Toyota Corolla Problems

The best way to make a Toyota Corolla faster is to trade it in on a Subaru WRX or Volkswagen Polo GTI. While Japanese cars are known to be loved by boy racers for their easy ability to hot up, the last few series of Toyota Corolla have next to no options for hot-up parts as these cars focus on excellent reliability rather than tar-burning performance. If you have a need for speed, consider looking to the Subaru WRX for a practical four-door Japanese go-fast car, or a Volkswagen Polo GTi for a fast car at a similar price point to a Corolla.

Normally you would expect it to be caused by being left out in the sun, but you say you haven’t. But while you say it’s been under cover all it’s life, it must have been taken out and driven at some time. Do you leave it parked in the sun for lengthy period at the shopping centre, or somewhere else you go? Check those places you park it for a hat source that might be causing it.

Toyota Corollas can be fitted with a tow bar and used to pull trailers, but they are not designed to cope with much weight and should not be used for towing even medium-sized box trailers. For example, a current Corolla has a manufacturer tow capacity of just 450kg (unbraked) which includes the weight of the trailer in that figure! Toyota claims the Corolla can tow up to 1300kg if the trailer has brakes, but that again includes the weight of the trailer.

Regular 91-octane unleaded petrol.

The process is the same as any other car. Look up what grade of oil your car needs and how much oil capacity it has, all of which is listed in your owner's manual, and purchase a brand new oil filter. Drive the car for approximately 10 minutes to ensure the oil is warm as this makes it easier to drain. Park the car on a level surface, open the bonnet and loosen the oil filler cap so it is just resting on top of the filler tube, then slide a drain tray underneath your engine. There will be a small flap in the undertray to be undone so you can access the 14mm oil drain plug with a ring spanner. Undo the sump plug being careful not to burn yourself as the hot oil rushes out. Let it drain for 10minutes, then do up the sump plug with a new washer and being careful not to over-tighten the plug - do it snug, then turn it another quarter-turn. Slide the drain pan under the oil filter and remove this again being cautious to not splash hot oil on yourself. Before installing the new oil filter check the rubber seal came off with the old filter, then smear a little fresh oil on the new filter's rubber seal before winding it on and doing it up a quarter-turn past snug. Fill the engine with fresh oil as per the owner's manual. Once you have confirmed there is no oil leaking out, start the engine, let it warm up and then check the oil level. If you cannot reach under your car to undo the oil filter or sump drain plug, use the factory jacking points recommended in the owner's manual to lift the car off the ground at the front and rear, lifting the front first, and use four weight-rated chassis stands to support the car at the factory recommended support points.

Replacing the battery in a Toyota Corolla key doesn't require re-programming. You simply use a good quality flat-head screwdriver to carefully pry the two halves of the key apart. Once you have them separated carefully pry out the middle case, then carefully pry it apart. The small round battery is inside and can be replaced with any CR2016 button cell battery, remembering to leave the positive side up. The key can then be reassembled in the reverse of these instructions.

Unlocking the steering on a Toyota Corolla is simple. Insert the key into the ignition, turn it to position II (when the red lights show on the dash), and wiggle the steering wheel left and right. The steering should then unlock. On older cars you may need to switch the ignition on and off a couple of times to unlock it.

Unfortunately you’ve kept the Corolla too long, and have had to spend money to keep it going. Keep that in mind for the next one you buy.

You’re constrained by your $20,000 budget, but I would suggest you look at a Kia Rio, Mazda2, Mitsubishi Lancer, or Suzuki Swift. All should fall within your budget and all will give you a good run. If you were prepared to buy a used car that is one or two years old, you could consider a Toyota Corolla, or a Mazda3.

Inside the cabin, on the driver's side of the car, near the driver's door there will be a lever with a graphic of the car with the hood open. Pull that, then go to the front of the car. Above the grille, in the gap between the bonnet and the radiator panel, there will be a toggle catch which you pull to one side as you lift the hood up. You can then lift the bonnet (hood) open.

On a current-generation Corolla, go to your dealer and have the car serviced. If that is too much hassle, turn your Toyota Corolla on and cycle your odometer display through the trip meter (A and B) until it displays overall kilometres travelled. Turn the car off, then hold the trip meter reset button in and - while holding the reset button - turn the ignition to position 2 (where the red lights come up on the dashboard) without starting the car. Hold the button in until the display cycles through and returns to showing the odometer.