# Engine Computer Electric control Unit (ECU) (Passenger Side side dash) 4x4 Automatic, 118,000kms

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-computer-electric-control-unit-ecu-passenger-side-side-dash-4x4-automatic-118-000kms/77168>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** rav4, toyota\
**Created:** [February 5, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-computer-electric-control-unit-ecu-passenger-side-side-dash-4x4-automatic-118-000kms/77168 "2013-02-05T05:43:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![phennig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/22d042/32.png) [@phennig](https://community.cartalk.com/u/phennig)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-computer-electric-control-unit-ecu-passenger-side-side-dash-4x4-automatic-118-000kms/77168/1 "2013-02-05T05:43:51Z")

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'97 Toyota RAV 4 automatic, 118,000kms

for several months, while idling at stops, a “rumbly-rattling” noise sounds like it’s coming from under the hood on the passenger side [near brand new battery]

totally cleaned out everything physical inside car that could be making the noise; checked the body, undercarriage, etc… found nothing & no improvement

have been out with our mechanic twice for him to hear the noise but it never happened when he was listening even going through a tunnel for acoustic echo  
random occasional occurrence which doesn’t always happen while idling – but will mysteriously reoccur without any apparent difference in conditions, such as on the level, or declining/ascending slope, incline, pitch; (seniors)we never suddenly brake while driving too fast; nor neglect regular maintenance schedule

now, late one cold night, as always in 2nd gear to climb our steep S-curves hill, returning into indoor garage, just as I slowed down & stopped to carefully turn into our tight cement column defined parking space: without any warning suddenly there was no gas response when I softly accelerated to gently get past the column – the “check transmission” light was lit up – after turning the ignition OFF – waited a minute & successfully restarted the car to finish parking – the next morning everything was fine, but I could still hear the same noise and when searching online – learnt about expensive ECU problems that much newer more recent & different models of Toyotas have been having, including computer recalibration mistakes which destroyed their transmissions – $$$$$$$$$

if anyone else has this wonderful “truck” and enjoys it and cares for it as much as we do – and hopefully like us has had nothing major ever go wrong – BUT has had a similar idling rattle which you identified and were able to correct – please share with us your experience with as much detail as you care to provide

thanking you all in anticipation  
this is an exceptional social network  
& it goes without saying, but with our VPR donation bumper sticker proudly showing,  
it must be said, VPR is #1 out of only three stations that we can & choose to listen to  
without VPR our lives would be lack civilized discussion, balance, humour and hope

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 4:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-computer-electric-control-unit-ecu-passenger-side-side-dash-4x4-automatic-118-000kms/77168/2 "2013-02-06T04:54:20Z")

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Start by having the ECU checked for stored fault codes. Post them here and we’ll try to help.