Just my luck…a few days ago, driving back from a road trip, my engine gave out. My Avalon is totaled. It’s a shame since I’d only had it for a few months, but I might just get another one because I love those bench seats and the roominess. Here’s hoping I can come back here with a new one someday soon.
So what exactly went wrong with the engine? How many miles were on it?
FaithJones said:
So what exactly went wrong with the engine? How many miles were on it?
It had just hit 200,000 miles a couple of weeks ago. There was a bad valve cover gasket, nothing too serious, and I planned to fix it after the trip. But it turns out I also had a head gasket leak, and the car overheated pretty bad. I stopped for a restroom break, and when I tried to start it again, it stalled, dumped all the oil, and made one last pop…
@Fallon
That’s rough. Those bench seat Avalons are hard to find these days. I’ve only seen one in person, and these cars are pushing 25-30 years old now. Do you think the previous owner might’ve overheated it before selling? How long did you own it? I remember a post about one of these here about 6-8 months back—was that you?
@FaithJones
Mine was one of the last models with bench seats, a 2002. I got it in early June, so I only had it a few months. It was my first car.
Fallon said:
@FaithJones
Mine was one of the last models with bench seats, a 2002. I got it in early June, so I only had it a few months. It was my first car.
Oh yeah, I remember your post on the bench seat Avalon now. It’s such a shame you had so little time with it. It sounds like the previous owner might’ve known something was up before selling. I don’t hear of Avalons having these kinds of engine issues, even older ones. Sorry you had to go through that with your first car.
@FaithJones
I bought it from a used dealership, and they supposedly inspected it. But when I got it checked after this happened, the shop told me the suspension and drivetrain were both on their last legs. It’s really too bad—I had big plans to lower it and put some nice rims on it. But I guess I’ll keep looking for another Avalon.
@Fallon
Well, at least you didn’t end up spending more money on it. Can the junkyard give you $500 for it?
FaithJones said:
@Fallon
Well, at least you didn’t end up spending more money on it. Can the junkyard give you $500 for it?
Maybe. I’m checking with the warranty company to see if they might cover some of the repairs, but it’s a long shot. I’ve been searching high and low for another Avalon with bench seats but no luck. I ended up buying an Altima for now, planning to sell it if I find the right Avalon.
@Fallon
Just be careful with the Altima; I’ve heard some stories about those CVT transmissions. Good luck finding another Avalon like yours—it might mean widening your search a few hundred miles.
FaithJones said:
@Fallon
Just be careful with the Altima; I’ve heard some stories about those CVT transmissions. Good luck finding another Avalon like yours—it might mean widening your search a few hundred miles.
I’ve expanded my search up to a thousand miles, but bench seat Avalons are rare. Mine was a 3.5 6-speed manual, so no CVT worries at least. But those bench seats are nearly impossible to find .
@Fallon
Have you checked with classic car groups or collectors? Sometimes they pop up there, especially for rare models.
FaithJones said:
@Fallon
Just be careful with the Altima; I’ve heard some stories about those CVT transmissions. Good luck finding another Avalon like yours—it might mean widening your search a few hundred miles.
I just found out that bench seats were an optional feature, and only around 8% of Avalons had them. No wonder I’m having a hard time finding one.
@Fallon
That makes sense. Good luck with the search, sounds like you’ll find it eventually .
I’ve got a 2000 Avalon with bench seats. Just did a tune-up—replaced the spark plugs and both the front and rear gaskets. Next up is front shocks, new axle, and four tires. Planning to keep it going for another five years.
@Derry
Hang on to that Avalon if you can—finding one with bench seats is a struggle. I’ve come across a few Avalons, but nothing with less than 250,000 miles and bench seats. Some XLS models have them, some don’t. I miss mine already.
@Fallon
This thing’s built like a tank. No plans to let it go.
Derry said:
@Fallon
This thing’s built like a tank. No plans to let it go.
That makes sense! Only 8% of Avalons had bench seats, so yours is a keeper.
Derry said:
@Fallon
This thing’s built like a tank. No plans to let it go.
That makes sense! Only 8% of Avalons had bench seats, so yours is a keeper.
No doubt about that.
Is the bench seat a must-have? I get that it’s rare, but is it essential?