I have a 2003 Corolla which has just reached 40,000 miles. I can't find a maintenance schedule in the user's handbook - it refers me to some 'supplement' that I can't find.
Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone can help me with a short checklist for my car.
I do my own oil changes wevery 3K miles, I've cleaned the A/C filter and the air cleaner element with a vacuum cleaner pretty regularly too.
I was told not to worry about the sparkplugs for a long time since they're iridium.
Do you really need to change the oil every 3,000??? I use the regular oil (not blend or synthetic) and have stretched it to 3,500 -4,500 (the manual actually recommends 5,000 miles. Just wondering. I used to be anal retentive about going every 3,000 but I do a lot of highway driving.
Now I'm debating whether to switch to synthetic blend (and stretch it to 5,000 miles) or go to fully synthetic (and stretch it to 6,000-7,000 miles). carbibles.com actually says 5,000 is all you should be changing it at, at the minimum (I forgot if that was with synthetic or regular).
A guy at work changes his synthetic EVERY 3,000 miles...now THAT is anal LOL He also told me that when I get my '06 Corolla S (due in a week or so) that after 1,000 miles, I should do a full tranny change with filter cleaning, since there are metal shavings that get caught up in the filter and can harm the tranny. Anyone ever hear of that or recommend that? I would think that's also overkill. Also, the book says to change the tranny oil at 60,000 miles but I've seen people on here do it at 30,000 or even less...and there are 2 ways to do it...a flush and a full change. Damn, I've NEVER done either on any of my cars! Then again, I've traded in my last 4 vehicles when they've hit 70-75K miles. Now I plan to run my Sienna and Corollas into the ground (250K+) so I need to think of these things!
I Am Auto Techinicain For Toyota And Your Recommended Service At 40k Is Just Oil Change, Tire Rotation, And Coolant Flush, And Inspect Hoses, Brakes, Air Filter, Wiper Blades Etc.
I just looked in my 2004 Sienna's maintenance book and it says to change the timing belt at 90,000 miles
40,000 - 60,000 sounds good for the Tranny fluid change - just not sure if I should do the flush thing or the all-out change...that "metal shavings against the screen" thing has me kind of wondering
Thank you bimbotrd.
I already replaced my front tires at <>35,000 miles, the rear ones were fine - it would have been a crime to replace them.
I'm afraid of going to the dealer though, what do you think they'll charge me for a coolant flush?
Could I do it? The concept doesn't appear to be that difficult.
BTW, I do about 10 miles a day of town driving in this manual transmission car, that's a lot of shifting. Is there any preventative transmission stuff I should be thinking of?
BTW, I do about 10 miles a day of town driving in this manual transmission car, that's a lot of shifting.
It's only "a lot of shifting" if you'd prefer an automatic. I truly miss my manual Tercel we traded in on the Corolla. If I ruled the world, there'd be no automatic trannies
I, too used to have a Tercel. I loved it sooo much and took excellent care of it. I was the second owner (at 40,000 miles) from an old Chinese couple!
It's a 1990 white hatchback and I had that small 3E engine purring very nicely, (it was a manual transmission of course); it purred soo nicely that I accidentally, while testing out some adjustments to the choke at 50 mph, slipped on a wet road, lost control, overcorrected and drove it through a 13" diameter tree, to eventually rest upon the blade of a backhoe!
My first reaction was to restart the car and get out of there - it kicked over but wouldn''t move, probably because I had no radiator or front axle! But, everything behind the steel beam is in fine condition - including me and the engine. My head hit the passenger side of the windscreen twice (I was the driver!).
That car only had 4 gears, but I learned to drive in it so I still have it.
I vow to one day restore it - like my 87 2wd truck.
BTW, I do about 10 miles a day of town driving in this manual transmission car, that's a lot of shifting. Is there any preventative transmission stuff I should be thinking of?
I woudl consider using a synthetic transmission oil. It will of course last longer, reduce wear, etc, but most of all this is where the mileage advantage of synthetics comes through: in transmissions and rear ends.
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He also told me that when I get my '06 Corolla S (due in a week or so) that after 1,000 miles, I should do a full tranny change with filter cleaning, since there are metal shavings that get caught up in the filter and can harm the tranny. Anyone ever hear of that or recommend that? I would think that's also overkill. Also, the book says to change the tranny oil at 60,000 miles but I've seen people on here do it at 30,000 or even less...and there are 2 ways to do it...a flush and a full change. Damn, I've NEVER done either on any of my cars! 
Then again, I've traded in my last 4 vehicles when they've hit 70-75K miles. Now I plan to run my Sienna and Corollas into the ground (250K+) so I need to think of these things! 
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