Electronic Diagnostics: Toyota Avensis 2.0D
Kim Henson and Edward Haggar take a look at the electronic diagnostic aspects of this model.
Toyota’s Derbyshire-built firstgeneration (T220) Avensis was introduced in 1997 and ran until 2002, with second-generation (T250) models arriving early in 2003 and produced until 2009 (when the third-generation Avensis was launched).
This feature concentrates on the second-generation Avensis, produced in four-door saloon, five-door hatchback and five-door estate car forms. All Avensis models were praised for their reliability, comfort and practicality.
Engine choices were between 1.6-, 1.8-, 2.0- and 2.4-litre petrol units, or 2.0-litre ‘D-4D’ and 2.2-litre D-4D diesel units. The D-4D motors employed very high fuel pressures within a common-rail supply system, to optimise performance, emissions and fuel consumption.
The fuel is delivered to the engine via solenoid-type Denso injectors.
The second-generation cars were facelifted in 2006, with a raft of upgrades – with the 2.0-litre diesel motors uprated to produce more power.
Our vehicle here is a 2004 Avensis with the 2.0-litre D-4D engine, and our guide to the diagnostic aspects of this Toyota’s power unit is Edward Haggar.
Edward adds that these Toyotas are made of strong stuff and are renowned for their mechanical longevity and reliability, given proper servicing.
He keeps an eye on local taxi fleet cars, which are involved in constant stop-start running that is hard on a vehicle, and says that in the 2000s these Avensis models were the car of choice for taxi drivers.
He goes on to say that it is not unusual to find examples that have clocked up in excess of 200,000 miles – given frequent, correct maintenance – and he knows of one car that has covered 480,000 miles so far, and still running on the original mechanical internal components.
Edward feels that the only minus point is that, compared with, say, the Peugeot/citroën HDI turbodiesel engines, the Toyota units are a little more noisy in operation.
For UK owners of any Toyotas that have reached 150,000 miles, there is a ‘Toyota High Mile Club’ operated via Toyota GB, and if you can prove – by means of a photograph of the vehicle’s mileage recorder – your car’s mileage, you will receive appropriate stickers. More are available as the mileage climbs further – bronze-tinted for 150,000 miles, silver for 200,000 miles and gold for 300,000 miles! For more information, go to: https://blog.toyota. co.uk/high-mile-club