Tony Prodigy

Hi Gents, Visited Mum and Dad over the weekend and it turned out to be a visit/oil service as I discovered it was due and although I had a feeling it was close, I didn't think it would be that close. It was a recent trip to Queensland which brought the oil service closer than expected. So Luckily I had all the necessary gear handy over there to be able to do this for Dad. Current ODO reading being 83559. Last oil service was approximately 75,5** (I forgot the exact number), so roughly 8K travelled. It was also the first time using the Motive X Tools oil funnel that I showcased a little while back. While the oil was draining, I assembled the funnel and screwed it into the filler hole. The seals on the funnel ensure a tight seal so no liquid can seep out. It fit neatly and securely. Having allowed the oil to drain, I unscrewed the filter housing, wiped it clean and gave it a wash with brake cleaner to remove old oil residue. The oil had a brownish-reddish tinge to it and it definitely looked spent. I assume this was also partly due to residual oil additive the last time Dad's "former" mechanic" used for no apparent reason. Installed fresh Genuine Parts Toyota Oil Filter and plugged the sump back up and started the fill process. The beauty of the new funnel is that due to the size of the intake neck you can position the oil container spout directly in the centre of the funnel and pour directly into the engine without it backing up into the funnel. I was able to dispense the whole 6lt in around 20 seconds. I was impressed. Clean was minimal. I left the funnel attached for a few minutes to allow residual oil at the base to stop dripping then removed, degreased, wiped it up and put it back in the box. Job done. Gave the car a once over, adjusted tyre pressures and it was complete.

Nice I've got enough, even though it was tempting, I had to refrain this time 50% off is the best time to take advantage. I will never pay full price for the stuff. You'd be mad too really. Sales will and do come around, so best to be patient and perhaps stock up a little to get you by when your oil service comes before the sales.

I've never tried it, but I have heard excellent reviews and feedback about the brand. Unfortunately, I don't have enough cars to be able to use the various brands as I don't like to mix oils. My Aurion has always had the Nulon, my Dad's Aurion I'm using the Penrite and my garage Queen M3 only uses Castrol as recommended by the factory. If I had to use another oil for the M3, it would definitely be Liqui Moly. There is also a youtuber who restores 80'-90s BMWs and he swears by this stuff. Uses it everywhere. Can't go wrong if the label states "manufactured in GMBH". I don't think too many people know about Liqui Moly and probably why we don't see a broader range here. It is big in Europe.

I think I assumed you have your car serviced there like most tend to do and you could've just asked for advice on it. Then again, they'd probably be cagey about it and want you to book it so they can milk more money out of you. They wouldn't offer free advice I think.

It's better to remove the wheel if you want the front half of the inner liner out of the way so you can see what you're doing. If you have a trolley jack, you can raise the whole front and do both at the same time.

I doubt it. But anything is possible. I'd ask to see all my old plugs to check their condition. At least you will know all were replaced. How anyone could take money to replace all the plugs and only do the front would be a low act and if such a person has been found doing this, then they need to outed.

Looking forward to any replies. Thanks. That is a tricky one. I have never noticed this item on the old Camry and you are right that there is absolutely nothing online regarding it. If you can find an older Toyota tech who could've possibly worked on one of these in the past, he could tell, and then again he may not. I am just wondering how it is mounted. That hole you point to, are you sure it's a vent hole because it looks like where a bolt would go to keep it in place. If you look at the area it fits into the block, there is a hole on the top section above the cylindrical recess where the device slides in. Something has to keep it fixed in position no ? It can't just be a push in fit. I wished you got a photo of this before dismantling it. I could say either the mounting bolt went missing or the o-ring is bad. Help us clarify these points.

Hey Gents, Super Cheap are having 50% of 6lt Nulon 5w-30 & 10w-40 if anyone needs any. https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/catalogue-out-now?q=6 litre&prefn1=adArticleType&prefv1=Full Synthetic Engine Oil#main Plus other discounts. Just view the catalogue. Have a great day

That's awesome ! Not sure what brand they are from factory, but it's testament to quality.

Not at all Big Mike. I hr is very reasonable. It probably saved you a lot of cursing and frustration so would be great value for anyone not wanting to DIY it. My car has over 120K and still going on original plugs. No issues thus far. I'll pop one out this weekend and take a look and see how well it's fairing. I'll post up some pics when I do. Cheers guys

I have to say, that is a very strange issue. I wonder if there is something going within the wiring harness that controls the rear tailgate. Could be an intermittent short happening when starting the engine. One would need to consult an electrical diagram and then go about probing the relevant pinouts. I don't expect anyone do it as a DIY, I'm just saying in general. This would definitely be a job for someone clever with modern day car electrics who uses the proper test equipment. Have Toyota ever offered a solution or are just as dumb founded ??

Great. I'd love to see what colour the fluid is. It's possible it may have been serviced at some point, but if you don't have a log book history, it's all speculation. I'd just assume it hasn't and just have it done anyway. This way you can plan ahead for it's next service if no real damage has already occurred in the mean time.

Probably a good time to get the tranny looked at given you don't have a solid service record. As Ashley mentioned, don't ignore the warning signs. A simple transmission service could fix whatever is going on. Whilst it's up on the hoist, I suppose they will remove the pan and check the innards for any issues too. Keep us posted. Cheers

Why anyone would buy one of these is mind boggling. There's more at stake than just buying a cheap car. Cheap for a reason too.

Looks like a very sensitive item. The jump start may have jolted the electronics. I wonder if the head unit was "off" would it also have the same consequence. It is quite disappointing that you can lose your head unit by simply jump starting your vehicle, assuming it was jump started according to the book.

Pretty much as the above. These head units are poor quality and most will fail over time so don't waste your money at the stealership. If you want to keep it original, then there are plenty available from local wreckers or you can try Ebay. There are also aftermarket solutions too. Just avoid the generic made in china models. They are problematic and will frustrate you.

So I'm guessing that was around 6 months ago or so and this would've entailed mainly the engine service right ? How many kays has the vehicle travelled and was the transmission ever serviced prior to this ? It's possible there could be a loose connector somewhere under there which governs the solenoids within the transmission. Either this or there is a mechanical condition brewing. Does it only slip under the situation you described ?

Yes, I believe this is the correct way. I did see a video where some guy did this and he was able to remove those two bolts behind the pulley. I just can't seem to find that video right now. You will need to remove the front engine mount.

You can get into one for around the mid to high 40s with a few kays on it. Doesn't have to be brand new, but believe me, you get a lot more motor car for 70K than most others and I would say the build quality is better than Toyota, I kid you not. I had a really good look at one over the weekend and I'm very impressed. VW build exceptional cars so Toyota better watch out !

When was the transmission last serviced ? Could be low fluid, could be bad fluid or the torque converter could be playing up. It's really hard to diagnose over the internet. Someone needs to physically check all the vital signs, perhaps even hook up the OBD II and see if there are any error codes stored. Maybe a fluid flush can cure all the issues. Have a qualified transmission tech look at it and go from there.

Also = Me not supporting Toyota again. I will look to another brand. Speaking of which, I've been eyeing off the VW Arteon lately. Wow ! What a car !! It is loaded with more tech and safety features you dream of having in any Toyota for the same price point. The build quality and paint finish are top shelf too. If you ever see one in a car yard, take the time to check one out.

Found a juicy nugget of info regarding that rubber pad. Leave it in place as it is designed to absorb heat generated in the head. There seems to be a design flaw where these engines tend to shear of the rear 3 head bolts from uneven heat distribution. Watch this video and he explains it from @50 seconds into the video.

Have a watch of this. I don't know if it may help but it looks promising

I've not been around this engine all that much to be able to offer a solution, but can I ask what tools you tried using ? It seems like you're trying to access it with a socket am I right ? Is it possible to slip a ratcheting spanner down in behind the pulley ? Is that the mounting bracket for the pump and are you able to undo the pump from this bracket or is the pump and bracket all one piece ? It can't be that difficult surely. I cannot imagine it would call for an engine out solution either. Hopefully someone here who has one of these can chime in. Hang in there mate, hopefully you'll get some relief soon.

The Corolla has a reverse threaded oil filter ?? Really ? i've never heard of this. My wife had a 96 Corolla, not sure how much difference there is between yours and hers, but I remember her's was standard thread.