How often to service 2003 Corolla that does about 3000km per year?

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timmmay

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#255592 19-Aug-2019 20:34

Any suggestions on how often to service an almost 20 year old Corolla? This is my runabout, I drive it to work and back 2-4 times per week, doing about 3000km per year. I start it and let it run a few minutes on a cold morning before I leave. I've been considering replacing it with an electric car, but it's been so reliable I don't see a need yet. A service costs about $200 usually.

Standard advice is every year or 10,000km whichever comes first. Just wondering if it's worth the bother for an older car that's not driven all that much.

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#2301956 19-Aug-2019 20:37

Probably just oil and filter change?

Not a mechanic at all however, then a proper service every second year?

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#2301957 19-Aug-2019 20:38

Once a year or every 10,000km

Edit: I would do it every 18 - 20 months if the car is just a cheap run about

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#2301959 19-Aug-2019 20:40

You don't need to start the car and let it run for a few minutes the car is fuel injected, Waste of fuel

timmmay

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#2301961 19-Aug-2019 20:43

I'm more interested in reasoning than a number. I've read that modern oil formulations are great and lasts a long time, and that in a standard service can look the same when removed as when it's going in.

Happy to get just an oil and filter change, if someone can explain why that's enough. Seems like most of what they do on a service according to my last service is checking things, not actually doing anything.

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#2301962 19-Aug-2019 20:43

Once a year do an oil and filter change and every 10,000km's you perhaps should get a decent service (that includes radiator flush, check plugs, change brake/clutch fluids, chec transmission oils, check general components such as suspension etc etc, check brake pads, check/clean or replace air filters, cabin filters, check battery, check wipers, check /oil door hinges, check idler tensioners (assuming its belt driven)....or do we have a chain driven engine?

IF you were really keen to save $$$ get yaself an oil sump from repco, and an oil filter and do the oil change yourself. (plenty of youtube guides).

timmmay

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#2301963 19-Aug-2019 20:44

Linux:

You don't need to start the car and let it run for a few minutes the car is fuel injected, Waste of fuel

I do it because the car's a bit older and stutters if it's driven too cold, and I want the heater to warm the car up in winter. It also helps clear the windscreen.

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timmmay

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#2301964 19-Aug-2019 20:45

Goosey:

Once a year do an oil and filter change and every 10,000km's you perhaps should get a decent service (that includes radiator flush, check plugs, change brake/clutch fluids, chec transmission oils, check general components such as suspension etc etc, check brake pads, check idler tensioners (assuming its belt driven)....or do we have a chain driven engine?

IF you were really keen to save $$$ get yaself an oil sump from repco, and an oil filter and do the oil change yourself. (plenty of youtube guides).

Don't really mind the money too much, I want a safe car and have no interest in doing it myself. I could ask for an oil and filter change this year and get a full service next year.

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#2301997 19-Aug-2019 22:19

Thoughts on using one of those oil change express people for every other service? https://oilchangers.co.nz/ or http://www.theoilchangeexpress.co.nz/ Then use your usual place for the next year and alternate? I assume you just want to save $?

They are very cheap and fast. But the problem is they use low quality filters (or so I've been told) and suck the oil out from the top, which leaves a bit of old oil in there.

Edit, if you're not wanting to save money, what is the reason for skipping service schedules?

GV27

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#2302080 20-Aug-2019 07:25

timmmay:

Any suggestions on how often to service an almost 20 year old Corolla? This is my runabout, I drive it to work and back 2-4 times per week, doing about 3000km per year. I start it and let it run a few minutes on a cold morning before I leave. I've been considering replacing it with an electric car, but it's been so reliable I don't see a need yet. A service costs about $200 usually.

Standard advice is every year or 10,000km whichever comes first. Just wondering if it's worth the bother for an older car that's not driven all that much.

Greetings fellow Corolla-runabout owner. I have a 2000 GL that has done about 320,xxxkm. There is very little you shouldn't be able to do yourself at this point. You can probably get away without doing an entire oil filter each year, but by now that's probably the only thing worth replacing. I've found the 7AFE seems to burn oil the older it gets, so a top-up with 10W40 should be good enough to keep you going in between filter changes.

If you're doing an oil filter ever 18 months or so and topping up the oil every six months or so then you literally just need to top up your wiper fluids and maybe treat yourself to a new set of wiper blades now and then.

If you are waiting for your Corolla to die to buy something new then you could be waiting a very long time.

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#2302081 20-Aug-2019 07:34

What's the wisdom on replacing automatic transmission fluid in these? The manual says is it's meant to last a 'lifetime'

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#2302083 20-Aug-2019 07:38

Long as the transmission dosent feel jerky/rough it should be ok, but wouldnt hurt getting that done at some point.

Stick with branded filters and oils and minimal service (check all fluids) few times a year and should be fine.

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timmmay

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#2302085 20-Aug-2019 07:42

GV27:

Greetings fellow Corolla-runabout owner. I have a 2000 GL that has done about 320,xxxkm. There is very little you shouldn't be able to do yourself at this point. You can probably get away without doing an entire oil filter each year, but by now that's probably the only thing worth replacing. I've found the 7AFE seems to burn oil the older it gets, so a top-up with 10W40 should be good enough to keep you going in between filter changes.

If you're doing an oil filter ever 18 months or so and topping up the oil every six months or so then you literally just need to top up your wiper fluids and maybe treat yourself to a new set of wiper blades now and then.

If you are waiting for your Corolla to die to buy something new then you could be waiting a very long time.

I've only ever serviced it each year, but you're saying you've found annual oil changes are important? I know nothing much about cars.

The car will probably go for a long time. Little things are failing, like the drivers seat belt isn't winding up well, struts that hold the boot up are going, it was repainted 5 years ago but there are small amounts of rust on it, that will probably have me get rid of it before the engine fails.

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#2302098 20-Aug-2019 08:08

The boot struts are an easy fix - just a couple of clips holding them in place and not too dear. Assuming you have the ZZE model like mine: https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/toyota/exterior/listing-2277254373.htm?rsqid=e3e4e7f41fa041f89786cf5dd9be97ba-004

timmmay

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#2302108 20-Aug-2019 08:30

nickb800:

The boot struts are an easy fix - just a couple of clips holding them in place and not too dear. Assuming you have the ZZE model like mine: https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/toyota/exterior/listing-2277254373.htm?rsqid=e3e4e7f41fa041f89786cf5dd9be97ba-004

Good to know thanks. Seat belt I will probably ask the garage to have a look at for me, don't think I want to mess with safety devices myself.

Ge0rge

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#2302142 20-Aug-2019 09:13

timmmay:
nickb800:

The boot struts are an easy fix - just a couple of clips holding them in place and not too dear. Assuming you have the ZZE model like mine: https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/toyota/exterior/listing-2277254373.htm?rsqid=e3e4e7f41fa041f89786cf5dd9be97ba-004

Good to know thanks. Seat belt I will probably ask the garage to have a look at for me, don't think I want to mess with safety devices myself.

Seat belt retractors aren't generally serviceable, it's a replacement job. Very easy to do, three bolts to undo / do up and you're done.

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