Toyota Corolla Basic Maintenance Questions

toyowner3 · August 2004

I have 85K on my 97 Corolla and was wondering if I should change the timing belt especially since I'm planning to drive to Yosemite. The service manual only mentions at 60K and 120K for changing timing belt if driven under extreme conditions (towing, short trips below freezing, excess idling, dusty muddy roads etc--none of which i do)--so does this mean for the rest of us the timing belt no longer needs to be changed??? - not sure. Also does this model have a water pump that is recommended to change at same time? Thanks!

ski46 · September 2004

I would recommend doing your FIRST oil change at the 1,000 mile mark. A new engine sometimes has debris from the manufacturing process and it's good to get rid of it early. After that you should follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

ski46 · September 2004

Don't trust any dealer! They have their own Maintenance Schedules and they are designed to make them money. You should go by what Toyota recommends. Look at the Maintenance Schedule in your Owners Manual or "Passport" book that you received when you bought the car. The dealers tell you to change everything a lot sooner than the book because they want to make money!!! Most of the services you are paying for are not needed at such a low mileage.

ski46 · September 2004

Why not use Amsoil? They produce synthetic oils that are tested with better results than Mobil 1. Also if you use their oil and filters you can SAFELY go 12,500 miles before changing the filter and then another 12,500 miles before changing the oil. Don't believe it? Go to their website at www.amsoil.com and read about it. I have been using it for years. I am currently using it in my 03 Corolla and prior to that used it exclusively in a 94 Honda Civic that had over 200,000 miles on it when I sold it.

bittoo · October 2004

I have a 2000 corolla 119k KM. Never have I taken the car to the dealer. I my self do the oil change every 9k to 10k. Transmission every 40k, and coolant 40k. Brakes I had checked from the local garage and they are fine for another year. I believe I have thousand or more dollars, by staying away from dealer service. Car runs great.

ski46 · October 2004

The fluid type is Type T-IV and I believe you can only get it from Toyota at about $30 per gallon. You will need 3.3 qts. if you are just draining the fluid via the drain plug on the transmission pan. Total fluid replacement is 7.7 qts..

ski46 · October 2004

Toyota recommends 60k transmission fluid changes if you are using the severe service schedule. If you plan on changing it every 15k you are wasting your money, especially when you consider the price of the tranny fluid, it's expensive stuff.

ski46 · October 2004

I have installed a Magnefine magnetic filter in line on my 2003 Toyota Corolla LE. This is the same filter that is installed on all factory rebuilt automatic transmissions from Honda. It installs inline on the cooling line that goes from the transmission to the radiator. It removes any harmful metal particles and you change it whenever you change the fluid. You can also install one on your power steering pump. Just another way to help your transmission live a long and happy life.

rolla03 · October 2004

I'm planning to replace my old tires with new Michelin X-radial DT from Costco and I was told by the Toyota dealer that I should bring the car to them after installing the new tires. My questions are: (1)Is the wheel Alignment necessary every time you change the tires? (2) When should wheel alignment be performed?

Where is the best and cheaper Service Center for wheel alignemnt?

Need some advise about this. Thank you.

dave594 · October 2004

Don't bother with the wheel alignment unless you have a problem with the car pulling to either side or with uneven tire wear. When you get the new tires at Costco, ask the service tech to see if the old tires were wearing unevenly. If they're wearing normally, don't bother with an alignment. Most likely your dealer was trying to get you to do some unneeded maintenance. But if you do need an alignment, get the four wheel instead of the front alignment that some service centers offer.

ski46 · October 2004

The place I take my car to for wheel alignments in Newburgh, New York does only alignments and suspension work. Their recommendation is to check all 4 wheels when doing an alignment and only adjust the rear wheels if they are out of alignment. If they are not then they only charge you for a 2 wheel alignment. If your present tires are wearing evenly, you don't need an alignment. Some garages will sell you everything they can to make money. BEWARE.

mopar67 · November 2004

Some garages will sell you everything they can to make money. BEWARE

Very true as I used to work in a garage years ago.

firescooby · November 2004

You can skip the tranny change/ flush if you feel comfortable, or don;t plan on keeping it too long. BUT, transmission fluid is used and abused and needs changed just like motor oil

enotoga · November 2004

turtle wax

masterz · December 2004

1) Do you have to get new tire rods when you replace your tires on the Corolla ?
2) DO you have to change your coolant at 30k or can you go longer ? Seems like a waste. When u do change the coolant do you have to use Toyota genuine coolant ?

mopar67 · December 2004

) Do you have to get new tire rods when you replace your tires on the Corolla ?
2) DO you have to change your coolant at 30k or can you go longer ? Seems like a waste. When u do change the coolant do you have to use Toyota genuine coolant ?

What makes or what led you to believe question 1?

Also, what year is your car? Depending on the year and type of coolant this can be 30K 50K or 100K

car18 · December 2004

Hello,
I have an 02 Corolla LE with 52k miles. Original Goodyear Integrity tires. I need to replace the fronts they're slipping a bit on wet pavement. Would you suggest replacing with Integrity or is there a better replacement out there. I like Costco tire dept they offer Bridgestone potenza. Please advise.
Happy Holidays to all !!!

dave594 · December 2004

The Potenzas are no worse than the Integrity OEM tires. Costco offers a good price and their warranty is also good, plus they give you free tire rotation. I'd go with the Bridgestones if you're not looking for anything high performance.

hamdolphin · December 2004

I just purchased a brand new 2005 Corolla 'S' model with a four-speed, automatic transmission. I've been reading some of the recommendations for the break-in periods of older models. What are your recommendations for my car? Unfortunately, I've driven the car 79 miles already, including some free-way driving during which I drove about 60 mph...Have I done any damages to my engine?

Thanks and Merry Christmas!

mopar67 · December 2004

Unfortunately, I've driven the car 79 miles already, including some free-way driving during which I drove about 60 mph...Have I done any damages to my engine?

No.

fgf001 · December 2004

The tranny fluid is unique to Toyota. Although there are a few synthetics that claim to be compatible I won't risk the warranty at this point.

FWIW our 03 automatic started shifting a little abruptly @ 18K miles. I had the pan dropped, in order to inspect the inside of it for debris, new gasket, refilled with Toyota fluid, and it shifts as new again.

There was little crud in the transmission pan but it made ME feel better to remove what was there. From this point on I'll drain and refill at 15K intervals to keep the fluid renewed.

beernut · January 2005

CAUTION!!

Bought a new S in November. At 750 miles, the brake pedal started making an occasional clicking noise on release. By 1400 miles it was most of the time and louder. It seemed like it was something hanging up in the pedal or master assembly. After three visits to the dealer and being told it was "normal" (which I knew it was not) they discovered the brake pedal assembly yokes, rods and clips were deformed in some fashion and were binding up, not fully releasing the pressure on the master for a second or two, then it would snap back up.

Replacement of the assembly fixed it - no harm done - but the question remains as to how long this would have gone on before the condition got bad enough that the brakes stayed slightly applied all the time and 1) prematurely wore out the pads/shoes or 2) boiled the juice and left me brakeless!

Anybody else have this problem?

modestmouse · February 2005

2050 miles and no mechanical problems. I will report that two panels in my dash have warped (I've only put 2 payments on this car). Thats not right. Will post more when more develops.

MM

Also: I ocassionally forget to release my parking break (ok ok, i know it happens). It still works and everything, is there any permanent damage that can occur from leaving it on by accident?

beernut · February 2005

Dear MM,

I wouldn't expect there to be any more permanent damage from leaving the parking brake on by accident than if you had left it on on purpose. (joke)

First, I assume its a stick. If its an auto, why put the parking brake on at all? I know, the Owner's Manual says blah, blah, blah, but in 130 years of driving, I've never set the parking brake on an automatic. Your choice.

If you drive with it on, the rear brakes drag and heat up - real hot. This could boil the brake fluid, cause brake failure and kill you and others. Once it cools down and condenses, you're back to normal, but stop doing that.

If hot enough for long enough, it could compromise the wheel bearings/grease and twist up the drums, so here again, stop doing that.

As a minimum, the shoes will certainly wear out faster which will cost you money to replace sooner rather than later, so - all together now - stop doing that.

If you had the parking brake really cranked on, you would probably know it right away. Since you've driven around for a while like that not knowing it, I suspect you only pull the handle lightly - probably nothing to worry about. If you have been doing this a lot, have the dealer look at it for you for peace of mind if nothing else.

badriczek · March 2005

I would like to save some money. Can someone tell me where I should pour automatic transmision fluid. Is there any filter? Can I have picture or drawing, please? Thanks

waryofdealers · March 2005

So, I bought a used Toyota Corolla 2004 and it's almost at the 30,000 mile mark. According to the Scheduled Maintenance Guide, I should get all this stuff done to it. I called some local dealers and non-dealers to ask what it would cost. It's basically between $220 (non-dealer) to $420 (dealer). Now, my question is, do I really need to do everything they say in the scheduled maintenance guide OR can I just a) change the oil b) change the engine air filter and c) replace the engine coolant?

Is there anything else I should be getting replaced? The Maintenance guide says a bunch of stuff needs to be checked. The cabin air filter seems to be a possibility and people here seem to be talking alot about replacing tranny fluid every 15K -- that seems excessive.

I live in Boston, where I sometimes do make short trips in subfreezing temperatures. So maybe I should get the auto transmission fluid replaced this time.

herrkaleu · March 2005

What is the sevice interval for 05 corollas? Often I read 7500 miles. According to toyota http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/pdfs/corolla_echo_service_05.pdf it is 5000 miles.
What says the Manual you get with the car? I fear it says the same like toyota.com :-(
Especially if you keep the warranty you need to follow the rules (even when stupid).
Another one: do i need to take my corolla to a Toyota-shop? Even when it i only an oil change? in order to keep my warranty...
I read (but unfortunatel didn'T find a source on honda.com) the civic has got 10K miles service interval. Since that is my second choice... the service could be the deciding factor.
Talking about oil, why are the oil changes so often anyway? I mean, European toyota have 10K mile changes, VW/Audi , Opel have 20K/2 year miles oil changes (but in the US they sell cars with 5K miles changes). Is the oil cheaper, or the fuel worse?
so what is the interval without risking to lose warranty?

cooljw · March 2005

Did you find the filler tube? It is next to the dipstick for the automatic transmission fluid under your hood.

kulkarni_ash · April 2005

Hi
I own a 2001 Toyota Corolla with about 100,000 miles on it, i have not done a lot of maitenance other then oil change on it, and changed brakes
What maintenance is suggested to keep it working.
1, spark plug change
2, flush transmission oil
3 change hoses and rubber belts
what about the struts, do they need any maintenance

ashish

tundradude · April 2005

flush the coolant

struts come much later

beernut · April 2005

Ashish,

The problem with your 2001 Corolla is compelling indeed, particularly since it is in the 100,000 mile range.

I hope to speak for all respectable mechanics when I recommend the following repair: Go in to the passenger compartment on the right side of the car. Immediately in front of the passenger front seat, like where the passenger's knees would go, there is a hidden compartment with a release latch on the face of it. When you pull that latch toward you and sort of up (not much force is needed), the access door to the hidden compartment will open. Inside this hidden compartment you will find a soft covered book that says "Owner's Manual" or something similar. This book contains much useful information and has a section in it relating to topics of "maintenance" ...............

Excuse me, I'll be right back..........

tundradude · April 2005

thats pretty good

Anyone:

Keeping a record is not a bad idea either of what you done to know your frequencies.

They used to make those wonderful "at a glance" little books about autos. It was handy to keep all your info in it.

05_xrs · April 2005

Hi
I need to know where the safe jacking points are under the car
(not the slots on the frame sides)....
so I can raise the rear of the car and get jack stands in position

any help or diagram would be great...

Thanks
05_XRS

george525 · April 2005

will i do any damage to my car if i start it in second gear??

beernut · April 2005

Not if you do it right and not all the time. I drove cars and trucks for a couple of years all together that had no first gear at all. Its not fun, and you can quickly smoke the clutch if you are always in a hurry or beat it too hard.

toyo_fam · April 2005

My 2001 corolla S 5-speed eats oil. It just disappears! It comes time to change my oil, and there's none left in there. I use Mobil 1 every time, tighten everything (filter, drain plug) and after 5000 miles it's empty. I know what you're thinking, but the concrete carport where it's parked is clean as a whistle, and it doesn't get parked any where else.
I know I should check it more often, but it's my wife's car and I just don't think about it when I'm not driving.
anyway, my question is whether or not anyone else's Corolla consumes oil this way...
Thanks!

cannyscot · April 2005

I have an 98 Corolla with about 89000 kms on it - I recently have been hearing a slight knocking on minor bumpy roads coming from the left rear - initially thought it was something loose in the trunk then I've started suspecting the bushings in the left rear sway bar - has anyone out there attempted to replace a bushing and if so how difficult was it ?

tundradude · April 2005

I feel your pain. The only thing about our 95 Corolla is that it does the same thing with its oil. It did not do this until around 150K. It just disappears. I just carry extra oil and check it every 2000 or so miles. However, I do change the oil at 3000.

I just replaced my struts and shocks for the first time on the car. Its got around 170K now.

The car has been great, but it likes oil for the past two years.

I know someone else that had a 99 LE that was using oil much more frequently. It was doing 3 quarts per 1000. She now has a new Scion tC.

corollaman2 · April 2005

My 1990 Corolla has 173,000 miles and has the original clutch in it.

giyer50 · April 2005

I have a 2002 Corolla with about 65000 miles on it. I want to know if there is any chance of the transmission will mix witht he coolant?? What is the best check for this??

In that scenario will the radiator need to be replaced and transmission need to be flushed??

Will the coolant enter into the transmision oil or will the trasnmssion oil enter the cooling system.

I will apppreciate a expert advice on this issue . Thank you very much

gulllu · April 2005

Hi,
I am a novice as far as information about cars is concerned. I bought a corolla 2000 ce last year.
I am hearing a "pulsating" noise from the tires as I drive. The noise seems as if there is one "tick" per rotation of the tyre. It is not very loud but noticeable. I had a minor accident last year where I drove over a stone puncturing my two right tires at the same time. The noise is also coming from the same side.

Can this be a bearing problem or something more serious ?

Thanks
Gulzar

beernut · April 2005

Did someone put the wrong juice in the wrong hole?

I don't think its too easy for these two fluids to mix nowadays. Back when Hector was a puppy, trans fluid and coolant got mighty close to one another but I'm not aware that they do anymore.

I suppose a serious head-on collision could mix them up a bit but a new radiator would be assumed at that point.

flyersmom1 · April 2005

I just got rid of my 2000 pontiac grand prix, and it did the same thing. I never had oil spots or noticed smoke from the car, and about every 3 or 4 thousand miles I had no oil. I now have a 2005 Corolla S and hope I don't have the same issues.

toyotaken · May 2005

As for the ticking tires, you most likely have some rust accumulating on the rear drums or front discs and it's catching each time the tires rotate around. Next time you have it in for service, have the check the brakes and clean up any rust build up. Most likely it will solve the problem.

As for the hungry-for-oil cars, any and all cars will burn some oil just from normal use. The residual oil on the cylinder walls as the pistons move up and down will burn some oil each time the cylinder fires. If your cars are burning as much oil that you don't have any left in the oil pan at the end of a service interval, I would recommend that you drop a quart or two in the engine between filter changes. You don't EVER want your engine to be running dry of oil altogether. You may also want to get a quote on getting a new set of rings on the pistons as well as this would most likely solve the problem.

Hope this helps.

Ken

skwiggle · May 2005

Hi there-
I have a '98 Corolla 5 speed that has the same problem. I can't even go 3,000 miles without refilling the oil. I also park in the same spot every day, and there is no oil puddle, and I never see any blue smoke plumes coming out of the tail. I have brought it to be looked at several garages, and no one can find any leaks or problems. I have been scouring the net trying to find clues. I think I read somewhere that somewhere that some damage may have been done to the engine before I purchased the car (used) about 4 years ago. It was something like the previous owner prob let the oil get too low, and this caused small abrasions inside the engine where the pistons scratched the metal, and now the oil leaks out of this teensy openings and burns off slowly. There is no way to fix it other than getting a new engine - tho it did say that if you use oil with a high viscosity, it could slow the process down. I keep several bottles of oil in the trunk just in case, and I top off the oil all the time. I pray that the car won't die on me, and I think I will replace the car in the next year or so. *sigh*

i3000gti · May 2005

I have a 2001 corolla auto and the only thing I did to the car is added a injen short ram intake. Had that for about a year. Have been doing my oil change every 3k and did all the services at the dealer. It has about 53000 miles on it now. the past couple of weeks it have been acting up on me.

I stop at a red light and when it turns green I step on the gas pedal, it doesn't go. It doesnt rev or make any noise what so ever. It just sits there and rolls like its on neutral or something. Then if you let go the gas pedal and you press it again its fine. It like i have to press on the gas pedal twice, its like nitrous on an arcade game. I was wondering if anyone see or had thing problem before.

Another thing, has anyone corolla have problem with the power door button not wanting to unlock the doors on the driver side also the passenger side window button not working, the window doesnt want to go up. The car it only 4 years old and its starting to fall apart.

cbassi · May 2005

Folks, I just bought a 2001 Corolla with 60,000 miles. First Toyota I've ever bought. The dealer is offering a 3rd party 'bumper-to-bumper" 3 yr, 30,000 mile service agreement with a $100 deductible for $1,700. A worthy expense?

01loadedle · May 2005

no dont get it you'd just be blowing money. did you get a ce/le? what was the cost?

I3000....check your maf sensor you may need to clean it with throttle body spray. its behind your air filter on the air tube facing the master brake cylinder where you add brake fluid. its mounted with 2 screws and a wiring clip is attached to it.

if youre using high octane then reduce to 89 and that will work better. some say the motor was made to use 87 but the manual doesnt say that and it says the research octane was 91. the 87 didnt work well for me when I used it either.

Ive rarely had the same problem with my 01 corolla power locks. my remote securikey wouldnt unlock all the doors a few times too. your window problem may just be because the childproof window button was accidently pushed down without you realizing it.

danyos777 · May 2005

Hello: Does anyone know about tune-up? I own a toyota 2000. Do you have idea on what type of tune-up should I do like what I am supposed to change by doing it. My var has close to 65000 miles. I want to know if I need to change the spark plugs and for a better fuel economy, what type I can use without affecting the engine's life. I thank you in advance for your attention to this matter

hardlymoving · May 2005

Danyos,

I changed my plugs @ 68K miles after I noticed the electrodes on the plugs appeared shorter than normal. Although the manufacturer recommends 100K miles between plug changes, I did it anyway. No noticable improvement in fuel economy or performance.

I also flushed out the old brake fluid. This is one item manufacturers don't recommend changing which I disagree with. Brake fluid absorbs moisture and also reacts with metals that make up the braking system. I've found changing the brake fluid every two years enhances the longevity of the seals.

If you have an automatic transmission, change with Toyota brand ATF. It appears that their additive package is better than name brand off the self fluids. To make sure all the old fluid has been removed, have it professionally done. Just unscrewing the drain plug and letting the oil drain out will not remove all the fluid. Around 2/3 of the fluid remains in the torque converter. If you're a shade tree mechanic, you'll have to disconnect the transmission oil return line from the radiator, start the car and place it in drive (ofcourse with the brake on), and watch the oil pump out while replenishing the new fluid via the dip stick opening until the new oil starts pumping out. This is a two man job IMO.

If you don't keep your wheels balanced, you may have to look foward to changing the front and rear wheel bearings one day. A high pitch winning noise will appear as your speed increases.

If you want peace of mind, change the serpintine belt that drives your air cond pump, power steering pump and alternator at around 85K miles.

I use synthetic oil and apparently there appears little wear on my cam shafts thereby eliminating the need for valve adjustment. If you notice a loud tapping noise coming from the engine during idle, you may need a value adjustment.

If you use 87 octane cheapest fuel around like I do, add some fuel conditioner/injector cleaner with every tank refill. This will prolong the life of your fuel pump, keep you fuel injectors clean and provides lubrication for your upper cylinders. I use Redline fuel system cleaner or Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant.

Make sure your battery posts are clean with good contact. As stated in your owner's manual, check all fluids. I prefer changing the coolant at around 50K miles even though the coolant still looks good.

Be happy you own a Toyota. Their cars are becoming more and more maintenance free and are extreamly tough and durable. You should be able to go 200K miles without major problems. Good Luck.

Toyota Corolla Basic Maintenance Questions

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles