Engine high idle

DILSHAN DIAS

MEMBER
2011 TOYOTA RAV4
2.4L
4 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
40,000 MILES

Recently bought the vehicle listed above with 70,000 kms on the clock. Did a full service which includes, engine oil and filter change, CVT fluid change, brake fluid change, coolant change, engine tune up and replacement of spark plugs. After this was done I noticed that the engine revs hang around 1,500 rpm's when slowing down or braking at slow moving traffic speeds. If I accelerate again there is a slight jerk and the engine suddenly revs up to 2,000 rpm's. It’s a bit like when you don’t fully release the clutch when driving a manual vehicle and the engine revs up when shifting through low gears. A bit worried as the car was fine when I bought it. Transmission oil was last changed in 2015. What should I get checked?

3 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,014 POSTS

Was it Toyota CVT fluid you used in the CVT? Those can be touchy about the fluid used in them. Next I would check that everything was reconnected after it was done. A loose vacuum line could cause the higher rpm. What was done for the tune up? Was the throttle body cleaned as part of it?

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Thursday, September 10th, 2020 AT 10:59 AM

DILSHAN DIAS

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thank you very much for the reply. Yes, it was Toyota CVT oil W/S that was used. This was the same oil used in 2015 as well as per service records. How can I check the loose vacuum line? Do I have to drain out the CVT fluid again? Yes, the throttle body was cleaned when doing the clean up. It was full of carbon deposit. As this was the first time it was cleaned since the vehicle was purchased in 2011.

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Thursday, September 10th, 2020 AT 4:49 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,014 POSTS

With the throttle body cleaned did you do a reset on the learned idle? To do that you remove the EFI fuse and ETCS fuse at the same time. Wait at least 60 seconds and reconnect the fuses. When you start it the system may take a bit to re-learn the idle speed.
For vacuum leaks you can use the image as a guide, the easy way is to use a can of carb cleaner and spray it at the various lines and connectors and listen for the engine to rev up indicating there is a leak. You shouldn't need to bother with the CVT fluid.

Image (Click to make bigger)