About 3 months ago, we posted about how the tuning knob in the RAV4's stereo took a break (http://66.160.188.111/roadtests/564). It started working again, and we've had no trouble since then, so we let it go.
Over this weekend the gremlins were back. My "FM1" presets were "forgotten" and a couple of times I saw dot matrix squares show up to the right of the station number. Of course, it only happened a couple of times as if to make me doubt my own sanity. The sound system thereafter kept my re-entered presets and even when it showed the black squares again it worked fine.
Another glitch I noticed was a few times while standing still just waiting pull out onto the street: a beep sounded and the stability control icon in the dash lit up, as if I were losing grip while underway. Both glitches have been noted and will be mentioned at the next service interval or if they crop up again and cause any issue with performance or entertainment.
On a different note, I'm still impressed by the RAV4's winning combination of strong performance, respectable fuel efficiency and generous cabin space. During a brunch outing with relatives, the ample second row seat was appreciated...
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 12,264 miles.
alpha01 says:
09:46 AM, 02/27/07
John, this gremlins issue is troublesome. However, it bothers me extremely that the edmunds.com folks fail to disclose that ya'll TOOK APART AND REMOVED the head unit from the RAV early on in the LT test of the vehicle.
How can you attribute the malfunctions either to that, or to the build of the vehicle? To me, they seem inextricable from each other.
Does this photo not indicate a fairly highly invasive procedure?
http://66.160.188.111/roadtests/573
~alpha
cbmorton says:
02:39 PM, 02/27/07
Problems with the radio display in particular have been addressed by a Toyota TSB - the issue affects head units in 2006-07 RAV4s and 2006 Siennas. Your dealer can order and install an updated radio.
The beep and stability control light flashing while you're stopped with your foot on the brake is not a glitch. V6 and three-row four-cylinder models are equipped with Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC) - a hill-holder feature that applies the brakes to prevent rollback while you move your foot to the gas.
How is it activated? You push harder than normal on the brake pedal while stopped and in gear. How do you tell it's activated? There's a beep and the stability control light flashes. Drivers who tend to use the brake pedal as a brace when adjusting themselves in the seat or reaching into the back seat for something may be more likely to activate HAC unintentionally.
bimmerjay says:
03:55 PM, 02/27/07
I'm surprised Toyota needs to notify you that HAC is "working" by beeping and flashing the stability warning. Toyota's philosophy with VDIM seems to be the more intrusive, the better.
BMW has the same feature which simply detects if the vehicle will roll back when you let your foot off the brake, and seamlessly holds the car for a few seconds or until you depress the gas. If you're in reverse, it will automatically hold you from rolling forward in the same way. No warning lights, beeps, special pedal pushing or secret handshakes... it just works!
That's a poor design on Toyota's part - the average consumer will likely be alarmed or think it's a problem just as John pointed out.
alpha01 says:
04:30 PM, 02/27/07
cbmorton- thanks for that useful info on the TSB, didnt know about that one, though I still wonder....
bimmerjay - of course, the average consumer could consult the owners manual before freaking out....
cbmorton says:
05:24 PM, 02/27/07
You're right, you still have a point - the TSB is only for display problems and not for malfunctions like forgotten presets or non-responsive controls.
HAC works automatically on other Toyota SUVs. Not sure why the RAV4's requires driver intervention. But yes, this isn't the first time I've seen this mentioned by a RAV4 driver who had the same thing happen and didn't know what was going on.
bimmerjay says:
06:28 PM, 02/27/07
Alpha - of course the average owner *could*... but I was implying that the average owner doesn't. :-)
johnnyturbo says:
05:45 PM, 02/28/07
alpha01:
We had the Bluetooth unit installed long before the stereo acted up, though we're not discounting that they may be related. We'll keep tabs on it.
cbmorton:
I had checked for RAV4 TSBs and didn't see any relating to the audio system. Could you respond with the link to what you found? And you were right about the beep and flashing light -- I typically check the manual when I can't figure out how to use a feature or need maintenance info. It didn't occur to me to look this up, as it seemed like a glitch (see below)...
bimmerjay:
I agree with you, Toyota's hill holder needn't alert the driver when it's operating. My brother's 1986 Subaru wagon had Subaru's "Hill Holder" feature and it just did its thing -- like a current BMW -- without beeping and flashing a dash-board light.
alpha01 says:
12:14 PM, 03/ 1/07
Thank you for the followup, John!
cbmorton says:
07:01 AM, 03/ 5/07
If you have access to the listing of TSBs already, check for TSB AU001-07. I believe it was released at the end of January.
speeder31 says:
07:16 PM, 03/ 7/07
My mom's '04 Sienna's knobs have been on the fritz...go figure. You think the world's most reliable automaker would have rectified the problem by now...