Car wizard you have helped my FINALLY solve a similar problem I was having with a 2004 Toyota Sienna. I had spongy brakes, and had already replaced the master cylinder. I didn't even think about the caliper guide pins!! I totally found one seized so I replaced all of them on the car. The brakes work like brand new again!! I can't thank you enough for all you do for the DIY community.
Even though I run my own shop, if I'm out that way and ever need work done I'd go to you over anyone else. After seeing all your videos and how you operate i have respect for you as a ship owner and as a stand up man. Keep it going wizard!
Hey Wizard, I’m a shade tree mechanic and this reminded me of a spongy brake pedal I was chasing years ago in a second gen ram 1500. It turned out to be the hub assembly starting to work its way apart! Similar to the seized guide pins, the caliper piston was extending the width of the hub assembly separation! Keep up the good work my man!
@@tomtheplummer7322 I heard him mention the upgrade from a prius, but this would be a sweet first ride. Everything you need, while being junky enough to not feel bad about letting a first timer drive it around.
I have this same exact car and will give it to my daughter when she starts driving. Bought it brand new in 2005 and currently it only has 77+K on the clock.
I would have wanted to keep the caddy that she had before the Prius. With the head gasket fixed, would have been at least somewhat reliable, and quite powerful with the Northstar. Rav4’s are well made vehicles no doubt though
There is NO steel braided reinforcement in flexible brake hoses ! Don't believe me ? That's fine. Cut an old one on half and look for yourself. Inside you'll find a cloth fiber like reinforcement. As a vehicle inspector, I've been hearing this steel braid story for years. I've cut many old ones apart to show people.
Well I have had a Toyota landcruiser for many years (and love it) , but I'm very aware that they are not bullet proof. Like all cars they have their weaknesses. All their cars have weak spots, some more than others. Miles and years will reval what is weak. In my case the weakness is numerous electrical failures, for others it will be lousy piston rings or fragile suspension.
Seized up brake guide pins have a super low chance of that happening here in California. But this video serves as a great guide to troubleshooting a brake pedal that goes to the floor. Learned a lot.
Old Rav4's (and Honda's response to the Rav4, the CR-V) are awesome, not just for teens but honestly anyone. I've especially loved having an old CR-V through all the moving I'd done with college, internships and finally having my own place. Plus the spare tire mounted to the back is classy. Either of these early Japenese crossovers are excellent choices indeed!
I bought my mom the same car in January this year. I borrowed it march 27, and crashed it into a stone gate and totalled it (frontal offset crash, the hardest one to design for). I walked away with a gnarly bruise, but no real injuries. Sold me on Toyota's for life, and ruined classic cars. I'll never get in a vehicle without airbags again (somehow I'm ok with motorcycles still, go figure). This is a great choice
There's really nothing hard to do on a Yugo and if you keep on top of timing belts (every 15K miles, but it's only the belt you have to change and is a 20 minute job) and oil changes, they're actually pretty stout. Much more reliable than British cars because they use Bosch electronics, parts are readily available online as well since they made them in Serbia up until 2007.
I learned about seized guide pins when I found one brake pad worn all the way down and the other pad brand new on a 2011 Ram 3500. I also learned about plugged brake hoses on a 1998 f150. the clogged hoses were acting like check valves. applying the brakes pushed high pressure fluid through, but the pressure was held at the caliper. simply broke up the clog by squeezing it with vice-grips.
Who would take the time to give this informative video a thumbs down? Thank you or sharing this with us. If i lived in your area of the country I would only service my vehicles with you. I hope your business continues to flourish and your channel as well, sir.
That's a nice first car, mine was a 1993 ford fiesta, the proper European one. A 50bhp central injection 1.1 litre engine. Perfect! It didn't have abs, or power steering or electric windows but it did 50mpg and took me on my adventures, taught me how to drive too, no grip, no electronics and certainly no airbag. That car taught me to drive. Lazy drivers are born in cars they feel indestructible in.
People should really stop talking about this. Everybody makes mistakes, you and I included. We don't need to keep reminding them forever. Forgive and forget
@@greenscreen1060 The girl gets our love but ribbing her a bit is harmless. True dat...I have a car story that tops hers by alot when I was her age...no injuries but it was hard to find a strait piece of metal.
@@charlesrunthesum5991 Yeah I once drove my car off a 2 foot-ish bridge and the steering while was literally turned 90 degrees to keep it going straight afterwards. Then I told my dad it was pulling and that I got an alignment and he thought I was just being nice so he paid me back for it lol
It's scary to think so many mechanics overlook the caliper guide pins - I check those every time I change the tires from summer to winter or vise versa, and clean and re-lube them at least once a year. I've always thought that was basic-thing #1 when it came to brake work. :/ Ehh... who knows, maybe that's why it gets overlooked so much; it's such a basic thing that it's automatically dismissed in some mechanics' minds? Anyway way, great video again - good to see all the stages of checking brakes.
Wizard, I've watched all of your videos and this one ranks right up there with the best. I've recomended it to several of my friends to help them learn from it. The explanation of the hydraulic system was exceptional.
Thanks Car Wizard from the UK. I own a modern classic 1997 yellow Fiat Cinquento Sporting. It had a new brake master cylinder about 18 months ago but I’m told problems have returned. I don’t know much about cars but now know to check the brake hoses and calliper pins and/or bushes!! Thanks so much, I’ve genuinely learned something from you and feel less likely to be ripped off by people now!!!
I’m happy to see you teaching people how to do basic things like this. I was 13 when my dad taught me but not everyone has had that advantage. And everyone can benefit from the knowledge and experience 👍👍👍
It's a shame that the RAV4's got boring. They used to be really unique, cool little cars. I guess the whole crossover market has gone in that direction though.
I deal with stuck guide pins on a regular basis. Some car manufacturers seems to be worst at having them stuck than others. Anyways, another "visual" symptom of stuck pins or bushings is that the pad on the piston side will have less material left on it (worn) than the other one. Of course, that depends on how long that car has been driven for with these stuck. Just thought it could be useful for some folks.
I liked when the RAV4 was a relatively small car. I have a 2012, last year with the spare tire mounted on the back door. Really dislike where they went with the things after that gen.
This video was so helpful, informative, and came in clutch just at the right time. I personally have a 2004 Rav4 S and it recently started to do the same thing and has brake issues. Now that I know what to look for, I should definitely go get all of those things checked out. Thank you so much for making a video like this since they're barely any videos of these cars on RUclips👌🏼✨
Greets, Wizard. Thanks for this video on your daughters soon to be RAV4. I especially appreciate the diagnosis walk through on the brakes. I have done brakes on my BMW 328i, my wife's 2013 Honda Accord, and my mom's 2012 Toyota Highlander. After your video, I am glad I take the time to lube the guide pins and the areas on the calipers where the brake pad slide.
YES! Those guide pins (machined ways in older cars), should be REGULAR maintenance items on ALL vehiclers! TIP: Use silicone grease ONLY, the rubber boots tend to "swell" with petroleum grease!
Great insights on the brake problem. I'm not a trained mechanic and used to enjoy working on my cars. With all of the electronic gizmos on them now, I don't do much. Still, it's great to learn these things and I'll pass it on to my mechanic -- when he gets over the COVID-19.
Hey Car Wizard? I am an industrial mechanic for a multi-billion dollar company and wouldn't you know, I learn things in your videos that help me be the best at my job. Thank you for explaining your troubleshooting methods so thoroughly and not leaving anything out. The precise way in which you work is what I am striving for. Perfection is done the right way. Thank you, again.
First thing I do on a brake job is pull those, clean the pins up and lube them. I also check the bushings those ride in as there shouldn't be slop. If I don't like the condition of them or I notice any any uneven pad wear on the outer pad, I replace the bushing and pins as a set. Of course I pull the outer boot of the piston and check it's condition and leaks. If I'm not happy with the condition of what I see under that outer seal or notice abnormal wear the the inside pad, I replace the caliper. And yes your right, these items are way too often over looked.
I’ve got a 2014 RAV4 and although I don’t work on the car myself I love watching your diagnosis of problems so I can identify any problems that might arise and then give the mechanic an idea of where to begin, my last car a GM I learnt that the first thing that you noticed when the alternator went was that the power steering went so when I broke down I was able to send the breakdown guy to the correct fault and yes it needed an alternator who’d have thought it a GM breaking down
Good parents you two are. I enjoy watching your videos keep up the good work. My wife has a 2002 Toyota rav4 awd and she loves it. I have a 2007 Toyota Tacoma trd sport 4x4 and i love it. Both of our toyotas have been great, reliable, and useful.
Now the one you have is the one with the bulletproof engine, the 3S-FE. My 90 Camry has the same unit in it and it's got over 280 on it. Only time it has broken down was at 250k when the original ignition coil gave out.
@@johna1160 i have a 4 door. All wheel drive. Its been a great experience. I like to use it going camping for fishing trips. Got a kayak on top of it also. Been thinking about getting it painted. Clear coat is starting to flake off.
Love my 2004 -looks exactly same. Big stumper I had was failure of fusible link main fuse block attached to battery. Car electronics would act up on-and-off. Solved it.
I had a similar issue with my Cadillac, after going through the brakes one weird issue i had was there was very little fluid going to the rear brakes. ended up being the proportioning valve and contaminated fluid. took the valve apart and moved it into the right position and they've been good for years now.
My mom has a '96 Camry with the 2.4, and it has been bulletproof. She got the car from my uncle, who practically gave it to her. Replaced the ECU a couple yrs ago and is running flawlessly.
my uncle had a 99 with a 5 speed. Oh my god that thing ran FOREVER. He only changed the oil. He sold it years later and bought a '11 corolla. I still see that old camry driving around.
Perfect timing! I've been looking around at older Rav4's for my stepdaughter. I'm already a firm believer in Toyota products, and this was great info! Thanks Wizard.
As an 18 year toyota tech in the UK, i have seen those seized on prius corolla, previa, picnic, avensis, land cruiser and rav.They also have problems with the pads stuck in the carriers due to rust under the shims,when i was at vauxhall(GM) 20 years ago i had to change a couple of abs units on v6 vectra's for the same thing.Another problem was the seal leaking at the rear of the mcyl letting the servo suck the fluid out .entertaining video, keep up the good work wizard
I bought a 2001 Rav4 with 260,000 km and sold it when it had 381,000 km. It was the most reliable car I ever had, and I was not even taking care of it just doing regular oil and filter change.
_"Why did the CAR WIZARD buy his daugher a 2005 Toyota RAV4 with really bad brakes?"_ Uh, probably because he was able to buy it cheap and can overhaul the brakes to where it's safe again without breaking the bank?
My aunt's last RAV was identical to this. She replaced it around 2013 with a 2012 Limited. She doesn't have 50,000 miles on yet. I recently replaced my rusted out 95 F150 with a 2010 Limited with 152k on it. I liked hers and the prices on trucks has gotten out of hand. I didn't need something as nice as my RAV, but the price was right and it is clean. I just needed 4WD so I can park my 20 year old Camry to keep it off the winter roads.
I've always been fond of those Cadillacs in the background. My dream is to build one with cream paint, hot pink vinyl, gold plated DUB spinner 22's, a 383 LS1 with a 8-71 Weiand and a bug-catcher. I've had that dream for 15 years, if you couldn't tell. :D)))
Actually it probably happened because it was bled manually. Old brakes can get rusty due to fluid contamination but because the pedal has never gone past 1/4 of it's travel the crud is only in the back of the cylinder. Once the seals have to go over the crud they can get damaged. The crud now scraped off travels down the line to the ABS unit and clogs that up as well. I always bleed off the fluid when changing the brake pads and if it's a budget job never fully depress the pedal just pressure or vacuum bleed the brakes. You have to be careful that things like the proportioning valve doesn't get crud in it as well as it will as easily as an ABS unit. If the proportioning valve sticks it can allow the brake system to run out of fluid if a hose fails. This will give exactly the same symptom as described on the RAV.
@@hotdogs5265 I know. I expect it to run to 200,000 km perfectly fine though and then maybe some minor issues more towards 300,000. But I think 300,000 km should be realistic to hit while still avoiding major repairs
Years ago my dad and I were dealing with a worn and pitted caliper pins on my brother’s car. After giving up trying to smooth them, we decided to price replacements. It was only $13 for remanufactured calipers. D’oh! Shouldn’t done that first. Lesson learned.
I've always thought that this was the last of the "good" RAV4's, before they became bloated and ugly with the re-style... plus 2-tone paint which really suits the car
I had super squishy breaks in my 1998 K1500. If you have squishy breaks and have front disc and rear drum, ALWAYS check the drum brakes. They have an incredibly effect on pedal feel. I had been to 2 shops and $1200 in and still squishy brakes. I said F it and redid them all myself, the rears were never adjusted when they were changed 6 years prior and the self adjusters were seized. Replaced both sides totally and now it stops like it was new.
Here's a brake story for you, Car Wizard. I own a 1968 model year VW Beetle. This was, thankfully, the first model year with dual circuit brakes. What I had happen, was that the rear circuit pretty much lost all of its brake fluid. Filled it back up (the brake fluid reservoir has two compartments, one for each circuit), pumped the pedal, and had four wheel brakes again. But obviously, I wasn't going to leave it at that, so I took the car to a local garage. They spent several hours and didn't find anything wrong with the brakes. So I took the car to the local VW dealer instead, Møller Bil. As it turned out, they had a mechanic working with them who probably started working at Møller a couple of years before my car was made. They let me be present as this veteran diagnosed the fault, and it took him all of ten minutes to do so. First of all he put the Beetle on the lift, and used a flash light to visually inspect the rear drums and brake lines. They were bone dry. Given the amount of brake fluid I was still losing, they would have been wet if they were at fault. The master cylinder is wonderfully visible from the driver's side wheel well, and that was also bone dry. The hoses leading from the brake fluid reservoir were also bone dry. Then he lowered the car a bit, opened the driver's side door and lifted up the rear seat and the floor mats in the rear footwell - the brake line to the rear axle runs inside the car and is easily visible. He quickly dismissed the brake line as the fault, as it looked pretty much new. One thing remained, as it turned out. He proceeded to duck underneath the steering wheel to check the pedal assembly. The brake pedal on the Beetle acts on a piston that runs through the front bulkhead, which in turn acts on the master cylinder. In order to inspect it, he moved the throttle out of the way, and went: "Hmm... There's a bit of moisture on the rubber boot here." The thing is, the front bulkhead of the Beetle is double - it's hollow. Which means all manners of amounts of brake fluid can leak out from the rear of the master cylinder, and the fluid will leave the car through a drain hole someplace or other completely unrelated to the brake system. He said to me: "I can't be 100 % sure, but I've checked everything else, and this is the only place where I can find any signs of a brake fluid leak. I'll have to remove the master cylinder to be sure." I told him to go ahead. And sure enough, the gaskets on the rear circuit in the master cylinder were the culprit. New master cylinder, problem solved.
I haven't watched the video but if I had to guess because Toyota's are reliable and that it can go off road a little bit unlike the Car Wizard's Honda Prelude she totaled.
Useful video. My son bought a high-mileage Tundra showing these symptoms. He worked on it for a whole winter in the shop before its brake performance levelled out
Well isnt this a coincidence.. I just found out today that my rear right guide pins were seized while changing the pads. Had a good old match with the pins to get them out to replace.
I am from Michigan. EVERY brake job I do I always replace the guide pins. It doesn't matter if they could possibly be reused. They never last as long as new pads.
I did a front brake job on a 2000 Dodge Durango today and it had something I had never seen before in my 30 plus years of working on vehicles. The friction material had come loose from the backing plate on the brake pad and was stuck between the dust shield and the rotor. I replaced pads and rotors and yes I cleaned the caliper pins and lubed them and made sure the calipers could float.
@@stephenreed3381 and how would that cause a soft pedal. I fix siezed pins all the time. I have never seen it make a pedal soft, its basic hydraulics. I am open to an explanation though. I just dont understand how it's possible.
Up here in Nova Scotia Canada on the East Coast next to the ocean I almost need to service my guide pins and bushings every so often keep the brakes working right with all of the salt. Sometimes I get lucky and they stay in good shape if the boots stay intact. The key to that is to make sure no rust builds up where the boot connects to the caliper because the rust grows opening up the end of the boot. It does blow my mind how so many techs miss seized guide pins. When you mentioned the pedal acting the way it was my first thought was guide pins.
Wizard! You're the best. Love you vids and your skills. True mechanic. Love these type of vids with cool graphics and topical - buying a teenage car (16 yo. for a 16 yo.). Love it all.
I always wondered if those 2.4 liter engines have timing belts and if they are non interference or interference. Great video as usual! Car wizard you explain the pros and cons in such a calm way it is always useful and soothing haha!
I love my 2004 RAV4... a really good car for the money...even with the brakes...because I had a similar problem...but with me it was a stuck brake caliper ...
I like your videos Car Wizard, I’d love to see more for a ‘98 Chevy K1500...I have to change a fuel pump soon I think...and as I am British these Chevy’s are all kind of new to me.
Teenage daughter is blessed to have Car wizard dad to fix her a car!. I was a bit surprised you didn't leave at least one calliper pin seized to show us how it is & how to release it!
@@mmm365 Interesting. I drive Honda. Honda's "B1" service (as indicated by the automated "maintenance minder" system) is supposed to include brake clean and lubricate. There are Honda dealers with youtube channels who put up videos of their clean and lube job, which includes the caliper pins. What I've found at my dealer is that the B service brake clean and lube consisted of ticking a box off on a piece of paper and calling it good. Now I do it myself.
Most mechanic shops Don't relive the caliper guide pins when replacing the brake pads. Guys like car wizard and Johnny do but most shops Don't to save time and money.
Wizard is like Scotty Kilmer but calmer and less extreme.
And without clickbait titles.
Kilmer has approved this video!
and with logic. scot belongs to a nursing home
And without the hard cuts every five seconds that make the video "jerky" and hard to watch after a while!
Also not being a click baiting prick
Next video: "Car Wizard examines totaled Rav4 after daughter performs General Lee jump."
🤣😂
Funny you Mike!
that what I wanna say....
Its Kansas, there isn't enough of a hill in entire state to get the first two notes out!!
That's pretty much it. If no hill to perform that, just scratch that part and replace with "drives into a ditch"
Car wizard you have helped my FINALLY solve a similar problem I was having with a 2004 Toyota Sienna. I had spongy brakes, and had already replaced the master cylinder. I didn't even think about the caliper guide pins!! I totally found one seized so I replaced all of them on the car. The brakes work like brand new again!! I can't thank you enough for all you do for the DIY community.
Now his daughter can safely go off road instead of using a car that was never made for off-roading
Lol omg so true
😂😂😂I completely forgot about that last video with the red car
Never forget niever forgive 🤣😩😩
I'm sitting in my 2000 Honda Prelude right now actually and I feel sorry for the red one they're such great cars
Beat me (and many) to it.
My sister had a 2011 RAV4, totaled in a T bone 150,000 miles. Kept her safe and drove perfectly
Even though I run my own shop, if I'm out that way and ever need work done I'd go to you over anyone else. After seeing all your videos and how you operate i have respect for you as a ship owner and as a stand up man. Keep it going wizard!
Hey Wizard, I’m a shade tree mechanic and this reminded me of a spongy brake pedal I was chasing years ago in a second gen ram 1500. It turned out to be the hub assembly starting to work its way apart! Similar to the seized guide pins, the caliper piston was extending the width of the hub assembly separation!
Keep up the good work my man!
That's a pretty sweet first car. Safe, reliable, she's a lucky gal.
Looks like your new around here.
Not her first car...she has driven a fleet😏
@@tomtheplummer7322 I heard him mention the upgrade from a prius, but this would be a sweet first ride. Everything you need, while being junky enough to not feel bad about letting a first timer drive it around.
I have this same exact car and will give it to my daughter when she starts driving. Bought it brand new in 2005 and currently it only has 77+K on the clock.
I would have wanted to keep the caddy that she had before the Prius. With the head gasket fixed, would have been at least somewhat reliable, and quite powerful with the Northstar. Rav4’s are well made vehicles no doubt though
In the rust belt, checking guide pins is a given, an automatic reflex when doing brakes.
I live in Buffalo ny so I agree 700 worth of parts before checking the calipers out ??
In the rust belt the pins always get checked.
There's nothing like that hammer and flathead knocking off the brake pads in the crusty north I wonder what it's like to remove it with one finger
That’s correct that’s a given up here with any brake job
@@danlevesque5437 So annoying when sometimes they just fall out!
When I have trouble with brakes, the first thing I check is my bank account.
Wizard? Are you trying to avenge the Prelude's death?
Young kids make mistakes. Not a big deal as long as she is fine. If someone gets really hurt then thats a huge deal
meanwhile the prelude is being made into metal tubing :(
Wrong daughter
My 2012 Rav4 is a workhorse. May not be pretty or fast, but its cheap to run and gets the job done !!
Agreed
There is NO steel braided reinforcement in flexible brake hoses ! Don't believe me ? That's fine. Cut an old one on half and look for yourself. Inside you'll find a cloth fiber like reinforcement. As a vehicle inspector, I've been hearing this steel braid story for years. I've cut many old ones apart to show people.
I’m betting someone never changed the brake fluid, it absorbed moisture, and that caused the internal failures in the abs unit.
Probably also caused the master cylinder to go bad.
Most people dont
Can’t ever go wrong with Toyota’s reliability
until you get a first year 3zz or a 1zz (high oil consumption).
But you definitely pay a premium for it if you're buying used. Wizard probably did the smart thing by buying a used one with issues.
My brother's wife had to reverse his old Carina into a tree twice to kill it...
Well I have had a Toyota landcruiser for many years (and love it) , but I'm very aware that they are not bullet proof. Like all cars they have their weaknesses. All their cars have weak spots, some more than others. Miles and years will reval what is weak. In my case the weakness is numerous electrical failures, for others it will be lousy piston rings or fragile suspension.
@@eivis13 Wasn't there a long recall for stuck piston rings?
I’m currently in the process of buying a 2004 RAV 4. Thank you, you’re so good at explaining things and a great teacher 🙏🏼
Seized up brake guide pins have a super low chance of that happening here in California. But this video serves as a great guide to troubleshooting a brake pedal that goes to the floor. Learned a lot.
Anyone would love that Toyota, hope your daughter fully appreciate it. I've seen those with 300,000 miles + and still running strong.
im at almost 200k and its eating oil little bit
@@DuraStop Keep driving it. That's normal at that mileage. It will last, just keep an eye on it.
@@TheTarrMan i think ones you get to 200k done its job and move on instead doing repairs
I've got an '08 with a 3.5L. Amazing engine, tons of power behind it.
@@paul.969 was the fastest new Toyota available in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Old Rav4's (and Honda's response to the Rav4, the CR-V) are awesome, not just for teens but honestly anyone. I've especially loved having an old CR-V through all the moving I'd done with college, internships and finally having my own place. Plus the spare tire mounted to the back is classy. Either of these early Japenese crossovers are excellent choices indeed!
I bought my mom the same car in January this year. I borrowed it march 27, and crashed it into a stone gate and totalled it (frontal offset crash, the hardest one to design for). I walked away with a gnarly bruise, but no real injuries. Sold me on Toyota's for life, and ruined classic cars. I'll never get in a vehicle without airbags again (somehow I'm ok with motorcycles still, go figure). This is a great choice
Man it would awesome to have a dad mechanically inclined like Mr. Wizard
Don't rely on him,,he has had 50+ cars lol
Your a good dad Mr Wizard...glad I am not the only one that buys high milage toyotas and lexus vehicles
Agreed
After the untimely Prelude's death, I would have gotten the daughter a Yugo and make her fix it herself without the Wizard's help
Just take it to the downtown mechanic Zhivko, and that Yugo will be mint
There's really nothing hard to do on a Yugo and if you keep on top of timing belts (every 15K miles, but it's only the belt you have to change and is a 20 minute job) and oil changes, they're actually pretty stout. Much more reliable than British cars because they use Bosch electronics, parts are readily available online as well since they made them in Serbia up until 2007.
I would make her work on Tyler’s cars
or an 84 hyundai excel
When you realize a Yugo costs more than a 2005 RAV4..
I learned about seized guide pins when I found one brake pad worn all the way down and the other pad brand new on a 2011 Ram 3500. I also learned about plugged brake hoses on a 1998 f150. the clogged hoses were acting like check valves. applying the brakes pushed high pressure fluid through, but the pressure was held at the caliper. simply broke up the clog by squeezing it with vice-grips.
Who would take the time to give this informative video a thumbs down? Thank you or sharing this with us. If i lived in your area of the country I would only service my vehicles with you. I hope your business continues to flourish and your channel as well, sir.
That's a nice first car, mine was a 1993 ford fiesta, the proper European one. A 50bhp central injection 1.1 litre engine. Perfect! It didn't have abs, or power steering or electric windows but it did 50mpg and took me on my adventures, taught me how to drive too, no grip, no electronics and certainly no airbag. That car taught me to drive. Lazy drivers are born in cars they feel indestructible in.
Coming up in the next episode, The Car Wizard takes his daughter's car for a joyride and totals it
Funny
People should really stop talking about this. Everybody makes mistakes, you and I included. We don't need to keep reminding them forever. Forgive and forget
@@greenscreen1060 The girl gets our love but ribbing her a bit is harmless. True dat...I have a car story that tops hers by alot when I was her age...no injuries but it was hard to find a strait piece of metal.
@@charlesrunthesum5991 Yeah I once drove my car off a 2 foot-ish bridge and the steering while was literally turned 90 degrees to keep it going straight afterwards. Then I told my dad it was pulling and that I got an alignment and he thought I was just being nice so he paid me back for it lol
Hell naw 😂😂😂😂
It's scary to think so many mechanics overlook the caliper guide pins - I check those every time I change the tires from summer to winter or vise versa, and clean and re-lube them at least once a year. I've always thought that was basic-thing #1 when it came to brake work. :/ Ehh... who knows, maybe that's why it gets overlooked so much; it's such a basic thing that it's automatically dismissed in some mechanics' minds? Anyway way, great video again - good to see all the stages of checking brakes.
Wizard, I've watched all of your videos and this one ranks right up there with the best. I've recomended it to several of my friends to help them learn from it. The explanation of the hydraulic system was exceptional.
Thanks Car Wizard from the UK. I own a modern classic 1997 yellow Fiat Cinquento Sporting. It had a new brake master cylinder about 18 months ago but I’m told problems have returned. I don’t know much about cars but now know to check the brake hoses and calliper pins and/or bushes!! Thanks so much, I’ve genuinely learned something from you and feel less likely to be ripped off by people now!!!
Being from Canada, we know to clean and lube the guide pins with every brake job.
Yeah it’s called a Brake Service in these parts
- and they also identify any seized parts and address minor accumulation on the rotor surfaces.
Same here in England. Every time I have my wheels off I do it.
In Ontario,Canada we do brake service every 6 months ,usually when putting on and off Winter tires.
I’m happy to see you teaching people how to do basic things like this. I was 13 when my dad taught me but not everyone has had that advantage. And everyone can benefit from the knowledge and experience 👍👍👍
Working for Toyota for 5 years that was my favorite body of the rav. I tried to buy one just like it with a 5 speed (the one that got away) 😥
I got one earlier in the year here in the UK a 2004 2litre d4d , and i love it such a nice car to drive 👌
I have a 98 4 door all wheel drive. I love it.
It's a shame that the RAV4's got boring. They used to be really unique, cool little cars. I guess the whole crossover market has gone in that direction though.
@@onebackzach I agree. About to put Bilstein shocks on my 98. Its fun to drive, was going to be a winter car but has turned into my daily.
I deal with stuck guide pins on a regular basis. Some car manufacturers seems to be worst at having them stuck than others. Anyways, another "visual" symptom of stuck pins or bushings is that the pad on the piston side will have less material left on it (worn) than the other one. Of course, that depends on how long that car has been driven for with these stuck. Just thought it could be useful for some folks.
I liked when the RAV4 was a relatively small car. I have a 2012, last year with the spare tire mounted on the back door. Really dislike where they went with the things after that gen.
This video was so helpful, informative, and came in clutch just at the right time. I personally have a 2004 Rav4 S and it recently started to do the same thing and has brake issues. Now that I know what to look for, I should definitely go get all of those things checked out. Thank you so much for making a video like this since they're barely any videos of these cars on RUclips👌🏼✨
“She can haul things around” aka she might be going to get parts. Thanks for the video.
Prelude guilt work
Kegs of beer for the field parties...
Mattress?
Yeah, haul boys around.
Greets, Wizard. Thanks for this video on your daughters soon to be RAV4. I especially appreciate the diagnosis walk through on the brakes. I have done brakes on my BMW 328i, my wife's 2013 Honda Accord, and my mom's 2012 Toyota Highlander. After your video, I am glad I take the time to lube the guide pins and the areas on the calipers where the brake pad slide.
Being a tech in Toronto ontario the whole time you were talking I was thinking seized caliper guide pins ...see it all the time here
Same here. I live in western NY. Guide pins and rusty brake lines are an everyday thing.
YES! Those guide pins (machined ways in older cars), should be REGULAR maintenance items on ALL vehiclers! TIP: Use silicone grease ONLY, the rubber boots tend to "swell" with petroleum grease!
@Braden Mcelwaine What's your opinion on the 2AZ-FE?
Bad piston ring design and stripped head bolts?
Great insights on the brake problem. I'm not a trained mechanic and used to enjoy working on my cars. With all of the electronic gizmos on them now, I don't do much. Still, it's great to learn these things and I'll pass it on to my mechanic -- when he gets over the COVID-19.
Hey Car Wizard? I am an industrial mechanic for a multi-billion dollar company and wouldn't you know, I learn things in your videos that help me be the best at my job. Thank you for explaining your troubleshooting methods so thoroughly and not leaving anything out. The precise way in which you work is what I am striving for. Perfection is done the right way. Thank you, again.
First thing I do on a brake job is pull those, clean the pins up and lube them. I also check the bushings those ride in as there shouldn't be slop. If I don't like the condition of them or I notice any any uneven pad wear on the outer pad, I replace the bushing and pins as a set. Of course I pull the outer boot of the piston and check it's condition and leaks. If I'm not happy with the condition of what I see under that outer seal or notice abnormal wear the the inside pad, I replace the caliper. And yes your right, these items are way too often over looked.
His daughter is very 🍀 LUCKY to have a Dad like the 🧙♂️ Wizard bc he can fix ANYTHING for her for FREE for his kid !!!
its usually never the parts that are pricey its the labor
Good deal because he's not paying car-mechanical labor costs, just paying for parts.
Couldn't fix the off road Honda!
@@bikeman1x11 Really?
@@TheOzthewiz yep-
I’ve got a 2014 RAV4 and although I don’t work on the car myself I love watching your diagnosis of problems so I can identify any problems that might arise and then give the mechanic an idea of where to begin, my last car a GM I learnt that the first thing that you noticed when the alternator went was that the power steering went so when I broke down I was able to send the breakdown guy to the correct fault and yes it needed an alternator who’d have thought it a GM breaking down
This one should be able to handle this ditch better than the Honda lol
Still driving my 05 rav4. 122,000 miles and I take it on long road trips. Inexpensive to repair and maintain, still looks mint. I love it.
Hey Wizard & Mrs Wizard!! My sister has an 08 RAV 4.. It's a great car & she's been happy with it for years!!
That's good.
Good parents you two are. I enjoy watching your videos keep up the good work. My wife has a 2002 Toyota rav4 awd and she loves it. I have a 2007 Toyota Tacoma trd sport 4x4 and i love it. Both of our toyotas have been great, reliable, and useful.
I have a 98 rav4 and we both love it. Its been so reliable. Has around 180k on it
Now the one you have is the one with the bulletproof engine, the 3S-FE. My 90 Camry has the same unit in it and it's got over 280 on it. Only time it has broken down was at 250k when the original ignition coil gave out.
I have a '98 two door short wheel base RAV4. Perfect car for me and super reliable. Gotta love 'yotas.
@@primusconvoy no power but it does awesome in the snow and always starts. I love it.
@@johna1160 i have a 4 door. All wheel drive. Its been a great experience. I like to use it going camping for fishing trips. Got a kayak on top of it also. Been thinking about getting it painted. Clear coat is starting to flake off.
Love my 2004 -looks exactly same. Big stumper I had was failure of fusible link main fuse block attached to battery. Car electronics would act up on-and-off. Solved it.
I had a similar issue with my Cadillac, after going through the brakes one weird issue i had was there was very little fluid going to the rear brakes. ended up being the proportioning valve and contaminated fluid. took the valve apart and moved it into the right position and they've been good for years now.
My mom has a '96 Camry with the 2.4, and it has been bulletproof. She got the car from my uncle, who practically gave it to her. Replaced the ECU a couple yrs ago and is running flawlessly.
The ECU failed though? Doesn't sound bulletproof by your own admission.
my uncle had a 99 with a 5 speed. Oh my god that thing ran FOREVER. He only changed the oil. He sold it years later and bought a '11 corolla. I still see that old camry driving around.
Perfect timing! I've been looking around at older Rav4's for my stepdaughter. I'm already a firm believer in Toyota products, and this was great info! Thanks Wizard.
As an 18 year toyota tech in the UK, i have seen those seized on prius corolla, previa, picnic, avensis, land cruiser and rav.They also have problems with the pads stuck in the carriers due to rust under the shims,when i was at vauxhall(GM) 20 years ago i had to change a couple of abs units on v6 vectra's for the same thing.Another problem was the seal leaking at the rear of the mcyl letting the servo suck the fluid out .entertaining video, keep up the good work wizard
Wizard: Gotta make sure the brakes are 100%
Daughter: What are brakes?
Or, "oh, that's what the 2nd pedal does."!
Daughter: that's your job
My neighbor owns a toyota rav 4 with more than 600000 kilometers (370000 miles) made in japan Great car.. Greetings from Greece
Which version?
Here before she totaled it!
She probably needs a Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis or Lincoln Town Car those things are tanks.
Well a rav 4 probably falls in there to. I'm sure it wil be very reliable as long as she dosen't crash it.......like the poor Prelude.😅
@@loganholmberg2295 at least it's a run of the mill car not a rare prelude/praylude that are hard to find
Except they are massive and no offense but his daughter doesn't seem to be the best driver
or an old volvo wagon
Humvee
Really clarified current brake issues. I appreciate the frozen pins and the abs clarification. G
Rav 4 built with pride in Cambridge Ontario
I bought a 2001 Rav4 with 260,000 km and sold it when it had 381,000 km. It was the most reliable car I ever had, and I was not even taking care of it just doing regular oil and filter change.
_"Why did the CAR WIZARD buy his daugher a 2005 Toyota RAV4 with really bad brakes?"_
Uh, probably because he was able to buy it cheap and can overhaul the brakes to where it's safe again without breaking the bank?
Obviously.
@@taunuslunatic404 Thank you, captain.
Because he need a video for youtube lol.
Perfect timing. The brakes on my Landcruiser are acting exactly like you described. New knowledge for me in this video. Many thanks.
*10+ yrs old RAV4s & CRVs are great vehicles for students*
I agree with this story.
Too old
@@caleb4450 Agreed
My aunt's last RAV was identical to this. She replaced it around 2013 with a 2012 Limited. She doesn't have 50,000 miles on yet. I recently replaced my rusted out 95 F150 with a 2010 Limited with 152k on it. I liked hers and the prices on trucks has gotten out of hand. I didn't need something as nice as my RAV, but the price was right and it is clean. I just needed 4WD so I can park my 20 year old Camry to keep it off the winter roads.
Still driving my 2002 RAV4-EV. Great car.
I've always been fond of those Cadillacs in the background. My dream is to build one with cream paint, hot pink vinyl, gold plated DUB spinner 22's, a 383 LS1 with a 8-71 Weiand and a bug-catcher. I've had that dream for 15 years, if you couldn't tell. :D)))
I like your idea.
The fact that both the abs and master cylinder failed suggests that someone waited too long to flush the brake fluid.
Looking at that rear wheel looks like it's spent time in the rust belt.
Actually it probably happened because it was bled manually. Old brakes can get rusty due to fluid contamination but because the pedal has never gone past 1/4 of it's travel the crud is only in the back of the cylinder. Once the seals have to go over the crud they can get damaged. The crud now scraped off travels down the line to the ABS unit and clogs that up as well. I always bleed off the fluid when changing the brake pads and if it's a budget job never fully depress the pedal just pressure or vacuum bleed the brakes. You have to be careful that things like the proportioning valve doesn't get crud in it as well as it will as easily as an ABS unit. If the proportioning valve sticks it can allow the brake system to run out of fluid if a hose fails. This will give exactly the same symptom as described on the RAV.
Great! Now come over and help me figure out why my 2002 Rav4 cranks without starting
They are too old already. You should trade-it in for a 2018 Mazda CX-5.
Ayyye a good ol Toyota RAV4 - the best vehicle out there. I have a 2015 with 112,000 Km now and still runs perfect
115km. That's nothing.
@@hotdogs5265 I know. I expect it to run to 200,000 km perfectly fine though and then maybe some minor issues more towards 300,000. But I think 300,000 km should be realistic to hit while still avoiding major repairs
@@RealBoiJare Just take care of It.
Years ago my dad and I were dealing with a worn and pitted caliper pins on my brother’s car. After giving up trying to smooth them, we decided to price replacements. It was only $13 for remanufactured calipers. D’oh! Shouldn’t done that first. Lesson learned.
I've always thought that this was the last of the "good" RAV4's, before they became bloated and ugly with the re-style... plus 2-tone paint which really suits the car
Although he did not show us the parts replaced but he taught us what to replace. Excellent 👌
Because he is a wizard and will fix it to better than factory lol easy question
I had super squishy breaks in my 1998 K1500. If you have squishy breaks and have front disc and rear drum, ALWAYS check the drum brakes. They have an incredibly effect on pedal feel. I had been to 2 shops and $1200 in and still squishy brakes. I said F it and redid them all myself, the rears were never adjusted when they were changed 6 years prior and the self adjusters were seized. Replaced both sides totally and now it stops like it was new.
I think the Kansas youtubers are inspiring us all to do some of our own mechanic work.
Here's a brake story for you, Car Wizard. I own a 1968 model year VW Beetle. This was, thankfully, the first model year with dual circuit brakes. What I had happen, was that the rear circuit pretty much lost all of its brake fluid. Filled it back up (the brake fluid reservoir has two compartments, one for each circuit), pumped the pedal, and had four wheel brakes again. But obviously, I wasn't going to leave it at that, so I took the car to a local garage. They spent several hours and didn't find anything wrong with the brakes. So I took the car to the local VW dealer instead, Møller Bil.
As it turned out, they had a mechanic working with them who probably started working at Møller a couple of years before my car was made. They let me be present as this veteran diagnosed the fault, and it took him all of ten minutes to do so. First of all he put the Beetle on the lift, and used a flash light to visually inspect the rear drums and brake lines. They were bone dry. Given the amount of brake fluid I was still losing, they would have been wet if they were at fault. The master cylinder is wonderfully visible from the driver's side wheel well, and that was also bone dry. The hoses leading from the brake fluid reservoir were also bone dry. Then he lowered the car a bit, opened the driver's side door and lifted up the rear seat and the floor mats in the rear footwell - the brake line to the rear axle runs inside the car and is easily visible. He quickly dismissed the brake line as the fault, as it looked pretty much new. One thing remained, as it turned out. He proceeded to duck underneath the steering wheel to check the pedal assembly. The brake pedal on the Beetle acts on a piston that runs through the front bulkhead, which in turn acts on the master cylinder. In order to inspect it, he moved the throttle out of the way, and went: "Hmm... There's a bit of moisture on the rubber boot here."
The thing is, the front bulkhead of the Beetle is double - it's hollow. Which means all manners of amounts of brake fluid can leak out from the rear of the master cylinder, and the fluid will leave the car through a drain hole someplace or other completely unrelated to the brake system. He said to me: "I can't be 100 % sure, but I've checked everything else, and this is the only place where I can find any signs of a brake fluid leak. I'll have to remove the master cylinder to be sure." I told him to go ahead. And sure enough, the gaskets on the rear circuit in the master cylinder were the culprit.
New master cylinder, problem solved.
My 04 rav4 is doing the same. Seem like a reoccurring problem on some Toyotas. Scott also did a vid on the Toyota master cylinder replacement.
I haven't watched the video but if I had to guess because Toyota's are reliable and that it can go off road a little bit unlike the Car Wizard's Honda Prelude she totaled.
Also Toyota parts are easy to get if needed.
Useful video. My son bought a high-mileage Tundra showing these symptoms. He worked on it for a whole winter in the shop before its brake performance levelled out
caliper slider pins get overlooked when people slap on just pads!
I have an 01 with a 2wd and a 5 speed with 230k miles. I plan on giving it to my daughter when she turns 16/17. She currently 8. 😊
Well isnt this a coincidence.. I just found out today that my rear right guide pins were seized while changing the pads. Had a good old match with the pins to get them out to replace.
I am from Michigan. EVERY brake job I do I always replace the guide pins. It doesn't matter if they could possibly be reused. They never last as long as new pads.
When I do a brake job for clients I check guide pins and break lines. Always. Especially if there is uneven pad wear.
Do you check the brakes ?
@@JoeBlunt😅🤣😂😆😅🤣😂 Frigging auto spelling. Thanks.
@@ldotmurray 🤣👍
I did a front brake job on a 2000 Dodge Durango today and it had something I had never seen before in my 30 plus years of working on vehicles. The friction material had come loose from the backing plate on the brake pad and was stuck between the dust shield and the rotor. I replaced pads and rotors and yes I cleaned the caliper pins and lubed them and made sure the calipers could float.
Someone must of made that brake pad 4:45pm on a Friday
Seized guide pins will not cause the pedal to go to the floor. I am surprised tech in your area dont lube the pins with every brake job.
We do at my shop. Most dont. Yes seized guide pins make for a soft pedal. You are wrong.
@@CarWizard explain how a seized pin can result in a soft pedal. School me.
@@douglasdoney3101 He explained it in the video. It prevents the caliper from adjusting properly for the brake pad wear. O.o
@@stephenreed3381 and how would that cause a soft pedal. I fix siezed pins all the time. I have never seen it make a pedal soft, its basic hydraulics. I am open to an explanation though. I just dont understand how it's possible.
Up here in Nova Scotia Canada on the East Coast next to the ocean I almost need to service my guide pins and bushings every so often keep the brakes working right with all of the salt. Sometimes I get lucky and they stay in good shape if the boots stay intact. The key to that is to make sure no rust builds up where the boot connects to the caliper because the rust grows opening up the end of the boot. It does blow my mind how so many techs miss seized guide pins. When you mentioned the pedal acting the way it was my first thought was guide pins.
Why did Wizard buy his kid a car with bad brakes? Because she never uses the brakes.
(Yes, I’m still sore that she trashed the Honda)
Wizard! You're the best. Love you vids and your skills. True mechanic. Love these type of vids with cool graphics and topical - buying a teenage car (16 yo. for a 16 yo.). Love it all.
Its the master cylinder i had the same problem when i bought my ls400
I always wondered if those 2.4 liter engines have timing belts and if they are non interference or interference. Great video as usual! Car wizard you explain the pros and cons in such a calm way it is always useful and soothing haha!
Non interference, as all toyotas, and immortal timing chain. Simple sensible engineering.
Good choice with a Toyota. You can’t go wrong with a Toyota or Honda. Thankfully you’re mechanically inclined to fix everything
I love my 2004 RAV4... a really good car for the money...even with the brakes...because I had a similar problem...but with me it was a stuck brake caliper ...
“Why didn’t the last guy find this, Car Wizard?”...
“.... I don’t know”😂😂😂😂😂😂
They used the Car Lizard instead
I'm in Canada, close to NY and MI, with rough winter and salty roads. Seized slider pins are chronic.
You buy your teenager a 2 wheel drive ranger single cab. That way they don't drive all their friends around
I like your videos Car Wizard, I’d love to see more for a ‘98 Chevy K1500...I have to change a fuel pump soon I think...and as I am British these Chevy’s are all kind of new to me.
As a dad with a teenage daughter , good in you .
Teenage daughter is blessed to have Car wizard dad to fix her a car!. I was a bit surprised you didn't leave at least one calliper pin seized to show us how it is & how to release it!
The caliper pins are not cleaned and lubricated as part of Toyota's regular maintenance schedule?
Who says that the previous owner had it serviced by Toyota?
@@mmm365 Interesting. I drive Honda. Honda's "B1" service (as indicated by the automated "maintenance minder" system) is supposed to include brake clean and lubricate. There are Honda dealers with youtube channels who put up videos of their clean and lube job, which includes the caliper pins. What I've found at my dealer is that the B service brake clean and lube consisted of ticking a box off on a piece of paper and calling it good. Now I do it myself.
Most mechanic shops Don't relive the caliper guide pins when replacing the brake pads.
Guys like car wizard and Johnny do but most shops Don't to save time and money.
Good tip on the possibility of the swollen brake hose. Thanks Wizard