New 4F information

[Barry4F]

I've just bought a low Kms 4A-FE corolla. Great little car. I'm new to Toyotas but maintain a couple of classic Peugeot 504s. The cars drive (how can I say) differently to them, but the little Corolla has impressed me with its willing and apparently unburstable engine. BTW - it's a 4 speed auto - but don't hold that against me.

A couple of questions that presumably the knowledgeable in the forum can quickly answer

The low speed heater fan circuit does not operate. I've got the message that it is a common fault. Is there a relatively solution other than getting the electric part from a wreckers (where presumably the same problem is likely to occur again?).

The 4 speed auto will drop solidly into 4th at between 65 and 70 kms. However, between say 55 and 65 it seems to be in some intermediate state between 3rd and 4th. When I turn the overdrive off at, say, 60 kmh, the revs rise as it solidly engages third. Is this behaviour characteristic of the auto, or a sign of some mechanical issue?

The rear end thumps a bit more than I'm accustomed to in my Pugs. Can any alteration be made easily via tyre brands or different shocks - maybe from the top-of-the-range model 4A-GE or other such mechanical swap?

Thanks for any help you can give. I'm enjoying the car anyway!