Alright - two problems here:

1. My ABS light has been coming on at random times since I bought my 1996 Avalon a year ago. It will stay on for a couple days, then go out for a week, etc. The system has kicked on at several different times in inclement weather, so I know it has worked in the past. When the light is on however, it will never work. The code I get when I run a diagnostic tells me that my ECU is bad and my mechanic told me the same thing from his diagnostic test. He said that it would continue to do this until the computer craps out. I think that finally happened a couple weeks ago, as my ABS light has been on ever since. This pisses me off and I want to fix it, but am smart enough to try to avoid Toyota and mechanics at all costs as I trust my own work most, and at least if something goes wrong, I can only blame me. How does the ECU go bad? Can it be reprogrammed? Can I replace it? How do I get to it? I can't find any schematics in any of the Haynes or Chiltons manuals and I feel like there has to be some trick to doing it. Any advice would be appreciated...

2. A while back I posted about a ripped CV Boot on the driver side. My dad and I fixed this, but during the process, when we pulled the CV joint out of the transmission, we also pulled out a small circular spring off of a seal right where the transmission connects to the joint. We tried to get the spring back in where it was supposed to be, but could not. We also couldn't get a new seal as it was 1 AM and I had to travel home 500 miles the next day. Unfortunately, that tiny little spring serves a purpose...

Now I drip transmission fluid from that joint whenever I come to a stop or park my car. It doesn't drip continuously, just until whatever oil that is spun up onto the surrounding parts drips off. After almost two months, my tranny fluid is getting low. I am pretty pissed off that such a little part is causing such a pain in my ass, but I do not have the tools to fix this problem myself, since I have moved away from my home. Does anyone have any ideas on how much this SHOULD cost to get fixed, as it is not an expensive part to replace I don't think, but does require the time to pull out the whole CV assembly. Toyota is telling me $500 - hell no! I don't even know what the part is that I need to replace, so if someone knows that, I would appreciate it.

I can't see putting that much money into this car as I only paid $6000 for it. I am thinking about selling it, but to be honest, other than the ABS light, being on, this Avalon has driven like a dream come true. It is fast, powerful, spacious, and just plain fun to drive. I never expected a sedan to drive so much like a sports car. Someone give me some guidance so I can save my Avalon!

Thanks,

NicB.

If your ECM has killed itself, you can replace it. You can either purchase a new one from Toyota, or online, or at a junkyard somewhere in your area. It's not that hard to replace, all you have to do is remove the glove box, and pull the carpeting back from the floor and there are two brackets for it, with two little nuts, unbolt it, and disconnect all of the electrical connections. As for your spring problem, you will probably have to take it to the dealer or a shop to have this done, and yes they will have to completely remove the whole axle assembly for that side in order to replace it. You could try to do this yourself by removing the axle, and trying to slip the spring over the splined end of the axleshaft before re-installing it, I've heard of this problem before, and some people have gotten it to work this way, and some haven't. But it couldn't hurt to try, you might save yourself $500.00

I'm having a similar problem.. I bought this car avalon 97 a couple of weeks ago.. And the ABS light comes on at random times.. (4 times till now) Three time it came on while after a drive I stopped the car to turn it off.. once it came on from the time i started drove about 20 mins and then turned it off..
Is it common in all 97 avalons.. or something i should be concerned about..

Also I have this weird fluttering sound for a few seconds when i first start the car drive it . It comes and goes.. its for a few seconds and in the initial part of the driving for a small distance lest than a 1/4 mile..
any one facing a similar problem..

I still have the warranty on it from the dealer for the brake drums and stuff for another few days and miles..

You should take it to the dealer and have them check your ABS system. It might actually be something wrong that could still be covered under warranty.