Lots Of Questions About My New Yaris

[jonil93]

Hi all,

Just purchased a lovely '04 Yaris and got a great deal. It's my first car but I've been riding bikes for years and I'd like to think I'm mechanically capable. Don't know if anyone can help answer any of the questions I have below?

• The car came without a parcel shelf, and from the VIN I've found that it's French spec (number starts with VNK). Looking for another one on eBay etc., they ALL seem to be Jap spec. Is this a lot more common for some reason? Will I be able to find a French spec one from a scrap yard or anywhere else?
• Is there anything you'd recommend I should do to the car now I've bought it? Aside from a valet, clean and fixing really minor things like blown bulbs, I've done nothing but it's driving brilliantly. The car sat for 4 months before I bought it, so not too sure about it's past and there was no service history. Aside from oil/filter/plug changes, is there anything else I should look at doing specifically?
• My boot doesn't lock! It can be locked but then the boot can still move A LOT, to the point where it'd leave the boot light on and drain the Battery. Anyone had any experience of this? Is there an easy way of sorting it other than moving the latches and experimenting until it works?
• The car came with steel wheels and only 2 wheel trims. Can't seem to find a decent full set of genuine trims, I'm prepared to refurb them if need be... Was looking at a full set of alloy wheels too, they're also pretty spubik. What are the wheel sizes on MK1s? What should I look for when I'm trying to find compatible ones from other toyotas?

Thanks in advance for all the help.

Cheers,

Johnny

[Heidfirst]

Never owned a Yaris so can't help with much but this should get you started on the wheel sizes http://www.wheelfitment.eu/car/Toyota/Yaris%20(1999%20-%202005)/

[Devon Aygo]

Hi all,

Just purchased a lovely '04 Yaris and got a great deal. It's my first car but I've been riding bikes for years and I'd like to think I'm mechanically capable. Don't know if anyone can help answer any of the questions I have below?

• The car came without a parcel shelf, and from the VIN I've found that it's French spec (number starts with VNK). Looking for another one on eBay etc., they ALL seem to be Jap spec. Is this a lot more common for some reason? Will I be able to find a French spec one from a scrap yard or anywhere else?
• Is there anything you'd recommend I should do to the car now I've bought it? Aside from a valet, clean and fixing really minor things like blown bulbs, I've done nothing but it's driving brilliantly. The car sat for 4 months before I bought it, so not too sure about it's past and there was no service history. Aside from oil/filter/plug changes, is there anything else I should look at doing specifically?
• My boot doesn't lock! It can be locked but then the boot can still move A LOT, to the point where it'd leave the boot light on and drain the battery. Anyone had any experience of this? Is there an easy way of sorting it other than moving the latches and experimenting until it works?
• The car came with steel wheels and only 2 wheel trims. Can't seem to find a decent full set of genuine trims, I'm prepared to refurb them if need be... Was looking at a full set of alloy wheels too, they're also pretty spubik. What are the wheel sizes on MK1s? What should I look for when I'm trying to find compatible ones from other toyotas?

Thanks in advance for all the help.

Cheers,

Johnny

1. Japanese versions came first so are the oldest and most likely to be scrapped, but French models sold in far higher numbers so there must be some out there but demand on parts may be higher as there are more of them around.

2. Way more important then cleaning her is making sure she is safe ask your local Toyota dealer for a free of charge visual safety report for peace of mind. Then clean her.

3. The boot could be either a latch that is to far in to catch correctly or a faulty boot lock that is not locking correctly, see if you move the latch outwards to improve the locking.

4. Your info doesn't say what trim spec you have:

S models had 13" wheels

Other models had 14" steels or alloys or larger alloys if you look at your tyre sizes you should see something like 155/80/13 on S models and 175/64/14 on the other models. If you have 14" wheels Toyota do offer an accessory 14" trim for around £10 each that look like: