Questions - New to Avalon

[volantis]

I purchased an Avalon in mid December. Love the car so far. Read the manual and found most of my answers, but I still have a few questions.

1. What is the preferred oil? The book says 5W30. Is that what everyone uses? Also, do most use synthetic or not?

2. Audio Text Button - My car has an XM subscription that is active. I press the Text button as described in the manual but nothing changes on the display. The car has nav.

3. XM Subscription - The car has an existing XM subscription. I have the XM ID, but no information came with the car on it. Is there a way to check how long I have or anything like that? I looked on XM's site but it wants billing info.

4. Tire Pressure - What do people like to run? I put in 32-33 and got a bit over 30 MPG on the interstate going through the mountains.

5. Backup Sensor - I didn't expect the car to have this, but it was on it when I went to look at it. It's just the audial older type, but is that a standard Limited option or typical add on?

The car has been incredible so far. Just feels so well put together. I'd say I'm most impressed with the laser cruise control so far. Thanks in advance for any input.

[Kycamrymaker]

Congrats on your new Avalon!!! Can't answer all but will try some. The text button should change your display from the preset screen to the title screen when on XM or CD when playing MP3's or in your USB mode. The backup sensors are an add on generally they have a backup camera factory installed that works with the nav system. The tire pressures should be inside your door, I run rec. Inflations from the factory. These are decided by the tire mfgs to provide the best overall fuel consumption with the best ride/sound from the tire. Oil is your preference, I use full synthetic in mine and many people I know use them with great success, we prefer Amsoil with the trd filters. Cost is a bit more but no need to change it for 10,000 miles. Even Toyota recommends this interval with synthetic oils. As far as how much time is left on your subscription I don't know how you can find that out from the radio itself. Hope this helps ya.

[volantis]

Originally Posted by Kycamrymaker

Congrats on your new Avalon!!! Can't answer all but will try some. The text button should change your display from the preset screen to the title screen when on XM or CD when playing MP3's or in your USB mode. The backup sensors are an add on generally they have a backup camera factory installed that works with the nav system. The tire pressures should be inside your door, I run rec. Inflations from the factory. These are decided by the tire mfgs to provide the best overall fuel consumption with the best ride/sound from the tire. Oil is your preference, I use full synthetic in mine and many people I know use them with great success, we prefer Amsoil with the trd filters. Cost is a bit more but no need to change it for 10,000 miles. Even Toyota recommends this interval with synthetic oils. As far as how much time is left on your subscription I don't know how you can find that out from the radio itself. Hope this helps ya.

Thanks a lot. Can you elaborate on the Text button? I press it with XM but nothing happens. Right now it shows the title of the station up top and then Title and Name down below. However, none are full names, as they only have so many characters. I tried pressing the Text button a few times and pressing and holding it. Is there something else to do or a chance it's not available for some reason?

Thanks for the input.

[Kycamrymaker]

No that's all it does for ya. Wish it did do more but with the radio, MP3, CDs and other titles that are larger and support scrolling it will do a banner type visual on the screen but nothing more. Not as elaborate as the aftermarket types but it offer a change for a factory type stereo.

[Seneca]

Congratulations on the new Avalon. Nice to see another post from the Knoxville, TN area. I see a lot of 3rd generation cars locally.

Tire pressures - I run 35 psi.

Oil - I use 5W30 as recommended. My Avalon doesn't get a lot of mileage, so I do an oil service twice a year. I do not use synthetic oil.

No information on XM radio.

Backup Sensor - Not listed as a factory option for my car. You might check with the dealer. I've found them helpful.

[boosted-fc3s]

Backup Cam and Backup Sensors were not factory options on the '05-'10. You didn't say what year avalon you have. Anything of that nature was dealer added or aftermarket. Backup cam is part of the nav system on the new 2011.

[volantis]

Originally Posted by boosted-fc3s

Backup Cam and Backup Sensors were not factory options on the '05-'10. You didn't say what year avalon you have. Anything of that nature was dealer added or aftermarket. Backup cam is part of the nav system on the new 2011.

It's an 08 Limited. I figured with the audible backup it wasn't an option typically integrated. Interesting.

[volantis]

Thanks for all the replies. Great info.

A few more questions:

1. I've seen mention of a software update for the transmission. It's an 08 with the 6 speed and nothing shows in the Toyota recall campaigns. Is that something my car would need and how would I go about it w/ a local dealer if so?

2. Are the tire pressure sensors legit pressure sensors? If so, can you get the pressure data anywhere? The valve stems seem more substantial than normal

3. XM Radio - The text button doesn't do anything at all for me. Should it? It's frustrating seeing the titles for songs and artists cut off after 8 or 10 letters or whatever it is with all that extra space. I can't get it to any other kind of screen than the default.

4. Do people actually go 10k miles between oil changes? That's a long time. I figure I'll use Mobil 1 synthetic unless there's a preferred brand. (As a side note, when synthetic oil first came out they recommended 30k miles between oil changes, but soon realized the oil got dirty from stuff in the air much too quickly to last that long).

[boosted-fc3s]

1) Nothing for the 6 speed was required. the 05-07 5 speed has a software update to improve the smoothness.

2) Yes, No. Only way to read the pressure is with an OBDII Scan Tool I assume. You only get the "idiot" light on the dash if the pressure drops a certain % from when it was last reset. You're supposed to reset the TPMS with the button under the dash everytime you top up the pressure in your tires.

3) Join the club. Everything is cut off. Common Complaint.

4) I dont. My service light comes on after 5k. I run full synthetic and go about 7k.

[Tom in Tacoma]

Regarding oil and changes, I (that's actually the dealer) change the oil every 5,000 miles religiously. The light comes on the dash - I schedule the appointment. The dealer uses Castrol Syntec, a synthetic blend.

[joedr]

RE: your XM subscription - write down your VIN number & call the XM folks, they'll tell you when your subscription expires and what it currently covers as far as the radio stations. As an aside, when I bought my new Avy there was a 3 month trial period then they wanted what I thought was big bucks to continue the subscription. I didn't do it & ~4-6 weeks later they sent me an offer to renew for less than 1/2 price without the reconnect charge. So now I have all the channels for $77 year.

[arabianobsession]

Originally Posted by volantis

Thanks a lot. Can you elaborate on the Text button? I press it with XM but nothing happens. Right now it shows the title of the station up top and then Title and Name down below. However, none are full names, as they only have so many characters. I tried pressing the Text button a few times and pressing and holding it. Is there something else to do or a chance it's not available for some reason?

Thanks for the input.

Text is not available while you're driving 5 mph or faster. When you're stationery you can view the full screen.

Originally Posted by volantis

Thanks for all the replies. Great info.

A few more questions:

1. I've seen mention of a software update for the transmission. It's an 08 with the 6 speed and nothing shows in the Toyota recall campaigns. Is that something my car would need and how would I go about it w/ a local dealer if so?

2. Are the tire pressure sensors legit pressure sensors? If so, can you get the pressure data anywhere? The valve stems seem more substantial than normal

3. XM Radio - The text button doesn't do anything at all for me. Should it? It's frustrating seeing the titles for songs and artists cut off after 8 or 10 letters or whatever it is with all that extra space. I can't get it to any other kind of screen than the default.

4. Do people actually go 10k miles between oil changes? That's a long time. I figure I'll use Mobil 1 synthetic unless there's a preferred brand. (As a side note, when synthetic oil first came out they recommended 30k miles between oil changes, but soon realized the oil got dirty from stuff in the air much too quickly to last that long).

1) Not sure
2) They're more substantial because the sensor is connected to the actual "stem"...it's a one piece assembly with a nut to tighten it to the wheel.
3) See above answer
4) With your Avalon, since it's 5w30, even with synthetic oil, you MUST change the oil every 5k or 6 months.

Originally Posted by boosted-fc3s

1) Nothing for the 6 speed was required. the 05-07 5 speed has a software update to improve the smoothness.

2) Yes, No. Only way to read the pressure is with an OBDII Scan Tool I assume. You only get the "idiot" light on the dash if the pressure drops a certain % from when it was last reset. You're supposed to reset the TPMS with the button under the dash everytime you top up the pressure in your tires.

3) Join the club. Everything is cut off. Common Complaint.

4) I dont. My service light comes on after 5k. I run full synthetic and go about 7k.

2) Actually....you can still read the pressure with a cheapo $1 tire pressure gauge from Walmart, Auto Zone, O'Reilly's, etc.

[arabianobsession]

Synthetic Oil Update
This should help with the oil questions...with the Avalon it is the same for 2010 as 2011.

[boosted-fc3s]

Originally Posted by arabianobsession

2) Actually....you can still read the pressure with a cheapo $1 tire pressure gauge from Walmart, Auto Zone, O'Reilly's, etc.

That was assumed. He was talking about in car.

[arabianobsession]

Originally Posted by boosted-fc3s

1)
2) Yes, No. Only way to read the pressure is with an OBDII Scan Tool I assume. You only get the "idiot" light on the dash if the pressure drops a certain % from when it was last reset. You're supposed to reset the TPMS with the button under the dash everytime you top up the pressure in your tires..

Doesn't sound "assumed" to me.
Just clarifying it. You can get specific pressures from each tire with the scan tool, but that option is rarely, if ever, going to be used because using a tire pressure gauge is faster and more readily available.