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Toyota Solara

3978 messages,  Last post on Jul 14, 2012 at 2:34 PM

You are in the Toyota Solara Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry Solara, Coupe, Convertible

Messages Page 204 of 399

#2022 of 3978 Canc... by webguyster

Jul 04, 2002 (10:12 am)

If you grumble enough, or smile enough, they may give you a trac, loaner, car. Maybe the all new 2003 Camry! I always get a loaner. Even the Dodge dealer I used before, whose policy was only to give a loaner to people who bought there after market warrenty gave me a loaner, time and time again. Although your not plagued with problems, isn't one enough!?! I probably would have dismissed 1/2 my Solara's problems, or at least not posted them, as they started happening, if I got my rocking seat track replaced by Toyota the first year of complaining about it.
 
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!!!

#2023 of 3978 maintenance by luphy

Jul 20, 2002 (3:49 pm)

Has anyone here changed out the coolant and ATF themselves? I'm planning on changing out/flushing the ATF myself but I'm not sure which line from the transmission to the radiator is the inlet and which is the outlet....anyone know for sure? And does anyone know whether the Toyota ATF is a synthetic blend? At 2.97 per quart it sure is pricey and even cost more than the Valvoline synthetic blend.
Thanks.

#2024 of 3978 luphy by cliffy1

Jul 20, 2002 (4:47 pm)

If I'm not mistaken (and I have addressed this before) the transmission and differential fill through the transmission dipstick hole. Be careful because you must drain the differential and transmission separately but they fill by overflow in the one hole. Check me on this before you do it though.

#2025 of 3978 chug-chug by Canc

Jul 22, 2002 (5:38 am)

Well, just to give you guys an update on my Solara. So far, I've had the fuel injectors cleaned, the fuel filter replaced, and the transmission fluid flushed and replaced, the latter being part of my regular 48,000 km. maintenance. None of these have corrected the chugging problem I mentioned in my earlier posts.
 
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.

#2026 of 3978 chug-chug - canc by bwiebe

Jul 22, 2002 (8:58 am)

I have the chugging problem. feels like little surges or pulses. I will try the 70 km/h later today and let you know. I haven't had it in to the dealer yet but plan to in the next few weeks. I have tried switching from regular gas to premium. It seems to be better but not eliminated, could just be my immagination. Hate to shell out the extra .10 p/l. Are you using reg or prem gas? I think my solara chugs when both warm or cold but will start paying more attention

#2027 of 3978 transmission and coolant change by luphy

Jul 22, 2002 (7:26 pm)

Well, finally got around to changing my coolant and ATF - pretty easy and saved a bundle of money compared to dealer prices - and it's always nice to be 100% sure that the job was done right.
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.

#2028 of 3978 bwiebe by Canc

Jul 22, 2002 (7:52 pm)

Thanks for your comments about this. At least it's a bit reassuring that I'm not the only one to whom this is happening. I'm really interested to find out what your results are when cruising at 70 km/h.
 
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.

#2029 of 3978 I am almost jealous... by webguyster

Jul 23, 2002 (6:18 pm)

The chug problem is one I have not had. Similar, YES, but not like Canc, and Biwibe! I have a CLUNK, when the trans goes from 2nd to 1st in stop and go, but no chug, unless it is the RPM's dropping at highway speeds, as if the tranny can't remember where to stay! My guess is still a bad solenoid for all the transmition whoes, but, we will see, since Toyota is not known for bad trannies, like Chrysler! I got used to my CLUNK, and when i had a Corolla loaner a few weeks ago, I almost missed it, as the Corolla shifted sooooo smoothly, for a little car, MSRP'd $10 grand less! Go figure, less can be more!
 
Any news about Toyota dropping the Solara, or a re-design, like Camry?

#2030 of 3978 40,000 wonderful miles... by silversolara

Jul 24, 2002 (8:30 am)

... and thank goodness for air-conditioning.
 
luphy - thanks for the ATF/coolant posts!

#2031 of 3978 TOP NOISE??? by falconman2

Jul 24, 2002 (12:17 pm)

Does Toyota make a "kit" to alleviate "top pop", or is the fix based upon the dealer's willingness move the back seat, seat belt holders, etc., etc.

Messages Page 204 of 399

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