Rav4ing Lunacy

We've had an issue with the Rav for nearly a year now, and it happened the day after we'd taken it into the Dealer to have its annual check-up -- you know, one of those 'milestone' check-ups when the car has turned over a certain number of miles and they decide it's time for you to come in and lay some money on the altar so they can keep selling overpriced cars.

I was coming back from someplace -- I think it was the hardware store -- and just as I turned into the driveway, the 'Check Engine' light came on, and the 4WD light, and a couple other lights.

Made me mad. We'd just got it back from the shop. I was so mad, there was no way I was going to take it back there. I'd fix it myself.

Naturally, absolutely nothing was fixed over the next year or so. The car drove fine (other than no cruise control). I occasionally looked into it, trying to track down the cause of the P12701 fault (02 Sensor Fault, Bank 2, Sensor 1).

Odd thing was, the brakes started squealing really bad every time the car started cold. But each time, after the car warmed up a bit, the squeal went away.

Until one morning when it didn't. Just happened to be the morning I was taking the car back to the Dealer to have the peeling paint checked out. (We'd received notification a few months back that the specific paint on our Rav had a manufacturing issue whereby it would start peeling after a certain amount of time, and that the manufacturer would repair it for us -- kind of like a recall notice). This morning, the left rear wheel would not turn at all when the car was in in Drive. It worked fine in Reverse.

Naturally, I assumed it was an ABS issue, especially since the Check Engine light was on again. I cleared the codes using my ODBII reader, and tried again. No soap. Still locked.

So I canceled the appointment and put the car up on the jacks and took off the wheel and adjusted the parking brake enough that the wheel would spin, and then put everything back together.

She seemed to run OK, and the squeal was gone. So I made another appointment for another day, and waited.

Naturally, on the day of the appointment, she squealed again. But the rear wheel didn't lock, so I drove her to the dealer and let 'em take a look at her.

Got the appointment for the repaint job next week, and a list of faults that need to be fixed -- which they'd be willing to do for me, if I have the money.

New brake fluid (they claim mine is all black) - $180

Rear axle seals replaced (they're leaking, so they say) - $600

Replacing the O2 sensor to make the error codes stop - $480

Well, all that's a might rich for my blood right now, so I'll pass on those things. I just paid for the diagnostic portion of the day and let it go at that...

Having my brake system checked (they claim it's OK) - $50

Telling me what the error code meant (which my scanner had already told me) - $180

Going to the dealer to have your car looked at, reminds me of what the old test pilots used to say about going to the doctor: the best you can expect is for them to say you're still OK to fly; otherwise, they'll find some reason to ground you.

I'm gonna chase down the brake squeal, and fix the O2 sensor myself, assuming I can find one at a reasonable price.

Catch ya later when I have more news.