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Toyota Echo Maintenance and Repair

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Comments

  • jtoolejtoole Member Posts: 3

    I cant find any echo horn repair notes?

  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694

    Whats the problem?

  • kreuzerkreuzer Member Posts: 131

    Hi to all-
    I purchased a used 2000 ECHO 2 door with 122,700mi. from a co-worker in June. I have a few questions and would really appreciate it if any experienced owners would help me get some straight answers.

    1)The check engine light is on due to the evap vsv valve and charcoal canister as I had it checked for error codes. I know this doesn't hurt the car really, but I do care about our environment and also don't want something else to be wrong and not know it. Is this a repair that needs to be done by a professional mechanic or could a backyard mechanic make the repairs? I thought about attempting to repair it myself but am not totally confident that I can do it.

    2)I hear a rattle when going from a stop, but not continuing as I go. I took it to my mechanic and he said it could be the cat. converter possibly starting to break apart, but that there are no codes that say it's bad. What should I do next?

    3)The car needs tires. What would be a good tire for all seasons and good in the snow but not too expensive?

    Thanks to anyone who could help me with these ?? as I want to be sure to take care of this car so it will last me awhile. :)

  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694

    Fixing code related items is tricky. You do NOT want a professional to do it because they will "fix" about 10 things costing you beaucoup dollars. Like you said its not detrimental to the function and well being of the car. DIY or froget about it is my advice.

    FORGET about listening to mechanics. They want to make money. Oh it MIGHT be the cat? Well he's a pro should he should be able to say its DEFINATELY the cat. You are being plyed here IMO. My advice is get a set of ramps and put the car up in the air and get under it and try to find the problem yourself. Rattles are usually not dangerous. Take the car to other mechanics if you must and see what they say. Tell them SHOW ME the problem!

    Tires are expensive these days because of all the Chinese driving now. I go for CHEAP myself because I dont drive much anymore.

    Good luck and come back again and tell us what happens!

  • mnmanmnman Member Posts: 37

    I'm still getting around with my 01 Echo sedan with 189,000 on the clock now. I just put new front wheel bearings in it twice i knew I should have sent back those cheapo eBay bearings that I installed right after I ordered
    them! Lesson learned the hard way! Other than new struts and shocks nothing else has given me much of a problem. Drive on Echoers!

  • mnmanmnman Member Posts: 37

    I run Cooper snow tires up here in the winter. They sure make a difference in getting around with the low clearance of the car as it is. And I go to walmart for their $50 Goodyear tires for normal radials.

  • mnmanmnman Member Posts: 37

    Oh yeah, a few other things I've repaired so far are the sway bar links, the exhaust donut gasket and the normal stuff ie. brakes and belts etc.

  • kreuzerkreuzer Member Posts: 131

    Hello kneisl1, Thanks for your reply! I took a look under the car last night and think I've located the charcoal canister and vsv, but not 100% sure. Do you know if the charcoal canister and vsv is located right behind the gas tank?

  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694

    I will look tonite in my Service Manual when I get home and post the result then or tomorrow.

    Offhand I would say thats where it is.

  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694

    mnman keep up the good work. I have a bad feeling though the reason the ebay bearings failed early was improper installation technique.

    Maybe not!

  • jtoolejtoole Member Posts: 3

    Went to the dealer, only 2nd time in 15 years to get an est. on a horn repair for my 2000 Echo, 172000 miles. They wanted $50 just to diagnose it. Forget that! Tried a local garage and he fixed it in about 10 minutes and said pay me what you think it's worth. I gave him a $20. I'm happy.

  • jtoolejtoole Member Posts: 3

    Actually, few people would go to the dealer for a horn repair. I was interested in buying a new Toyota from the dealership so I took my 2000 Echo in to their service dept to see just how badly they would rip me off. They are downright awful.

  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694

    Its a jungle out there!

  • mnmanmnman Member Posts: 37
    Nobody’s been here for a decade now, I still have my second Echo I’ve had, a 2002 sedan but I hit a big deer with it in the north woods of Wisconsin where I live so I bought a Bolt EV and am slowly fixing the old Echo.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 264,461
    mnman said:

    Nobody’s been here for a decade now, I still have my second Echo I’ve had, a 2002 sedan but I hit a big deer with it in the north woods of Wisconsin where I live so I bought a Bolt EV and am slowly fixing the old Echo.

    Big deer vs. Echo doesn't sound good..

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