Does a 1997 Rav4 "L" have ABS?

"Ted" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:9Y%[email protected]
> I can't find anything about standard equipment.
>
> Anyone know if the L included ABS?
>

Are you interested in buying a Rav and need to find out if it has ABS?

I was thinking the easy way to find out would be to start the engine and
watch to see if you have an ABS indicator light up during start-up. Our 00
has ABS and does this. Our 99 does not have ABS and no light shows up.

However, I'm not absolutely 100% sure there might be reasons why the light
wouldn't be a good indicator.

I guess the best way to find out would be to drive over something slippery
and mash the brakes. If you get the characteristic ABS chatter, you've got
ABS.

We've got plenty of icy roads here, you're welcome to borrow them.

"DH" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> "Ted" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:9Y%[email protected]
>> I can't find anything about standard equipment.
>>
>> Anyone know if the L included ABS?
>>
>
> Are you interested in buying a Rav and need to find out if it has ABS?
>

That is correct. The car is 20 miles away, and I don't want to bother
looking at it if it doesn't have ABS.

>
> We've got plenty of icy roads here, you're welcome to borrow them.
>

Wish I could. The ski resorts are actually closing here because there is no
snow, and it is too warm to make any.

"Ted" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]
>
> "DH" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]
> > "Ted" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:9Y%[email protected]
> >> I can't find anything about standard equipment.
> >>
> >> Anyone know if the L included ABS?
> >>
> >
> > Are you interested in buying a Rav and need to find out if it has ABS?
> >
>
> That is correct. The car is 20 miles away, and I don't want to bother
> looking at it if it doesn't have ABS.
>
> >
> > We've got plenty of icy roads here, you're welcome to borrow them.
> >
>
> Wish I could. The ski resorts are actually closing here because there is
no
> snow, and it is too warm to make any.
>
>

Did you try the Yahoo Rav4 group? There's not a lot of daily message
traffic there but many of the members have older Ravs and could tell you
whether or not their L's have ABS; that would at least give you a clue
whether the trip would be worth it. Even if it wasn't part of the L
package, per se, but was commonly packaged with it that would probably work
out for you. I suppose you could also try the Yahoo Toyotas_only group,
too.

Good luck finding a nice car and getting some snow.

Just out of curiosity, how many miles on the Rav and how much is the owner
asking? The prices on used Ravs around here appear to have risen
dramatically in the last 9 months. In last March or April, I could choose
from several 5 year-old Ravs with 60K to 80K miles for $8K to a little over
$9K (and I got an exceptionally nice one from a Toyota dealer for $9200).
Now, I don't seem to see any that meets those criteria for less than $11K.

"DH" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> "Ted" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news[email protected]
>>
>> "DH" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]
>> > "Ted" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> > news:9Y%[email protected]
>> >> I can't find anything about standard equipment.
>> >>
>> >> Anyone know if the L included ABS?
>> >>
>> >
>> > Are you interested in buying a Rav and need to find out if it has ABS?
>> >
>>
>> That is correct. The car is 20 miles away, and I don't want to bother
>> looking at it if it doesn't have ABS.
>>
>> >
>> > We've got plenty of icy roads here, you're welcome to borrow them.
>> >
>>
>> Wish I could. The ski resorts are actually closing here because there is
> no
>> snow, and it is too warm to make any.
>>
>>
>
> Did you try the Yahoo Rav4 group? There's not a lot of daily message
> traffic there but many of the members have older Ravs and could tell you
> whether or not their L's have ABS; that would at least give you a clue
> whether the trip would be worth it. Even if it wasn't part of the L
> package, per se, but was commonly packaged with it that would probably
> work
> out for you. I suppose you could also try the Yahoo Toyotas_only group,
> too.
>
> Good luck finding a nice car and getting some snow.
>
> Just out of curiosity, how many miles on the Rav and how much is the owner
> asking? The prices on used Ravs around here appear to have risen
> dramatically in the last 9 months. In last March or April, I could choose
> from several 5 year-old Ravs with 60K to 80K miles for $8K to a little
> over
> $9K (and I got an exceptionally nice one from a Toyota dealer for $9200).
> Now, I don't seem to see any that meets those criteria for less than $11K.
>
It has 99,000 miles. He wants $4,400 for it. Claims all it needs is new
brakes.
It is 4wd, but ABS would be nice also.
I know you can't have everything, unless you are willing to pay for it.

I will check out the yahoo site. Thanks.

Here's the test

Turn the key to ON, as if you were going to Start the car, but do not start
it.
Scan the instrument cluster for a symbol that says ABS.

If there is the symbol, you have ABS, if not then you don't.




"Ted" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:9Y%[email protected]
>I can't find anything about standard equipment.
>
> Anyone know if the L included ABS?
>
>

"DH" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> "Ted" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:9Y%[email protected]
>> I can't find anything about standard equipment.
>>
>> Anyone know if the L included ABS?
>>
>
> Are you interested in buying a Rav and need to find out if it has ABS?
>
> I was thinking the easy way to find out would be to start the engine and
> watch to see if you have an ABS indicator light up during start-up. Our
> 00
> has ABS and does this. Our 99 does not have ABS and no light shows up.
>
> However, I'm not absolutely 100% sure there might be reasons why the light
> wouldn't be a good indicator.
>
> I guess the best way to find out would be to drive over something slippery
> and mash the brakes. If you get the characteristic ABS chatter, you've
> got
> ABS.
>
> We've got plenty of icy roads here, you're welcome to borrow them.
>
>

Therej is no reason why the light, or the lack or it, would indicate if
there is an ABS system or not.

The ABS system is designed to be transparent -- it works without the driver
actively doing anything. If the ABS system goes offline for any reason, the
ABS light comes on to alert the driver that the system is inactive -- the
wheels can lock if the driver trys hard enough. ABS is designed to prevent
wheel lock and maintain driver control over the vehicle. If ABS fails, the
driver should be told so he won't do something that can result in the loss
of control, ie; mash the brake pedal to the point that the wheels lock up.

ABS goes through a self test when the ignition is switched to ON, then the
light should be on, and it should never come on again. If it does, then the
system is inoperative. If there is no light, then there is no ABS system
installed.