Toyota Corolla Maintenance and Repair

3844 messages,  Last post on Sep 23, 2012 at 10:12 AM

You are in the Toyota Corolla Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Corolla, Sedan

#3473 of 3844 Re: 2006 Toyota Corolla 30K service [_sam] by mcdawgg

Nov 18, 2009 (5:55 pm)

Replying to: _sam (Nov 18, 2009 4:25 pm)
See the owner's manual maintenance guide that came with your car. It will tell you what needs to be done and when. Basically, it gives you a mileage and a length of time, and you do whichever comes first. For example, it may tell you to change the oil at every 5,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.
 
For 30k miles on a 2006 Corolla, I would change the cabin air filter, engine air filter, oil, and rotate tires. I think that's all that needs to be done, but again, check your owner's manual to be certain, or you can go to Toyota.com and it will tell you, maybe even Edmunds has it. The $450 is a rip - just have someone do what the owner's manual tells you, and you will save money. If you go to a good independent mechanic, you will be fine, and your wallet will too. Just get a good receipt saying what was done, and I recommend using Toyota parts, but you don't have to.

#3474 of 3844 buzzing sound 08 corolla under rear car by ybert

Nov 19, 2009 (10:08 pm)

Replying to: mcdawgg (Nov 18, 2009 5:55 pm)
08 corolla buzzing sound under rear of car parked in garage key off last about 2 min. not offten ???

#3475 of 3844 Re: buzzing sound under car [ybert] by mcdawgg

Nov 20, 2009 (7:22 am)

Replying to: ybert (Nov 19, 2009 10:08 pm)
It is normal - see your owner's manual. It is something about checking the fuel system - I can't remember for certain.

#3476 of 3844 Anxious About Getting Engine Flushed on 96 Corolla by gardengirl51

Nov 23, 2009 (12:14 pm)

I bought a 96 Corolla looking to be in excellent shape 2.5 years ago (Apr 07) but did not get any maintenance history from seller - who bought it at auction in PA. (I live in Balt. area.) The car had 110K miles on her and I put another 45K on since then, total 155K now. I was talked into a coolant flush (not drain and fill) and also a transmission flush. The engine began idling REAL rough as soon as I turned it on after the transmission was flushed, and it did not get any better over a couple weeks so they ended up flushing it out twice more, finally putting in the best fluid, before it idled ALMOST as smoothly as before the first flushing. After having that problem, I am afraid now to get the engine flushed, even though it has been recommended by The Lube Center the past 6 times I have been there for an oil change, every 3 months or so! I am afraid of kicking up some sludge that is probably happily resting at the bottom of the engine - for now. Will bet it has been 60K miles since it was flushed last, if at all. Should I let them do it?
 
Also, I have been waiting until my gas tank is on empty before filling it. Is this hard on the catalytic converter or bad for the car in any way? Is there anything I should do to take care of that expensive, essential part? Being out of work - and needing to pass an emissions inspection in about 6 months, I want to avoid trouble ahead if possible! Thank you all for any advice given.

#3477 of 3844 Re: Anxious About Getting Engine Flushed on 96 Corolla [gardengirl51] by terceltom

Nov 23, 2009 (1:58 pm)

Replying to: gardengirl51 (Nov 23, 2009 12:14 pm)
You worry way too much and spend your hard earned dollars unneccesarily.. Sounds like you got yourself a nice little used Corolla there. Stop trying to flush her to death. Drive her and enjoy her. And fill her tank when ever you feel like it. DON'T FLUSH ANYTHING ever, unless it's absolutely necessary due to some other problem that warrants it. Drain and refill is your best bet on all items you mentioned.
With regular usage that Cat. should last you the life of the car. I have an 1986 Tercel and a 92 Corolla with the original Cats. on them yet.

#3478 of 3844 Re: Anxious About Getting Engine Flushed on 96 Corolla [terceltom] by gardengirl51

Nov 23, 2009 (4:28 pm)

Replying to: terceltom (Nov 23, 2009 1:58 pm)
Tom, thanks for the advice, but I want to be sure I understand. Are you saying I do not need to flush the engine, like ever? What about sludge build-up? She has started to burn oil, and I think this means the engine is gunking up.
 
Because she started to burn oil and I never worried about this, I almost ran out of oil once! Was 4 qts. down in 3 months. So, I have been having them put some Lucas additive (1/2 bottle) in with every oil change the past few months. She now burns less, about 3/4 qt per month. I just go every month to The Lube Center, and they top it off at no charge and do an oil change every 3rd month. They told me not to waste money on a synthetic oil at this stage, that it would probably encourage leaks - they found a very minor one. I am hoping the Lucas stuff will help clean the engine over time. Is this all I should be doing to keep the engine healthy? I get no less than 30 mpg and 37 on the highway in summer.

#3479 of 3844 2008 Corolla S Creaking Noise from Rear Quarter Panels by kman08

Nov 25, 2009 (7:21 pm)

I have an '08 S with just under 15K miles. I hear a creaking sound from the rear quarter panel area mostly when driving over uneven surfaces, especially during turns.
I have a moonroof but the sound doesn' t seem to be coming from there. I've heard it on the left and right sides depending on which way the body is being flexed. If I drive diagonally over a speed bump slowly, I can reproduce the sound. I tried opening the rear doors and trunk as I do this and it is still there. It is still under warranty but I would like to get an idea of what it might be before I take it in and have them start tearing the car apart. Could it be flexing in the rear roof pillars caused by the lack of rigidity from the moonroof? If I push the rear of the car sideways back and forth or try to bounce it up and down, I can't reproduce the sound. Usually don't hear it driving straight and hitting bumps.

#3480 of 3844 Re: Anxious About Getting Engine Flushed on 96 Corolla [gardengirl51] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 25, 2009 (9:14 pm)

Replying to: gardengirl51 (Nov 23, 2009 4:28 pm)
Nothing in a can will stop oil burning. That's a function of engine wear. If your car were burning oil due to being gunked up, the damage would already be irreparable, as the thick gunk would have plugged vital oil passages.
 
I agree, flushing the engine is a waste of money, IMO, if not indeed risky business. I'm not keen on washing the interiors of engines squeeky clean.
 
 Just regular oil changes, or switching to synthetic oil and longer changes, should be all you'd need.
 
There's also no credible proof that synthetic oil causes engines to leak. Probably when it does happen, it is correlation (some other condition) not causation.
 
Of course, being expensive, synthetic oil might be costly to burn.

#3481 of 3844 Re: 2008 Corolla S Creaking Noise from Rear Quarter Panels [kman08] by grandtotal

Nov 26, 2009 (8:41 pm)

Replying to: kman08 (Nov 25, 2009 7:21 pm)
Have your dealer check that the rear window glass is correctly installed.

#3482 of 3844 Paranoid whenever I start my 09 corolla by hctg

Nov 28, 2009 (3:06 pm)

My 09 corolla LE (mileage 5k, 11 months old) suddenly won't start at the beginning of this month, and it got towed to dealer and fixed. They said it was engine computer programming error like window's problem (how scary it is!!). About 3 weeks later, two days in a row, it was not starting well, although eventually it started (Hew..). Today, I called towing company, and the car started after the towing truck showed up. Now, I think I got a paranoia and I start to worry whenever I start the car.
 
I always think that men make mistakes. So I try to understand the small issues of the car such as rattling noise etc. I picked Toyota because of the reliability. However, it is the worst car ever. I never have this sort of paranoia before. Even they do not provide road side assistant!!! I now agree that Toyota is not the same as before.
 
In less than a year, I start to hate my car, and I don't know how long I can bear this. I really regret my choice now. I think any other company including underrated hyundai, kia and mitsubishi are doing much better job than Toyota.
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