I have since discovered the real reason for the transmission hunting for the correct gear. "It's the Fuel Filter"

My brother-in-law owns his own ford workshop. I was driving with him in the car several times and mentioned the problem. He immediately said, the most common fault with transmissions that rely on the ECU for the correct gear etc, is the fuel pressure. If the fuel pressure is too low, the torque of the engine will be too low, so the computer hunts for the gear which matches the torque being created. This is why is happens at low speeds or when braking hard and turning into a corner.

I drove home, booked the car in to have the fuel filter (which is in the fuel pump in the fuel tank) changed. I discovered, to my amusement, the car I bought (2nd Hand) had a full service history, but the fuel filter had never been changed. It was still the original factory fitted filter.

The cost was $360. I disconnected the battery overnight to get rid of all the computer adjustments it has made over the years to compensate for the poor fuel delivery, and then went for a 200km drive over some hilly roads and around town.

WOW.....

Hope others find this useful.

I now have a car that hits the right gear shift every time. It has a heap more torque and the fuel economy is even better. The engine is also as smooth as silk, and I can hear it evenly climb the revs, not hesitate a while under power then find its mojo... Amazing that fuel pressure can affect your transmission.

Edited September 20, 2017 by Newres