Toyota Solara

hydrozz

well i live in nj, so i guess you can say the temps around here are pretty chilly, esp. now....and i drive mostly highway miles, well if u want to call them that b/c the traffic is kinda horrendous here...i usually fill up when theres a 1/4 left in the tank and the miles are usually around 270-290, if u calculate that, its only around 360 miles per tank and that doesnt seem right. the epa says 20/27 city/hwy and i just dont seem to get those numbers....im sure if i goto my dealer they are just gonna say its normal...any suggestions??

cliffy1

Don't look at the needle. Check your actual gas mileage before you even think about worrying.

ral2167

i either read someplace or saw a tv show that says that in the not so distant future, the air conditioner won't be running via a belt attached to the engine, but rather via electronics or something--- the gist of which that use of air conditioner won't hurt gas mileage due to no load on the engine. they also say that radios in the near future will be digital in that the stations will be satellite stations, like you can get on satellite or cable tv. i would say all this is within 5 years? 10 at most?

i'm going to calculate my gas mileage, as it seems in the winter i agree gas mileage seems less; what you do is fill that baby to the top, set the trip odometer to 0, then travel for a good 300 to 400 miles, then fill up to the top again, then do some long division....

automophile

I see that no one has addressed this yet.

The rear speaker grilles are attached to the rear shelf. DO NOT try to pry them off - you will break them.

To change the speakers, you must first tilt down the rear seat backs, then remove the clips holding the shelf in place. The seat belts go through the shelf - I have not yet gone further to see how to pull the shelf down with the belts attached so I can remove the so-so speakers and replace with some good ones. I also plan to replace at least the front tweeters with some larger ones for better midrange.

I figure it's worth the $50 to pay a local installer for the labor headache!

szym2

I'm planning on purchasing a 2001 Solara SLE-V6. Test drove the car I was planning on purchasing last night. It pulled to my right causing me to turn the wheel to my left to keep it in the center not turning it caused to to pull directly to the curb I also drove a different Solar which didn't do this. After reading the above messages I'm concerned about completing the purchase. Are all Solar's having this problem? Should I wait for a different car with the color I want? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

ral2167

i would say if the car pulls to the right during a test drive, don't buy it-- they'll never get it right...and once the dealership gets your money, their motivation to fix it is much less.... just an opinion.

hydrozz

ok cliffy1, for this tank i am not going to fill up til i hit the light and i will let you know how many miles i get...how many do you usually get per tank? it just seems something is wrong w/ my car b/c sometimes i smeel this odor when i am revving the engine hard. maybe the ecu needs to relearn the mixture?? i was thiking about disocnnecting the battery but i dont know, what do you think?

cliffy1

That isn't how you check your mileage. The next time you fill up, reset your trip meter. When you will up again, take the total miles and divide by the exact number of gallons. If you are in the 22 to 26 range, you're in good shape.

2k1trd

Try driving another solara to see if it pulls.I have a 00 SE V6 and it's been tottaly awesome!

hydrozz

ok well i just filled up when i got home from work and my trip was 238 mi on 11.56 gallons. do the math and it averages out to 20 mpg which is not what i should be getting. tho a lot of my miles to and from work are highway, theres mad traffic sometimes so that could account for the low mileage but still doesnt explain why i have never gone past 20 mpg. my car also exibits the alignment to the left syndrome that everyone else is having and that may be causing lower mileage but im not sure. i will probably just wait til my next oil change and ask the dealer whats wrong. also, at around 750 mi, i wasnt following the break-in schedule b/c i just couldnt bear to drive that slow anymore, u think that could of caused damage to the engine?

elgriton

You might want to post your question at www.camryman.org. I do recall someone on there going thru a long process to change his 6x9 and gave details concerning the entire process.

cardude4

I do not notice much difference in milage from when my car pulled to the left, and now that it drives almost straight. That is 1 positive thing I can say about my Solara. I always get about 22(ish) miles to the gallon, with premium gas. My 2 cents to the person test driving cars, and the one that pulls to the right, is DO NOT BUY IT!!! You will have more grief from this than if you smashed your new car the first day you purchased it. Not only is it frustrating to get the problem resolved, but it is very, very dangerous to drive. My pulling to the left problem was only apparent at highway speeds, and highway speeds are not always 55 mph. Moving with traffic, you get up to 80 or 90 sometimes, and don't want you car jumping 3-4 lanes in 5 seconds (Like my car), if you change hand positions on the wheel, answer the mobile phone, or whatever else distracts you from the wheel, which can be the reality with a badly aligned car. After 2 alignments, my car was still 13 degrees out of alignment. The third alignment they got it 0 and -.01. You will be sorry if you buy it, and it's pulling from day 1!

cliffy1

Pulling means it takes effort to keep the car going straight. Drifting means when you take your hands off the wheel, it drifts one way or another. Pulling is an alignment problem, drifitng isn't.

black00

Just out of curiosity I checked out Toyota Japan's website. Even tough I can't understand Japanese at all, there are a few words in English and it is intuitive to just click at the links, if you're interested in just seeing their line-up.
Sedans alone they have about 22 different models, including the ones that are sold under the Lexus brand here in the U.S.!
Here's a link. If you don't have support for Japanese, you'll be prompted to install it in MS IE or you may see lots of boxes if you have Netscape 4.7 (either way you can still see the pictures).
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/frame.html

black00

Here is Japanese Corolla from toyota.co.jp

radracer

that's the new redesigned corolla. what we get in the US will be similar to it.

hydrozz

i read somewhere thats supposed to be the 2002 or 03 model

2k1trd

YUCK!

mmccloskey

Hi all:

I have a 2K SLE and have noticed a small area on the muffler where the black paint is peeling off. I purchased some flat black 'Plasti-kote' brand engine enamel that's supposed to withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees. I cleaned, then sprayed the peeling area with the paint, let it dry a bit, then drove the car for about 20 minutes to 'cure' the paint application. I recall others mentioning paint peeling from their mufflers and was wondering if the steps I took will remedy the peeling paint situation.

Other than the above, my SLE (w/moonroof, traction, side air bags, in-dash 6 disk changer, mats) has been outstanding. No pulling to the left, no squeaks, rattles, loose trim or other quality problems. I get between 26 & 27 MPG with 95% highway (60-65 MPH). I now have about 12,500 miles and expect to accumulate many more trouble-free miles.

Still smooth & creamy -

MMCCLOSKEY - 2K SLE V6 - Silverstream

phatnastycat

I just discovered this place and spent some time catching up on the discussion. I noticed that some others have had the same problem with their Solara favoring the left side of the road. While I am sorry others have experienced this problem, it also good to know that I am not alone in this. I have had a great relationship with a local srvc mgr in trying to resolve the problem. He has tried many things including alignments, new tires, checking the front end specs in the body shop, etc. Unfortunately, any fix has been temporary. Just curious if anyone has had any luck in getting the problem completely resolved and what fixed it?
I love my Solara otherwise (and highly recommend the car). Mine is a '99 Diamond White SLE.

cliffy1

There is a big difference between a drift and a pull. Drifting is quite normal. When you let go of your wheel, all cars will drift in the direction of the road crown. The road may look flat but it has a slight crown to aid in drainage. If you are in the left lane, the crown is to the left on most roads. If you are in the right lane, it will drift to the right in most cases.

If you let go of your wheel and it pulls hard, that is an indication of an alignment problem. If it takes effort to keep in a straight line, that is also an alignment problem. Be careful not to confuse the two.

phatnastycat

It's definetly a pull then and it's not an aligment or tire issue. If I let go of the steering wheel it will almost immediately pull to the left and I will have to steer the car back over to the right to get it back straight. I basically have to drive with the steering wheel turned slightly to the right to keep the car straight. I am 100% postive that it isn't just riding the crown. I have had the alignment checked repeatedly and as recently as a few weeks ago I had another aligment done and the tires rotated. The tires only have about 3-5K miles on them since they were replaced by the dealer a few months back. I have had it aligned at 3 different dealerships to make sure it just wasn't a problem with an alignment machine problem. The dealership I have been working with for the past year uses one of the laser-guided (I hope I am using the right terminology) alignment machines.
The service dept mgr has been working with me on this problem for over a year and has been unable to solve the problem. I wish it was as simple as an alignment or tire problem, because then it would have surely been resolved after 2 years of attempts from 3 different dealerships.
Any solutions/recommendations anyone has would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

2k1trd

Is there anyway you could post your alignment specs,i would like to see them.Pulling problems are caused by caster variations.

cliffy1

One thing you may want to do is to take it to an alignment specialist. This is dealership herresey but you may have a simple problem. The Tundra truck can suffer from something similar. Toyota publishes specifications for alignment which has tolerances. This means there is a wide range of settings that will still be within "spec." As a dealership, we can only set the alignment to factory specs and most stores don't have the experience nor equipment to fine tune it.

An alignment specialist may find one setting that will cure your pulling problem. Unfortunately, you will have to pay for this yourself. Since the car is with Toyota's alignment specifications, it will not be covered under warranty but I'll bet you can cure this outside a Toyota dealership.

solara1

hey all.... just wondering who it was that posted back in sept. who mentioned that they had a clunk like sound when they went over a bump that caused the wheel to fall. i have an SLE that i have had since sept. of 98' it is a perfect car.... have 40,000 miles this noise just started in the last month.... i have had it checked out by a private mechanic and he siad nothing to worry about... the oise is annoying to me though... others riding don't notice it...

thanks for any response
solara1

cardude4

Anyone with a pulling Solara KNOWS that they have a pulling Solara. If in doubt, drive anyone elses car, even one that has an alignment problem, and chances are it will not pull like a pulling Solara. Out of the wrapper, these car seem to have a predisposition to be poorly aligned, have some front end geometery problem, or are poorly put together, or aligned in Ontario. They look nice, for the type of car that they are. But so do Chryslers, and look at all the build and quality problems they have! Earlier in the postings their was a lady that was complaining about the sludge problems, alignment problems etc etc etc, and the site she redirected people with problesm to gave a variety of Toyota "Camry" problems. My advise, is LEASE, do not spend your hard earned cash on a Solara! Next car I buy I will not be so easily swayed by the masses, and make a more rational decision. There are more good quality cars out there than Toyota and Honda. Some may argue, but I don't see any difference between Toyota quality and any other car I have driven.

bgerwe

can anybody tell me what the widest tire i can put on my solara after putting the lowering springs and struts is? im looking at either 235/45/17 or 235/40/18 without having it rub at all.
will it work?
also, anyone have a comment on mille miglia wheels??
thanks
brian

wskbear

What is everyone's opinion on the tires? I seem to be replacing my Bridge stones quite often, every 25,000 or so. I am a travelling salesman in northern NJ and I rack up a lot of highway miles, but I thought I would be getting better wear on them then this. How are the Michellins holding up?

Will
99 DE V6
sand drift metallic

automophile

Solara1
The problem is in the strut towers - the mounting hole for the struts is a LITTLE oversize, so the bolt can move a little in the hole, making the clunk. Other than the noise, it causes no harm. My dealer brought this to my attention, and offered to make the changes, and now - no more clunk! There must be a TSB on this, but I am not sure.

speedracer

Solara1
Automophile is correct about the strut tower problem. I had the same "flunking" sound on my '99 DE V6 5-sp. I brought it into the dealer to look at that and a small leak in my transmission. The etch said that there is a TB for the '98-'99 Carry's but not the Solara's. They change some mounting brackets, since the factory re was in that day and thought that the faulty brackets might have been installed on early model Solara's. As for my transmission, at 57K, the dealership ended up replacing it with a new one. Apparently my leak was a faulty transmission casing that was cased at the factory incorrectly.

Happy Motoring!

speedracer

Solara1
Automophile is correct about the strut tower problem. I had the same "clunking" sound on my '99 SE V6 5-sp. I brought it into the dealer to look at that and a small leak in my transmission. The tech said that there is a TSB for the '98-'99 Camry's but not the Solara's. They changed some mounting brackets, since the factory rep was in that day and thought that the faulty brackets might have been installed on early model Solara's. As for my transmission, at 57K, the dealership ended up replacing it with a new one. Apparently my leak was a faulty transmission casing that was cased at the factory incorrectly.

Happy Motoring!

vz18wp

I'm having my dealership (Grand Blanc MotorCars Ltd.-Michigan) check the struts, strut mounts and strut towers today because of this clunking sound that occurs when going over some bumps. I also have a clunking noise occur in the rear end when, from a complete stop, I accelerate (on a smooth road). They are also replacing my "seat track" to resolve the rocking motion in my driver's seat. I'll let you know how and if these issues are resolved.
'99 SE V6 Diamond White Pearl

solara1

is this something that i should not worry about or is it covered by toyota since it has been known as faulty...???? i am leasing and the lease is up in 8 months... i have 40,000 miles too.

thanks solara1

vz18wp

ISSUE #1:
Well, I explained to my service rep. the clunking noise problem when going over some bumps and asked them to check the struts, strut mounts and strut towers yesterday . HOWEVER, the technician instead tried to duplicate the problem and could NOT. So he DID NOT inspect the struts, etc. as requested!!!

ISSUE #2:
He said that the clunking noise occuring in the rear end when accelerating from a complete stop, was normal brake pad noise! Does that mean that the brake pads "stick" the the rear drums and when I accelerate, this is noise of the pads breaking loose from the rear drums? HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS CLUNK when accelerating from a complete stop?

They did replace my "seat track" which resolved the rocking motion in my driver's seat.

'99 SE V6 Diamond White Pearl - 23k

scsolara

The mechanic is correct about the clunk. Many people here and at www.camryman.org have posted about this in the past. The basic answer is that it is a result of the "free floating" rotor design of the brake system. I have also noticed that mostly people with the 99 model complain of it. I don't recall hearing anyone with the 2000 model complain? I wonder why that is? Ihave a 2000, and have no expeience with it...yet. Good luck.

phatnastycat

TK1TRD-
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, but I have been out of town for a few days. Here are the current specs following my recent alignment...
Left Front:
Camber -0.60 degrees, Caster +3.40 degrees, Toe 0.00"
Right Front:
Camber -0.70 degrees, Caster +2.60 degrees, Toe
0.00"
Front Totals:
Total Toe 0.00", Cross Camber +0.10 degrees, Cross Caster +0.80 degrees
Left Rear:
Camber -1.10 degrees, Toe +0.11"
Right Rear:
Camber -.90 degrees, Toe +0.10"
Rear Totals
Total Toe +0.21", Cross Camber -0.20 degrees.
These numbers do not make sense to me, but it does seem odd that the specs on the left and right do not match. Perhaps that's they way they are supposed to be, but to the common man (like myself) it looks unusual. However, I also take the word of the service dept that if it's in specs, that it's in specs. Therefore I conclude that it's not the alignment causing the pull.
Any thoughts you have would be appreciated.
Also, Cliffy1- I'll take up your advice and look into locating an aligment specialist.
Thanks-
PNC

2k1trd

Well the right caster is lower than the left and that will usually cause a pull.It seems that all the vehicles that i have aligned, the caster is always higher on the right side or i have to make it higher so it won't pull.If you are still having
a pulling problem,see if the caster can be adjusted higher on the right side.

cardude4

Is this the clunking noise, sometimes in the wheel wells, or dash, that makes a violent shutter noise, when going over small bumps, like a speed bump, or small pot hole, where you feel like the dash is about to fall off the car? I have had this from day! I did not add to this to my previous list of complaints. I have been reluctant to have Toyota fix my rocking chair, as I feel like a whining baby, and then they usually only listen to 1/2 what you say and wont fix what you think it is, anyway. They have been unable to fix the lose rattling passenger seat correctly, and I fear they would make it worse. Did whomever have success with replacing the track?

vz18wp

The dealership replaced my driver's seat track and the seat no longer rocks (as I stated in post #483).

The clunking noise I experience is in the wheel wells when going over railroad tracks and some pot holes. No problem with my dash.

'99 SE V6 - Diamond White Pearl (23K)

ral2167

my problem had been with the coinbox--- door gets ajar, the dealer adjusts, the door gets loose again, more adjustment, till finally it's a lost cause-- so the dealer finally replaced the box, and the lower panel also was replaced... all under warranty and i imagine this coinbox should last another 30000 miles at least...i open that baby up now and that nice clean black felt that covers the inside sure is purty... and the door clasps shut nice, too! it's like i'm driving a brand new car!!

fairway green 1999 SE V6 5 speed, 30K miles, new coinbox, dwight yoakam in the JBL in-dash CD 200 watt singing The Heartaches Are Free, with accord V6 coupes disappearing through the rear view mirror...

cardude4

What do you keep in the coin box, coins? This was a long unresolved problem for you for a long time, huh? Glad you got it fixed!!! My coin box is misaligned, and the rate I am going with minor problems, it will probably pop open, and stay open at 35,001 miles.

robertor

Toyota DEALERS cannot fix the Solara's steering problem, They have the best equipment and personnel available yet this is no alignment problem but a Steering DEFECT that requires Toyota ENGINEERS to correct,
Here is Cliffys response to Cblake2 on another Toyota's Steering Problem (Sienna V, message 612, July 31,00)
"Cblake2, I know of no commonly recurring problems on the '99s. In fact the only problem other than this latest one was on early '98s that had a suspension issue that made them IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN. This covered a small number and most have been handled".
No mention here of Independent Alignment Shops.. the small number is 715. Sienna's Steering racks re-designed by Toyota Engineers as a result of a Government Investigation (NHTSA Case PE99-070(1998-2000) Failure of Steering Wheel to Return to Center(steering locking into a left turn)), triggered by 13 Sienna owners complaints. Sienna shares the same powertrain and platform as the Solara.

I have taken my Solara to Dealers to get it aligned to keep the steering from locking into a left turn( 6 times) and they cannot fix it, changed Bridgestone tires that Dealers said were the cause and that didnt fix it, now Cliffy says we should take them to Independent Alignment Shops....Are you kidding?..., like the Sienna, this is A JOB FOR ENGINEERS.
But Toyota ENGINEERS can only Fix the Solaras Steering defect IF you let the NHTSA know at: WWW.NHTSA.COM

solara11

It may be a defect, and I seem to have more minor problems with my Solara than anyone else that posts here, but after my 3 alignments, and rotations, my Solara drives almost straight, enough that I do not complain anymore. It is amazing, that when the alignment specs are done, how far from 0 degrees all the numbers are. After my 2nd it was still 13.0 degrees from 0 or -0. You would think 0 degrees would be center, and after enough complaining, they got all my numbers as close to 0 as they probably could, and it drove almost straight. The steering wheel is a bit off center again, but my complaint was not about the off center wheel, but the pulling to the left so quickly that at highway speeds would jump 3-4 lanes in about 5 seconds, even against the crown of the road. I already sent a complaint months ago, and nobody followed up, so I guess they just collect data.

scsolara

Well, I finally got my TRD springs put on. Here is a picture. I hope it works. It handles really well, I just need to get some lower profile tires? Any suggestions? I would like some thick sidewalls for better handeling.

http://users.ev1.net/~gunpilot/misc/spring1.jpg

nrl76

That Solara looks fantastic. I really like the wheels.

Neil
'99 SLE
Red\Gray
27,800 miles

automophile

Your car looks great! The TRD springs seem to lower the car just right for the wheel wells.

How has the ride changed? One thing I love about the Solara is the super-smooth cruise on the freeway. Is it rougher with the new springs?

Also - The car will look even better if you de-badge it. I feel that the side badges really break up the long lines of the car.

scsolara

I only have the TRD springs, and not the struts (too expensive). Many have complained that the ride gets bouncy, but I do not agree. The ride feels a bit stiffer in the corners and still gives a nice highway ride. The only complaint I have is my tires. I have 215/50/17's on a 17 X 7 40mm offset rim. My rear tires stick out of the well just enough to hit the fender if I take a big bump. At high speeds it does not hit because the car absorbs it front and rear, but at 25-45 the front transfers the energy to the rear causing the rub. It makes me cringe when it happens. I think I will drop to a lower profile and add the rear anti-sway bar. Some people have said that it will stiffen the rear end and help the bounce??? For $135 it is worth the try. Along with my S/C, TRD front anti-sway, quick shifter, and Hyper hedlights and fogs, this car has turned out to be lots of fun. (If anyone is interested in looking at the shifter installation you can go to http://users.ev1.net/~gunpilot/shifter/ to get a look). My next mod is an intake. I have a drop in K&N, but Weapon-R is releasing a nice one for the V-6 Solara really soon. Once I have it, I will be done with the car. I drive over 100miles a day, so I need to have a fun car to drive. I have had it 8 months, and have 15,836 miles.

Rawn

2000 SE V-6 5spd

ejy

My Michelin Pilot XGT H4's are holding up well. I have over 3k miles on them and the tread gauge doesn't show any wear yet (my Bridestones wore off 8/32" in 23k miles - that is 1/32" every 2800 miles or so). They are still a smooth quiet tire, just a tad louder than the Bridgestones but its hardly noticeable. Note: I replaced Bridgestone 205/60HR16 with 215/60HR16 as Michelin doesn't make the XGT's in the 205/60's.

ejy

I should add, the Solara handles many times better with the Michelins! I can routinely take a 20 MPH 90 degree turn at 50+ without sliding or squealing, the Birdgestones would slide around 40 or so... For fear of hurting the car, I have not tried to go beyond 55 entering the turn.... The only part of the car thats not stock are the tires.

(the turn mentioned here is 3 lanes wide, and I use all three when doing this

radracer

you do them at 50+? wow, you should be a race car driver! i do them at 30-40. 45 is considered pretty darn fast.