New to Toyota, first non GM car - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Rat396Man · 11-11-2011, 09:06 PM

Hi guys:
New to forum and Toyota ownership. Just bought a 03 Corolla with only 37k miles on it. Always drove GM and Ford previously. Tired of poor quality and reliability. Want to change serpentine belt. Rock Auto lists two. One for hydraulic tensioner, one for spring tensioner. I posted a question on Corolla forum. Got an answer quick. Will frequent this site now. Appreciate any help/advice you can give me.
Currently own:

03 Corolla
70 Chevelle SS 396/375HP
02 Cavalier (junk)
91 S10
1978 Ford Fiesta-the original! (only non GM car ever owned)
Joe

***MR2Jedi*** · 11-11-2011, 09:56 PM

Wow! Thats really low mileage for that year. Sounds like you scored.
Welcome to TNation.

Rat396Man · 11-11-2011, 10:25 PM

Hi Jedi:

Got a great deal on it too. Belonged to an older woman in assisted living. Didn't drive it for 18 months-health problems. Had dead battery and expired plates and assisted living frowned on unlicensed cars in parking lot. Did have some field mice problems. Facility is in country setting. Didn't damage any harnesses that I could find. Nice, friendly lady, didn't want to list in paper or on Craig's. Very private person. Didn't want phone calls, tire kickers etc. My uncle lives there and I just happened to notice that the car never moved. So I approached her with an offer to buy. Just told her the truth: going to be hard to sell a car with expired plates, no insurance and thus no test drive. What finally closed the deal was that they were going to repave the parking lot and the car had to be moved. She asked me to help her out so I did. Serious negotiations began then and lasted for a while. Finally let me have it for well under 5k.

Already changed all fluids, checked brakes etc. Runs well.

Any issues with this year (2003) Corolla besides belt tensioners? I do my own work mostly. Was ASE certified, but now expired (early retirement).
Joe