Just got a '95 Corolla

[findbobby]

Hey everyone, this is my first time posting here.

I'm hoping I can ask a couple of questions about this vehicle. I just got it from a co-worker. He got it new and has done a good job of keeping maintance up on it. It has 125,000 miles on it right now. It's a DX, 5 speed manual. He recently had the timing belt changed, it's on the 3rd one now, which i think is on track for how it should be done. Tranny fluid was changed at 95,000 with a synthetic blend. New front brake pads, and rotators. It has a slight vibration issue on the highway in the steering wheel but I think a tire is out of balance, easy fix.

So here are my questions, and I did some searching around and didn't see a answer to these.

1. It's still on the original clutch, current one feels fine. How much can I expect to pay once it goes?

2. At idle it vibrates, it started about a year ago. Enough so the CD jewel cases rattle in the console. I don't think it's a huge problem. He had a Toyota dealer check it out, they "loosened" the radiator, but it didn't help it. Anyone have this issue? Cheap fix?

3. I can feel some sloop in the driveline. If I let off the gas after accelerating the car will jerk some as you can feel the engine drag the driveline. Give it gas and it jerks back up to speed. Front joints need replacement? I might just leave it alone, you just have to be gental on the skinny pedel. Oh, the front suspension was worked on last year, I believe he said new springs and shocks. It handles bumps just fine.

Lastly, rust. Up here in the rust belt I know it's bound to happen. It has rust on the back wheel arches, just starting, and the front hood has some rust spots were rocks have hit it. What tricks can I do to slow this down? I was thinking I could sand and use some touch up paint, yea it'll look crappy but at least it'll slow it down.

Besides that, the car is amazingly solid. Having always driving american cars I must say i'm impressed for a car with this high of a millage how solid it still is. Feels like I could put another 100,000 on no problem.

Thanks for any input!

[REN69]

1. depending on how you treat it, OEM clutch should last until at least 160,000mi or more. Mine lasted me until about 250,000km

2. loosened the radiator because the car vibrates?

3. its automatic.. don't expect any different.

You should take care of the rust on the wheelwells, otherwise it will spread fast.

If you take care of the car properly, you could probably put another 200,000Mi no problem.

[findbobby]

Thanks for the quick reply!

Good to hear on the clutch!

I'm questioning if the motor mounts are loose, thus the sloop feeling in the driveline. It's a manual so the tranny in theory isn't causing that feeling. The toyota dealer said they checked the motor mounts but the whole "loosen" the radiator bit kind of makes me wonder what kind of checking they did.

So what should I do with the rust? Sand and paint? I heard of some spray paint you can spray inside the wells that turns rust back into metal. Now if you ask me such a product can't exist. Would be way too cool.

Thanks for the info!

[VooDoo]

Originally Posted by findbobby

2. At idle it vibrates, it started about a year ago. Enough so the CD jewel cases rattle in the console. I don't think it's a huge problem. He had a Toyota dealer check it out, they "loosened" the radiator, but it didn't help it. Anyone have this issue? Cheap fix?

engine supports might need to be replaced?

[Ukrainian102]

Originally Posted by findbobby

Thanks for the quick reply!

Good to hear on the clutch!

I'm questioning if the motor mounts are loose, thus the sloop feeling in the driveline. It's a manual so the tranny in theory isn't causing that feeling. The toyota dealer said they checked the motor mounts but the whole "loosen" the radiator bit kind of makes me wonder what kind of checking they did.

So what should I do with the rust? Sand and paint? I heard of some spray paint you can spray inside the wells that turns rust back into metal. Now if you ask me such a product can't exist. Would be way too cool.

Thanks for the info!

For rust, do it like any other car. Take a wire brush bit for a drill, take the drill and sand off all the rust to bare metal. Don't sand by hand it'll take forever. You can use rust primer which sprays on clear and turns black and supposedly prevents rust, but I don't know how well it works. I use it but it's no big thing because 1) you have to try and get off as much rust as you can with the brush and 2) you have to fix rust every year anyway if you live in Snowsville, USA like me. After rust primer, if so desired, comes regular primer, and then the paint.

I use Duplicolor brand for both primers and paint. It's nice, easy to use, matches the color pretty well, and is sold at your local Autozone or Advance Auto Parts. It comes in spray cans but this year I used a paint brush and it's much easier because you don't have to cover everything up from overspray.

About the shaking at idle. I don't know how bad yours is but my car does it too, and I'm guessing its the motor or tranny mounts, which are a pain to replace. The loosening the radiator is bullshit I have no idea what that would do.

Anyway... good luck with your car and may it last you a long time! (How I wish I had a manual.)