RAV4 V6 whining noise @ 40 - 70 km/h

[Bruster]

Well, i would like to share my experience with my Rav4 V6 which i bought over a year ago.

when i first bought the car i remember hearing a very faint noise when travelling around 40 km/h at that time i didnt think much o it.

coming from a 10 year old car the Rav seemed very quiet to me.

however over the last 12-14 months of ownership the noise has started getting louder, specially after the car warms up the noise becomes very obvious.

i decided to take the car for a service before Xmas as i will be travelling to central coast for new years, the service was to be done 4 weeks later but i wanted to get the car in good shape for our road trip. Turns out the Auto Transmission will need replacing they acknowledge the noise was there and advised gsint travelling any long distance. As a result i decided to leave the car with them, the car will be towed to Parramatta where Toyota Auto Trans specialists are located and i will be without my car for at least 2-3 weeks.

I have been driving my mums little car and i cant believe how much i miss the space and convinience of my Rav4 just after 2 days...

Anyways back to the issue, i asked the following questions:

is this a common problem with Rav4 V6? the serviceman said NO

what exactly is the problem? he didnt explain all he said is it will need replacing.

now i have been following this thread in RAV4world forums :http://rav4world.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=21109&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=180

and it seems to be a very common problem...

after just learning about the oil pipe which needs to be replaced as mentioned in this forum Kluger thread and now this major problem with Auto Trans im starting to wonder if the Toyota is letting themselves down in terms of reliability... luckly im still under warranty but i cant imagine the cost of Trans Replacement if the warrnty had expired.

Anyways im just wondering if anyone has experienced similar problems?

Merry xmas everyone.

[vassam350]

Hi,

I purchased my Rav4 SX6 in October 2007 brand new. We left the dealer that night and headed home. On the way the car lost power and then kicked back into life at around 60km/hr. At the same time I also noticed a very slight whine from the transmission. That was a Monday night. I thought I would leave it a couple of days to see if the loss of power happened again, and it did a couple of more times. At the same time I did some research on the net to find that Toyota ceased sales of the Rav4 v6 the night we picked ours up due to a fault.

I rang the dealer and they told me to bring it in the following Monday and leave it with us and they supplied us a brand new kluger while we waited. At the same time I mentioned the noise in the transmission.

A couple of days later I began to ring and ask what's going on with the car. They didn't know. Two weeks later, what's going on? They didn't know. One month later the car was fixed in terms of the loss of power but not the noise. I was given free 2yr extended warranty, free side steps and free first service.

I kicked up about the whine and David Lewis the head technical guy from Toyota came out to my work to road test the car with me. By the way I run a mechanical workshop.

He told me it was a common noise from the Rav4 V6 transmission and that at 100,000kms the noise wouldn't be any different. The car at that stage had 385kms. At 5000kms I took the car back as the noise wasn't getting any better in fact it was getting worse, and demanded something be done. David Lewis once again took the car for a drive and told me "it's an undesirable characteristic".

I have now done 49,924kms and the noise is getting much worse.

Obviously I have given up with them and in actual fact, the car has never been back to Toyota.

We bought a new Kluger Grande for my wife and she loves it, and I got stuck with the noisy transmission Rav4.

I have no answers for you, but all I can say is you aren't alone. All I'm going to do is get rid of the car in the next 6mths.

The noise in my trans is from 45km-80km/hr.

Good luck.

[Bruster]

Hi,

I purchased my Rav4 SX6 in October 2007 brand new. We left the dealer that night and headed home. On the way the car lost power and then kicked back into life at around 60km/hr. At the same time I also noticed a very slight whine from the transmission. That was a Monday night. I thought I would leave it a couple of days to see if the loss of power happened again, and it did a couple of more times. At the same time I did some research on the net to find that Toyota ceased sales of the Rav4 v6 the night we picked ours up due to a fault.

I rang the dealer and they told me to bring it in the following Monday and leave it with us and they supplied us a brand new kluger while we waited. At the same time I mentioned the noise in the transmission.

A couple of days later I began to ring and ask what's going on with the car. They didn't know. Two weeks later, what's going on? They didn't know. One month later the car was fixed in terms of the loss of power but not the noise. I was given free 2yr extended warranty, free side steps and free first service.

I kicked up about the whine and David Lewis the head technical guy from Toyota came out to my work to road test the car with me. By the way I run a mechanical workshop.

He told me it was a common noise from the Rav4 V6 transmission and that at 100,000kms the noise wouldn't be any different. The car at that stage had 385kms. At 5000kms I took the car back as the noise wasn't getting any better in fact it was getting worse, and demanded something be done. David Lewis once again took the car for a drive and told me "it's an undesirable characteristic".

I have now done 49,924kms and the noise is getting much worse.

Obviously I have given up with them and in actual fact, the car has never been back to Toyota.

We bought a new Kluger Grande for my wife and she loves it, and I got stuck with the noisy transmission Rav4.

I have no answers for you, but all I can say is you aren't alone. All I'm going to do is get rid of the car in the next 6mths.

The noise in my trans is from 45km-80km/hr.

Good luck.

Hi Mate,

i got rid of my Rav4 for that reason...

if you see my posts im now own ZR6 Aurion.

they refurbished my transmission in December 2009 and the noise disappeared for about a month and then came back.

thats when i realised this problem was never going to be fixed and after having so many issues with Toyota i decided to trade up.

my Aurion has been really good so far, its been exactly a year now...

My advice to you is to keep bugging them, i took mine to Fergusons Toyota and from there Fergusons towed my car to Terry Shields

Toyota in Parramatta which apparently is where the transmisson specialist are.

if you are in Sydney give them a call or a visit, you mayve chance withem considering they at least made an effort to fix my car.

but i totally understand your frustration.

Cheers

Bru

[oopy]

Hi guys,

Just had the TSB carried out at my local dealership

- was worried at first of them messing up the engine/gearbox uninstall/reinstall

but all is good (so far)

the car drives better than new now - feels lexus like in regards to the engine/transmission (rx350)

no more whine, engine/car is a lot quieter (almost feels weird not having the whine), shifts are much much smoother

will report back in a couple of weeks to let you know how things are going

[Bruster]

Hi guys,

Just had the TSB carried out at my local dealership

- was worried at first of them messing up the engine/gearbox uninstall/reinstall

but all is good (so far)

the car drives better than new now - feels lexus like in regards to the engine/transmission (rx350)

no more whine, engine/car is a lot quieter (almost feels weird not having the whine), shifts are much much smoother

will report back in a couple of weeks to let you know how things are going

are you from the USA?

because i dont recall being a TSB for this fix here in australia.

and i dont think they call it a TSB be here..but i could be wrong.

[oopy]

Hi guys,

Just had the TSB carried out at my local dealership

- was worried at first of them messing up the engine/gearbox uninstall/reinstall

but all is good (so far)

the car drives better than new now - feels lexus like in regards to the engine/transmission (rx350)

no more whine, engine/car is a lot quieter (almost feels weird not having the whine), shifts are much much smoother

will report back in a couple of weeks to let you know how things are going

are you from the USA?

because i dont recall being a TSB for this fix here in australia.

and i dont think they call it a TSB be here..but i could be wrong.

nay

from perth

have a chat with your dealer they should refer to them as technical service bulletins (TSB)

i've had the intermediate drive shaft tsb done twice now and also the transmission tsb

- although unlike the US where they order in a remanufactured tranny they rebuild the trannies here instead with the new parts

[Bruster]

ok cool, good to know for the future.

at the time i owned my rav, i didnt find any info

and dealers werent very helpful

cheers

Bru

[JohnG.]

Hi guys,

Just had the TSB carried out at my local dealership

- was worried at first of them messing up the engine/gearbox uninstall/reinstall

but all is good (so far)

the car drives better than new now - feels lexus like in regards to the engine/transmission (rx350)

no more whine, engine/car is a lot quieter (almost feels weird not having the whine), shifts are much much smoother

will report back in a couple of weeks to let you know how things are going

Sorry,TSB? Please explain...& the solution,thx JG

[JohnG.]

Never mind,have found the Techincal Service Bulletins

[ashren]

HELLO,

I HAVE A 2007 RAV 4 SX6 V6 WHICH WHEN PURCHASEDTHROUGH A SYDNEY DEALERSHIP IN DECEMBER 2011 HAD TRAVELLED 39,000KMS AND WAS SOLD WITH A 3 MONTHS/5000KM STATUTORY WARRANTY.

IT WAS IMMEDIATELY EVIDENT THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A PRONOUNCED TRANSMISSION WHINE FROM SAY 40 KPH AND ABOVE.

ULTIMATELY IT WENT TO TERRY SHIELDS TOYOTA AT PARRAMATTA,SYDNEY(TOYOTAS PREFERED TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS) AND THEY HAD IT FOR 4 DAYS AND THEY REMOVED THE TRANSMISSION AND FITTED A REPLACEMENT, MODIFIED FINAL DRIVE GEAR ASSEMBLY UNDER WARRANTY.

THIS REPAIR TOTALLY ELIMINATED THE NOISE.

I HAD A LOOK AT THE REPLACED GEAR SET AND THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE ORIGINAL ANGLE OF THE GEAR CUT WAS INCORRECT AND HAD TO BE MODIFIED.(ALL V6 RAV4'S MADE THIS NOISE FROM NEW!)

THEY USED GEAR ASSEMBLY (UNDERDRIVE) PART NUMBER 3430042080;GEAR DIFF RING 4122142120; BEARINGS A805 AND A600 AS WELL AS SEALANT AND AUTO OIL.

TERRY SHIELDS WERE MOST HELPFUL AND OBVIOUSLY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM FROM PREVIOUS PAST EXPERIENCE.

IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME THAT IF THIS REPAIR WAS CARRIED OUT WITHOUT WARRANTY IT WOULD HAVE COST IN THE VICINITY OF $5,500 PARTS AND LABOUR.

SIX MONTHS LATER AND THE TRANSMISSION IS PERFECTLY QUIET.

REGARDS

[bisdake]

HELLO,

I HAVE A 2007 RAV 4 SX6 V6 WHICH WHEN PURCHASEDTHROUGH A SYDNEY DEALERSHIP IN DECEMBER 2011 HAD TRAVELLED 39,000KMS AND WAS SOLD WITH A 3 MONTHS/5000KM STATUTORY WARRANTY.

IT WAS IMMEDIATELY EVIDENT THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A PRONOUNCED TRANSMISSION WHINE FROM SAY 40 KPH AND ABOVE.

ULTIMATELY IT WENT TO TERRY SHIELDS TOYOTA AT PARRAMATTA,SYDNEY(TOYOTAS PREFERED TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS) AND THEY HAD IT FOR 4 DAYS AND THEY REMOVED THE TRANSMISSION AND FITTED A REPLACEMENT, MODIFIED FINAL DRIVE GEAR ASSEMBLY UNDER WARRANTY.

THIS REPAIR TOTALLY ELIMINATED THE NOISE.

I HAD A LOOK AT THE REPLACED GEAR SET AND THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE ORIGINAL ANGLE OF THE GEAR CUT WAS INCORRECT AND HAD TO BE MODIFIED.(ALL V6 RAV4'S MADE THIS NOISE FROM NEW!)

THEY USED GEAR ASSEMBLY (UNDERDRIVE) PART NUMBER 3430042080;GEAR DIFF RING 4122142120; BEARINGS A805 AND A600 AS WELL AS SEALANT AND AUTO OIL.

TERRY SHIELDS WERE MOST HELPFUL AND OBVIOUSLY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM FROM PREVIOUS PAST EXPERIENCE.

IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME THAT IF THIS REPAIR WAS CARRIED OUT WITHOUT WARRANTY IT WOULD HAVE COST IN THE VICINITY OF $5,500 PARTS AND LABOUR.

SIX MONTHS LATER AND THE TRANSMISSION IS PERFECTLY QUIET.

REGARDS

Just wondering how is your transmission now. No noise still? My Kluger is doing the same whine as well. Not loud at the moment. But I got it check with toyota anyway. They can also hear the whine somewhere at 55-70 kph. They told me about replacing the final drive gear.

[junebug1701]

I also experienced the 40 mph whine in my 2008 RAV4 Limited. It became noticeable at around 15,000 miles, and with 20,000 miles on it in September of 2011 the Toyota dealership replaced my transmission with the new version. The whine was completely eliminated and I think they must have updated the controller because it shifts smoother as well. When coasting to a stop I had always felt a pronounced surge when the torque converter unlocked and now it is smooth as silk. I peeked at the service manager's computer screen and it showed that the cost of the transmission was $3300 and $1117 in labor (US dollars)--good thing it was under warranty.

[K_wow]

Hi bisdake,

The whine will persist or get worse until you take it to get repaired.

Funny enough I'm working on a Kluger with a diff whine at work today. Chances are its most likely owned by someone from this forum =]

[bisdake]

They changed the final drive gear with new one.thats how i understand.what do you think about it?was that the right repair done?

[K_wow]

To be precise it's the crown wheel, pinion gear, diff bearings and shims that gets work done to It. We replace all the above mentioned parts and redo the preload to a desired amount. The whine occurs due to inadequate preload which leads to the other parts being prematurely worn.

[bisdake]

Precisely it is. Just wondering, do you have to drain the transaxle fluid to do that kind of repair?Just that I was not told about it by the service mechanic. I'd like to monitor when the fluid was changed specially for the transaxle.

[K_wow]

Yes we do change the transaxle fluid. Before removal the fluid has to be drained or it will leak when drive shafts are removed which makes it really messy. We also top up/ change the transfer oil.

[bisdake]

when you start to hear the whining symptoms, will it become worst quickly?or slowly ?

Will it help using a bit thicker atf if having inadequate preload?

[K_wow]

It differs with each car. Sometimes it's quick sometimes it's gradual.

It isn't recommended to use thicker ATF. The new klugers and rave uses 2WS ATF oil which is fully synthetic. If you were to go backwards to something thicker it would be T4 ATF oil. We dont practice that at work so I really dont recommend anyone else to do it either as you could do more damage.

[Ebok]

So, i have a 2007 Rav4 (4 cyl) manual, same issue, whinning noise, Illawarra toyota told me it was the intermediate shaft, but my understanding is that if it is the intermediate shaft it would be making a knocking or cluncking noise while turning, which this is not.

I noticed on a US site that it could be associated with the fuel pump, there is a TSB EG002-07 out for it.

They have also said that we need a new clutch and wouldn't you know it, the extra warranty (premium that cost us $700) does not cover either of the 2 items they said needed replacing.....

Does anyone have any insigiht into these problems,

[K_wow]

Hi ebok,

Clutches arent warranted because it's a wear and tear item like tires. It gradually wear out each time you drive.

I've never seen any problems with intermediate shafts but it's not impossible.

Hope that helps

[face44]

Hi,

I have a similar problem in my 2007 Rav4 SX6, it seems to be coming from the passenger side. The mechanic I went to says it sounds like the wheel bearings.

Has anyone else had a wheel bearing noise issue?

Also does anyone know how or where you can view Toyotas technical service bulletins?

[Megan]

Ive recently purchased a 2008 RAV4 V6 CV with 140,00kms, which unfortunatley has the dreded tranmission/differential whine that is mentioned here. I purchased from Pickles Auction and couldnt drive the vehicle but as it had been serviced every 10,000kms by Toyota City in Perth I thought the car was going to be fine. It was evident the second I drove the car out of the Auction yard that it was a problem.

I've since taken it to toyota who advised it was a front differential whine and made out they'd never seen the problem before. I have since put in a warranty claim to Australian Warranty Network and the preferred mechanic is Negus (Balcatta, WA). Negus advised their preferred tranmission mechanic didnt want to touch/repair the car as the noise would come back. I am patiently waiting for a repair to be performed.

I want to ask if those of you that have had the tranmission rebuilt are getting any noise since? I guess, I am worried that it will get fixed and noise would reappear.

Many thanks for any advice/updates on this issue.

[MC2]

Yikes, I've had a 2012 SX6 since new and I'm just noticing a whine in the transmission at about 50kph...

[Megan]

Ive recently purchased a 2008 RAV4 V6 CV with 140,00kms, which unfortunatley has the dreded tranmission/differential whine that is mentioned here. I purchased from Pickles Auction and couldnt drive the vehicle but as it had been serviced every 10,000kms by Toyota City in Perth I thought the car was going to be fine. It was evident the second I drove the car out of the Auction yard that it was a problem.

I've since taken it to toyota who advised it was a front differential whine and made out they'd never seen the problem before. I have since put in a warranty claim to Australian Warranty Network and the preferred mechanic is Negus (Balcatta, WA). Negus advised their preferred tranmission mechanic didnt want to touch/repair the car as the noise would come back. I am patiently waiting for a repair to be performed.

Ive finally got a report back from Negus and they have advised it's the crown wheel and pinion which takes four weeks to come from Japan. In the meantime, my car is stripped down and on a hoist until the part arrives here!!