PCV/catalytic converter

Tiny
DRGNFLI
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 TOYOTA RAV4
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Some time back, my vehicle began stinking like sulfur/rotten eggs whenever I was accelerating to pass, or accelerating to go up hill. It also started running low on oil quite often. No signs of a leak, no smoking as if it was burning oil, so I figured it was the catalytic converter. I took it to the mechanic and he agreed that it likely was, and that the PCV valve needed to be changed as well. I left the vehicle with him.

When we picked it up, he stated he had changed the PCV valve and flushed the system, rather than replace the CC, "because Toyota doesn't recommend replacing the CC".

2 weeks later, the car was back to stinking in the same situations. We took the car back to him and left it with him. When we went back to get it, he stated the "cylinders are stuck" because of the build up, and that Toyota recommends yet another type of flushing which would run us about $150.00.

I feel like this fella may be incorrect, and that there is the possibility that he either doesn't want to replace the CC, or that none of them in this establishment knows how to do it, or perhaps they don't have the proper equipment. I know that this vehicle has 2 CC, and that it is usually the rear one that has to be replaced, which involves more work.

Should I take the car to someone else, or spend another $150.00 on this "other" type of flush? We're already into him a few hundred dollars for this one problem that hasn't been fixed, and a couple thousand for brake work that doesn't hold for more than 4 months.
Friday, November 6th, 2020 AT 7:59 AM

12 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

I feel he is wrong as well. I can't remember for sure, but either there was a recall or a notification related to this, They changed the piston design to repair the problem.

I was able to find the technical service bulletin regarding the problem, but you really should contact a Toyota dealer regarding this.

If you look at pic 2, it is a portion of the TSB. I wanted you to see there has been problems with this engine.

Here is an interesting thing. You had the PCV replaced and the issue went away for a bit. Also, you see no leaks or blue smoke from the exhaust. What happens is because of the design flaw, excessive pressure is built up in the engine crankcase. This results in oil vapors and oil to be forced through the PCV and reburned in the engine. The catalytic converter takes care of enough of the problem to prevent the blue smoke.

I hope this helps. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. Also, if you can let me know what the dealer says, I would appreciate it.
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Friday, November 6th, 2020 AT 1:35 PM
Tiny
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Thanks so much! I suspected it was something like this. I'll contact a Toyota dealer and will get back to you when I find out anything. I appreciate the information so much!
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Friday, November 6th, 2020 AT 2:45 PM
Tiny
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You are very welcome. I'm interested in knowing what they say or recommend. Also, you will be helping someone else with your reply. I'm sure there are others with the same issue.

Take care of yourself,

Joe
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Friday, November 6th, 2020 AT 6:15 PM
Tiny
DRGNFLI
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Hi Joe,

I've been looking in to this issue and Toyota's fix for it. I never got a letter from Toyota about this issue. I have kept all recalls and service letters from them, and just never got this one. In doing some research, it seems that there was a time limit put on Toyota doing this fix for free. On their second issue, they limited it to 10 years, or 150,000, whichever comes first. Of course, my 10 years came first. In my case, the issue didn't start until the car was past 10 years old.

So, in the interest of helping anyone else who might be in this fix, I'm going to try to open a case with Toyota to get them to repair the vehicle with no cost to me, and would, at this point, recommend others do so as well. I'll try to remember to keep you updated.

Thanks again for your help!

Take care,

Becki
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Sunday, November 8th, 2020 AT 5:54 AM
Tiny
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Becki,

I would argue the point you never received the notice. Heck, does the problem just go away after a given amount of time?

Regardless, please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I'll do what I can.

Take care,
Joe
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Sunday, November 8th, 2020 AT 4:18 PM
Tiny
DRGNFLI
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I've sent Toyota a "feeler" email to see where they stand on it. Waiting to hear back. Thanks again!
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Monday, November 9th, 2020 AT 2:32 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Happy to help. Let me know what they tell you.

Joe
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Monday, November 9th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM
Tiny
DRGNFLI
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Hi Joe.

I just got off the phone with Toyota. They won't make the repair. Well, they will, as long as I pay for it. Although the parts are defective, and they know they are defective, they figure since my vehicle is 13 years old and only now having issues, and the service campaign has expired, it's on me. Guy I spoke with had the audacity to advise me that I should still get it tested. Test for an issue we already know it has? One they won't repair? Not to mention, the way they test it would end me up with a blown up engine, which they also wouldn't replace. The car is using a quart of oil about every 2 weeks. You know the drill for testing it. Lock me out of being able to check or add oil, and have me drive it for 1,200 miles, then go back so they can check the oil. If it's using that much oil, the motor would blow before that 1,200 miles is up. If the service campaign wasn't expired, it said on their website that if, in the course of testing, the motor blew, they would put a new motor in. But none of that applies since it is expired and I never got the notices. I guess I'll just keep putting oil in it. I can't afford to have the necessary work done.

Thanks so much for your help. This site is a life saver!

Becki
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 11:49 AM
Tiny
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Becki,

First, you are very welcome. However, who was it that you spoke with? Was it at the dealership or was it one of the zone offices (customer relations)? I would think they would at least offer to pay half or something. Tell them you have always owned Toyotas and planned to get a new one in the near future, but if they can't stand behind their product, you may do something different.

I never would have expected that from them. Considering they were replacing frames on 10-year-old trucks for free or buying them back, I would have thought they would have helped.

Let me know if I can help. If they refuse to help you, it may be time to get something different. Otherwise, you're going to go broke buying oil.

Take care,
Joe
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 2:12 PM
Tiny
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Joe, I spoke directly with customer relations at Toyota. I already told them I have been a Toyota owner since 1980, which is true. They offered nothing, except to tell me which of the recalls I hadn't had addressed yet. Those are being taken care of next week. When you're disabled and your husband was a workaholic prior to retiring, and then retired just in time for the pandemic to keep you at home, (March of this year) getting recall work done that isn't interfering with your life is not a priority.

The guy sounded pretty sympathetic, and he kept stressing at the end of the call that I should "get it tested" anyway. As I said before, this would very likely result in the engine blowing, but I had to wonder if he were trying to take me through the back door of getting it fixed for free. Probably not. LOL

I sure thought they would help, since I never received notification of the problem, and since I have been a Toyota owner for so many years. They mailed 2 notices which were addressed correctly, but our mail carrier at our old address was famous for delivering late mail with boot prints on it from where it had laid in the floor board of his truck. Apparently, he didn't deem those Toyota notices delivery worthy.

If the oil consumption gets much worse, I'll probably just park it. For now, I'll keep feeding it as long as I can.

Thanks again! :)
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 2:42 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

That upsets me. However, if you need help or have questions in the future, please feel free to let us know.

Take care of yourself.

Joe
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 2:53 PM
Tiny
DRGNFLI
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Thanks, Joe. :) Take care!
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 3:22 PM

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