Main Menu            Home           Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures            Articles            My Blog
 

Corolla Oil Change Guide

One of the easiest ways to keep your ninth generation 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008 Toyota Corolla running reliably for many years to come is to regularly change the motor oil in the 1.8 liter inline four cylinder 1ZZ-FE engine.

The owner's manual specifies that SAE 5W-30 weight motor oil should be used for the 1ZZ-FE engine.

Corolla Front Brake Pads

If the front brakes on your 2003 to 2008 Toyota Corolla are starting to squeak or squeal, you may need to replace the brake pads with new ones.

The OEM original pads on our 2005 Corolla lasted for about 80,000 miles. I'd recommend purchasing ceramic replacement brake pads since they tend to be much quieter and emit less brake dust than cheaper semi-metallic pads.

Timing Chain Tensioner

Oil leaking or "seeping out" from the timing chain tensioner assembly is a common problem on the 1ZZ-FE engine in the 2003 to 2008 Toyota Corolla.

Some people choose to remove the old one and seal it with RTV silicone. I chose to replace the assembly with a brand new timing chain tensioner and also seal it with silicone.

Corolla Cabin Air Filter

If the air coming out of the A/C vents of your 2003 to 2008 Toyota Corolla isn't smelling so fresh anymore or blowing out with as much force as before, you may need to clean or replace the cabin air filter element.

Only a screwdriver and a few minutes are needed to clean or replace the A/C cabin air filter. A new filter element costs anywhere from about $8 to $15.

Corolla PCV Valve Guide

The PCV or "Positive Crankcase Ventilation" valve in a 9th generation 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008 Toyota Corolla is an important part of the engine's emissions system.

Fuel economy can suffer if the valve is not regularly cleaned and or replaced with a new one.

Corroded Battery Cable

It's not uncommon for the "+" (positive, red) car battery terminal in the 2003 to 2008 Toyota Corolla to become corroded.

Battery acid slowly leaks out underneath the red terminal cap or cover. The light blue corrosion dust accumulates and eventually the terminal doesn't make a good connection preventing the car from starting reliably.

Corolla Headlight Bulbs

There is plenty of room to work in the engine bay of the 2003 to 2008 Toyota Corolla, so replacing any of the light bulbs in either headlight assembly is a relatively easy task.

Replacing the high beam, low beam, or parking / turn signal light bulb on the driver side may require removing the battery for extra clearance.

Corolla Tail Light Bulbs

The tail light assembly of a 2003 to 2008 Toyota Corolla contains the brake light bulb and the parking / turn signal light bulb.

The reverse or "back up" bulb is located in a separate housing in the trunk lid. No tools are needed to replace any of these bulbs.

Corolla Dome Light Bulb

Corolla Fog Light Bulbs

Corolla Map Light Bulbs

Corolla Key Fob Battery

Corolla Coolant Change

Corolla Belt Change

Corolla Aux Audio Input

We've been wishing that our 2005 Toyota Corolla S had come equipped with an auxiliary audio input ever since purchasing the vehicle.

To solve the problem, I purchased a Blitzsafe TOY/AUX DMX V2 electronic auxiliary audio adapter unit for $59.99 plus $5 shipping.

Corolla Wheel Bearing

Our 2005 Toyota Corolla is about to hit 100,000 miles and I've been hearing a groaning or growling noise coming from the front driver's side wheel which indicates a worn out wheel bearing.

The 9th generation 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla has front wheel bearings that need to be pressed out and the new ones pressed in to the steering knuckle by a machine shop.

Corolla Drum Brakes

The rear drum brake shoes on a 9th generation (2003-2008) Toyota Corolla should last twice as long as the front brake disc brake pads or anywhere from about 100,000 to 130,000 miles.

Corolla Spark Plugs

The iridium tipped long life spark plugs in a 9th generation (2003-2008) Toyota Corolla don't have to be changed until the vehicle reaches 120,000 miles according to the official maintenance schedule.

But it would be a good idea to at least inspect them at around 80,000 miles and change them at 100,000 miles.

Corolla Brake Fluid

The brake lines of a ninth generation (2003-2008) Toyota Corolla should be flushed with fresh DOT3 or DOT4 fluid every 2-3 years to maintain optimal braking performance.

The process can easily be done with either a Power Bleeder kit or the help of an assistant to pump the brake pedal for you.

Prevent Battery Corrosion

A common problem with 12V car batteries is that they can accumulate a white or blue powdery corrosion that damages the terminals and leads to difficulty starting the vehicle.

Door Panel Removal

If you'd like to upgrade the OEM speakers, add soundproofing material, replace a power window motor or lubricate a sticky door lock switch, you'll first need to remove the interior door panel.

To view my complete guide to the procedure, click on the text link above or the thumbnail image to the left.

Windshield Wiper Blades

Front Disc Brake Pads

For the second time that I changed the front brake pads on our 2005 Toyota Corolla, I decided to create a more detailed DIY replacement tutorial which includes lubricating the caliper slider pins and swapping out the pad abutment clips.

Check out the instructions by clicking on the text link above or the thumbnail image to the left.

Transmission Fluid Change

Although Toyota claims that the ATF (automatic transmission fluid) is a "lifetime" fluid that never needs to be changed under normal driving conditions, it would be a good idea to perform a simple drain and refill every few years as part of your preventative automotive maintenance schedule.

To view my DIY instructions for the procedure, click on the text link above or the thumbnail image to the left.

2014-2018 Toyota Corolla Repair & Maintenance Guides

2020+ Toyota Corolla DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides

Main Menu            Home           Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures            Articles            My Blog