I have some strange noises and feelings when my car goes around a curve or brakes...

[azpriz90]

Sometimes when I'm turning I feel something move in the engine bay. But it doesn't happen all the time. Also, I have motor oil seeping through the carpet on the driver's side. Do you think that it was spilled when I went in to get it repaired. If something was leaking, then there surely would be a puddle on the ground outside right? The only puddle I get is from the Power steering pump. I've been trying to soak up the motor oil with a sliced up piece of cardboard box, but it's still in there. I've spent 3 hrs x 3 days trying to scrub it out of my carpet, but to no avail. The car runs like a top, but the engine sometimes has a pinging noise when it's idling. Just replaced timing belt, transmission, 3 batteries (2 were faulty), distributor cap and rotor, plug wires, head gasket, header, three engine mounts, tires, wheels, rotors, drums, pads, and shoes this year. Just wondering if all these repairs are signs that my car is ready to retire???

I would really hate to give my first car up and buy a junker.

Also I'd like to find out where I could find an engine like this one:

[REN69]

A. Your car is 15yrs old.. don't expect it to be in top shape forever.. unless you do regular repairs and maintenance. Sounds like you've had a lot of problems with your car, specially if you've replaced parts like transmission, engine mounts and head gaskets. Most of the other stuff is regular maintenance basically.

B. You can only get the blacktop 4AGE's in japan-spec 1996-99 AE111Corolla Levin and Sprinter Truenos.

C. the 4AFE only came with 100hp not 115, the 4AGE came with 115-120hp from 88-89 and with 130hp in 1990.

[azpriz90]

A. The head gasket was just maintenance. Just a little oil was leaking out of the sides. I do regular maintenance. Oil change every 6 months, check all my fluids and air in the tires. If something feels strange I ask around so I can find what it is and repair it before it fails.

B. Yeah I know the 4A-GE 20v Blacktop is only available in Japan, but I was wondering if there was a company that was importing them to the US for less than the 13 grand Tom's is charging for theirs?

C. I guess I hadn't read that anywhere until now. My father who bought the car in 1997 said he thought it was 115hp, so I just assumed that since he's a connoiseur of cars since 1971. He's owned over 50 different car models in his lifetime including a 1970's KE Corolla. Unfortunately, my car is only the LS/i model not the GS/i. I'm shocked by how much TRD charges for performance parts and even badges for TOM'S

Thanks for setting me straight on C and I hope to find out what this knocking noise is. It could be my imagination after all the repairs I've done this year. I emptied my entire savings into that car. I'm sure lucky to have a trust fund or I'd be extremely worried.

-Chris

[REN69]

The blacktop tom's sells for 13G US is a modified blacktop, your local JDM engine shop should be able to source out a regular blacktop from japan.. just don't know how much. Up here in Canada, some people have been able to get them for around $3000 CDN or less.