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Comments
Somehwat like what I posted a few months ago, about driving highway speeds, no stop and go, but consistant, and then the RPM's just drop, without any foot movement. Then after you gets your whits about you, and accelerate it goes away! Then it won't do it for a while. Lucky for me I only drive in non stop traffic after midnight around here, rarely, or I would gripe about this, I'm sure.
A/C surge, all cars do that!
This is too bad, because I really love this car. It's been the greatest car I've ever had, but I don't want this problem to persist after my warranty is expired.
On a good note, my neighbor just side swipped mine, while parked, so I will get a new door and fender, and more Sherwin Williams paint, to match the hood! Neighbors car, almost 0 damage. Solara, will see tomorrow! The Toyota owner body shop, with there OEM prices! I guess $3,000, and at least 4-5 trips back to get it correct. It is as if this car is an empty aluminum can from all the door dings, and amount of damage sustained from this collision, and the last collision. Both times, almost 0 damage to the other cars. Since I have owned it, 2years, lived in the same residence, with virtually the same neighbors, I have already spent around $800.00 at dent wizards alone, for ding removal, and had 1 freebie crease removed, cuz the kid felt so bad that this car is such a ding magnet. HEY Toyota!!! Take a hint from Saturn, and use dent resistant doors! Never had a ding removed before, or one that was substantial enough to consider on any other car. Cheap sheet metal on this car.
From all the dings, and broken stuff, I am considering getting a BIG truck next time, or at least a big SUV, so I don't feel like I need to baby this piece of...enchantment!
And Canc, your not "whiny", you should expect your car to drive properly, at least while properly maintained, and under warranty. It's your money, and your car! Try selling it to someone and telling them it surges after they buy it. See who whines then.
I have a 2K SLE and have encountered a 'creaking' sound from the front passenger area that is evident upon braking and it has become more persistent over the last few weeks. I have tried to identify/isolate the location of the sound but have not been successful.
BTW, I did remove the passenger door panel and the sound was still there so it is not the panel itself but either something in the door structure, passenger seat or some moulding in that area. I did note that the noise/wind with the door panel removed was rather severe at highway speeds and when I reinstalled the panel and drove the car again (with the creaking sound) it was so much quieter.
Anyway, I do recall another Solara owner mentioning a similar issue and I hope that someone on this forum might have an idea or some suggestions as to the remedy.
Beyond this issue, my Solara has been outstanding and I look forward to many more years of serene driving.
Cheers -
Michael J. McCloskey
2K SLE - Silverstream - Loaded and STILL Smooth & Creamy!
as for the paint - odd thing. i've taken stock of my car in it's 3rd year on the road, and i've surmised that 90-95% of my paint chips happened in my first year of ownership. i've recently switched from an hour & 1/2 commute [I95 & Rt 295 in the PA-NJ area]] to a 45 min commute. durned if i can figger it out...
closing in on 39K problem-free miles...
Sorry to hear about all your troubles with your Solara. You probably have the worst car here. When my aunt first got her 99 SLE, I came here to read up on the car. The only complaints back then were a lousy coin tray and no remote trunk unlock! ;-))
When I just read that you have a Toyota "CHRISTINE", I immediately felt for you because I HAD a 99 Chrysler 300M that was MY Christine! Maybe it will make you feel better if you read my 'soap opera" story. Click on my name above and go to my webpage in Geocities. Maybe you'll think your Solara is a GEM compared to my car. What is there is only a FRACTION of what I went through with those "award winning 5-STAR" dealerS!!!!!!
fastdriver
Although I would consider this problem as minor, it is annoying, but the dealership is handling it wonderfully.
I did have that happen before, where was doing similar things. Mechanic stumped, since electronically, everything is fine, I try the gas-delivery. Lo and Behold, the fuel filter was the fix (you didn't want to see the stuff that come out of the old filter)
Should be underneath the airbox.
---------------------
I heave to wonder if the ethanol gas knocked loose any deposits in the fuel system and ended up in the filter filter.
That's the case for B100 (100% biodiesel), I have to wonder is ethanol would be similar
A first!!! A Solara 300M!! How sad for Toyota and you, I guess, since you own it. I always thought that Toyota dealers were 1,000 times bettter than those "award-winning 5-STAR" Chrysler dealers! What a JOKE that is!
I also have a 1994 Corolla. The ONLY major things I ever replaced were the tires and the battery and that was only LAST year!!!! Granted there is only about 40,000 miles on the car, but nothing is EVER wrong with it! For a small 4-cylinder, it is pretty peppy on the highway! Is is DEFINITELY quieter than my 99 300M was on rough roads!
Good luck. Don't give up!
fastdriver
My Solara is doing it more than ever. I've mentioned it to the dealership and they'll be ordering a fuel filter.
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jc/99-02solara.htm
Thanks 8u6hfd and cliffy for the comments!
2 years, 4 months and 37,600 miles now, and it feels as if I need new struts, or something, as I can feel every bump in the road through the steering wheel. Any comments??? Ball joints, tie rods, struts??? Michelins seem shot, but Michelin says they have an 80,000 mile warrenty. We will see!!!
Thanks.
I've noticed that my Solara doesn't chug at first when I start it up and the engine is cold. It's only after it has warmed up for a while that it starts doing that. I wonder if it has anything to do with the transmission overheating or something. For example, it's fine before taking it on the highway and driving 100 kms. or so (60 miles), and then getting into city driving. I'll come to a dead stop, and then when the light turns green, I'll accelerate slowly. The acceleration is "hesitant" (that's the best way I can describe it), meaning there's no RPM difference, but just minor, but annoying, surges. It'll do that until it kicks in second gear.
My dealership is stumped about this and doesn't know what to do next, as it seems that other Solara owners (you) haven't reported this kind of problem before. I've also noticed that at exactly 70 km/h, it also does the same thing. I know this may sound like an unusual request, but if anyone has some spare time on his/her hands, could you try accelerating normally to 70 km/h, and then keep it there for a while (a minute or so). Could you please tell me if you feel the surges I mentioned? I'm starting to think I got an oddball Solara.
I'd like to find out what causes this, because I don't want to give up this beautiful, wonderful car. I honestly think it's the best car I have ever owned, and I'd hate to give it up if it happens to be a stupid little problem the dealership overlooked.
Decided to stick with Toyota coolant and actually went out and bought distilled water for 50 cents.
As for the ATF, I did a lot of online research regarding different ones and their viscosities, etc. Since I wanted to change mine today I had to limit my choices to what was available on the shelf - went with the Quaker 4x4 synthetic blend. Didn't think paying for Mobil synthetic was worth it considering the numbers were very similar between the two (but beware, even other name brand nonsynthetic ATF had numbers that did not even compare to the synthetic blend).
With a straight drain from the pan I think about 3 to 3.5 quarts were drained. I then disconnected the line from the transmission to the radiator, turned the engine on, and while ATF was being pumped out of the line, I was adding new one through the dipstick hole. All in all, I drained 7 quarts plus a little bit spilled on the ground, etc. The manual does not say what the total capacity of the tranmission is (just says 5 quarts with the fill and drain - doesn't count the converter, etc.), but I wold guess it would be maybe 10 quarts. So I did not get 100% out I don't think - but the fluid looked it it was clearing so that's why I stopped. Still a lot better than a simple drain and fill and very simple to do - just ideally need two people - one to pour and the other to turn the engine on/off.
BTW, the line from the transmission to the radiator is on the left side if you are facing the front of the car and it hooks to the bottom of the radiator.
Considering how easy it was to change out the coolant and ATF - I'm considering doing it every year just for overkill. ;-)
Oh, and price for 10 quarts of synthetic blend ATF was 30 dollars - dealer wanted 130 dollars to totally flush out the transmission.
I've been using premium ever since I got the car at 32,000 kms., with a brief period of using ethanol (for about 500 kms., and stayed away from a certain gas company's "ethanol enhanced" supreme fuel.
Any news about Toyota dropping the Solara, or a re-design, like Camry?
luphy - thanks for the ATF/coolant posts!