Looking at snagging a cheap 5 speed 97 Corolla. I have minimal experience with Toyotas. What are the common weak points on these cars aside from rust and such?
Looking at snagging a cheap 5 speed 97 Corolla. I have minimal experience with Toyotas. What are the common weak points on these cars aside from rust and such?
Oil consumption. SWMBO's '02 Prizm (same as Corolla) has the 3spd auto (run away!) and uses way too much oil. I think the earlier models were less likely to have this problem.
I was recently shopping for one for the grandmother & the only trouble spot I came across was if the seatbelt light remains on there is a sensor of sorts in the receptacle that tends to fail. IIRC it was close to a $200 part, but I could be mistaken.
cghstang wrote: Oil consumption. SWMBO's '02 Prizm (same as Corolla) has the 3spd auto (run away!) and uses way too much oil. I think the earlier models were less likely to have this problem.
This. I actually ran into a starvation issue on one to the point that it popped the motor. Bizarre stuff considering it was a Toyota.
MA$$hole wrote: I was recently shopping for one for the grandmother & the only trouble spot I came across was if the seatbelt light remains on there is a sensor of sorts in the receptacle that tends to fail. IIRC it was close to a $200 part, but I could be mistaken.
Have a 99's that does that. a 2$ roll of e-tape and 5min.... no more light 
^Celicas of the same era have the same problem. There's actually a cheap wiring job you can do to have it fixed.
mndsm wrote:cghstang wrote: Oil consumption. SWMBO's '02 Prizm (same as Corolla) has the 3spd auto (run away!) and uses way too much oil. I think the earlier models were less likely to have this problem.This. I actually ran into a starvation issue on one to the point that it popped the motor. Bizarre stuff considering it was a Toyota.
Same as my sons. It was an awful car. I felt bad for recommending it.
My first thought when I read your question, "what should I look for"?
Another car.
I still love the damn things for some reason. It was a great car, and the replacement engine was like 300$, so I didn't care too much. my 93 is the reason I own a 99 (Chevy Prism) now.
mndsm wrote:
Have a 99's that does that. a 2$ roll of e-tape and 5min.... no more light
That is also the same fix for an NA Miata air bag light, btw.
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