Squire

Awesome! Thanks so much Trent.

G'day all, I've had my 150-series now for almost 7 years. I was wondering if some of my old questions now have answers? 1. Can you retrofit some kind of remote boot release to the 150 series sedan? 2. Is there any way to turn off the 'key is in but the door is open' beeping without say, disabling the 'left your headlights on' tone? Thanks!

If you have the key between ACC and ON, it gives you the same functions as ACC plus the thermo fans run at full speed. I wonder why?

For those of you playing along at home, it was a faulty/failing brake booster. Unlucky, hey. If I knew all I know now I would have gotten one out of a wreck. Long story short, They are $1100 from a Toyota Dealership, about $350 rebuilt (that's what I did) and about $100 from the wreckers. Only problem is that you need to slightly drop the motor to get them out. Odds on it never happens to yours.

Fuel guages are filthy, filthy liars

Hi Poppy Ray, The ZRE152 corolla has two fuse boxes, one under the bonnet, and one behind the glovebox. I know this as I have had to change my cigarette lighter fuse twice now, as I persist on using cheap crap cigarette lighter adapters for phones etc. You will need to do some serious 'bogan yoga' to be able to reach the fusebox - lie in the passengers footwell with your head up behind the glovebox. I can't quite remember whether you have to take the glovebox out or not, but at any rate, that's a trivial task. I think maybe you don't. Get under there with a nice LED light that you don't need to hold. Believe it or not, but there is a fuse puller there, as miniscule as it is. These are 'micro' fuses - a lot smaller than the fuses. You can get new ones from fleabay for pocketchange. Blue five amp ones if i remember correctly? Either way, stick ya napper up the passengers footwell and have a gander. There's a plastic cover that covers the fuses, and on the inside of the cover is a legend which tells you what's what - it is somewhat confusing as it doesn't look that different upside down. Good luck and report back if you can't find it and i'll take some happy snaps for us to all enjoy. Hope this helps Squire

Hi All, My 2007 ZRE152R has just come up to a tick over 100k on the clock, and it's developed an issue with the brakes. The brake pedal has more travel than normal and on 3/4 pedal it makes a hissing sound, kind of like the usual hssh you get when you depress the brakes, but now it's there constantly if you've got your foot firmly on the brake pedal. Has anyone had this before? I can guess the kinds of things it might be - Brake Master Cylinder, Brake Booster, ABS Pump, Hose off. However just from a visual inspection I can see nothing wrong. No split line, no line off, no leaks. Is this something any of you have experienced before and had righted? Thanks

Thanks for the info Gents. Yeah point two was more of a statement/info than a question. I'll give the sparkplugs a go in a few weeks, coming up to 100k soon.

Gents, I've had my 150-series Conquest sedan for three years now, and have covered 51k in that time. I'm still learning new things about it. Today I have a few more questions! 1. Have you ever noticed that if you turn the key on half way between ACC and ON, you get the thermo fans roaring at full speed? Why does it do this? 2. I found the fuse puller! There is one, in the fusebox under the bonnet. Just none in the fusebox under the glovebox though. 3. Spark plugs. What's the general concensus on which ones, when to change, any tricks to change? Seeing as the car is coil-on-plug, do you need dielectric grease or just pop em on? Thanks Squire

The purpose of fitting a modified camshaft is to affect the timing, duration and lift of your valves. Variable Valve Timing as fitted to the 2ZR-FE already has moderately agressive T/D/L parameters at higher RPM. Yes, you will probably make a bit more power with a modified camshaft, but there's no way you'd get anywhere near the gains you'd see in a 304, even as a percentage. Oh and it'd almost certainly have terrible road manners and you'd be changing your engine mounts every six months. If you want more power than a 2ZR-FE, then buy something else. It's an economy motor. Truth to be known, aside from the usual airflow mods, computer mods or forced induction, one swap that would be not worth it but probably more worth it than a camshaft upgrade would be to slot in a 3ZR-FE from a wrecked Ultima or a 3ZR-FAE from Japan. I feel that the 3ZR-FE is what should have come with the 150-series rollas all along. Actually, I'd love to drive one with a ~2600rpm stall converter.

No I'm not 100% sure. I was upside down in a dark cramped footwell. Nah, as in fanbelt/ancillaries belt/serpentine belt, not timing chain. Apparently this isn't an uncommon issue with the 2ZR-FE's, and i'm happy to do a writeup on re-tensioning this for you fellas if you need. Because, on paper, the ZRE corolla is the perfect owners car. The price vs quality vs safety vs size vs running costs equation simply cannot be beaten by any other car on the market. And you're quite right. I'm just disappointed, i suppose, that it can't be a driver's car too. True, true. Yeah, but the only cars i've owned before that have this many minor flaws have been cheapo buzzboxes, not top three sellers.

I am. I like the car, but I certainly don't love it. It is a solid, good size, well appointed, smooth car, but the list of issues I have with it just makes me unable to love it. So, apart from the: Accelleration hole at 2-3k rpm Gappy and jerky 4-speed auto No remote boot release Drive belt that slowly loses tension Incessant beeping if i open the door with the key in Fragile CD-stacker Too-fat centre console at calf area Electric windows that stop working once someone opens a door I found the other day that the car doesn't come with a fuse puller, or any spare fuses, or anywhere to put them. Yes I know my concerns aren't major concerns and on the whole, it's a very reliable car that achieves 7.7L/100klms, which for a 4.5m long car is excellent. But the list is building far too thick and fast for me to ever be able to look back and say "I loved that car...". Nup. Your thoughts?

550k out of 45L sounds about right for a ZRE on 91 octane round town the poor little motors have a lot of lard to cart around, so to get any kind of performance you've gotta get up em, which then returns only OK fuel economy. The fact that you return 8L/100klms out of a 1250kg car, driven normally, is pretty decent really!

yes

well after a tankful i'm reporting back, and i can tell you, i can't notice a difference really. fuel economy wasn't much different and neither was power. just stick with regular old 91, it's always the best value for money.

Hi There Mac123. There should be no reason why your Corolla won't run on LPG. Look for a decent LPI (Liquid Phase Injection) system. No you won't have any problems with doing so - just keep your ignition system components up to date and she'll run great. Expect an install to cost around the $4500 mark, depending on brand and tank type. Have you considered a toroidal tank?

Kenshin X, dwee - thank you for your help.

Well yes and no SuperDave. I'm usually a pretty big skeptic when it comes to fuels, people enjoy praising or hating fuels based on perceived anecdotal evidence rather than scientific fact. That being said, motors do have knock sensors and will retard your timing if knocking is detected. So you will likely find that most corollas will run fine (albeit slightly retarded) on 91 octane but will advance up upon using 95 - but 98 and 100 is likely no benefit over 95. Now if they just had petrols of a higher calorific value per litre....

Rightio Gents, I'm back again, with a plethora of little questions. 1. Fuel Capacity. So the handbook says the ZRE's have a 55L tank - However whenever i get to the fuel light on and the RANGE saying 0 kays left, I only manage to stick in 42L or so. Now I understand that there's always gonna be a few litres sloshing around in the tank, but 13L? Really? Is this other people's general experience too? 2. I underestimated how lame it is not to have a boot release button on the central locking remote. Can I get a different key (like a camry key perhaps) and code it so that I can remote unlock the boot? Anyone done this before? 3. 2ZR-FE. Which oil for Queensland? 4. Why is my speedo 6-7% out? I'm wearing 205/55/16s on the stock tyres - and they've got heaps of meat left on them. It's only gonna get worse as they wear. Everyone else have as bad a speedo error? Anyone done anything about it? Is it something I can change via software in some way or is it via a cog inside the gearbox? 5. Why does the dash have to beep at me so much? So what if i want to open my door whilst the key is in? How can I get it to pipe down? Thanks for this folks, I appreciate your input.

I've currently got the United 100 octane in my tank. So far I can't really tell the difference and the economy seems similar. Will report back after i've used a tankful or so.

Ah rightio, thanks gents. Yes ben yip's thread is pretty good. I'll certainly be looking into doing some of his mods to my ZRE in the future. Also with fitting an Auris badge - do you just pop out the old toyo badge and pop in the new one? Or can you change the whole grille on the sedan to something a bit cooler?

Hi All, I have read through the ZRE FAQ - it is quite good. I have some extra questions: 1. I am interested in some cost-effective performance modifications for my ZRE. The usual stuff - cold air, extractors, maybe even chip/tune/edit or whatever the corollas have. My question is - has anyone done this and gotten better fuel economy out of it? I am not interested in top-end power, low- to mid-range torque is my game. Oh an economy. 2. I see there are throttle controllers available. I come from a world where motors start at 200 cubic inches and have fuel delivery into the throttle body - so throttle response is generally exacting and linear. I find the ZRE's electronic throttle a bit disappointing, it having a centimetre of travel before a burst of accelleration. What have people's real-world experiences in attaching these throttle controllers to their cars? Have you managed to get precise, linear throttle responses from them? TIA Squire.

Ah, electric power steer. Right. Ok thanks for all the info gents. Much appreciated!

Hmm, seems I must be asking all the tough questions. Maybe i'm not so much of a newb after all!

G'day all, Once again I find myself behind the wheel of a Corolla. My last foray into Corolla's was a 5-speed KE55 with a Borg Warner 4:11 and a twin-throat carby. I've since had a 5 year Hiatus, owning a series of AU Falcons. I'm a big poster over on the ford forums, and I know nearly every nut and bolt of the AU falcons, as I was a taxi mechanic back when AUs were modern. Now I've bought myself and my wife a ZRE152R Conquest Sedan. 45k on the clock, Shimmer blue, Automagic. A very nice car. However, I have a number of questions. 1. How do you check the power steer fluid levels? I've taken the turtle-shell off the motor, and I can't see it. Maybe i'm blind. I can find the Engine Oil dipstick, ATF dipstick, Coolant header tank, Washer bottle, brake master cylinder, but I can't seem to see the power steer reservoir. 2. The fusebox - is that entirely under the bonnet? In what I would call the relay box? 3. Speakers - 6" in the front, 6x9" in the rear? 4. Is there any easy way to modify/edit the interior electronics behavior? Just for little things, like making the electric windows stay live EVEN THOUGH I'VE ONLY OPENED THE DOOR or having the cruise system stay on even though i've only turned the car off for 5 mins. 5. Apart from not driving it like a throttle jockey, driving it like you stole it, or simply not enjoying not having seen 6200rpm for years and years, is there any way to improve the fuel economy? Do headers or a K&N air filter help on these? Or is the ECU too smart to be tricked by such feeble upgrades?