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RAV4

With regard to the dealership, or any mechanic for that matter, simply ask for the evidence substantiating the diagnosis and proposed repair. In the case of an alternator, once the drive belt is removed from the engine, and the engine...

All of your car’s electronic systems use fuses to protect against over voltage situations. If there wasn't a fuse in place, a power surge could destroy an accessory. With a fuse in place, those aren’t a problem. When a power...

Driving in winter conditions in an area with the potential for snowfall means carrying tire chains with you in case of an emergency. However, you need to use the right type of chains for your tire size. Your automaker mandates...

Your car’s air bags are designed to keep you and your passengers safer during certain types of impacts. However, they can pose dangers on their own. air bags inflate very quickly, and if you’re sitting too close to the steering...

Hi there, thanks for writing in. Usually a stock water pump on a Toyota RAV4 should last much longer than 35,000 miles. However, there are times when the water pump can fail prematurely (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-water-pump) for multiple reasons. Since you have...

This issue really depends on the amount of time the vehicle will be sitting. There are several other factors that will impact on the amount of time that the battery will hold a charge, but it really boils down to...

There are many instances in which you might want to tow your car. You might want to tow it behind an RV for instance. While some vehicles can be towed in almost any way, yours is not among them. You...

While you should never drive or ride without head restraints, there may be times that you need to remove them. For instance, if you’re lowering the second row seats, you’ll need to remove the two outside head restraints (the center...

As a parent, keeping your children safe is priority number one. That applies to when they’re in the car as well. If your child is large enough to reach the door handles from the car seat or booster seat, you...

Your car’s sun visors provide important protection for your eyes from bright light and glare. They’re particularly useful when you’re driving shortly before sunset or after dawn, when the light from the sun can be blinding. To use your sun...

The problem is from a bad wiper motor control circuit that is built into the motor. Replace the wiper motor is my recommendation without doing further tests.

Your car runs on gasoline. This is what’s burned to provide power for turning the wheels. However, not all gas types are created equal. Your engine is rated to use gas with an octane rating of 87 or higher (87-octane...

Hopefully, you won’t experience this particular situation, but if you drive long enough, chances are good that you’ll eventually have a flat. Knowing what to do will help you deal with the situation quickly and easily. Here are the steps...

It’s vital that you are able to drive without distractions, without objects rolling around in the cabin, and without anything impeding your control of the car. Here are the most important precautions to follow when driving: Don’t adjust the seat...

Hi there - this could be more than one problem. The alternator and "hard steering" issues could be a failed accessory belt, which drives both the alternator and the power steering pump. The VSC, ABS brake light, and traction control...

This light will usually come on when one of two things are happening. Either the motor is in fact low on oil or the oil pressure sending unit (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/oil-pressure-sensor-replacement) is not working properly and may be producing a faulty reading....

Seat belts aren’t all that complicated, but they must be used correctly in order for them to do their job. They’re more important than air bags, and are actually the only “lifesaving” features on your car. Using them incorrectly can...

Your seat belts are more than just pieces of fabric that buckle to hold you in place. The front seat belts are equipped with pretensioners that are designed to help enhance your safety during an accident. Essentially, the pretensioners are...

While all four doors have windows that can be rolled up or down with the touch of a button, you might want to disable that function at certain times. For instance, if you have a child in the back seat...

If your car is equipped with seat heaters (optional equipment), they provide an additional solution of comfort during cold weather, as well as for easing an aching back. Using them is actually very simple. Here’s what you need to know:...