1995 Corolla with some issues.

[chaosratt]

This is going to be a long post with pics, so get ready.

Got a 1995 Corolla DX from my mother with 166k for free (my Tempo died, she needed an excuse to buy a new car....). It has not been perfectly maintained or treated (not to say its been mistreated), but its got a few issues that I would like some advice on.

First and most important, the speedometer is going whack. This photo was taken with the ignition on, but the engine off:




It is not consistent, sometimes the speed is dead on, sometimes it says I'm doing over 110 (so far it pegs on the underside of 0). The odd bit is that the Odometer seems to be unaffected, as its currently showing 309 miles for the tank, which is dead empty as you can tell (its exactly 10 gallons to fill when its "on the E"). 30mpg is kinda low for this car. See why I want it fixed :P My old Tempo was lucky to get 20mpg.

Is this a common issue? Is there a simple fix for this? Is the speedo cable or electric? I've tried searching and I've gotten conflicting answers. On the worst side, how difficult is it to replace?

The water pump and head gasket were just replaced, and I am told the radiator was flushed when it was done. However, when I checked all the fluids I found this:



The radiator cap was replaced at the same time as the other work (I should know, I replaced it). So that gunk is fresh. The oil and tranny fluid are clean, but the radiator overflow looks like this:



I've been told that that is just gunk that needs to be cleaned out? Did I get screwed on the head gasket? Or did I get screwed on the rad flush? (Searches on this forum show oil in the radiator is a common sign of a failed head gasket.)


There is also an engine vibration at low RPMs sometimes. It can be running so smoothly at times that I cant even tell its running, then other times its vibrating so badly I can hear the dash rattling. Performance does not seem to be affected, and the only variable that I can see that fits is ambient temperature, the hotter it is outside, the better it runs.... usually.


On the not so important side, theres one more Corolla in the world that seems to have burned out all the bulbs in the center console and shifter, because I cannot find a a dead fuse anywhere.

Looking at "cold air intake" I've found some for about $35-40, figure I'd get a few HP out of it and a slight bump in the MPG. The problem is that all the CAI systems I've seen seem to require the removal of some hardware near the throttle body here:



Example:






I know this post is a mile long already, but the last item. What do the side markers do? I don't have a multimeter to test them, but the bulbs look OK, and I cant find any dead fuses, but they never come on. I've tried ever combination of lights, high beam, low beam, parking, turn, hazard.... they just never come on.

[motu 56]

If the car has a 3spd automatic then the 30mpg is about right. The speedometer problem is probably the VSS (vehicle speed sensor). Buy one from a junk yard for about 15$. The one from the dealer is about 180$. It is an easy fix.

[canadiancelica]

WIth regards to the coolant sludge, flush the fucker again & clean that overflow. Then see what happens.

With regards to the aftermarket intake, all that thing is that you circled is a resonator so as to quiet the OEM intake. When you unscrew that clamp on the throttle body it'll all slip right off. The only thing you'll have to keep is the sensor. But if you buy the corolla specific intake, the hole will already be there for you to put the sensor right into. Pretty much a straightforward bolt on.

[canadiancelica]

it also looks like your upper radiator plastic is cracked, to the right of the rad cap in that picture above.

[chaosratt]

Originally Posted by canadiancelica

WIth regards to the coolant sludge, flush the fucker again & clean that overflow. Then see what happens.

I'm going to try that next.

Originally Posted by canadiancelica

With regards to the aftermarket intake, all that thing is that you circled is a resonator so as to quiet the OEM intake. When you unscrew that clamp on the throttle body it'll all slip right off. The only thing you'll have to keep is the sensor. But if you buy the corolla specific intake, the hole will already be there for you to put the sensor right into. Pretty much a straightforward bolt on.

Thats kind of what I figured, thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by canadiancelica

it also looks like your upper radiator plastic is cracked, to the right of the rad cap in that picture above.

Hm, didnt see that before, looks more like a crease line from the plastic modling, but I will check it next time I'm under the hood.

[chaosratt]

Originally Posted by motu 56

If the car has a 3spd automatic then the 30mpg is about right. The speedometer problem is probably the VSS (vehicle speed sensor). Buy one from a junk yard for about 15$. The one from the dealer is about 180$. It is an easy fix.

Fuck me, Autozone wants $218 for that, and it will take a week to get. I'll call the local junkyards and see what they want for it.

[wheredoesthisgo]

Damn CanadianCelica. That was a good catch.!!!!!! My girlfriend blew up the Rad in our 93 4A-FE. (And I am now doing my first head gasket) The Rad is plastic and I think your right that looks like a crack. Try a few more parts stores, I think I only paid 150.$ for mine. You probably dont want a clogged crappy used one.

[Piloter]

Looks like either a bad flush or an incomplete one. If a 'new' VSS doesn't solve the problem, it could be the cluster itself. An unscrupulous individual might buy a cluster, swap the speedo from the new cluster into the old one, put the old one back in, and attempt to return the new one...or you could upgrade to a tach, at the cost of losing fuel gauge accuracy. Also, just for your edification, all the intakes out there are going to be short ram, not cold air...this has been discussed elsewhere. Your side markers should come on when the headlight control is to the first position...interior lights and parking lights. The engine vibration sometimes may be either the motor mounts--put the wheels up against a curb, pop the hood, and with your foot on the brake put her into D and apply a bit of gas. Have an observer tell you if the engine wiggles more than a small amount, the mount that usually goes first is the transmission mount--or an issue with idle speed which could be related to spark plugs and/or carbon deposits.

[chaosratt]

Also, just for your edification, all the intakes out there are going to be short ram, not cold air...this has been discussed elsewhere.

I figured as much, cant be that cold if its the same air thats passing through the rad and over the exhaust right?

Your side markers should come on when the headlight control is to the first position...interior lights and parking lights.

Hm, I'll check it in the park setting again.

The engine vibration sometimes may be either the motor mounts

Last mechanic I took it to said all the mounts were in OK condition, granted I dont know what the difference is between a good and a bad mount visually. Nor do I know how he checked.

--put the wheels up against a curb, pop the hood, and with your foot on the brake put her into D and apply a bit of gas. Have an observer tell you if the engine wiggles more than a small amount, the mount that usually goes first is the transmission mount

Will give this a try

--or an issue with idle speed which could be related to spark plugs and/or carbon deposits.

Has brand new plugs and wires. Where would the carbon buildup be?


Thanks for your help so far. Maybe I can get this baby past 250k without any major problems?