2008 Rav Malfunction Light Issues, need help Options

[jco1]

Hi everyone, i have a new 2008 toyota rav,and just a week ago the malfunction light as well as the 4wd light and VSC light all came on at the same time. I took it to the dealership, they cannot figure out the problem, mechanic shut lights off and said to bring it back in if happens again. One week later it happened again while i was driving. Has anyone else had this issue before or know of a reason why it is happening, any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[ravved]

My story exactly!! Have the techs been able to come up with anything? My dealer has no idea how to fix this! Please let me know how you are getting along with this and I will post any info on the situation here.

[ravved]

Got my rav4 back from the shop today. Would you believe that all those lights came on just because of a defective oxygen sensor in the engine? Lights are still off, anyway! Let me know if your problem was similar.

[ravved]

Noooooo!! LIghts are back on!! Does anyone know how to fix this??

[MuffinsOnAcid]

What kind of a dealership can't fix a brand new RAV4?! They should be checking for TSB's and the code should be a dead giveaway. The MALF, 4WD and VSC lights usually all come on together with any type of code, just like the 4Runner's do. I will go research that tomorrow at work. There has to be something. If you know the code what is it?

[rav4_dan]

I had the exact same issue with my 2007 Sport V6/4WD about several months ago. I only bought the car in August, so I was concerned as well. I called the dealer and told them about the 4WD light was on as well, and that I refused to drive any further, just in case it really was a 4WD problem.

They agreed, and picked it up with a flatbed. A few hours later, I got a call, they said it was a bad gas issue and recommended that I tried several drygas treatments. I did this, and it has been fine since then.

That morning when I had issues, it was also really cold, so I guess that combo of bad gas and cold temps were really the issue.

Since you don't have a solution, I would try the drygas treatment as well, it doesn't hurt, and after doing it 2 times (empty entire bottle before filling up), it should be better if it really was a gas issue.

I registered here just so I could respond to this thread, since I do understand the frustration.

edit: I believe my code was a cylinder misfire light. Next time this happens, take it to Autozone or something, and get a free code reading.

[hobbinb]

I'm a new user. I bought my new Rav 4 Ltd V6 on Thursday, two days ago, and have already had this same issue with the lights. I'm going again to dealership this morning, but it was already "fixed" once by rebooting the computer. That worked for the rest of Thursday, but by Friday (yesterday), the lights were back on.
I'm worried. I LOVE the car, but did I get a lemon? Any advice here would be appreciated.

I saw someone recommended the "drygas" treatment. I'm an ***** about cars. Can you tell me what that is?
Thanks.

[hasucit]

I have 2007 Rav4 and have the same Mal,VSC and 4wd light on.The dealer told me the oxy sensor but I have to wait for the part to arrive.It looks like this is not the solution and I am also interested in the drygas treatment which I don't know what it is.Any help would be appreciate

[Chr!S]

Just a hunch, could it be a loose / dirty / damaged / possibly just f*cked ABS sensor at all? or Indeed some other problem with the drive or speed sensing?

I am assuming of course that VSC is Vehicle Stability Control, which I am assuming again is possibly a form of "braked" or "clutch" type traction control

[Possibly going with clutch / active 4wd is the 4wd light is on also]

[jayrad]

I also just experienced the same problem on my 3500 mile RAV4.

I haven't brought it in yet -- next week, no time right now, so I'm going to bring this info with me. Thanks to you all.

On another note -- or maybe, it's not, there is a black plastic hose (with wires?) that was ripped apart underneath the driver's side door. I think this probably happened from some snow or road debris that tore it apart (bless our winter). Any thoughts on what that is and the likelihood it's related?

[Chr!S]

That could indeed be a sensor wire, not sure with that location though!

Let us know how you get on!

[MSTLOUIS]

I've got the same problem with my 2008 RAV4 V6.

800km, all three lights came on, (eng, vsc, 4wd) Pulled into the nearest dealer and was told it was just a computer glitch and they reset the computer. 3 days later the lights came back on. Went to my local dealer and was diagnosed as a defective C02 sensor, still waiting for the part to arrive.

Oh.. by the way. When indicator lights are on... the cruise control doesn't function.

Love the truck, but concerned I may have a lemon. Don't understand why an O2 sensor should cause all lights to come on and cruise to malfunction.

Will post back if sensor actually fixes the problem, but I am sceptical at this point.

Cheers,

[hobbinb]

I can help. I wrote earlier describing the same problem with my RAV4, and was worried I got a lemon. The problem is now fixed AND the SUV is fantastic. No more problems.
It's not the O2 sensor -- though the computer the dealers use seem to think it is. Ask the dealers to check the exhaust manifold (I know jack about cars, so this is all from what my dealers told me). Apparently on my RAV4, at least, the exhaust manifold was not set properly, I think due to the manifold itself.
The dealership replaced the manifold (this took a couple days), reset computer and problem was solved. I haven't had an issue since and its been about two months now.
Hope this helps. Let me know if I can help you further.

and yes, when those lights were on, the cruise didn't work for me either. When problem was fixed, cruise control worked fine.

[Dianne]

These three lights came on our 2008 Rav4 this summer when we were on vacation in Washington, about 1200 miles on the car. Took it to a dealer in WA and they said it was the oxygen sensor. They wanted to order the parts, but we were leaving for home before the parts would arrive. They reset the lights and said we would be OK to drive home. The lights came on again on the way home, so no cruise control. (and we got almost 30 mph with cruise on the way out !)

The dealer in Colorado couldn't find anything wrong and reset the lights.

It just happened again. I Googled and found this forum. I took it back to the dealer and told them to keep it until they found what was wrong. I also ask that they check the exhaust manifold. No exhaust manifold problem but they were able to duplicate the issue and have ordered a "charcoal filter". This will be installed today, so will let you know if that fixes it.

They did say the when the Check Engine light comes on, the Vehicle Stability Control, 4WD and cruise control are disabled. And the check engine light can come on for a whole lot of different reasons.

[Greg Rodenhiser]

I have an 06 RAV with 32k miles.... This happened to me just this weekend (Check Engine - VSC - 4wd lights came on). The RAV drove fine otherwise. Brought it into the dealer and they claim I need a new charcoal filter and some sort of vacuum evacuation system. Luckily I made it in just under the warranty period, so it will cost me nothing. BUT the tech mentioned its caused by user/operator error. That when we (or others that encounter this issue) pump gas, we must be pulling the nossle out too soon after releasing the trigger (whether we opt to stop on our own or the pump stops b/c the tank is full). Removing the pump supposedly causes the remaining gas in the nossle to flow down some tube and into the charcoal filter. I asked whether the new replacement parts have been redisigned to handle this issue, he said no. Has anyone heard of this before??? Sounds either like BS or poor design to me...

The part I'm worried about most is that if this happens again... Luckily my 32k came in just within the warranty period, the next time I won't be so luckily. The dealer said the work would cost 500-600 dollars if I had been out of warranty.

[prheat1]

Hi everyone, This problem happened to my 2009 RAV4 at about 200 km (120 miles). Dealership service shop wrote: "Found Code P0101. Volume air flow sensor. Checked intake piping and found loose clamp. Correction: Adjusted hose position and tightened clamp, erased code. Will have customer monitor." The cost was covered by the warranty.

The same three lights came on again at about 300 miles, but disappeared at about 330 miles. Now it has about 400 miles with no problem. I have already booked an appointment with the service shop tomorrow.

Update (Aug 19, 2009): At 400 miles, dealer's shop found code P0101 again, checked trim air percentage, and replaced air flow sensor. So far so good at 520 miles.

Update (Aug 27, 2009): The lights have not come on again, now at 1,300 miles.

KC

[Yoda]

I have an 06 RAV with 32k miles.... the tech mentioned its caused by user/operator error. That when we (or others that encounter this issue) pump gas, we must be pulling the nossle out too soon after releasing the trigger (whether we opt to stop on our own or the pump stops b/c the tank is full). Removing the pump supposedly causes the remaining gas in the nossle to flow down some tube and into the charcoal filter. I asked whether the new replacement parts have been redisigned to handle this issue, he said no. Has anyone heard of this before??? Sounds either like BS or poor design to me..

Yah. It's BS.

I routinely keep filling the tank long after the pump clicks off until it's almost ready to run down the side of the car. I don't stop until I can see it in the filler tube and it stops gurgling down. There's a great difference in gas price between where I live and where my parents live. When I go to visit them several times a year I always try to minimize the extra expense by filling to the top of the filler hose. I can usually get an extra gallon in after the pump clicks off. My '08 has 42,000 kms. (~26,000 miles) on the clock and I have never had the dash light problem. I've done the extra fill-up thing at least a dozen times or more. If there's a tube in there leading to some charcoal thingy it's been dowsed with fuel on many occasions.

[Mr.Foo]

Hello Greetings to Everyone.

I have a toyota alphard 3.0 04/05. Recently when i was diving it, at 100km/p, the was a sudden kickback on the car, and the was beeping sound and the abs light came on for a few seconds, the car almost like shook by itself , but only for few seconds and resume back to normal after a few seconds. This situation happened for 2 times over this month. The las i sent to a mechanic to have my aircond belt fixed, but i m not sure if it was fixed correctly as when i drive the car after about it came oput from the workshop., the cas seems to like have a minor jerk on the steering (i can feel it) sometimes as i increase the gas? Can anyone assist?

[Yoda]

Check your CV joints recently?

[mongo]

Yah. It's BS.

I routinely keep filling the tank long after the pump clicks off until it's almost ready to run down the side of the car. I don't stop until I can see it in the filler tube and it stops gurgling down. There's a great difference in gas price between where I live and where my parents live. When I go to visit them several times a year I always try to minimize the extra expense by filling to the top of the filler hose. I can usually get an extra gallon in after the pump clicks off. My '08 has 42,000 kms. (~26,000 miles) on the clock and I have never had the dash light problem. I've done the extra fill-up thing at least a dozen times or more. If there's a tube in there leading to some charcoal thingy it's been dowsed with fuel on many occasions.

Please stop overfilling your tank. You gotta respect the vent lines and hoses at the top of the filler and the over pressure in the tank can mess with the Emmisions and EVAP systems...its not the design, the gas station pump is designed to shut off when your tank is full. Continuing to over fill can and mostlikley destroy several parts of your engine. O2 sensor, canister, evap etc, these will cost$$$$$$$$$$
Feel free to ignore this advice as well, I am not trying to preach.

mongo