RAV4 V6 whining noise @ 40 - 70 km/h

[Ceeber]

No probs Gert,

Happy to help anytime. Just post again when you're ready. I get the feeling that Toyota has a lot to answer for in this particular model RAV in the form of manufacturing faults. Its certainly taught me a lesson - if you think you're safe because you're buying 'the badge', then think again. Toyotas need close inspection before you buy, just the same as any other brand. Cheers.

[Megan]

Hi Gert,

I've currently got a 2008 2.4L RAV4 after having the dreaded V6 with the whine! Its done 115,000km and we have no whine noise what so ever. Except the clutch is very sticky and ive taken it to an independant clutch specilist but nothing wrong with it. Anyways, Toyota does seem to want to fob off the noise and say its normal but its clearly a design/manufacturing fault! Kept persisting with them....maybe we should all go on today tonight to expose the fault!!

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[Vettori]

Hi Gert,

I had this exact problem about 18 months ago.

Whining between 50 - 70. Very loud, very annoying.

I took my vehicle back to the dealer within the 3 month statutory warranty period and they determined it was the transfer case causing the noise. It's connected to the transmission and sends power to the rear diff (for those of you who don't know).

The dealer pulled the transfer case out and had to send it to a specialist. I can't recall exactly what was done, but I believe it was something to do with the pinion shaft.

In any case If this was to take place outside warranty It would cost a fortune, at the dealers estimate around $4000 most of which would be labor.

Mine was replaced with a second hand replacement and the noise was still present. They later pulled it out again and repaired the original one... Given that it is a common issue I'd push them to repair your existing one if possible.... Unless they are happy to put a brand new one in.

I hope this helps.

Edited February 2, 2015 by Vettori

[Ceeber]

Hi Daniel,

Good feedback thanks. In the V6 its the final drive pinion and crown wheel that do not mesh properly from the factory that causes the noise. Toyota have made a 'field fix parts set' comprised of new pinion and crown wheel machined to match properly, once the correct pre-tensioning is set when the box is re-assembled (that's my understanding anyway). So...... your description of what happened to your car sounds very similar to mine.

It looks like anyone contemplating buying this model Rav4 needs to be VERY vigilant indeed before handing over their money.

Cheers.

[Rover]

Hi All,

just some quick feedback on my RAV4 and the whine. After we were told by the dealer that it is a "characteristic" of the car, we had an independent inspection done, which highlighted that there is an issue with the drive line and that the noise is definitely not normal.

We then took the car to another Toyota dealer and had them assess the noise, without telling them the background ofthe car and that we had just purchased it. They stated that there was definitely a problem and that it could get worse with time. Their opinion was that the car needed repairs.

With this info we then made an appointment with the service manager at the dealer we had purchased the car from. We also put him in contact with the Toyota dealer who gave us the diagnosis.

When we arrived for the meeting, they were too happy to take in our car, gave us a loan car for free and a week later our car is good as new. Still waiting for a copy of the works order, but apparently the carrier in the diff had to be replaced. Feels like driving a new car.

Very happy with the outcome and still amazed at how relatively easy it was to get repaired. Was ready for a huge fight.

[turbo48]

Bringing up a bit of an older post ,but we bought my wife a 2008 zr6 in april with 105,000klms on it and by 110,000 the whine came into it and gradually got louder.car was bought private so no warranty but being a mechanic myself spoke to terry shields toyota and were given the revised parts part numbers and in august last year order the parts direct from toyota japan at 1/3 of the cost i could get them through any aust toyota dealer and parts were meant to be 3 months getting here but turned up last week(6 months later),but still been driving car whole time and monitoring the noise,so this weekend 12 hrs later all need parts are in and car is as quiet as when we bought it,i do have pics of all the bits that are replaced and of gearbox in pieces and will post up later,so all up to do myself was $2500 and that includes all bits like seals and tranny oil aswell,so i couldnt complain as i know people through toyota have had 5500-8500 bills for the job,after looking at old bits the wear on the old gears is pretty bad,but if any info is wanted on the job just let me know as it is an easy and straight forward job just a bit time consuming

[Ceeber]

16 hours ago, turbo48 said:

Bringing up a bit of an older post ,but we bought my wife a 2008 zr6 in april with 105,000klms on it and by 110,000 the whine came into it and gradually got louder.car was bought private so no warranty but being a mechanic myself spoke to terry shields toyota and were given the revised parts part numbers and in august last year order the parts direct from toyota japan at 1/3 of the cost i could get them through any aust toyota dealer and parts were meant to be 3 months getting here but turned up last week(6 months later),but still been driving car whole time and monitoring the noise,so this weekend 12 hrs later all need parts are in and car is as quiet as when we bought it,i do have pics of all the bits that are replaced and of gearbox in pieces and will post up later,so all up to do myself was $2500 and that includes all bits like seals and tranny oil aswell,so i couldnt complain as i know people through toyota have had 5500-8500 bills for the job,after looking at old bits the wear on the old gears is pretty bad,but if any info is wanted on the job just let me know as it is an easy and straight forward job just a bit time consuming

Interesting the noise got louder between 105000 and 110000kms. I have encountered a few examples with many less kms on the clock and with really loud whining. The engineer we used (Robert Chapman - Victoria) says that this particular problem will end up in premature trans failure. Selling the car before repair might be tricky too if its howling its head off! Good owrk getting the repair done for $2,500. That's a bargain. Our Rav has now done 83,000kms and the repair by CMI Toyota is still nice and quiet.

Have a new problem though - the plastic cover on the passenger A pillar keeps coming loose - there is an airbag behind it and so need to be careful about 'back yard' remedies to secure it back in place. Its a plastic clip system, but does not seem to work very well. Any thoughts on this one?

Cheers. 

[turbo48]

It was really strange as picked car up from melbourne and bought it back to tassie and there was no noise at all and that was with 105,000 on it and prob 1500-2000 klms after that it started very faint and came in to it pretty loud by 110,000,so after chasing prices it was a no brainer to buy straight from japan even with the wait time,and nows its as quiet as when i first picked it up.

[Ceeber]

Yes well the other thing that Terry Shields Toyota told me when I was ringing around Australia for an answer was that the noise can come back after the repair is done!! The pinion and crown wheel field fix reduces the noise, but doesn't completely eliminate it. Now that my ear is tuned in, I can still here the noise if I concentrate hard. To the average person though I'm quite sure the noise is now quite acceptable in our RAV.

[junebug1701]

As I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread, my transmission was replaced with a remanufactured unit by my Toyota dealer at 19,000 miles. I am now at over 46,000 miles and the noise has never come back, not even a trace.

[turbo48]

Now ours is done i keep listening for a noise but even on the smoothest road with radio off there is nothing at all,and looking at the old parts can clearly see the wear on the gears even in the pics i took,what do you use when uploading pics on here and will put some up of the new parts and worn parts

[DanRAV4]

I just read all this and am worried now.... I have a RAV4 SX6 thats done 99000. I bought it in September and its still under a 12 Month dealer warranty. 

It had the faintest whine when we got it. The whine is still there but our tyres are a bit noisy so masks the sound.... 

I was a Toyota mechanic for 9 years and changed careers in 2001 so didnt get to know the V6 Rav4.

Appart from the whine the car is very nice.

Debating what to do...  

[campbeam]

5 hours ago, DanRAV4 said:

Debating what to do...  

 Best to "log" the problem with the dealer ASAP, so there is a record. Based upon another post where the noise got louder between 105-110,000 kms, you should anticipate having to make a warranty claim. 

[Grunt 59]

I just read your post in relation to the whining noise coming from the rear of your car ! I have also purchased a 2007 Rav 4 ZR6 model .. my car also has a noise between 40 and 60 klms an hour ! I have had the car into a transmission specialist who advises that the noise is a result of a a worn crown pinion bearing or something similar which will cost approx $3500 to repair ! He feels that it doesn’t need repairing at this stage because the noise is only minor however because I know it’s there it annoys the crap out of me as I now listen for it ! He also advises that he will have issues getting parts .. I would 

[campbeam]

I would be inclined to replace the differential oil and also use this XADO additive.

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/XADO-EX120-REVITALIZANT-GEL-FOR-DIFFERENTIALS-GEAR-BOXES/260752500105?epid=1526269179&hash=item3cb60f6589:g:5EQAAOSww8td3-gN