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concerned about my only vehicle.
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Abdu123
New User
Oct 19, 2020, 7:24 PM
Post #1 of 8
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concerned about my only vehicle.
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Hi all.
I have this Toyota Corolla. 2002. I bought it two years ago.
it has 297K KM.
It's my only vehicle and I can't afford anything if something happens to it.
I don't know how to maintain it in a way to keep it running to the max it can go.
there is some rust on the sides close to the back tires.
what should I do with the rust? how much does it cost? and what other repairs/ Maintainance should I do? how much do these things cost? and is it worth investing that money in?
thank you a lot. 
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 19, 2020, 8:14 PM
Post #2 of 8
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Re: concerned about my only vehicle.
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? You've had it two years what have you done those TWO years to just "maintain" this? Have you changed oil, checked brakes and tires, passed any required inspections? Tires OK or not?
Rust you now see? If no wild money to put into it just patch it if you know it's essentially harmless rust to body metal no structural rust if you can't tell it should be seen in person by an Auto Body repair shop for a guess as to danger about it first.
Some cosmetic just Google away patching rust isn't a real fix just makes it look better if you care about now lots of miles 184,000 +/- site is from US we think in miles or I do.
That's enough for lots of things and OK with steady care all along. READ THE OWNER/OPERATOR'S manual for suggested maintanence per KMs/miles also months what should be done.
There is probably a timing belt in this good for maybe 70,000 miles or 6-7 years if you wish to be on total schedule. If unknown you are risking a sudden loss of this car - no warnings just poof and you are a pedestrian!
Know how much life is in it, brakes, tires and ask about the rust. I doubt you totally care about paying for it good looks about now could cover holes if there yet with metal (an aluminum) duct tape the real fix is costly and if one area others are coming fast you don't see yet.
Do change oil, air and fuel filter as required by manual for it. The rest if you can't tell just pay for an in person check by a real tech get some clues what is obviously in need or just where you stand. Expect maybe an hour's cost to list out what is found - wheels removed all wearing parts checked you'll feel better even if told it's trouble at least know it,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 20, 2020, 3:48 AM
Post #3 of 8
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Re: concerned about my only vehicle.
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Just to add some specifics on the timing belt Tom referred to, this is one of the few Toyota engines that IS AN INTERFERENCE engine so if the belt breaks or jumps it will ruin the engine.
The factory interval for this is On 1998 & later models, replace every 90,000 miles or 72 months.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 20, 2020, 4:59 AM
Post #4 of 8
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Re: concerned about my only vehicle.
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I knew that HT said "will render you a pedestrian" with no notice! Popular car is not a total rust bucket I'd keep it to use parts and many repairs are not so costly as some can go,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 20, 2020, 5:41 AM
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Re: concerned about my only vehicle.
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That engine is the exception. Most Toyota engines are "free wheeling".
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Abdu123
New User
Oct 20, 2020, 3:23 PM
Post #6 of 8
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Re: concerned about my only vehicle.
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Thank you all.
I have been changing the oil. and the oil filter since I got it two years ago.
I changed the transmission oil one time after I bought it as well.
I did not know about the timing belt. thank you for letting me know. I don't know if it has been changed before I bought it.
One guy told me that I need to spray the bottom of the car with some sort of oil to protect it from rust.
I did not do that two years ago.
Is it worth doing that? how much does it cost?
How many KM do you expect this vehicle to go? It's now 297KM.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 20, 2020, 4:13 PM
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Re: concerned about my only vehicle.
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You're there now. That's 185K miles with a major engine problem and a lot of rust. It's time to cut your losses and move onto something newer with lower mileage.
It's much to late to be worried about rust protection now. That ship has sailed.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Oct 20, 2020, 4:14 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 20, 2020, 4:24 PM
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Re: concerned about my only vehicle.
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How far can it go? Unknown is the end answer but not forever. Speak for myself and area a vehicle that's used in any weather will lose it to rust just later if you garage it and you mentioned oil for underside! OMG, hadn't heard that in decades was routine once now things that worked are illegal where I live that would be putting yuk out on the roads slowly thru the Winter - it worked though!
I'm in MA rust is a 4 letter word for everything to do with salted roads. The roads don't last over it never mind, signs. guard rails, the painted stripes the damn orange rock salt would eat up a ship - salt water as in Ocean isn't the same nasty stuff ROCK salt is mined and lower temp to melt but as corrosive as battery acid. Stupid to use it but they didn't ask me.
The oil deal might still be OK depends where you are spot by spot not allowed in New England (my area) anywhere anymore. NH would be last if any still allows it.
Newer vehicles you would want to shield anything that doesn't want the oil used I think used oil and gear oils were effective. Now despite how old this is there's plastic parts, connections for wires that might no like it real fast would take more talent to do also don't soak exhaust part or the thing would be on fire from oil in heat shields - there was none of that - seems like yesterday but was a long time ago.
The rest you can do the rust is salt isn't used everywhere snow + ice don't harm a thing just hard to drive thru or packed is glare ice plain sand I guess isn't enough where I am folks want roads just wet in a Blizzard so they can get around to hell with what it wrecks.
The short - garage it if at all possible really helps not really necessary to heat that space it's just out of quick changing weather. Can also argue if washing a vehicle helps or hurts a tough choice for some I'd bet if weather stays cold don't wet it which makes the salt work as acid again dry is just ugly,
T
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