2000 Corolla- Ping issue Revisited

[2000corollaaz]

I've posted about this before, just thought I would bring it up again w/ a couple of things to add.

Anyways, our 2000 Corolla currently has 153K miles. At around 100K miles, it developed a ping. The said ping, usually occurs at speeds of 55-70. From reading this site and others, it seems this issue is relatively common to this generation of 1ZZFE.

Since the ping began, we've replaced parts and tried various things.

-Catalytic Converter/o2 sensors(check engine light).
-PCV Valve.
-2 MAF Cleanings.
-1 Seafoam treatment(had to replace cat shortly after, related??).
-2 ARX Clean/Rinses.
-Multiple Fuel treatments.
-Spark Plugs.

Now for the things to add; when we travel up North, up to 7500 ft. elevation, the car doesn't ping much/ever. I recently tried a tank of Shell 89 w/ STP octane booster and the ping was basically gone. Returned when back on 87.

ALSO, TODAY; I installed one step colder NGK iridiums, changed the oil, cleaned the MAF THOROUGHLY, and reset the computer. The ping is still there.

So I have a couple of questions; could this be the vvt-i actuator and would it throw a code? Or, how about a bad ECU? Bad timing?

I'm not sure what to do here, this whole thing has been frusturating.

Thanks in advance!

[huangxin]

tell you the truth, i never found out the reason for my ping...

i've tried almost all of the above too. my ping started at about 100k with only 1 or 2 ping at 60-65mph, then it worsened to constantly pinging at speed over 40mph. it even dropped to 20 or 30 before. after seafoam the ping reduced but never went away. recently i swapped the engine and reused all my old sensors, but the ping is not there anymore. i took it up to 65mph the other day. no problem at all.

[Chris Corolla S]

Sounds like you are running lean. Everyone says the fuel filter is not a replacement part but I bought one from the internet and when it came it was a toyota part. My original filter flowed but even after all the gas was out it was heavier than the new one and was harder to blow through. For me the maf cleaning fixed my ping for the most part and the fuel filter helped too. Make sure the MAF wires down the hole are good and clean, sorry if you've heard that a lot.
-Chris

[2000corollaaz]

Thanks for the tips.

We may just have to deal with it, or so it seems.

Huangxin, did you replace the motor because it went bad, or because you wanted to? How many miles? I'm just asking because we need this car to last a couple of years longer, it currently has 153K miles.

The ping isn't terrible, usually. But I know that ping is never a good thing, especially as its been going on for 53K miles.


As I said, the ONLY thing to nearly eliminate the ping, was a tankful of Shell 89 gas w/ STP octane booster. Oh, and when we go up in elevation?


Chris, is there an easy way to check if the car is running lean? If so, how do you fix it?

I forgot to mention in the original post, I believe the MAF was replaced once as well, because of a code(maybe at 70K miles?).

Thanks again.

[huangxin]

i think the reason the ping goes away when you go up in elevation is that the air is thinner the higher you go. so the motor is running richer.

i replaced my engine because the bottom-end knock (might be from the heavy pinging, since the oil is always kept up). it would be a hassle and a big cost to get the bottom end re-aligned, so i just put in another one. some light pinging every once in a while isn't going to hurt anything, but my old engine has been driven for a while with some heavy pingings (i wasn't the driver).

the thing that got me thinking is that when i swapped the engine, i reused all my old sensors. only components from the 05 engine are the injectors, coil pack, VVTi filter and actuator. i didn't touch the fuel pump and filter. the ping went away after the motor swap... i'm thinking my pinging had something to do with the engine's long block.

btw the engine had 137k when i pulled it out... kinda a shame...

[2000corollaaz]

Wow, 137K miles? That does suck.

Well, we'll just have to baby it. Not sure if it will do anything but I'm also going to run a maintenance dose of arx, i've had good luck with it.

Hopefully it'll last until 200K!

[2000corollaaz]

Just an update on an old thread. After this thread, I tried various fuel treatments and MMO(oil/fuel). Nothing ever worked! We traded the car in about a year ago, with 167,000 miles.

By 167,000 miles, the car was pinging worse than ever. Also, the oil burning had increased to 1qt/500-700 miles. On highway trips, sometimes a quart every 350 or so miles. Otherwise car ran fine, still got around 30mpg.

We traded it in for a '10 Ford Fusion. We like this car alot, although we do miss the Corolla, lot's of memories.

However, in July '09, we also got an '03 Corolla, which now has 57,000 miles. It's been a great car and we still own a Toyota

[sam333]

Did you check your knock sensor?
It retards the timing when the engine pings / knocks.

[mirage1]

We have the same issue. I have to run 91 octane all the time to keep it under control. But it still pings a little with the AC on and outside temps are over 100F (2000-2500rpm is the worst.)

My list is very similar. I still need to replace the catalytic converter, but I have verified fuel pressure is correct, replaced the fuel pump, replaced the MAF, and fuel injector cleaning. I have not replaced the knock sensor.

I'm really starting to think this engine just needs an oil cooler.