You can test your coil and spark plug by pulling it out of the valve cover and lay it on the valve cover. It should arc if it's good.

Take coil pack from cylinder #3 and swap it with 1 or 2 to see if it follows to those cylinders.

 

A maintenance required and check engine light are two completely different things.

Which light was on? Does it run normally or rough? Which plugs did you use? Have you ever replaced the intake manifold gasket?

 

Thanks for the replies.
in roughly the order asked above.--
1)Swapping coils is a good idea. I have done the same thing on bikes, don't know why it didn't occur to me yet for this.
2) Ditto for arc test.
3) Maint required light was on. not CEL.

3a) I suppose "maint req'd" is an "it's time to change the oil" nagger, and I need to do some nonsense like put the ignition on ACC and open the door, close the door, tap the brake pedal 6.5 times, play 3 rounds of patty-cake, and turn the key in 30 seconds to clear, or something?

4) Car runs fine, maybe rough when my wife lugs it. She seems to be afraid of RPMS as they equal gas spent. Runs smoothly when I drive it and idles smoothly too.
5) Bugger. I just knew someone would ask that. NGK Iridium plugs whatever model # was specified when I looked up the standard specs here. If more detail is needed, I can probably track down the invoice. So no ebay gas saver adds 15 hp deutronium plated ninja-star point plugs. Just the basic sensible option the factory would use.
6) Nope. No gasket swaps yet. I am not the first owner, so who knows what priors did. I doubt it though. Is a gasket replacement in order, or is it a common cause of problems?

 

If it runs normal and the CEL is not on, then you likely do not have a misfire and the code was a history code.

Most misfire codes on these cars are caused by the defective intake manifold gasket, which is pretty much a 100% failure item. If you have no history of the gasket swap , replace it.

DIY 2003-2008 Corolla, Matrix, Pontiac Vibe Intake...

Well I am up here in Virginia for a little while and it's been pretty cold. The past few days my idle has been very low and I knew my original intake gasket had run its course (104k is alright with me). So I headed over to Priority Toyota and spent around 7 bucks and change to get an updated...

www.toyotanation.com

Short of that, clear the codes and forget about it unless you get a check engine light.

1. Your wife is probably confused since the maintenance required indicator and fuel light are both amber lights in the same general area. She probably just thinks the orange light comes on when its low on fuel

2. You or whoever changed the oil didnt properly reset the maintenance light. The maintenance light begins to flash at startup at 4500 miles and comes on solid at 5000 miles.

Just reset the light again and forget about it.

To clear the maintenance light:

1. Change your oil and rotate your tires (as well as whatever other maintenance it needs).

2. Turn your car to the ON position.

3. Tap the Trip/Reset button on the dash until it reads ODO.

4. Leaving it in the ODO position turn the key to the OFF position

5. While the key is in the OFF position press and hold the Trip/Reset button.

6. While pressing and holding the Trip/Reset button simultaneously turn the key to the ON position (DO NOT START THE CAR!)

7. You should now see 5 dashes across the Trip display that will go out one by one until you see 5 zeros. When you see 5 zeros the MAINT REQD light is reset.

8. Start your car. The MAINT REQD light should come on for a second and then go out.

 

If it runs normal and the CEL is not on, then you likely do not have a misfire and the code was a history code.

Most misfire codes on these cars are caused by the defective intake manifold gasket, which is pretty much a 100% failure item. If you have no history of the gasket swap , replace it.

DIY 2003-2008 Corolla, Matrix, Pontiac Vibe Intake...

Well I am up here in Virginia for a little while and it's been pretty cold. The past few days my idle has been very low and I knew my original intake gasket had run its course (104k is alright with me). So I headed over to Priority Toyota and spent around 7 bucks and change to get an updated...

www.toyotanation.com

Short of that, clear the codes and forget about it unless you get a check engine light.

1. Your wife is probably confused since the maintenance required indicator and fuel light are both amber lights in the same general area. She probably just thinks the orange light comes on when its low on fuel

2. You or whoever changed the oil didnt properly reset the maintenance light. The maintenance light begins to flash at startup at 4500 miles and comes on solid at 5000 miles.

Just reset the light again and forget about it.

To clear the maintenance light:

1. Change your oil and rotate your tires (as well as whatever other maintenance it needs).

2. Turn your car to the ON position.

3. Tap the Trip/Reset button on the dash until it reads ODO.

4. Leaving it in the ODO position turn the key to the OFF position

5. While the key is in the OFF position press and hold the Trip/Reset button.

6. While pressing and holding the Trip/Reset button simultaneously turn the key to the ON position (DO NOT START THE CAR!)

7. You should now see 5 dashes across the Trip display that will go out one by one until you see 5 zeros. When you see 5 zeros the MAINT REQD light is reset.

8. Start your car. The MAINT REQD light should come on for a second and then go out.

Thanks for the detailed reply.

1. Nope, wife is actually very good at reporting mechanical symptoms accurately though not technical. I have personally seen the light. it says "maint req'd" if I recall the spelling accurately.

2. Seems highly likely. I can clear that. I will probably do most of the oil changes. Thanks for the steps on how to clear. I was hoping for that.

3. Is the intake manifold gasket swap a difficult job? Also is this one of those things where you are an idiot if you don't get a particular brand of gasket?

 

I don't think these cars have maintenance required light... Have never seen it on my old Corolla or Vibe. Maybe it's a regional thing.

 

Maintenance required lights were only present on US 05-08 Corolla and Matrix models.