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Good luck
MNF
Toyota is really a great Company! The customer support was not much help.
link
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm
Do you work for Toyota?
I think a lot of the problem is that if you're like me and you don't buy a car except for every ten years or so, you don't realize when you buy even the current model of the one you had that you may have to re-learn how to drive the car. Because they don't tell you! There's been a lot of changes since my '98 Corolla came out, not the least of which is it's not as Japanese a car as it used to be, which may to my mind explain some of the production issues Generation X is having. It doesn't really matter how many were sold, it doesn't matter how many complain or don't complain, people tend to be rather apathetic and may be relying upon others to do the complaining, who knows. Bottom line is, when it's happening to your own car, you don't really want fanboy responses, you want concrete answers. You want to be able to determine whether maybe it's a question of reading the manual more thoroughly, because driving is not as intuitive as it once was, or is there a real problem that may end up costing someone dearly. I don't care if it's one car out of a million having problems - when people buy a Toyota, they're looking for a car that they would buy if it didn't come with a warranty at all. Otherwise, it might as well be a Chevy.
But you're right, there are both kinds here. I believe there are also the people who simply want to communicate with others who are having the same problem to try to effect a solution, not to be "sold" on the make or model.
Yes, I believe people do have to be told to read the manual, because people my age may not know that the way cars work changes so radically in such a short period of time. I know people who have never read the manual. And frankly, I don't think I ever did for my current car which is now 11 years old.
The last two times I rented a car, I never read the manual, either. As long as I knew where the lights and wipers were, how to turn on the radio, and leave the key fob alone, it was fairly intuitive still. Therefore, I don't believe people who don't read a car's owners' manual are all that unusual.
If you ever spend 20K on a new car again, for heaven's sake, read the manual. You'd be surprised how far we've come. You might just solve some of your own problems rather than asking someone else "to effect a solution" for ya.
I am watching to see what they end up doing to fix their problems, since my last two cars were a faux Corolla and a real one, and I'd personally like to see them get answers without personal biases getting in the way, because it is discouraging. I personally would have to experience electric steering for myself to see whether I'd even want a car that had it, but then if someone wants a newer Corolla, they have no choice in that matter.
Brand loyalty, then, is not a smart consumer choice in that case, but ultimately, in my view, it's up to the consumer what they'll be able to live with. Test drives really don't give people enough time, especially with some salesman yammering all the time. Sometimes you just don't know until you take it home.
I've changed my oil filter twice so far and the filter wrench works like a charm. Don't worry about the 5 lb. torque tightening the factory says....just tighten the cap until it bottoms out against the block and snug it up....remember your dealing with aluminum here.
Be sure to use a new cap "O" ring well coated with oil each time you replace the filter. Do not cut or nick the O ring during installaton. The auto parts stores should start carrying the filter kit soon. When I bought my Corolla last June I bought several filter kits from the dealer for $6.95 each.
It's highly unlikely that I'd crack the cannister using my band wrench.....in fact due it's equal pressure over the 360 deg. of the cap with minimal force it"s suited quite well for this task. Remember how well these wrench's perform removing the standard spin-on cannister filter without collapsing them. I will admit to that an inexperienced mechanic could quickly get in trouble.
The biggest advantage to using the correct size cap removal tool as you described is the ability to use a torque wrench and tighten it to the factory 5 lbs.
I woke up this morning got ready for work and went to leave and my little Corolla S wouldn't start! :mad: I've had it a year this week and have not had any problems at all, no rattles, squeaks etc.. I moved it saturday and it ran just fine but it sat for the most part over this last 3 day weekend. I know the oil needed to be changed and was going to do that at lunch today but looks like that won't happen. I seriously doubt the fact that it needed an oil change is the problem...
I had read that some others have had this issue and was wondering if they ever found out what the problem is/was. My husband was already gone so he couldn't check the battery etc. so i had to wiggle his Tundra out of the garage and around my little sad Corolla so i could get to work. I live in Texas and noticed that the folks who had the problem seemed to have been up north where it gets pretty cold.
Ugh, it's just frustrating
1. Did the lights/gauges work?
2. Did it even crank at all?
3. Sounds silly...but fuel level?
Anyway....just call your dealer and I'm sure they'll have someone come to diagnose/repair/tow to the dealer at no charge to you. And if they can't repair it the same day be sure to DEMAND a loaner at no charge.
Is it because it is a four cylinder that it has these problems? Usually it shifts correctly but I feel there is a defect but they said the computer would have codes stating problems and it does not.
What's wrong with the oil filter? From what I read, it is easy to change and environmentally friendly. You just need the correct wrench.
Some people complain about "wind blows it ..." but this complaint has been around for years, even before the 10th generation was available.
Gas mileage? Too many variables to comment.
"Fanboy"
To terceltom, if you had read my post, you'd see that the 09 corolla is getting WORSE gas mileage than the 06 corolla, so I can't see how you can say that these things are to improve gas mileage when it has worsened. My wife is driving the same route, with the same behavior as usual with these results. And no, we're not using the mileage computer figures, that thing hasn't been right once. We are using the trip odometer and good ol' fashioned math at the pump.
As far as going green, that's fine, but then how about making the canister with a thicker plastic or metal to be durable? Eventually, everyone will probably go the paper only route, but its a matter of how they do it and whether they make the transition reasonable for the owner to continue doing their own maintenance where it is reasonable to do so. Of course there will be some degree of personal preference here, but in general a more rugged design would be best. And it's not a "Civic Style" oil filter, it's the style of oil filter that everyone has used for the last 30 years or so, including Toyota on the Corolla up until this year.
In terms of reading the manual, I read through it, and my wife read it from front to back and we both managed to miss anything about the car not shifting into 4th gear for emissions. Since you know it's there, what page is it on? I know for a fact that it is not doing it every time it is cold, so assuming that it's a feature, which I am willing to do, its still not working correctly. Our 06 never exhibited the behavior at all, so it has not been a feature that has been in place for 8 years.
It's this marketing and opinion based information in replies which made me request that no "fanboys" need reply, and you've once again proved my point. I'm not going to waste any additional time replying to fanboys with too much time on their hands that are really just trying to sell the car to convince themselves that they made a good decision. Most of us on here are looking for others with experience first hand on their actual car to understand an issue or find a solution to it.
At any rate, I was posting my experience to share with the person that was also having a similar experience in hopes that others can share their own experiences to see if this was normal behavior or not. In terms of liking, loving, or hating the car, I really don't care - I'm just trying to find answers to a specific event that has happened. To that person, can you post back whether your shifting issue seems to happen mostly when your car isn't warmed up yet (temp gauge below 1/3)?
Thanks!
the 09 corolla is getting WORSE gas mileage than the 06 corolla, so I can't see how you can say that these things are to improve gas mileage when it has worsened.
When a car manufacturer tries to lighten the load it's usually to improve gas mileage.
how about making the canister with a thicker plastic or metal to be durable
Again, to lighten the load to improve gas mileage, did yours crack or are you having a problem with it?
it's not a "Civic Style" oil filter
Actually, it is the style that the Civic has been using since it's inception as well.
I know for a fact that it is not doing it every time it is cold, so assuming that it's a feature, which I am willing to do, its still not working correctly. Our 06 never exhibited the behavior at all, so it has not been a feature that has been in place for 8 years.
You'll have to ask McDawg as I never responded your inquiry about the shifting.
convince themselves that they made a good decision
No convincing here babe, owned three Corollas including a 2009 and guess what, I'm sure it won't be my last!
I’ve read this “complaint” many, many times, and I’ve read the answer (it is normal, it does it to warm up the car faster to reduce emissions) many, many times. I currently have a manual Corolla and manual Camry, so I don’t have first hand experience with this exact car, but I do follow this and another Toyota only website, so I have good sources, along with first-hand experience with a 4 speed automatic '01 Rav that also would not shift into overdrive when the engine coolant temp. was low. So we are talking about something that has been common and normal for at least 8-9 years. I hope this will put your mind at ease.
Also, I have not heard or read about any big, widespread problems with changing their own oil, after they purchased the correct-sized wrench (around $6). You can look here and another Toyota only website for info on this.
I made a service appt for the weekend to have her checked out just in case. But she is running great now..
As for changing the oil, all you need is the special wrench and you are set! Good luck finding the right kind of oil! Where I am they had to order it for me because it's not a popular type in the south. I just call a month or so before it's due and go get it come home and change it. Simple as pie.
I wanted an XRS but i can't drive a manual and they didn't have any in stock and didn't think they'd get one anytime soon.
ok what happens is when the car is warmed up and i am driving lets say i am coming to a stop the rpms drop to about 600 and the car almost feels like it is going to die, i let go of the brake and the rpms go back up. i can do this repeatedly if i want to. no matter how fast or how slow i drive, when i press on the brake just before i come to a complete stop the care idles very weird... it like shakes, feels like i am driving a stick but my car is automatic...
i took it to the dealer and the dealer drove it and the guy said he did not experience anything and the car did not give out any codes or whatever.
has anyone experienced this issue ??
it pisses me off because it is a NEW car and i should not have this idle problem and feel it all the time when i am coming to a stop....
any help would be appreciated
thanks guys