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Toyota Echo Maintenance and Repair

913 messages,  Last post on Apr 16, 2013 at 4:11 PM

You are in the Toyota Echo Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota ECHO, Coupe, Sedan

Messages Page 91 of 92

#900 of 913 What have you replaced by classicsplayer

Jan 30, 2013 (8:59 pm)

I recently bought an 01' Echo with 132000 miles on it and am finding expensive problems.
Rear Shocks
Motor Mounts
Rear Brakes including rotors.
rear speakers
Hope that I don't find too many more problems

#901 of 913 echo by kneisl1

Jan 31, 2013 (4:26 am)

What did you pay for it?
 
ECHOs have drums on the rear.
 
Hows the gas mileage?

#902 of 913 Re: What have you replaced [classicsplayer] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 31, 2013 (8:45 am)

Replying to: classicsplayer (Jan 30, 2013 8:59 pm)
Aside from the speakers, those sound like normal wear items for a high mileage car. Not the car's fault really--more about poor maintenance. Brakes can be done at 50K, shocks at 80K, motor mounts at 100K.

#903 of 913 Rear struts by aries65

Feb 24, 2013 (7:13 am)

I have a 2001 Echo with about 114,000 miles on it (yeah, I don't have that long of a commute!). I'm going to be needing to change out the shocks/struts in the rear due to a lot of squeaking going on. Has anyone gotten this done recently on their Echo - and how much did you pay for it?
 
Also, my front speakers have a loose connection somewhere since sometimes they'll come on. I'm only getting sound in the back. Is this a quick and easy fix - or will I have to pay some big money to get this fixed?
 
TIA!

#904 of 913 Re: Rear struts [aries65] by dfree1

Feb 24, 2013 (4:00 pm)

Replying to: aries65 (Feb 24, 2013 7:13 am)
If you have a garage and a few tools you can do it yourself for only the cost of the shocks.
The hardest part is accessing the top bolts located under the Rear deck. You will need a good long extension for your socket wrench.
I did mine in under an hour.
I do not recall the cost but under eighty for two shocks and bellows from AZ or AA.
Dave

#905 of 913 Re: Rear struts [dfree1] by aries65

Feb 24, 2013 (4:20 pm)

Replying to: dfree1 (Feb 24, 2013 4:00 pm)
Appreciate the response. I'm not very handy at all. I'll have to pay a garage to do it.
 
So, if anyone knows a ball-park figure or maybe just had it done themselves, I'm just curious as to how much this is going to set me back.

#906 of 913 Re: Rear struts [aries65] by albusd

Feb 26, 2013 (12:09 pm)

Replying to: aries65 (Feb 24, 2013 7:13 am)
This isn't going to help you figure out how much a shop would charge for your rear shocks, but I am curious how you figured out that they needed changing? I have a 2000 Echo 4-door with about 140k on the clock and have never even thought about changing out suspension components. Is it a really obvious squeaking or has the ride quality become terrible or something?
 
And about the speakers, my echo has an aftermarket stereo system/cd player and has the same problem you describe, where going over a bump might cause the front speakers to come for a few seconds and then they go dead again, so I'd be interested in knowing if you find the culprit. For now, given the spartan nature of the Echo, I'm just glad it even has a radio!
 
Always glad to hear from other Echo owners out there!

#907 of 913 Re: Rear struts [albusd] by aries65

Feb 26, 2013 (12:22 pm)

Replying to: albusd (Feb 26, 2013 12:09 pm)
When I go over a bump, or when I take heavy bags of groceries out of the trunk, I can hear a groaning/squeaking noise coming from the back end. So I'm not sure if it's new shocks I need - if they even have them, or replacing the back struts.
 
I've pushed down on the back end to see if it "bounces" - but it doesn't do that.
 
Maybe I don't need something changed out? Or maybe I do?
 
I've already had the front struts replaced (and bushings), changed out the steering fluid, changed out the front brakes, have had tires replaced, and a tune-up done.
 
I was mistaken on the mileage. I've actually only got 104,000 on the car!
 
I think with the stereo it may be a loose wire somewhere. I'll be checking out some local auto stereo shops this weekend. I really miss not having that "surround sound" in the car. It's a "treat" when I sometimes I get a day of it when the front speakers decide to pop on! LOL

#908 of 913 Re: Rear struts [albusd] by dfree1

Feb 26, 2013 (3:51 pm)

Replying to: albusd (Feb 26, 2013 12:09 pm)
My echo is at about 230k miles and I did the rear shocks about 3k miles back. I know the shocks were weak and you could see where the hydraulic fluid was leaking on the side of the shock body.
After removing the shocks I could compress and extend them by hand. The new ones took more pressure and it was tougher to compress them.
 
I am planing on replacing the stock radio and was just looking on line for a replacement. I got the Echo used with about 30k miles on it back in 04 and the previous owner must have damaged the tape player. I had no idea until recently after trying to use a converter with a smartphone to listen to podcasts.
I had the radio out for some reason a few years back and I recall it has a single large connector.
You probably need to reseat the connector. As a first check. If it is still glitching you probably need to check for a loose connection at the speakers.
Dave

#909 of 913 Re: Rear struts [dfree1] by aries65

Mar 01, 2013 (2:10 pm)

Replying to: dfree1 (Feb 26, 2013 3:51 pm)
I stopped in at a mechanic today. They took my car out for a test drive, bounced the car on the back, and put it up on the lift to check out everything. He said my struts and shocks are fine! He sprayed some lube on the bushings all under the car and told me to have a nice day - no more squeak and no charge!
 
As for the stereo, one of the guys there said it would be best to take it to the Toyota dealership since they have all the schematics for the wiring and all - and would be able to figure out where the loose connections were. So I may have to bite the bullet with that.
 
But at least I found a really nice mechanic to go to. They'll be getting my business in the future.

Messages Page 91 of 92

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