Looking at a 98 LE with a TON of miles,advice please
Hello,i havent been here in a few years since i sold my 95 corolla.I am looking at a 98 LE with all options except leather(if it was available).It has well over 200,000 miles but the oil has been changed every 3000 miles and it has been well maintained.It has reciepts for most of this.It needs a clutch and a rear tire.I am worried about the oil consumption i have been reading about.Does this problem affect most of these?The owner says he only has to add oil once every 3000 miles.The car is about $800 and is in nice shape overall.Would you do it or stay away because of possible oil consumption?Thanks
Pull the spark plug wires out of the cylinders, if the dipsticks are wet, then the car has a oil consumption problem OR valve cover gasket needs to be placed. If it is the valve cover gasket, then it wouldn't be any problem. However, if the piston rings was the problem, then i would stay away.
Other than oil consumption, i would check for brake, suspension and transmission oil fluid. If transmission oil fluid is too dark, it meant that the owner never had the transmission flushed or drained.
I would go with a 2003 or later model unless you do mind owning a car consuming large amounts of oil.
__________________ 2005 Corolla LE - Impulse Red - Auto Trans - 1ZZFE - 86,000mi 2003 Echo - Auto Trans - 96,000mi. - slow as dog-dirt - I'd rather put my money in the bank than in the tank!!!!!
not a bad car for only $800 bucks. i have a 99 with 171k miles, and it doesn't burn on leak any oil in between me changing the oil. i usually change it every 5k miles. mine has been a good commuter car since i got it in july of 2007 with i think 122k miles. i paid $4500 for it then. i think it was $4500, and not $5000. it's starting to go downhill now. put a bottle of lucas transmission fix in it earlier this year. or actually maybe it was over a year ago, but it shifts better. it was starting to slip, and i just like many people don't have 3-4 grand to spend on a new transmission. had the alternator, and water pumps replaced which were both a rape, and a half each. bastard mechanics charge ridiculous prices nowadays more than ever. mine is still good though. check engine has been on for years. they wanted almost a grand to fix some sensor which you wouldn't even know was bad if you didn't see the light. i told them no way i'm gonna pay that much just for the light to go out. had to leave after 10 minutes of the guy doing everything he could to convince me i would have a problem on the side of the road if i didn't replace it. over two years, and at least 30k miles later no problems. it gets 32 miles highway. at least mine does. $800 bucks isn't a bad price at all for that, but remember. you buy an $800 car you better have enough money saved up. i would say a few hundred more to fix whatever problem could happen with a 200k mile car. toyota's last forever, and are cheaper to maintain than pos taurus's, but that doesn't mean you won't need repairs along the way. especially expensive ones with what these bastard mechanics wanna charge. good luck!
Thanks for the replies.My mechanic wants $300 to change the clutch plus about $120 for a new one at autozone.Is it possible that the car only uses a quart every 3000 miles at this mileage?Iwill definitely take all of this knowledge with me tomorrow when i go see it.BTW,the mileage is actually 279,000.So it may be at the end of its life.
Unless major work has been done to the engine and trans( with proof) the car is at the end of its life.
But for $800 and it runs ok, sometimes $800 bucks is all you got.
Ops, didnt see the clutch, not worth it.
Changing a clutch on the toyota is very involved, you have to take out: intake, battery, tires, axles, most of the front end suspension, starter, and transmission.
$300 is a little too cheap for labor. Before I did it myself, my mechanics quoted me between $850 and $950.
Last edited by Clayton1984; 11-10-2010 at 04:13 PM.
Changing a clutch on the toyota is very involved, you have to take out: intake, battery, tires, axles, most of the front end suspension, starter, and transmission.
$300 is a little too cheap for labor. Before I did it myself, my mechanics quoted me between $850 and $950.
So is changing a clutch on a 98 a whole lot different than a 95 because thats about what i paid to have the 95 done.Even though you guys have me a little worried about it i am still going to check it out.I just need it to last about a year and i plan on trying to get it for $700 or so.
Changing a clutch on the toyota is very involved, you have to take out: intake, battery, tires, axles, most of the front end suspension, starter, and transmission.
$300 is a little too cheap for labor. Before I did it myself, my mechanics quoted me between $850 and $950.
That's why when tranny troubles start showing up, people usually either get rid of the car or sell it.
So is changing a clutch on a 98 a whole lot different than a 95 because thats about what i paid to have the 95 done.Even though you guys have me a little worried about it i am still going to check it out.I just need it to last about a year and i plan on trying to get it for $700 or so.
Probably not, just more parts and possible hoses to move out of the way.
Hello,i havent been here in a few years since i sold my 95 corolla.I am looking at a 98 LE with all options except leather(if it was available).It has well over 200,000 miles but the oil has been changed every 3000 miles and it has been well maintained.It has reciepts for most of this.It needs a clutch and a rear tire.I am worried about the oil consumption i have been reading about.Does this problem affect most of these?The owner says he only has to add oil once every 3000 miles.The car is about $800 and is in nice shape overall.Would you do it or stay away because of possible oil consumption?Thanks
was it changed at 3k all the time? synthetic or conventional?
was it changed at 3k all the time? synthetic or conventional?
He said on or around 3000 miles.Also he claims the car still has its original clutch.He has had it since 01 at 44,000 miles.He must have really driven it easy for the clutch to last nearly 300k.I will check the reciepts carefully also.
He said on or around 3000 miles.Also he claims the car still has its original clutch.He has had it since 01 at 44,000 miles.He must have really driven it easy for the clutch to last nearly 300k.I will check the reciepts carefully also.
Pass Pass Pass. Clutch may not be the only thing wrong with it, if the guy is willing to sell it now. Methinks he got a quote of what it would cost to make this car reliable and roadworthy and decided to bail out and leave that cost to someone else.
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