Help Diagnose my Daily Driver
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From: Saint Helena, CA
Help Diagnose my Daily Driver
I have my Evo8 for fun now...picked up a 2000 Corolla VE a few months ago. It is an automatic with about 106k miles. Here are the symptoms:
Gas mileage:
26mpg on 89octane....should be mid 30's on 87 octane.
Performance:
Slow, but it is a Corolla. I think it's a little TOO slow. Should have a touch more pep to it. Sometimes, it hesitates during acceleration. Hasn't bogged down and died, but it seems like it might from time to time.
Noise:
At higher speeds, over 60mph, you can hear engine pinging or valve clatter or whatever you want to call it when the car is under load. Coasting/cruising along there is nothing, but when you push the gas pedal down a bit, it starts.
Other:
Replaced the cat recently because of the check engine light. No CEL anymore. Other than that, I haven't done much else. I did make sure the air filter is nice and clean.
What do you think?
Spark plugs? Fuel system cleaner? Toyota told me they require iridium spark plugs, I haven't checked what kind are in there. I bought it used from a Saturn dealership.
Gas mileage:
26mpg on 89octane....should be mid 30's on 87 octane.
Performance:
Slow, but it is a Corolla. I think it's a little TOO slow. Should have a touch more pep to it. Sometimes, it hesitates during acceleration. Hasn't bogged down and died, but it seems like it might from time to time.
Noise:
At higher speeds, over 60mph, you can hear engine pinging or valve clatter or whatever you want to call it when the car is under load. Coasting/cruising along there is nothing, but when you push the gas pedal down a bit, it starts.
Other:
Replaced the cat recently because of the check engine light. No CEL anymore. Other than that, I haven't done much else. I did make sure the air filter is nice and clean.
What do you think?
Spark plugs? Fuel system cleaner? Toyota told me they require iridium spark plugs, I haven't checked what kind are in there. I bought it used from a Saturn dealership.
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From: Springfield, VA
I have extensive experience with Corollas.
What was the actual code that led you to the Cat Conv replacement? If it was anything besides P0420, it could have been brought up by a MAF sensor or 02 sensors. The MAF sensors are somewhat known to read funky on those cars after a while (happened on a 01' I had) and Toyota 02 sensors don't seem to last as long as you'd think.
The car has a 1ZZFE engine which is a little prone to louder injector tick which is normal. I had some pinging on my 01 and ultimately just wound up running premium in the tank which solved the problem, which was likely carbon build up. Carbon can be taken care of with Seafoam or a BG induction service. If you do either, reset the ECU afterwards.
Edit.. and Yes, the 98-02 Corollas require iridiums.
What was the actual code that led you to the Cat Conv replacement? If it was anything besides P0420, it could have been brought up by a MAF sensor or 02 sensors. The MAF sensors are somewhat known to read funky on those cars after a while (happened on a 01' I had) and Toyota 02 sensors don't seem to last as long as you'd think.
The car has a 1ZZFE engine which is a little prone to louder injector tick which is normal. I had some pinging on my 01 and ultimately just wound up running premium in the tank which solved the problem, which was likely carbon build up. Carbon can be taken care of with Seafoam or a BG induction service. If you do either, reset the ECU afterwards.
Edit.. and Yes, the 98-02 Corollas require iridiums.
Last edited by zze-131; May 16, 2007 at 06:38 PM.
Sounds like you may just need a tune-up. Some new plugs, maybe a new O2 sensor (pretty easy to check if you have a torch/gas stove, and a multimeter if it's a narrow band O2 sensor).
Probably a lot of carbon build; I doubt an automatic corolla gets driven hard.
Probably a lot of carbon build; I doubt an automatic corolla gets driven hard.
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What is this seafoam stuff? Or BG induction service?
I'll look into some spark plugs and do one of the above and see what that does. Would both/either of those cause poor gas mileage and performance?
And the engine code was P0420.
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Something else I thought about....when it had the P0420 code, would that cause the car to run rich? Then, when I got a new cat, if the code were removed, but the ECU was not reset, would the car continue to run rich?
Just filled up today...27.25 mpg
Used 93 octane to see if that helps anything.
Just filled up today...27.25 mpg
Used 93 octane to see if that helps anything.
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From: Saint Helena, CA
thats why i think dd's are a waste unless theyre in excellent condition...
the money you're spending on this car (insurance, intial cost, repairs) aren't saving you anymore... just more to worry about...
good luck though...
the money you're spending on this car (insurance, intial cost, repairs) aren't saving you anymore... just more to worry about...
good luck though...
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From: Saint Helena, CA
Thread Starter
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From: Saint Helena, CA
There is probably a Napa around here somewhere.
Not the only reason I bought it. In TX, it keeps the Evo in the garage for the hail storms we have 3x per week in the spring. Also, driving downtown to see the girlfriend, I have a 7 year old Corolla parked on the side of the road for the drunks to aim for instead of the Evo, which would likely be broken into within a week. Those were the main reasons....that and the 3 mile commute to work doesn't require a stellar automobile, just one with A/C and 4 wheels, which this has.
