I had a 1997 RAV4 5 door 4wd 5sp fully loaded (A/C, ABS, Cruise, All power with glass sunroof and rear LSD) Bought it from an older woman for $500.00 back in 2011. I loved that little RAV and it took me everywhere. Unfortunately I had to scrap it last year because the under body was badly rusted out. Other than that it was a real good runner.
Hi Terry great video! I just bought a 1997 Rav4 two door AWD 5 speed manual with the twin sunroofs. i paid 1200. I love it!! roll down windows, power nothing, no cruise or tilt wheel. it is a blast to drive, i will never sell it :)
That's a strange one, normally the dual sunroof model has all the options. They are awesome vehicles, a blast to drive. That is quite a rare one that you got for a steal! Enjoy it!
@@terryguldin8746 it was sold in California. manual locks and windows, no power mirrors,no tilt. no clue why so few options. But it is neat!! If you wanna see pics send me your email address. :)
I have a 1997 2 door (or as some say 3 door RAV4), mine is four wheel drive, w/ center lock differential, 5 pd. 2.0 liter, and a little more than 200,000 miles now. It is a hard top with two sunroof panels. I have a few accessories that I bought, a roof rack, with a hard to find bicycle carrier (hardly ever use, try putting a bicycle on the roof), a cargo net, a soft spare tire cover. I usually keep the back seats folded up and put a $15 mat from Auto Zone on the floor in the back. It has had some hard to find electrical problems, which cause occasional stalling, sometimes hard to start. Right now replacing the crankshaft sensor which may remedy the problem. Also had quite a hard time cleaning the idle air control valve on the throttle body and getting the EGR to work properly took forever. The AC doesn't stay cold, it must have a leak somewhere. The paint is peeling and faded, it was this way when I bought it, it could use a repaint, and repair of a few small areas of rust, nothing cancerous yet, but really should be properly repaired to prevent extensive rot. It is fun to drive when it works properly, but the 4WD is probably slower then the front wheel drive. With the high profile and low horsepower, it is already a fairly slow vehicle. Timing belt is non interference, but if it breaks while you are driving, you're stuck, and the timing belt is not a roadside repair. Call the tow truck. The engine is transverse mounted and the engine bay so crowded that a timing belt change is not a repair where you simply put another on...I mean, yes, you only need to put another one on, but it is not like putting on a new wiper blade. The small size of the vehicle and the uniqueness of it make it cool and fun, as well as being able to take the sunroof panels out in nice weather, and open the windows (one of the rear windows is also a pop-out). Although it is 4WD, it is really not an off road vehicle. It can be good on dirt roads, washboard roads, and also with the center lock engaged unstick itself from snow or sand, but generally, it is best for street driving, as it is one of the first cross overs. I had looked at Geo Trackers, test drove a couple, but never owned one. They seem to have a similar experience and they are going up in price. Also the Suzuki Samurai, Isuzu Trooper and Amigo--I will occasionally see one of those around.
I had a 1997 RAV4 US spec's here in Germany. It was totally cool, all options fully loaded. It was a 4 door however. The Germans had the 1st RAV4's from 1994-2000 however. Also their 2.0i had 128hp over the 120hp in the US versions. The 2nd gen RAV4 also had a 3door version like this. Much cooler looking and an excellent cruiser even today. Love these older RAV4's.
one other cool thing about the 96s and below (maybe not in the US) is that the passenger airbag area does not exist. Instead the dash has a "map tray" and an extra cup holder stuck right on the top. I only see them in Japan, however I can assume earliest rav4s stateside also enjoyed similar options before the passenger airbag was mandatory.
I have a 98 two door soft op RAV4. I did replace the soft top five years ago because it started to age. I got my hardtop from rally tops in California. Shipping was definitely pricey but worth it. I’m just waiting on warmer weather here and Colorado to take the hard top off. I love my little car it looks exactly like your silver rav but I have a few different modifications cool video dude
You are very lucky, the convertible ones are the most fun, I miss my manual trans front wheel drive1999 Rav4 2dr convertible. Your last name is very similar to mine (Guldin) do you have Swiss or Danish heritage?
@@terryguldin8746 thanks! I know manual is the way to go but for some reason my model has automatic transmission. Still fun though. There is a video I like with a guy that has a black two door rav just like mine and he got his hard top from California too. His is manual. That is similar! Mine is actually French lol. I believe there’s a town outside of Paris call Judlin or maybe it’s a street.
I've been searching for a 2dr, preferably soft-top, for over two years. Searching almost daily. They're so hard to find and most that are for sale are in the states where rust is bad. You have two? I hope someday I find one but it seems its getting harder and harder with each passing day
quickie817 where are you from? I can help you find one. I have owned 8 different RAV4 2drs. I have parts that I purchased from all over the world where the 2drs are more popular. Google huge2na RAV4 under images and you will see my 1999 convertible I had.
I just checked my email and saw your reply. I live in the Dallas area. In the two years that I've been constantly searching I've noticed that the majority of the Rav4s for sale are usually in the west or east coast or from the states where cars can get rusty. I guess in Texas cars are more in better condition so people dont often offer them up for sale. How are you able to get your rav4s? Do you travel far to buy yours or are they plentiful where you live? Nice Ravs you have. I am jealous!
I bought one from Utah and had it shipped it was rust free, shipping was about $800 8 years ago. One from Kennebunkport Maine we drove to pick that one up about 500 miles, this recent one (Silver) from Exeter NH 20 miles from Maine border. And the red one I just had shipped from Long Island NY paid $1000 for it plus $500 shipping. Another from Philadelphia PA close to home at 50 miles away. Another from Washington DC only 100 miles away. The best one I ever had was bought only 2 years ago that I sold only due to parking issues with an HOA. I bought it from a used car dealer from the back of the lot as a trade in. 1998 AWD 5 speed with AC 89k miles for $1900 I sold it for $4500 without ever doing a thing to it and putting 20k miles on it. And this was only 1 year ago that I sold it. I've owned over 60 cars and they are a blast to drive and so much fun. I started a facebook group for the first gen Rav4 you are welcome to join and I will help you in your search by posting all Rav's that I find that I am not buying. facebook.com/groups/1758585147783187/
How do you pay for the ones you buy that you have shipped to you? I've had many out of state private sellers ignore me and two were very nasty to me and accused me of being a scammer when I asked them if they would do escrow. I literally have hundreds of alerts set up on craigslist and many other car buying sites. I also check offerup, letgo, and 5miles app constantly. Also, I just noticed you're close to the North east and from my 2 years of searches I do see a lot of them for sale up there. I used to post in Rav4World forums but I became so frustrated in my search that I havent been active there in a long time.
Many times I have messaged people and got the same response you have. On my side I am excited I found something I want to buy. I feel like I am getting a deal and here I am trying to shove money into someones pocket who could have been trying to sell the car for a few minutes or a few weeks. If it was a Rav4 I send them a photo of my 3 lined up and say I am a crazy collector. When I bought a Datsun 1200 fastback from Idaho the guy thought I was a scammer because I offered to pay in postal money orders. I ended up smoothing that over with a phone call. I think your best bet is to take a leap of faith, I am sure you want to know you are getting a sound vehicle. So make sure it is not rusty and the top and connectors are in good condition, don't worry about things like the timing belt or other maintenance, they really are bulletproof motors and for $200-$300 and a few hours of your time it will be 100 percent. My wife broke two timing belts both while driving and they are non detonation motors, you simply (in about 2 hours) put another one on and drive away again. To get back on track here, I'd ask for a phone number and explain you have been looking for one for use with your RV or something and that there are not many around in your area. If you are going to ship one use able auto transport they are the best in the business. Uship.com also works well, private people and companies bid on and ship your car for you. Works kind of like a reverse ebay.
are the 96 and prior lights... PLASTIC? OR are they also glass, but just cross-hatched differently? They don't seem to wear like typical plastic headlights. I'd be convinced if you said they are glass, i haven't seen one yellow. Now 26 + years later would be the perfect time to tell if they were plastic or not. I don't think statistically a single one of them should have held up if so, because no other plastic headlights in existence did.
They are both very reliable, original transmissions frequently last over 300k miles. The AWD in manual and auto are more difficult to work on yourself but the 2wd versions are easy even for a beginner mechanic. The motors are non interference so if a timing belt snaps you simply line it up and put another on. I got the job down to 3-4 hours after doing 3 of them. Manual transmissions are always better to fix on your own, an OEM clutch kit will set you back $90-$125, if you can find a manual I recommend it, if you find a well maintained auto though, it's still a good buy.
I'm guessing that center console armrest in the 98 isn't stock because I've never seen one like that in any RAV4 from 96 to 2000. If so, where did you get it because I definitely want one like that for mine!
Hello, it is stock and a very rare option. When you see them used if the person know what they have they are priced in the $150-$200 range used. Check eBay.uk
Listen for timing belt chatter, near the timing belt cover (timing belt can be done by someone good with their hands, does not have to be a mechanic), check for rust where you would normally jack a car. The Rav4 however has jack points on the suspension. Many people jack them up wrong and this leads to water intrusion and rust. They are pretty durable vehicles and very cheay to maintain. Other than rust you should be good to go, a check engine light may signal a P401 code for EGR system, this is a very normal Rav4 problem that can be fixed and chased down with about $125 in parts.
@@terryguldin8746 hi Terry... what parts would I need for the EGR system code?.. you said it would be about $125 in parts what parts would I need?? Thanks
@@yallgonemadd3786 There is the EGR valve flapper which is the cheaper of all the parts $25 or so. But normally it is the VSV valve $40-$60. These used to be $250 for aftermarket the prices really came down. It is very hard to reach this unit on the rear of the motor that causes the issue. A real pain in the butt to get to if you have an AWD Rav4. Most people just relocate it, here is a master thread, The part is on Rockauto www.rav4world.com/threads/p0401-code-egr-vsv-replacement-97-4wd-automatic-pics.76702/ Here is a thread with photos, concentrate on the VSV that seems to always be the culprit but the other parts are cheap. www.rav4world.com/threads/vsv-vacuum-switching-valve-replacement-instructions.162689/
funny, my 5-door 12/96 rav4 has the 96 exterior and 98 engine bay layout (no abs, no cruise control, no distributor). What year has an odb2 connector inside? Mine doesn't.
Yes, it’s compatible with the two doors and the four doors. It has a single screw that screws into the cupholder. I have a Facebook group that called Sxa First generation rav4 group with 2000 members. Someone on the group had one for sale recently.
Hey there. It looks like I'll be picking up a 2 door 98 silver 2wd automatic one tmrw if all checks out:). I'll be coming from a 98 4 door stick rav 4 and before that I had a 2 door 97 rav 4 stick all wheel. Of course the 2 door was more fun to drive and fgot a hair better gas mileage. My question coming from driving stick shift my whole life ,Is the auto 98 2 wheel almost as fun as stick:)? I actually live in SF but always loved driving stick. Anyway I'm excited to possibly pick up another 2 door, I missed mine a bit.
The auto isn’t bad, transmissions are basically bulletproof. The 2wd will probably respond better that the AWD. I love driving stick as well, but the 2dr RAV4 is always a blast.
@Terry Guldin Also it seems impossible to find the 2 door ones. I found one,low miles , no rust but a salvage wuth a perfectly straight frame and everything apperntly drives great and true. We will see tmrw. Never bought a salvage, but if it drives feels good I don't plan on selling it. Wish me luck. Lol. Your videos are what helped me decide to look at another classic 2 door again. I actually love that you feel, hear the road in these compared to overly smooth,insulated cars today. Especially when the drives are just a few hours tops. .Minus getting in an accident:( then you'd prefer the insulation airbags all around:)
Hey Terry - I just inherited a 1996 RAV42 Door but the front passenger retractable seat belt is completely broken - and the drivers seatbelt seems to be going soon too. If you or anyone else know where to pick one up ... comments are appreciated. I've reached out to auto wrecking yards across the country - and so far to no avail. BTW - how different do you think the front seatbelts are between the 1996 RAV4 2door and the 1997-1998? Or even the 4-Doors?
The front seatbelts should be interchangeable between the 4dr and the 2dr. Check megazip.net for interchangeability. Many places will not ship seatbelts because of the small amount of explosives in most modern seatbelts. A you pull it yard may be your best option.
The 2.0 is specific to a Rav4, it is basically the same as the 2.2 in the Camry with shorter stroke, but the transmissions are different than Camry. I bought one that had a JDM no-egr swapped in, and it would not pass CA smog test without the EGR, what a problem to fix that was. I've had a few, still have my 98 Convertible, one of the rarest of all toyotas and one of the coolest cars ever made.
you can more or less bolt in a s3gete. the exhaust system, brakes, suspension, and computer would all have to be upgraded too but people do it and then they turn into little beasts
Im going out to see a 98 rav4 with 135k miles and a 97 with 141miles and they are both being sold at the same price the only small issue with the 98 is that it has a small power steering leak still not sure which one to go with any recommendations ?
@@terryguldin8746 what about ignition wise I know you mentioned the 97 still ran with a distributor would that be a a minus or is it not much of a diffrence ?
Yes very good deal, all the convertible parts are no longer available. So make sure they are in good shape. The top is easily repaired at any trim shop, the plastic pieces that the top mounts to get very brittle.
I found a 2000 hard top the person selling it only wanted 1000 bucks for with only 70k miles on but I was way too broke at the time and I couldn’t get it
Was it a 2 door? Toyota officially did not make a 2 dr hardtop in 2000, I did find one for sale though about 7 years ago and missed out on buying it. From 1998.5-1999 they only made convertibles.
Yes it is possible, but the pre 1998 headlights use a single bulb while the 1998 and up use two bulbs (one for low beam and one for high beam) So this wiring issue would have to be modified to make it work correctly.
I misspoke, lol.....I meant clear, Looking at them you would think the yellowing ones were plastic because that's normally what they do. The Plastic ones look nicer on the Rav and for some reason do not yellow. They also have a better light bulb in them.
The only parts that are expensive are body parts and moulding, maintenance and other wear and tear are very very reasonable in price. Timing belt kit $80, brakes and rotors for the front with Brembo blanks $100. Alternator $40-$75.
![เปิด อาณาจักร หมื่นล้าน "สาระตั้ม" l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3XE0nPF4YkQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I had a 1997 RAV4 5 door 4wd 5sp fully loaded (A/C, ABS, Cruise, All power with glass sunroof and rear LSD) Bought it from an older woman for $500.00 back in 2011. I loved that little RAV and it took me everywhere. Unfortunately I had to scrap it last year because the under body was badly rusted out. Other than that it was a real good runner.
I got one 1999 all year drive and a nice red tsunami celica 2004 for summer. I really love these car. The Rav4.1 is such a great car.
I’d love to get one of these someday.
I love my '98 5-door. I packed 8 people + rafting gear into it last weekend.
Hi Terry great video! I just bought a 1997 Rav4 two door AWD 5 speed manual with the twin sunroofs. i paid 1200. I love it!! roll down windows, power nothing, no cruise or tilt wheel. it is a blast to drive, i will never sell it :)
That's a strange one, normally the dual sunroof model has all the options. They are awesome vehicles, a blast to drive. That is quite a rare one that you got for a steal! Enjoy it!
Search on Facebook groups for sxa10 rav4 worldwide it's a group of over 1200 first gen rav4 owners.
@@terryguldin8746 it was sold in California. manual locks and windows, no power mirrors,no tilt. no clue why so few options. But it is neat!! If you wanna see pics send me your email address. :)
I have a 1997 2 door (or as some say 3 door RAV4), mine is four wheel drive, w/ center lock differential, 5 pd. 2.0 liter, and a little more than 200,000 miles now. It is a hard top with two sunroof panels. I have a few accessories that I bought, a roof rack, with a hard to find bicycle carrier (hardly ever use, try putting a bicycle on the roof), a cargo net, a soft spare tire cover. I usually keep the back seats folded up and put a $15 mat from Auto Zone on the floor in the back. It has had some hard to find electrical problems, which cause occasional stalling, sometimes hard to start. Right now replacing the crankshaft sensor which may remedy the problem. Also had quite a hard time cleaning the idle air control valve on the throttle body and getting the EGR to work properly took forever. The AC doesn't stay cold, it must have a leak somewhere. The paint is peeling and faded, it was this way when I bought it, it could use a repaint, and repair of a few small areas of rust, nothing cancerous yet, but really should be properly repaired to prevent extensive rot.
It is fun to drive when it works properly, but the 4WD is probably slower then the front wheel drive. With the high profile and low horsepower, it is already a fairly slow vehicle. Timing belt is non interference, but if it breaks while you are driving, you're stuck, and the timing belt is not a roadside repair. Call the tow truck. The engine is transverse mounted and the engine bay so crowded that a timing belt change is not a repair where you simply put another on...I mean, yes, you only need to put another one on, but it is not like putting on a new wiper blade.
The small size of the vehicle and the uniqueness of it make it cool and fun, as well as being able to take the sunroof panels out in nice weather, and open the windows (one of the rear windows is also a pop-out). Although it is 4WD, it is really not an off road vehicle. It can be good on dirt roads, washboard roads, and also with the center lock engaged unstick itself from snow or sand, but generally, it is best for street driving, as it is one of the first cross overs.
I had looked at Geo Trackers, test drove a couple, but never owned one. They seem to have a similar experience and they are going up in price. Also the Suzuki Samurai, Isuzu Trooper and Amigo--I will occasionally see one of those around.
This little thing is my favorite car ever dude
Have 2 off them. One 1999 and one 2003 both two doors. Love it
I miss my loaded 96 5 door 5 speed with the optional torsen. Such a great little trucklet.
I will be importing them from Germany soon when they become legal in the states.
I had a 1997 RAV4 US spec's here in Germany. It was totally cool, all options fully loaded. It was a 4 door however. The Germans had the 1st RAV4's from 1994-2000 however. Also their 2.0i had 128hp over the 120hp in the US versions. The 2nd gen RAV4 also had a 3door version like this. Much cooler looking and an excellent cruiser even today. Love these older RAV4's.
one other cool thing about the 96s and below (maybe not in the US) is that the passenger airbag area does not exist. Instead the dash has a "map tray" and an extra cup holder stuck right on the top. I only see them in Japan, however I can assume earliest rav4s stateside also enjoyed similar options before the passenger airbag was mandatory.
I have a 98 two door soft op RAV4. I did replace the soft top five years ago because it started to age. I got my hardtop from rally tops in California. Shipping was definitely pricey but worth it. I’m just waiting on warmer weather here and Colorado to take the hard top off. I love my little car it looks exactly like your silver rav but I have a few different modifications cool video dude
You are very lucky, the convertible ones are the most fun, I miss my manual trans front wheel drive1999 Rav4 2dr convertible. Your last name is very similar to mine (Guldin) do you have Swiss or Danish heritage?
@@terryguldin8746 thanks! I know manual is the way to go but for some reason my model has automatic transmission. Still fun though. There is a video I like with a guy that has a black two door rav just like mine and he got his hard top from California too. His is manual. That is similar! Mine is actually French lol. I believe there’s a town outside of Paris call Judlin or maybe it’s a street.
The 1996 rav4 has glass headlight, it's the 98 with plastic headlights.
That confused me for a second when he said that. The headlights on my 1998 are plastic.
I have a 97 and they are the same as a 96... all glass. Not plastic.
Nope, 98 still have glass headlights
Yeah, I probably should have said better clear headlights instead of glass I think I made a mistake here.
Both glass, 98 has dual bulb high and low beam, 96 has single bulb toggle.
In Jesus name I will own my rav4 this year🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽,..love this suv alot
Thank you . Very good idea this comparison, Cool . 😎👍 😎👍 😎👍
Thank you
That's beautiful just found one it took me years to find one
Awesome where are you located?
@@terryguldin8746 in Dallas Texas
Thanks for the great content.
Well thank you, check my other video for the difference between a German made and Japanese made Rav4.
I got confused between that one there and that one there
great info, thanks 👍👍
Would you look at this?!
rav4 sin duda lo mejor de toyota
Thank you for a very informative video clip !!! :)))
You are welcome, we have a facebook page as well sxa10 worldwide rav4 group
Please help me find a 2door I can’t find one anywhere just sold my car and now I’m on the hunt for a 2door
What about the side mirrors?
My 98 4dr is crap looking on the outside but pristine on the inside.
Thinking of buying my friends 97 5 door auto with 175k miles for $500 🤔 thanks for the video
$500 sounds like a good buy, these are cheap and easy to work on. My wife changed the timing belt twice,
@@terryguldin8746 I would hope so. I would like to learn how to work on my own car some more with the rav!
What are some of those Celica converting you talk about
I've been searching for a 2dr, preferably soft-top, for over two years. Searching almost daily. They're so hard to find and most that are for sale are in the states where rust is bad. You have two? I hope someday I find one but it seems its getting harder and harder with each passing day
quickie817 where are you from? I can help you find one. I have owned 8 different RAV4 2drs. I have parts that I purchased from all over the world where the 2drs are more popular. Google huge2na RAV4 under images and you will see my 1999 convertible I had.
I just checked my email and saw your reply. I live in the Dallas area. In the two years that I've been constantly searching I've noticed that the majority of the Rav4s for sale are usually in the west or east coast or from the states where cars can get rusty. I guess in Texas cars are more in better condition so people dont often offer them up for sale.
How are you able to get your rav4s? Do you travel far to buy yours or are they plentiful where you live? Nice Ravs you have. I am jealous!
I bought one from Utah and had it shipped it was rust free, shipping was about $800 8 years ago. One from Kennebunkport Maine we drove to pick that one up about 500 miles, this recent one (Silver) from Exeter NH 20 miles from Maine border. And the red one I just had shipped from Long Island NY paid $1000 for it plus $500 shipping. Another from Philadelphia PA close to home at 50 miles away. Another from Washington DC only 100 miles away. The best one I ever had was bought only 2 years ago that I sold only due to parking issues with an HOA. I bought it from a used car dealer from the back of the lot as a trade in. 1998 AWD 5 speed with AC 89k miles for $1900 I sold it for $4500 without ever doing a thing to it and putting 20k miles on it. And this was only 1 year ago that I sold it. I've owned over 60 cars and they are a blast to drive and so much fun. I started a facebook group for the first gen Rav4 you are welcome to join and I will help you in your search by posting all Rav's that I find that I am not buying. facebook.com/groups/1758585147783187/
How do you pay for the ones you buy that you have shipped to you? I've had many out of state private sellers ignore me and two were very nasty to me and accused me of being a scammer when I asked them if they would do escrow. I literally have hundreds of alerts set up on craigslist and many other car buying sites. I also check offerup, letgo, and 5miles app constantly.
Also, I just noticed you're close to the North east and from my 2 years of searches I do see a lot of them for sale up there. I used to post in Rav4World forums but I became so frustrated in my search that I havent been active there in a long time.
Many times I have messaged people and got the same response you have. On my side I am excited I found something I want to buy. I feel like I am getting a deal and here I am trying to shove money into someones pocket who could have been trying to sell the car for a few minutes or a few weeks. If it was a Rav4 I send them a photo of my 3 lined up and say I am a crazy collector. When I bought a Datsun 1200 fastback from Idaho the guy thought I was a scammer because I offered to pay in postal money orders. I ended up smoothing that over with a phone call. I think your best bet is to take a leap of faith, I am sure you want to know you are getting a sound vehicle. So make sure it is not rusty and the top and connectors are in good condition, don't worry about things like the timing belt or other maintenance, they really are bulletproof motors and for $200-$300 and a few hours of your time it will be 100 percent. My wife broke two timing belts both while driving and they are non detonation motors, you simply (in about 2 hours) put another one on and drive away again. To get back on track here, I'd ask for a phone number and explain you have been looking for one for use with your RV or something and that there are not many around in your area. If you are going to ship one use able auto transport they are the best in the business. Uship.com also works well, private people and companies bid on and ship your car for you. Works kind of like a reverse ebay.
5 speed Toyota Rav 1999 are good car
All the first generation Rav4's are very good.
@@terryguldin8746 yee my friend got 1 like 7 year never give any problem give to my son I still driving it lolllll
are the 96 and prior lights... PLASTIC? OR are they also glass, but just cross-hatched differently? They don't seem to wear like typical plastic headlights. I'd be convinced if you said they are glass, i haven't seen one yellow. Now 26 + years later would be the perfect time to tell if they were plastic or not. I don't think statistically a single one of them should have held up if so, because no other plastic headlights in existence did.
One question: are these models more reliable/cheaper to repair in the automatic or mechanical version? Excellent video. Thank you
They are both very reliable, original transmissions frequently last over 300k miles. The AWD in manual and auto are more difficult to work on yourself but the 2wd versions are easy even for a beginner mechanic. The motors are non interference so if a timing belt snaps you simply line it up and put another on. I got the job down to 3-4 hours after doing 3 of them. Manual transmissions are always better to fix on your own, an OEM clutch kit will set you back $90-$125, if you can find a manual I recommend it, if you find a well maintained auto though, it's still a good buy.
I'm guessing that center console armrest in the 98 isn't stock because I've never seen one like that in any RAV4 from 96 to 2000. If so, where did you get it because I definitely want one like that for mine!
Hello, it is stock and a very rare option. When you see them used if the person know what they have they are priced in the $150-$200 range used. Check eBay.uk
Thinking of buying a ‘96 for 2k. Any tips or things I should look out for when going to take it for a test drive?
Listen for timing belt chatter, near the timing belt cover (timing belt can be done by someone good with their hands, does not have to be a mechanic), check for rust where you would normally jack a car. The Rav4 however has jack points on the suspension. Many people jack them up wrong and this leads to water intrusion and rust. They are pretty durable vehicles and very cheay to maintain. Other than rust you should be good to go, a check engine light may signal a P401 code for EGR system, this is a very normal Rav4 problem that can be fixed and chased down with about $125 in parts.
@@terryguldin8746 hi Terry... what parts would I need for the EGR system code?.. you said it would be about $125 in parts what parts would I need?? Thanks
@@yallgonemadd3786 There is the EGR valve flapper which is the cheaper of all the parts $25 or so. But normally it is the VSV valve $40-$60. These used to be $250 for aftermarket the prices really came down.
It is very hard to reach this unit on the rear of the motor that causes the issue. A real pain in the butt to get to if you have an AWD Rav4. Most people just relocate it, here is a master thread, The part is on Rockauto www.rav4world.com/threads/p0401-code-egr-vsv-replacement-97-4wd-automatic-pics.76702/
Here is a thread with photos, concentrate on the VSV that seems to always be the culprit but the other parts are cheap.
www.rav4world.com/threads/vsv-vacuum-switching-valve-replacement-instructions.162689/
@@terryguldin8746 incredible information thank you so much Terry!!
@@yallgonemadd3786 You are welcome, good luck.
funny, my 5-door 12/96 rav4 has the 96 exterior and 98 engine bay layout (no abs, no cruise control, no distributor). What year has an odb2 connector inside? Mine doesn't.
Was it originally sold in California? The only thing I can think is they had the newer version first.
@@terryguldin8746 nah, was first sold somewhere in eastern europe, then exported to the Netherlands ;)
Where did you get that center console armrest, and is it compatible with the 1995 model? never seen a center armrest for the first gen rav4
Yes, it’s compatible with the two doors and the four doors. It has a single screw that screws into the cupholder. I have a Facebook group that called Sxa First generation rav4 group with 2000 members. Someone on the group had one for sale recently.
@@terryguldin8746 nvm i just saw your name on the group
@@terryguldin8746 just seen the ad for it, already sold. Thank you for the fb group though, i'll keep an eye for more offers there
Je voulais savoir combien de litres 7 voitures prendre
Can I fit a 1999 exhaust manifold on a 97 rav4 fwd 4dr auto?
They should be the same, as long as it’s not a California model.
Hey there. It looks like I'll be picking up a 2 door 98 silver 2wd automatic one tmrw if all checks out:). I'll be coming from a 98 4 door stick rav 4 and before that I had a 2 door 97 rav 4 stick all wheel. Of course the 2 door was more fun to drive and fgot a hair better gas mileage. My question coming from driving stick shift my whole life ,Is the auto 98 2 wheel almost as fun as stick:)? I actually live in SF but always loved driving stick. Anyway I'm excited to possibly pick up another 2 door, I missed mine a bit.
The auto isn’t bad, transmissions are basically bulletproof. The 2wd will probably respond better that the AWD. I love driving stick as well, but the 2dr RAV4 is always a blast.
@Terry Guldin Also it seems impossible to find the 2 door ones. I found one,low miles , no rust but a salvage wuth a perfectly straight frame and everything apperntly drives great and true. We will see tmrw. Never bought a salvage, but if it drives feels good I don't plan on selling it. Wish me luck. Lol. Your videos are what helped me decide to look at another classic 2 door again. I actually love that you feel, hear the road in these compared to overly smooth,insulated cars today. Especially when the drives are just a few hours tops. .Minus getting in an accident:( then you'd prefer the insulation airbags all around:)
Hey Terry - I just inherited a 1996 RAV42 Door but the front passenger retractable seat belt is completely broken - and the drivers seatbelt seems to be going soon too. If you or anyone else know where to pick one up ... comments are appreciated. I've reached out to auto wrecking yards across the country - and so far to no avail. BTW - how different do you think the front seatbelts are between the 1996 RAV4 2door and the 1997-1998? Or even the 4-Doors?
The front seatbelts should be interchangeable between the 4dr and the 2dr. Check megazip.net for interchangeability. Many places will not ship seatbelts because of the small amount of explosives in most modern seatbelts. A you pull it yard may be your best option.
@@terryguldin8746 Ok. Thanks Terry. And I joined your group!
Can you swap the engines, if so what do you need to swap and whats the diffrent engine codes?
The 2.0 is specific to a Rav4, it is basically the same as the 2.2 in the Camry with shorter stroke, but the transmissions are different than Camry. I bought one that had a JDM no-egr swapped in, and it would not pass CA smog test without the EGR, what a problem to fix that was.
I've had a few, still have my 98 Convertible, one of the rarest of all toyotas and one of the coolest cars ever made.
you can more or less bolt in a s3gete. the exhaust system, brakes, suspension, and computer would all have to be upgraded too but people do it and then they turn into little beasts
Im going out to see a 98 rav4 with 135k miles and a 97 with 141miles and they are both being sold at the same price the only small issue with the 98 is that it has a small power steering leak still not sure which one to go with any recommendations ?
The 98 is going to have better brighter headlights and nicer looking in my opinion. The PS parts are very cheap. I would go with the 98.
@@terryguldin8746 thank you will keep that in mind
@@terryguldin8746 what about ignition wise I know you mentioned the 97 still ran with a distributor would that be a a minus or is it not much of a diffrence ?
@@AlanGonzalezAGON they are both reliable ignition wise, are they both 2wd and auto?
@@terryguldin8746 yes sir they are
Cool 😎
Do both of them have cabin air filter?
Neither of them did
@@terryguldin8746 So how am I supposed to breathe then?)
Is this a good deal? 1998 Rav4 convertible, 100k miles for $2100 usd. It is mentioned that the car has been restored to new last year.
Yes very good deal, all the convertible parts are no longer available. So make sure they are in good shape. The top is easily repaired at any trim shop, the plastic pieces that the top mounts to get very brittle.
@@terryguldin8746 Will do! Thanks
If the mileage is what it says it is,that might be ok
I found a 2000 hard top the person selling it only wanted 1000 bucks for with only 70k miles on but I was way too broke at the time and I couldn’t get it
Was it a 2 door? Toyota officially did not make a 2 dr hardtop in 2000, I did find one for sale though about 7 years ago and missed out on buying it. From 1998.5-1999 they only made convertibles.
hi.. is it possible to fit the 98 headlights to the 96 rav4?
Yes it is possible, but the pre 1998 headlights use a single bulb while the 1998 and up use two bulbs (one for low beam and one for high beam) So this wiring issue would have to be modified to make it work correctly.
@@terryguldin8746 ok.. thanks..
i want to do a little facelift on my 96.. thanks..
You could, need to upgrade the harness for the headlights
I just one 😅
Yea dude my 96 has glass
I misspoke, lol.....I meant clear, Looking at them you would think the yellowing ones were plastic because that's normally what they do. The Plastic ones look nicer on the Rav and for some reason do not yellow. They also have a better light bulb in them.
All headlights are glass every single rav4 headlight is glass
Not true, though the ones in the video I made a mistake, I should have said clear. These 98+ ones were plastic.
@@terryguldin8746 I had it backwards
Sell me one.
Seats are wider
Parts are cheap? No way - Toyotas could be more expensive to maintain than lower rung Merz.
The only parts that are expensive are body parts and moulding, maintenance and other wear and tear are very very reasonable in price. Timing belt kit $80, brakes and rotors for the front with Brembo blanks $100. Alternator $40-$75.
Pretty much the engine is the same as a Camry 2.2 and those were made by the billions.