My dad was an aviation and auto mechanic for 30 years and he died in 1975. If youtube was around back then, yours would have been his favorite channel! It’s certainly mine. Yours and Jen’s! Love you guys!!!!
Sometimes Mechanics say it needs a head gasket because they want to buy it from you for next to nothing in hopes you don't know any better. I had it happen to my friend. He offered his car to me after his mechanic said the head gasket was blown. When my mechanic and I inspected it and compression tested... It was fine... just needed a tune up.... Plugs and wires. I told my friend who I bought it from what happened, and not to go to that mechanic anymore, plus I offered to sell it back to him for what I had in it, but he didn't have the money.
$1100!! That interior is solid. Repairs might cost a few extra grand but given how crappy new cars are made this is a steal once fixed. Super smart buy, plus its a Toyota!!
@@Uncle_Dave_Dave I am rationally allowed to say that new cars are built with less quality than old cars because the data says among mechanics say that they are shit quality!!
@@MattsRageFitGarage US car market is a joke, it's why I'm moving to asia. They still make 1980s styled Toyota pickups in Thailand. You can get a brand new car in India aswell, not a single computer on the thing, built in american form factors, like Willies Jeep, and for a fraction of the price in america. Makes no sense. If we are the advanced country, why the actual F do our cars cost the most????
Before you change the EGR switching valve buried behind the intake, check the vacuum modulator, the round plastic thing sitting at the top of the intake. That will throw an EGR code if it goes bad as well. Much easier to check first. Ive put over 500,000 miles on 5SFE engines over the years. Never had any major issues. Great little 4 bangers, super reliable and easy to work on. Im still daily driving a 98 with a 5 speed manual to this day.
The five-speed is the way to go! Currently got 185k on my 5sfe 2000 Camry. Just needs new shocks and it will drive like a dream. I take mine out camping all the time but it is so low to the ground it's starting to become a problem 🤣
@@TheCrawdadman Try KYBs which are as close to OE without the pricetag. You could consider a small 2" kit as well. Any more night make suspension parts wear more.
had a 98 camry with 262k miles, got it for $1k. Drove it for 11 years and got it up to 489k miles. best little commuter car, reliable noninterference 2.2L
beat cars ever built, Starting in the late 80's Toyota and Nissan were out to prove something and they didn't disappoint. I had an 88 Stanza for 20 years when I sold it even the electric mirrors still worked, along with all the other fancy electrics. I dare you to find that in an American made vehicle.
Sweet. Nothing like a vehicle that owes you nothing, is of an era when things were serviceable, and clearly came from a home that was putting money into it. Freedom....
If you read up on this model, the 4 door was designed so you could fold back seats down and fit 2x mountain bikes in the back with front wheels removed standing up right. Pretty cool, plenty of them on the roads here in New Zealand.
A first gen Rav4 that is as clean as this one is most certainly an upgrade over the Civic, even with 180k on the clock. Jen is going to appreciate that 4WD this winter.
I had a '99 that was an absolute cream puff. Full time 4wd, nothing wrong with it at all. I'd probably still have it if I hadn't rolled it into a ditch one very icy day in rural KY. I still have its replacement -- an "04 with on-demand 4wd. But since I'm now in Phoenix, I doubt I'll ever need that feature!
Hello Chris and Jen. Congrats on your new to you Rav4 Jen! I bought a used 2011 Rav4 7 years ago. I have 156,000 miles on mine, its been a great car and I still find myself driving the car a lot more than I do my new Ford Pick up! I love my Toyota Rav4! Enjoy it Jen!
GenXer here. We were raised to believe that we were in a disposable world. It's nice to see you guys finding diamonds in the rough and fixing them up to their original glory. Your mindset is what is needed in the decades to come as the U.S. and world recover from the Pandemic and poor leadership of the country. God bless your family!
You are on point. Buying a car that needs work and restoring it to full useability makes less use of resources to build new autos. My cars are 1999, 2004, and 2008, respectively. The 2004 was sold to me as 'junk,' but it runs and I am restoring it. And YES, I am a lady. Getting pretty good at being a mechanic.
They are worthless in the UK, I bought a 1998 Facelift Freesport edition for £1000 in 2010, drove it for 11 years and sold it in 2022 for £500. It never let me down... needed some minor welding at the rear of the sills which is why I sold it on.
Nice! I had an '04 Tacoma base cab, racked up 400K. They just run. Might want to watch the US sourced Toyota battery--they tend to seep acid. OE in my truck was an Aisin, lasted 12yrs. Enjoy the RAV4!
WHEN I WAS LOOKING for my van I got on my bicycle and did a grid search of my town of 30k. Best deals sitting in someone's driveway unadvertised. Took about a month but found what I was looking for a 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport (164k) that was 14 years ago I still have. Check Engine came on last year but went away after a couple of months. I figured out how to make them last forever; stay out of them. Only got 170K on it right now... runs like a top.
For the faded plastic moldings on the exterior you can use red transmission fluid. Just dab it on a rag and wipe the moldings. Will make them black and shine
Good recondition video; only 2 minor “maintenance add on” I would have done was valve cove gasket and PCV valve. Nice that you found a used vehicle with timing belt service notated as that is a rarity in an $1100 used car😊.
I owned a 2001 Toyota Rav4 in the past. Extremely strong vehicle and sat well on the road. I sold it because it consumed lots of fuel, burned oil and I did a lot of driving. I now drive a Honda HRV hybrid.
I appreciate your videos bro! It's soo good to see a mechanic who is has a good positive attitude and comes off as someone who genuinely loves cars of all ages. Great purchase, and you make car maintenance look so easy and affordable.. i gotta go replace some hood shock holders
Nice find! Make sure to check that the differential breather vents aren’t gunked and clogged up. Had to replace the rear differential seals on my ‘04 because of that.
Rav 4 owner here had a 99 that got hit and replaced by insurance for $4000. Now own a 2003 LTD, lots more plastic, the glass headlights are worth the $1100 alone. I found out it was an Alberta car that is similar weather to what you have, so lots of under surface rust. Original rims are trashed due to lots of chain use. Engine light always on, one window not working minor issues 345,000kms.Will be interested in what you do with the clearcoat fix, most just leave it. You will have a lot more room if you take the back seats out. I can get 2 bikes in with the back seats out. The seats in the 98 are bolted in but by the 2003 came out they were latched in and easily removed. I wish Toyota made Rav 4s like the old ones. the older ones are going up in price so you got a good deal here.
Nice ride, as for the bumpers I tried dyes, heat gun, etc on my CRV and then I just painted them with Duplicolor trim and bumper paint -- looks like new now.
1995-2005 was for sure the absolute PEAK decade for ICE vehicles. OBD2 compliance, limited emissions crap and bulletproof engines. So many bangers it's hard to list. I'm a tech as well and there's a reason my fleet is a 95 legacy wagon, 2002 honda insight, 2003 tundra and a 2004 forester.
just snagged a 2000 corolla, bought it with 92k miles. ive got 97k now and have had to do a bit of maintenance, worst of it being new rod bearings, but it's running excellent now. hopefully for another 200k!
You are so right my friend, I couldn't agree more only I would go back to the late 80's also. I had my own shop for 30 years and needless to say along with the machine shop I used to deal with if it wasn't for American vehicles we would starve to death.
Yup. I got my wife a 2003 Highlander. And i have myself a 2015 Tacoma (which is virtually identical to the 2005 model). Im looking at first gen Ravs as a third vehicle.
That's a solid buy and a good model to buy when it is older. I think you over did the battery terminal grease. A quick shot of your favorite spray lubricant is all you need without having to pull out the grease bucket. I enjoyed your video.
Personally, I use axle grease for axles, wheel bearing grease for wheel bearings, and dielectric grease for electrical connections. But, use what works fine for you, and you have on hand!
Gratz Jen, no more junk! Just because Chris fixes junk and doesn't care about the looks of the vehicles, it doesn't mean Jen had to drive junk. She is so happy, and Chris will keep it running forever. Nice find. I see more road trips!
Nice find!!! I wish they still made simple cars like this I would buy one in a heartbeat. No extra unnecessary electronic bs like traction control, touch screens, auto high beam, auto start/stop, push button start etc.
The terminals with grease, is that conductive grease or insulating? Just concerned that you'll great block spots on the connection where no current can flow. This will force the current into a smaller contact area. Only a guess. I've seen some form of grease on battery contacts. Could it be silicon grease? Would be good to know what car electric experts recommend?
Great price for the upgrade. My wife and I had a RAV4 for years. Great little daily. They tend to go thru front rotors and pads, easy fix though. Watch the transaxle, these were known for that being a problem. We had ours supposedly warranty repaired however after about a year the problem reoccurred. Traded it in on another car before we got stranded in it. Otherwise, it was a great car. Enjoy!
SUCH a cool little car. That era was just the best for Toyota - the quality was superb, its engineered well enough to be reliable and fuel efficient, but its early enough not to be riddled in electronics. I have a 21 Tundra and it has so many sensors on its engine it looks like Neo still plugged into the Matrix. I'm old enough to have just about any car I want, but I'm highly jealous of Jen right now - the feeling excitement of a cool new car is just something else. You deserve it!
That’s a great buy! 1st generation are the best. 2006-2012 with the V6 are nice too but watch out for transmission whine. Any other years besides the 96-2000 the 4 cylinder should be avoided.
that is a good value Score! … it has project value for content … but that RAV4 just suits Jen … definatly an upgrade …look forward to the trim and paint revival !
That was an awesome buy! Jen, congratulations! You will absolutely love that. My brother has a tundra and it has 320,000 mi on it. The transmission is original. The engine is original. The valve covers never been off the engine. All he's had to do is replace the water pump alternator and he finally replaced the radiator but it's still running strong
Even if you're pulling huge loads using grease on connections is not going to affect anything. The actual contact area is a bunch of microscopic peaks on either side that interface with each other and those microscopic peaks will push any grease out of the way. The grease just fills up the voids between them.
That egr valve isn’t bad to get to if you take off the passenger tire and go in from the side, I had to switch it out on my old solara with the 2.2, I took off the tire and the stabilizer bar end link, plenty of room to get your arm up there from that angle. Can’t see what your doing and have to do it by feel, but wasn’t too bad. That switch goes out on all these engines
Great little vehicle. I owned 2005 and got 1998 Camry with same engine for back up car. 270k don’t use or leak a drop op oil . Non interference engine and if timing breaks replace timing belt and keep rolling unlike a Honda!
Great Video Chris & Jen! Lots of room for a baby-seat in the back, and stroller & gear in the rear of the SUV. Tough to go wrong with Toyota, especially with a mechanic in the family! I happened upon the axle change out before this one, but nice job of explanation on the issues taken care of! It amazes me the 'stuff' you have kept over the years, and when the need arises, Chris has it in a box somewhere! Keep them coming, as I quite enjoy both of your video sequences!
I got one of these with 80k on it 1999. Had it about a year. So easy to work on and every part you can get at a junk yard. The seats do fold flat. There are straps that hold them completely in the second position. We use it as an around town car, kinda like a golf cart. Something calming about the simplicity of it.
Super solid cars. Only some plastic issues like door handles, Window regulators. Timing belt is easier than it looks. Only the back couple of upper cover bolts are tight to get at.
I got one just like it with 40k miles awd. Same color . Absolutely mint but absolutely gutless. Almost concerning how gutless. Wouldnt take it through the rockies I regret to say but still awesome. No issues at all whatsoever. My ex treated it bad and its history but it was a gem i found for 6 grand
I have the same Rav4 model 1996 with manual shifts, I paid 1500 for mine 3 years ago and rebuilt the engine, it is comfortable and fun to drive, it is my daily driver now.
Mazel tov guys; great looking vehicle and color too. RAV4 the win! BTW, the AWD feature should cut out above 25(?) MPH; had a 3rd Gen and now a 4th Gen and that is SOP on the AWD system on the RAV.
05 and back are the only vehicles worth buying, that's why I own an 03 Pilot, 01 Toy Avalon, 91 Chevy Silverado, and a 69 F100, I love that truck. 2nd owner by the way, bought it in 1981.
great content. that car has plenty of life left. i would love to see another vid of the underneath being rustproofed eg control arms and torn cv boots replaced. 😊
Chris I know you hate spending any money on things, but the LED replacement bulbs are amazing for headlights and more importantly reverse lights. I got some for my silverado and backing up became SO much easier. $11 for the reverse leds, insanely bright, plug and play, no balast or anything like with HIDs. Had them for about 8 years now with 0 issues. Highly recommended for Jens new ride and your pickup.
6 หลายเดือนก่อน +2
Nice car ! Enjoy watching you guys and of course Gus !
This was a great video!! Super steal for Jen on that car! Loved the CSX running long hood while switching too, thanks guys! Thought we were on the main channel until i went to comment 23:00 in
Cerakote ceramic wipes are the best for that plastic trim. Project farm did a test on the best trim stuff. Been 4 months and all my cars plastic still looks new. Gotta love TH-cam for honest real-world reviews. Saves time and money. Sweet car. You guys did good.
Bought a 2004 Ford F-150 with the 4.6 and had the same issue with thermostat being bad. Plus a bad fuel pump driver module. $50 later, running like a champ.
Congratulations on your new car Jen, look's like a decent car, I would clean up the paint on the bonnet and roof and make it look a bit nicer a good paint correction and buff will do the trick replace all globes with LED ones, I know Chris hates new paint and shiny paint but it's your car. Maybe install a double din new age stereo unit with GPS reverse camera and Bluetooth and all that modern stuff in the centre console. did you replace the hose at 18:43? Here is to new adventures.
The first gen of the Rav 4 has transmission issues. I had a 96 and the transfer case or the transmission wined like crazy cuz of design issues. Other than that it was a very dependable car. The 4 cylinder was under powered. When I had to pull out into traffic I had to turnoff the AC to have the power to accelerate. My wife LOVED that car.
There was a very good explanation in the video of why you don't want to run an engine under temp! I always knew that.... But it was good to hear a mechanic explain why
Great deal on the RAV4! Also, I love how very optimistic your wife is. I’m so encouraged by that. She seems genuinely grateful. That’s a great sign for a spouse.
My buddy got one of these for his young wife. She loved it. He used to say, she went from My Little Pony, to My RAV4/ lol! She got foraminal mileage, like low 50's because she always bought 93 octane gas. Her Dad had told her you get out more then you ever put in with 93. Oil, and valves stayed cleaner, lots more power then her cousin who lived a few doors down. I'm gonna guess the last owner's mechanic was looking for a new collage ride for his kid. Thus the head gasket "problem". Best of luck with your new, cute, little pony, Jenn! lol!
If the CV joints are still good and not rusted out, Toyota suggested new Toyota boot kits and they come with fresh grease too. Aftermarket CV joints are not as strong as Toyota OEM. Hit the bottom of the car with Fluid Film.
Yes!! Toyota's all my life 1997 3 door Rav4, 2005 Rav4, 2003 Sequoia, 2011 Camry, all low miles. I'm so excited One of the best mechanics in the world loves Toyota's, cant wait for the make over. 😊
My dad was an aviation and auto mechanic for 30 years and he died in 1975. If youtube was around back then, yours would have been his favorite channel! It’s certainly mine. Yours and Jen’s! Love you guys!!!!
Sometimes Mechanics say it needs a head gasket because they want to buy it from you for next to nothing in hopes you don't know any better. I had it happen to my friend. He offered his car to me after his mechanic said the head gasket was blown. When my mechanic and I inspected it and compression tested... It was fine... just needed a tune up.... Plugs and wires. I told my friend who I bought it from what happened, and not to go to that mechanic anymore, plus I offered to sell it back to him for what I had in it, but he didn't have the money.
$1100!! That interior is solid. Repairs might cost a few extra grand but given how crappy new cars are made this is a steal once fixed. Super smart buy, plus its a Toyota!!
are you legally allowed to call new cars bad? i don't know the current rules don't vote not vaxed either
@@Uncle_Dave_Dave I am rationally allowed to say that new cars are built with less quality than old cars because the data says among mechanics say that they are shit quality!!
@@thearch1tect249 haha, i love the profile pic btw, we'll all wonder out of platos cave someday soon
@@Uncle_Dave_Dave They might not be bad off the lot but wait until the warranty expires.
@@MattsRageFitGarage US car market is a joke, it's why I'm moving to asia. They still make 1980s styled Toyota pickups in Thailand. You can get a brand new car in India aswell, not a single computer on the thing, built in american form factors, like Willies Jeep, and for a fraction of the price in america. Makes no sense. If we are the advanced country, why the actual F do our cars cost the most????
Before you change the EGR switching valve buried behind the intake, check the vacuum modulator, the round plastic thing sitting at the top of the intake. That will throw an EGR code if it goes bad as well. Much easier to check first. Ive put over 500,000 miles on 5SFE engines over the years. Never had any major issues. Great little 4 bangers, super reliable and easy to work on. Im still daily driving a 98 with a 5 speed manual to this day.
The five-speed is the way to go! Currently got 185k on my 5sfe 2000 Camry. Just needs new shocks and it will drive like a dream. I take mine out camping all the time but it is so low to the ground it's starting to become a problem 🤣
@@TheCrawdadman
Try KYBs which are as close to OE without the pricetag. You could consider a small 2" kit as well. Any more night make suspension parts wear more.
How many timing belts at 900 a pop.
@@LAactor thanks those are what I have been looking at, I'll go with those!
It’s so great to have a woman who doesn’t need a new car to be happy
Or anyone for that matter.
This is about as far from 'new' as you can get.
She belongs in the house!
Yes, it does. My wife doesn't mind driving an older vehicle.
A woman that truly loves you
had a 98 camry with 262k miles, got it for $1k. Drove it for 11 years and got it up to 489k miles. best little commuter car, reliable noninterference 2.2L
WOW
beat cars ever built, Starting in the late 80's Toyota and Nissan were out to prove something and they didn't disappoint. I had an 88 Stanza for 20 years when I sold it even the electric mirrors still worked, along with all the other fancy electrics. I dare you to find that in an American made vehicle.
This is worthy of the main channel!
I agree
What
I thought that this was the main channel
I agree. This is a very worthy video of the main channel.
@@boriscook6817😂
This second channel has just as much subs tho
Sweet. Nothing like a vehicle that owes you nothing, is of an era when things were serviceable, and clearly came from a home that was putting money into it. Freedom....
If you read up on this model, the 4 door was designed so you could fold back seats down and fit 2x mountain bikes in the back with front wheels removed standing up right. Pretty cool, plenty of them on the roads here in New Zealand.
You guys get some really cool cars we don't get here in the states ...luckyyyy
@@johnathansmith9059 Funny, I always think that about the US, some of the 60's and 70's V8's are worth so much here... you just don't see much of it.
A first gen Rav4 that is as clean as this one is most certainly an upgrade over the Civic, even with 180k on the clock. Jen is going to appreciate that 4WD this winter.
And all the glass for great visibility. They were great vehicles.
timing belt 900 valve job for start up smoke 1400 plus. reality...whats a timing belt youll figure that out,
@@peter-pg5yc Only 47K miles on the timing belt.
@@_Rich_. Nope. The second gen came out in 2000.
I had a '99 that was an absolute cream puff. Full time 4wd, nothing wrong with it at all. I'd probably still have it if I hadn't rolled it into a ditch one very icy day in rural KY. I still have its replacement -- an "04 with on-demand 4wd. But since I'm now in Phoenix, I doubt I'll ever need that feature!
Hello Chris and Jen. Congrats on your new to you Rav4 Jen! I bought a used 2011 Rav4 7 years ago. I have 156,000 miles on mine, its been a great car and I still find myself driving the car a lot more than I do my new Ford Pick up! I love my Toyota Rav4! Enjoy it Jen!
V6?
You two are amazing. Teaching the young crowd, you don’t have to have a brand new car and a payment. A lesson I wished I could learn.
Hell yeah! That’s the way to do it. It PAID her to buy a news(Ed) car!!!! Eff all these new cars and all the crap and expense that comes with them.
Looks like it's been well cared during the years, pretty mint inside!
Love the RAV's. We currently have a 1999 and a 2000. Only problem we've had is window regulators.
GenXer here.
We were raised to believe that we were in a disposable world.
It's nice to see you guys finding diamonds in the rough and fixing them up to their original glory.
Your mindset is what is needed in the decades to come as the U.S. and world recover from the Pandemic and poor leadership of the country.
God bless your family!
You are on point. Buying a car that needs work and restoring it to full useability makes less use of resources to build new autos. My cars are 1999, 2004, and 2008, respectively. The 2004 was sold to me as 'junk,' but it runs and I am restoring it. And YES, I am a lady. Getting pretty good at being a mechanic.
Still driving my '98 RAV4 (205,000 miles). Very reliable. You got a good deal.
You guys stole that. Great deal. Congrats Jen
They are worthless in the UK, I bought a 1998 Facelift Freesport edition for £1000 in 2010, drove it for 11 years and sold it in 2022 for £500. It never let me down... needed some minor welding at the rear of the sills which is why I sold it on.
I am only here because of the thumbnail.
#metoo 🤣
Men of culture!
Love those Hogan's!
@@bruford911🤫....🥕🐇
Come for the thumbnail, stay for the content
Nice!
I had an '04 Tacoma base cab, racked up 400K. They just run.
Might want to watch the US sourced Toyota battery--they tend to seep acid. OE in my truck was an Aisin, lasted 12yrs. Enjoy the RAV4!
WHEN I WAS LOOKING for my van I got on my bicycle and did a grid search of my town of 30k. Best deals sitting in someone's driveway unadvertised. Took about a month but found what I was looking for a 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport (164k) that was 14 years ago I still have. Check Engine came on last year but went away after a couple of months. I figured out how to make them last forever; stay out of them. Only got 170K on it right now... runs like a top.
For the faded plastic moldings on the exterior you can use red transmission fluid. Just dab it on a rag and wipe the moldings. Will make them black and shine
Jen is so beautiful all around and supportive of her husband's hobbies, and she enjoys helping him .🎉🎉
"I'll just snug up real close to him" with a smirk. Gold Jen😂😂
This is in great condition, these 1st gen rav4’s are gems!! Great little suvs, wish they till made cars liket this.
Awesome little car!, I love using logic and actually troubleshooting rather than just saying "bad head gasket" !! Nice Love the videos Guys
Good recondition video; only 2 minor “maintenance add on” I would have done was valve cove gasket and PCV valve. Nice that you found a used vehicle with timing belt service notated as that is a rarity in an $1100 used car😊.
I owned a 2001 Toyota Rav4 in the past. Extremely strong vehicle and sat well on the road. I sold it because it consumed lots of fuel, burned oil and I did a lot of driving. I now drive a Honda HRV hybrid.
I'm glad in turned out to be an excellent purchase. I love the Gus man. Thanks for sharing.
Did you get the power window and locks fixed?
I appreciate your videos bro! It's soo good to see a mechanic who is has a good positive attitude and comes off as someone who genuinely loves cars of all ages. Great purchase, and you make car maintenance look so easy and affordable.. i gotta go replace some hood shock holders
Wow! Super clean interior! I've been lookin for a 4wd one in Cali, but it hard to find a clean one like that one. Great find 😎👍🏼🔥💯🤘🏼🍻
Nice find! Make sure to check that the differential breather vents aren’t gunked and clogged up. Had to replace the rear differential seals on my ‘04 because of that.
Rav 4 owner here had a 99 that got hit and replaced by insurance for $4000. Now own a 2003 LTD, lots more plastic, the glass headlights are worth the $1100 alone. I found out it was an Alberta car that is similar weather to what you have, so lots of under surface rust. Original rims are trashed due to lots of chain use. Engine light always on, one window not working minor issues 345,000kms.Will be interested in what you do with the clearcoat fix, most just leave it. You will have a lot more room if you take the back seats out. I can get 2 bikes in with the back seats out. The seats in the 98 are bolted in but by the 2003 came out they were latched in and easily removed. I wish Toyota made Rav 4s like the old ones. the older ones are going up in price so you got a good deal here.
We actually have way less salt then they do down there, and much colder. I like BC cars if you can find em with zero rust, bring them back to Alberta!
Nice ride, as for the bumpers I tried dyes, heat gun, etc on my CRV and then I just painted them with Duplicolor trim and bumper paint -- looks like new now.
1995-2005 was for sure the absolute PEAK decade for ICE vehicles. OBD2 compliance, limited emissions crap and bulletproof engines. So many bangers it's hard to list. I'm a tech as well and there's a reason my fleet is a 95 legacy wagon, 2002 honda insight, 2003 tundra and a 2004 forester.
Mine an 2002 xterra the most reliable car I have ever had
just snagged a 2000 corolla, bought it with 92k miles. ive got 97k now and have had to do a bit of maintenance, worst of it being new rod bearings, but it's running excellent now. hopefully for another 200k!
You are so right my friend, I couldn't agree more only I would go back to the late 80's also. I had my own shop for 30 years and needless to say along with the machine shop I used to deal with if it wasn't for American vehicles we would starve to death.
Yup. I got my wife a 2003 Highlander. And i have myself a 2015 Tacoma (which is virtually identical to the 2005 model).
Im looking at first gen Ravs as a third vehicle.
Awesome find! Especially in today’s car market.
Soak those grey plastic parts with Back to Black and let them sit for a day. That will bring the color back.
The cup holder is at the perfect height to dump your drink into the CD player if you hit the brakes really hard
That's a solid buy and a good model to buy when it is older. I think you over did the battery terminal grease. A quick shot of your favorite spray lubricant is all you need without having to pull out the grease bucket. I enjoyed your video.
Personally, I use axle grease for axles, wheel bearing grease for wheel bearings, and dielectric grease for electrical connections. But, use what works fine for you, and you have on hand!
Gratz Jen, no more junk! Just because Chris fixes junk and doesn't care about the looks of the vehicles, it doesn't mean Jen had to drive junk. She is so happy, and Chris will keep it running forever. Nice find. I see more road trips!
You guys are very humble. That is great.
My friend has a ,1998 RAV 4 with a rotted out frame but a perfect running 110 k mile motor and a very recent timing belt. Same color even.
Nice find!!! I wish they still made simple cars like this I would buy one in a heartbeat. No extra unnecessary electronic bs like traction control, touch screens, auto high beam, auto start/stop, push button start etc.
It's great you two are bringing classics back to life. They run just as well, and the simplicity is unmatched.
Drove a RAV4 in the u.k awesome and reliable run about, hope Jen is happy with her purchase.
The terminals with grease, is that conductive grease or insulating? Just concerned that you'll great block spots on the connection where no current can flow. This will force the current into a smaller contact area.
Only a guess.
I've seen some form of grease on battery contacts. Could it be silicon grease?
Would be good to know what car electric experts recommend?
Conductive Grease
Great price for the upgrade. My wife and I had a RAV4 for years. Great little daily. They tend to go thru front rotors and pads, easy fix though. Watch the transaxle, these were known for that being a problem. We had ours supposedly warranty repaired however after about a year the problem reoccurred. Traded it in on another car before we got stranded in it. Otherwise, it was a great car. Enjoy!
SUCH a cool little car. That era was just the best for Toyota - the quality was superb, its engineered well enough to be reliable and fuel efficient, but its early enough not to be riddled in electronics. I have a 21 Tundra and it has so many sensors on its engine it looks like Neo still plugged into the Matrix. I'm old enough to have just about any car I want, but I'm highly jealous of Jen right now - the feeling excitement of a cool new car is just something else. You deserve it!
For a car from the 90”s the body is mint! The interior is shockingly ideal. The engine is hard to kill. Good purchase folks!!!
That’s a great buy! 1st generation are the best. 2006-2012 with the V6 are nice too but watch out for transmission whine. Any other years besides the 96-2000 the 4 cylinder should be avoided.
that is a good value Score! … it has project value for content … but that RAV4 just suits Jen … definatly an upgrade …look forward to the trim and paint revival !
That was an awesome buy! Jen, congratulations! You will absolutely love that. My brother has a tundra and it has 320,000 mi on it. The transmission is original. The engine is original. The valve covers never been off the engine. All he's had to do is replace the water pump alternator and he finally replaced the radiator but it's still running strong
Even if you're pulling huge loads using grease on connections is not going to affect anything. The actual contact area is a bunch of microscopic peaks on either side that interface with each other and those microscopic peaks will push any grease out of the way. The grease just fills up the voids between them.
Missed the low compression ring disaster starting in 2002 also. Before the VVT rattle too.
That egr valve isn’t bad to get to if you take off the passenger tire and go in from the side, I had to switch it out on my old solara with the 2.2, I took off the tire and the stabilizer bar end link, plenty of room to get your arm up there from that angle. Can’t see what your doing and have to do it by feel, but wasn’t too bad. That switch goes out on all these engines
Good for you, theses are good cars. I wish I could buy one here in England but the road tax on them is very expensive.
had a gen 2 rav4, one of my favourite cars to have, durable and practical while still super fuel efficient
The shake down is my favorite part, very thorough! Chris has luck like "They said the engine was blown, turns out it was just unplugged." lol
Great little vehicle. I owned 2005 and got 1998 Camry with same engine for back up car. 270k don’t use or leak a drop op oil . Non interference engine and if timing breaks replace timing belt and keep rolling unlike a Honda!
Really clean and a steal at that price.
Great Video Chris & Jen! Lots of room for a baby-seat in the back, and stroller & gear in the rear of the SUV. Tough to go wrong with Toyota, especially with a mechanic in the family! I happened upon the axle change out before this one, but nice job of explanation on the issues taken care of! It amazes me the 'stuff' you have kept over the years, and when the need arises, Chris has it in a box somewhere! Keep them coming, as I quite enjoy both of your video sequences!
I got one of these with 80k on it 1999. Had it about a year. So easy to work on and every part you can get at a junk yard. The seats do fold flat. There are straps that hold them completely in the second position. We use it as an around town car, kinda like a golf cart. Something calming about the simplicity of it.
Those are the best years of Toyota Rav 4s,
I had a 2004, transmission problems.
Had one, i put a 2'' suspention lift with 29'' mud tires looked and drove super..take it to macco 795 and it'll be new.
Super solid cars. Only some plastic issues like door handles, Window regulators.
Timing belt is easier than it looks. Only the back couple of upper cover bolts are tight to get at.
Have mine since 1998 brand new. Its my first vehicle and 26 years and 350k miles later still with us. The best vehicle in have ever and will ever own.
I got one just like it with 40k miles awd. Same color . Absolutely mint but absolutely gutless. Almost concerning how gutless. Wouldnt take it through the rockies I regret to say but still awesome. No issues at all whatsoever. My ex treated it bad and its history but it was a gem i found for 6 grand
The side opening boot is excellent, as there are less moving parts to break. The simpler the better, unlike the other cars with strut boots.
I have the same Rav4 model 1996 with manual shifts, I paid 1500 for mine 3 years ago and rebuilt the engine, it is comfortable and fun to drive, it is my daily driver now.
Love these type of videos and old Toyotas!
I got one like that back in the day for $300 - needed a tiny spot on the frame patched right under the drivers seat - was a sweet rig!
Mazel tov guys; great looking vehicle and color too. RAV4 the win! BTW, the AWD feature should cut out above 25(?) MPH; had a 3rd Gen and now a 4th Gen and that is SOP on the AWD system on the RAV.
05 and back are the only vehicles worth buying, that's why I own an 03 Pilot, 01 Toy Avalon, 91 Chevy Silverado, and a 69 F100, I love that truck. 2nd owner by the way, bought it in 1981.
great content. that car has plenty of life left. i would love to see another vid of the underneath being rustproofed eg control arms and torn cv boots replaced. 😊
I love your enthusiasm for an old TV Chris!!!
Chris I know you hate spending any money on things, but the LED replacement bulbs are amazing for headlights and more importantly reverse lights. I got some for my silverado and backing up became SO much easier. $11 for the reverse leds, insanely bright, plug and play, no balast or anything like with HIDs. Had them for about 8 years now with 0 issues. Highly recommended for Jens new ride and your pickup.
Nice car ! Enjoy watching you guys and of course Gus !
That has to be a southern car that no rust underneath is amazing. Those first generation RAV4 are so cool.
Definitely not
The car was picked up from Pottstown, PA. Most likely not.
nice upgrade and glad it didn't need the head gasket
Looking forward to Jen's videos on this vehicle.
This was a great video!! Super steal for Jen on that car! Loved the CSX running long hood while switching too, thanks guys! Thought we were on the main channel until i went to comment 23:00 in
Cerakote ceramic wipes are the best for that plastic trim. Project farm did a test on the best trim stuff. Been 4 months and all my cars plastic still looks new. Gotta love TH-cam for honest real-world reviews. Saves time and money. Sweet car. You guys did good.
as a Canadian.......freakin steal bud!
Bought a 2004 Ford F-150 with the 4.6 and had the same issue with thermostat being bad. Plus a bad fuel pump driver module. $50 later, running like a champ.
Congratulations on your new car Jen, look's like a decent car, I would clean up the paint on the bonnet and roof and make it look a bit nicer a good paint correction and buff will do the trick replace all globes with LED ones, I know Chris hates new paint and shiny paint but it's your car. Maybe install a double din new age stereo unit with GPS reverse camera and Bluetooth and all that modern stuff in the centre console. did you replace the hose at 18:43?
Here is to new adventures.
The first gen of the Rav 4 has transmission issues. I had a 96 and the transfer case or the transmission wined like crazy cuz of design issues. Other than that it was a very dependable car. The 4 cylinder was under powered. When I had to pull out into traffic I had to turnoff the AC to have the power to accelerate. My wife LOVED that car.
I love these videos. Nothing is more gratifying than picking up a used car for a good deal. It's energizing.
There was a very good explanation in the video of why you don't want to run an engine under temp! I always knew that.... But it was good to hear a mechanic explain why
Long time viewer Chris. Really enjoy your explanations of what you are working on. Thanks mate, keep up the great work.
I love that you show the csx trains a lot. As a csx employee I enjoy seeing it.
I hope you read this. It doesn't matter what channel you guys are awesome. I tackle things now thanks to you. Saved alot of money. Thank you.
I appreciate the kind words and thanks very much for tuning in!
@NNKH2 did you get the power window and locks fixed? And is this your daily driver?
@@DevonDavies-p7f power locks work. Not yet on passenger window
@@NNKH2 will you get the window fixed?
Have you had to replace the engine or transmission or just regular maintenance?
Great deal on the RAV4! Also, I love how very optimistic your wife is. I’m so encouraged by that. She seems genuinely grateful. That’s a great sign for a spouse.
Boiled linseed oil for faded plastics. Cheap, safe and lasts well.
My buddy got one of these for his young wife. She loved it.
He used to say, she went from My Little Pony, to My RAV4/ lol!
She got foraminal mileage, like low 50's because she always
bought 93 octane gas. Her Dad had told her you get out more
then you ever put in with 93. Oil, and valves stayed cleaner,
lots more power then her cousin who lived a few doors down.
I'm gonna guess the last owner's mechanic was looking for a
new collage ride for his kid. Thus the head gasket "problem".
Best of luck with your new, cute, little pony, Jenn! lol!
If the CV joints are still good and not rusted out, Toyota suggested new Toyota boot kits and they come with fresh grease too. Aftermarket CV joints are not as strong as Toyota OEM.
Hit the bottom of the car with Fluid Film.
90/00 era Toyotas are just the best
That car is actually worth repairing. Seen those go up to 500,000 miles with same engine and transmission and no rust.
Nice to see someone else vacuuming the engine compartment!!
Mann I’ll tell ya. I have 06 Tacoma and a 11 4runner. TOYOTA will run forever and outlast all of these newer cars. Great great find. Enjoy.🙂🙏🏽
Yes!! Toyota's all my life 1997 3 door Rav4, 2005 Rav4, 2003 Sequoia, 2011 Camry, all low miles. I'm so excited One of the best mechanics in the world loves Toyota's, cant wait for the make over. 😊