2001 Toyota RAV4 AWD L from North America - Comments

Another 2001 toyota rav4 customer here in check engine light hell. I replaced a O2 sensor to the tune of $300 for the first hit, then got the ECM reprogramming. Check engine light is still on. Toyota dealer wants to charge me $$ to hook it up to a computer. Does anyone know if straight up replacing the CPU will fix these issues? It's been a great car, but now I can't pass the emissions test.

Failing this I may try the reset suggested earlier, get it to pass, then trade it in for something else.

I own 2001 Rav 4 - love it. However my engine light continues to come on. First time at 30,000 miles, then again while traveling cross country- was told when I got to the dealer it was the catalytic converter shot. Fortunately I was under warranty for that, then again around 35,000 miles the engine light came on- went to the dealer, was told O2 sensors were shot. Needed those replaced ($400 or so), now at 45,000 miles engine light on again. Engine running smooth, no noises. Was told by dealer if engine runs normally with engine light on, "shouldn't be a problem, just needs to be reset or your gas cap is loose"??? Let's hope it isn't some other kind of pollution control sensor that will cost oodles to get it fixed.

I have a 1997 Toyota Rav4, and my 'check engine' light has been on for close to a year. There are moments it goes off but eventually comes back on. I have taken it twice to the mechanic and had a diagnostic test run.. but nothing came up. Car runs fine with the exception of this problem. Unfortunately, my inspection is up in July and will have to reset it by disconnecting battery for a few minutes and then reconnecting again. I guess just another way for Toyota and other mechanics to make $$$$$.

Yet another dissatisfied Toyota owner, I have 2001 Rav4 with the engine light ON, and code = P0141 which points to an O2 Sensor, Bank1 Sensor2. Toyota would happily replace it for $430 + Taxes. What I do not like is that they want to charge me another fee to diagnose the problem using their computer, although I am providing them with the code, but they claim their computer is different than the 3 others that I used to check the check engine light, and that if they just replace the sensor they won't be responsible if the light comes back ON the next day. I thought I'd put them to the test and inquired which one is Bank1 Sensor2 and I asked no less than 3 people in each of 3 or 4 dealerships, but each time I got a different answer, and even their schematics didn't show which is which, rather showed part numbers.

I am least impressed with Toyota, especially having had a history of their dealers telling me that parts have been replaced (during warranty) and it turns out the parts were not even in stock, and 2 weeks later when the parts arrived they called me saying the parts are ready for me to take the vehicle in. This amongst many other instances, but generally I am not very happy with the check engine light because it tends to go off on its own after a few hundred kilometers, and I don't know if just the light goes off, or even the code clears and then light goes off, and then again after like 100 kilometers the light would come back on. inconsistency can be very frustrating as I don't want to go and replace parts worth $$$ just to realize I have more parts to replace all this nor sure if I am hitting on the root cause in the first place, and believe me Toyota always has a way of putting a spin on things to make it all sound normal and logical. Yes how is it that Toyota didn't choose to just replace the CPU on these earlier models. They did the re-programming for me, but that apparently doesn't help enough, and I can't pass the emissions test with the light on. I am going to replace my O2 sensor tomorrow. Hope this will resolve the problem until I pass the emissions test at least, could buy me 2 yrs insurance once I pass the test.

Same thing happened to my 2001 RAV4L at 20,000 miles.

I see no problem with oil level or circulation? I let it on and rode it for until 35,000 miles with no problem but that annoying light that's on? Since I got extended warranty for 70.000 mile which cost me $800. I decided one day to take it to a dealer. They told me it just need to re-program the CPU (computer), they tried, the light went out only to come back again next day? I guess they just disconnected my battery? Then they told me they need to get from Toyota approval to replace catalytic converter and all those sensors? They tried to jack me with the diagnostic things fee? But I said NO to their face! I have an extended warranty, only then did they proceeded with the repair.

I marked all the parts and took picture of them before sending my car back to repair. I told them what I did, and warned them that if they don't do as they say they would? I will sue them? At last they did change those parts and even showed me the old ones, the light went out, now I have my RAV4 at 65,000 no problem. Now while I reading my ownerw manual, I found out that any emission control parts are covered by 7 years 70,000 miles warranty by Toyota. So beware of those scam dealership repairs? My only remaining problem is... the gas mileage is poor!

Power is intermittent, there (seldom happens) are days the torque is very good as if the day I took it from the show room? Most of the days, it lacks that power?

It has the same engine as my daughter's Corolla, but her car has better torque and it has same engine? I believed Toyota programmed this car's CPU to get more money for their dealers and more parts sales? In Japan and Philippines... there were no similar problem with those CPU?

I wish some independent company make an upgrade CPU that can replace what Toyota installed in their RAV4?

90% OF THE TIME THOSE ENGINE LIGHTS DO NOT PROTECT OWNERS. AS LONG AS THE OIL IN YOUR CAR CIRCULATES AND IS ON ITS RIGHT LEVEL, FEAR NOT, YOUR CAR IS ALRIGHT.

I have 2002 Rav4 and the check engine light goes on and off with no rhyme or reason. It has done this enough that I just ignore this but then where I live, you don't have to pass an inspection.

I do like an earlier comment on this thread about finding the correct fuse under the hood, removing it and turning the engine over for 3 seconds. This works (turns light off) but it may or may not come back on right away.

I would like to remove this light but it seems hard to get to. Currently it is in "off mode."---oh well!