New Corolla Purchase: What To Check On ?

[Robert11]

Hello,

Will probably be purchasing a new 2010 Corolla for son next week.

All the recalls are confusing, and would like to ask:

a. What is the possibility of insisting on a Denso pedal ? Do the US dealers have them for retrofit, or is the (only) option the shim "cure" ?

b. How about the hacking up of the pedal so it doesn't interfere with any carpet. Sounds like a horrible fix. Is this the only option the dealers have, or is some other approach available, if asked for ?

c. And, the reflashing I heard about. (see copy of info below my post, please) Might be the ECM unit, but am not sure.

"and most important, from our point of view, a reflash of the computer
to give braking priority over throttle inputs"

Is this for Corollas also ?

I guess what I'm after is a list of what I should really "demand" from the dealer for this car before purchasing, and what I should be absolutely sure to verify has been done to it re all the recalls.

Much thanks,
Bob
-----------------------------
We’ve gotten hold of documents relating to that other Toyota recall, the one from last fall regarding pedal interference with floor mats. Tying the floor mats to the seats was the short term fix, but now Toyota has the permanent solution.
This includes cars with the Denso pedal that is not part of the sticky-pedal recall. The main features: cutting off the bottom of the pedal to make it shorter (yes, with a reciprocating saw) reworking the sound-deadening and carpet near the pedal,
and most important, from our point of view, a reflash of the computer to give braking priority over throttle inputs

[mmasse]

First off they can not sell Corolla's that do not have the shim installed. So requesting a Denso pedal is not necessary. However if you request a car that was built in Japan that should accomplish the same thing you are after. Please do no hack up your pedals it will not help with the pedals sticking. Also the carpet mat recall is like the pedal recall the newer corollas should have the new mats with them along with the ECU re-flash.

So with the earlier purchasers forging the ways of the defects your son is getting a safer car and does not have to worry about the recalls we are now facing

[gammalinux]

No Corolla's can be sold without all recalls being fixed. Corollas in the US are built in California or Canada a Japan built model is not an option. If the ECM flash is for Corolla the dealership will do that before you get the car. For the floor mats if the pedals get manually reshaped I believe Toyota will replace with a new pedal later. I would be willing to bet though that new vehicles are built with the updated pedal shape to begin with.

I can tell you that my I converted my dad to Toyota last year. He got a 2009 Corolla sport and he says it is the best car he has ever had. Other than the recalls he has had no problems and if it weren't for the recalls he would never have noticed a problem with anything else.

If I was in the market I would buy a new Corolla tomorrow.

[eskymi]

In regards to the ECU flash with the brake override, as of NOW toyota is stating only the Camrys, Avalon and Lexus models will have it. Their official website says, "as a separate measure independent of the vehicle-based remedy, Toyota will install a brake override system onto the involved Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES 350, IS 350 and IS 250 models as an extra measure of confidence."

It also says, "The recall remedies for accelerator pedal entrapment for the Corolla, Matrix, Venza, Highlander, Tacoma, Tundra, and Prius will occur on a rolling schedule during 2010"

I don't know if this means that the remedies include the brake override or not...but I have been saying for a couple months now (I even emailed Toyota a few weeks ago about it) that it should be installed on all recalled models.

Also....make sure you TEST DRIVE IT. Get it on the highway and get the speeds up to 65 or 70mph and make sure the steering is to your liking. Some buy the car and then complain that the steering is poor and the car drifts. When I test drive cars I go up steep hills to see how the car acts, I drive at highway speeds and check for steering or drifiting issues, I hit the brakes hard to see what type of braking it has, I usually put 75-100 miles on a car during my test drive phase. IF the dealer doesn't like it, well then I guess they don't want me to buy.

[ToxicBanana]

that explains why my Toyota corolla carpet has these anchor insert. haha, I was wondering why they were there.

[got-rice]

Originally Posted by gammalinux

No Corolla's can be sold without all recalls being fixed. Corollas in the US are built in California or Canada a Japan built model is not an option.

Well, that depends on where you live. If you live out west, it might be easier to get one made in Japan; on the flipside, it is harder to find one made in Canada.

[corollale10]

Originally Posted by eskymi

Get it on the highway and get the speeds up to 65 or 70mph and make sure the steering is to your liking. Some buy the car and then complain that the steering is poor and the car drifts.

So is this steering drifting thing is normal with our cars or it's a problem if it happens?
I haven't experienced it yet because I have never gone over 60 mph (I will once it passes 6K miles).

[mmasse]

Drifting is not normal for any car; what he was saying make sure that you test drive and like the steering. Some people claim it feels disconnected from the road

[ej063090]

i have a 98 corolla with cupped tires that feels like it has no connection with the road

[eskymi]

Yes, mmasse is correct.

There really isn't anything wrong with the steering, I hope I didn't give that impression. I am not really a car guy, so it's hard to explain but I'll try.

People claim it's like they are floating, or hydro planing. Something to that affect. I don't have any problems with the steering and neither does my wife or 17 year old son. We all have driven the car at 65 or 70mph and have no problems.

But the steering is more sensitive on our Corolla then it is on the Camry and Highlander so I can see what people mean when they say it is different. So it might not be to the liking of everyone.

Personally I believe it's the cheap ass Goodyear tires and the EPS combining to give this feeling. I truly believe if you put on quality tires then the steering won't feel so wooden.

[pwain]

Originally Posted by eskymi

Personally I believe it's the cheap ass Goodyear tires and the EPS combining to give this feeling. I truly believe if you put on quality tires then the steering won't feel so wooden.

+1. Several users have said better tires will make for a nice improvement. For fruther proof, read trierack's user reviews for the Goodyear Eagle RS-A.

I can't complain though, I have almost gotten 50,000mi out of mine, even if everyone one of them can be described as boring of numb.

Originally Posted by ToxicBanana

that explains why my Toyota corolla carpet has these anchor insert. haha, I was wondering why they were there.

Nope, those have been there since the beginning of production of the 10th generation.

[msncorolla422]

i have never had a problem with the steering. I have driven 60 mph for over a mile without having to correct the steering not even on a curve in the road.

[corollale10]

I see. Thanks for explanation everyone. Such steering feel is not just a case with the Corolla. A rental 2008 Hyundai I drove (at 100 mph in Canada) had a similar feel. I guess it's just that the complaining owners of Corolla are most likely experiencing EPS for the first time ever and they have never driven any other latest car.

[SuperchargedMR2]

Originally Posted by eskymi

There really isn't anything wrong with the steering, I hope I didn't give that impression. I am not really a car guy, so it's hard to explain but I'll try.

People claim it's like they are floating, or hydro planing. Something to that affect. I don't have any problems with the steering and neither does my wife or 17 year old son. We all have driven the car at 65 or 70mph and have no problems.

But the steering is more sensitive on our Corolla then it is on the Camry and Highlander so I can see what people mean when they say it is different. So it might not be to the liking of everyone.

Personally I believe it's the cheap ass Goodyear tires and the EPS combining to give this feeling. I truly believe if you put on quality tires then the steering won't feel so wooden.

I've had no issues with the steering at all, no matter what speed I travel. The car tracks straight & true & needs very little correction or steering input to keep it going where I want it to go.

I didn't have any issues with my Goodyear RS-A tires & I still have them, waiting for same tires to wear out on my 07 Matrix. They have almost 40k miles on them & I'm sure I'll get another 10k miles. They performed fine to me but my steering feel is much better after I upgraded to 17" wheels & 225/45R17 General UHP tires.

[BLiT]

Hahaha, my 2009 S came with Bridgestone Turanza's.

Haven't had any problems with those... steering's still dull as hell, though.