[Harktoy]

For the first time since I purchased my 2017 RAV4 am now wondering if I made the right choice or not.
The 1999 Toyota Camry I had prior was a dream to work on. Seems like everything of importance to maintain was right there in front of you when you opened the hood.

My RAV just turned over 60,000 miles and I see in my Toyota Maintenance & Warranty Manual it lists for the first time to replace the PCV valve. Having memories of my Camry, I thought..... "NO PROLEMO". $10.00 bucks and ten minutes later I whould have it licked".

I went to my handy NAPA store picked up the PCV valve for $14.00 bucks looking forward to getting this little job behind me. WRONGO!!!!
I popped the hood only to find the PCV to be nowhere in sight. Then going to my Haynes manual, I FELL OUT OF MY CHAIR when I leaned that I had to PRACTICALLY DISASSEMBLE HALF THE DARN ENGINE IN ORDER TO JUST GET TO THE PCV VALVE!!!! I immediately thought..... "WHAT IN SAM HILL WAS THE TOYOTA ENGINEERS THINKING??" Being increasingly suspicious as I am these days, I suspect Toyota engineers must lay awake at night trying to dream up ways to mess with our heads and our wallets.

Now I'm boiling at the thought that I'm goijng to have to pay Toyota dealership around $500.00 bucks or so just to replace a lousy $14.00 part. To say the least I am absolutely livid over this.
What's it going to be next? Are the engineers going to bury the air or oil filter on the backside of the engine block so the owner cannot change their own oil or air filter.

This is making my head explode.

 

[CarParts.com]

For the first time since I purchased my 2017 RAV4 am now wondering if I made the right choice or not.
The 1999 Toyota Camry I had prior was a dream to work on. Seems like everything of importance to maintain was right there in front of you when you opened the hood.

My RAV just turned over 60,000 miles and I see in my Toyota Maintenance & Warranty Manual it lists for the first time to replace the PCV valve. Having memories of my Camry, I thought..... "NO PROLEMO". $10.00 bucks and ten minutes later I whould have it licked".

I went to my handy NAPA store picked up the PCV valve for $14.00 bucks looking forward to getting this little job behind me. WRONGO!!!!
I popped the hood only to find the PCV to be nowhere in sight. Then going to my Haynes manual, I FELL OUT OF MY CHAIR when I leaned that I had to PRACTICALLY DISASSEMBLE HALF THE DARN ENGINE IN ORDER TO JUST GET TO THE PCV VALVE!!!! I immediately thought..... "WHAT IN SAM HILL WAS THE TOYOTA ENGINEERS THINKING??" Being increasingly suspicious as I am these days, I suspect Toyota engineers must lay awake at night trying to dream up ways to mess with our heads and our wallets.

Now I'm boiling at the thought that I'm goijng to have to pay Toyota dealership around $500.00 bucks or so just to replace a lousy $14.00 part. To say the least I am absolutely livid over this.
What's it going to be next? Are the engineers going to bury the air or oil filter on the backside of the engine block so the owner cannot change their own oil or air filter.

This is making my head explode.

Hello,

You're correct that the factory repair information (and the Haynes manual, it sounds like) recommends removing the intake manifold to access the PCV valve. Can you possibly sneak it out from below, as this video demonstrates?

 

[kranat007]

I know it's on a Camry, but same engine...

 

[retiredat444]

I know it is not real easy, but this looks pretty easy to me, and I am very sick.. (disabled)
2015 Rav4 PCV Valve Replacement - YouTube

IMHO

 

[Harktoy]

I know it is not real easy, but this looks pretty easy to me, and I am very sick.. (disabled)
2015 Rav4 PCV Valve Replacement - YouTube

IMHO

Thanks for the video. I have seen a few of these videos. They mention disconnecting the sensor, but don't really show how to do it. I did a front brake job the other day and was going to change the PCV valve while I already had the tire off the car, and I could not for the life of me figure out how unplug and get that sensor wire out of the way. I tried squeezing, pressing and pulling every which way imaginable and can't get it unplugged. I must not be holding my mouth right or something.
Also, in none of the videos I've seen does anyone addresses getting the PCV valve hose and clip back on after pulling it off. In that confined space, I could imagine it to be a potential nightmare.

 

[kranat007]

The one I referenced the mechanic sprays a little silicone lube into the hose to aid in sliding it on.