PFL 2003 Corolla T-Sport Service Advice

[MaximusPrime]

Hello all,

New member here, looking for a bit of advice before servicing the car. I have bought a 2003 Corolla T-Sport (pre-facelift model) in December 2016, and the car has been on SORN since then, as I was saving up for the insurance and the service bits for it. The car has done 75 thousand miles.

Having checked the service records and receipts, it looks like the car has been somewhat neglected, last oil change around 14 thousand miles ago, no record of spark plugs ever being changed and the last receipt for the Battery was from 2012! 

I have already bought the following:

Shell Helix Ultra Professional AG 5W-30 Engine Oil
Bosch Oil, Air and Cabin filters
Bosch wipers, front and rear

Having had a look at various threads on the forum, it looks like I will need to buy a sump plug gasket prior to changing the oil (there's one on Fensport page for a whopping £1.25!).

Could someone please recommend the following parts, bearing in mind that my budget is around £200-£225:

Battery (brand and capacity).
Spark Plugs (currently looking at NGK ones from Fensport, but unsure on what grade these should be - Grade 6, 7 or 8; feel free to recommend ones that worked for you).
Gearbox Oil (guess it's better to have this changed now, as unsure whether it was ever done, again - suggestions are more than welcome!).
Oil Filter - will the Bosch one go on without issues, or shall I go for a TRD one + sump plug gasket instead?

Many thanks in advance!

Max

 

[RazzerRazor]

Hi Max, welcome along mate. Good choice in your car (I've got a 52 plate) ha. 

Regarding your service items etc. Check my thread on here, only because I've just serviced mine. With most of the parts your asking about, and some from Fensport! 

Any questions buddy just ask. But loads will give you advice, they did for me. 

Great bunch of people and brilliant Club/Forum to be in 

[MaximusPrime]

Awesome, thanks RazzerRazor! 

I have seen your thread, will definitely go through it again (and again!), well worth another read!

The Battery has moved itself up to number one on the list of priorities, as I couldn't even start the car today, seems like it gave up the ghost over the weekend, all I could hear was the starter ticking.

I may start a separate thread once the work starts, as there may be a few more questions along the way.

Many thanks again!

[pw96]

Welcome to the forum,

My plugs: Denso SK20R11 (£30 Here) 

These are the original plugs for the T-Sport, however plenty of people have used NGK without any issues.

I bought my oil filter directly from Toyota, not necessary but I prefer going with original parts.

Let me know what gearbox oil you use, looking to change mine too. Although I have no way of getting the car lifted off all 4 wheels (you need the car to be level when changing gearbox oil)

 

Some references I found useful:

Replacing Spark Plugs: https://howtune.com/articles/139-replacing-spark-plugs-on-a-2zzge-engine-elise-exige-celica-matrix-vibe-corolla

Blog with great images: https://function88.wordpress.com/category/cars/toyota-corolla-t-sport-e12/

Brakes / Pads: http://www.mtecbrakes.com/brake-discs/toyota/corolla-02-07/corolla-1-8-vvtl-i-sport-zze123-01-02-12-06.html

[RazzerRazor]

Thanks buddy. Good to do threads I think, we all learn off each other. 

Here's afew pics of the service parts I've bought. 

The Battery...I got a varta from Man batt in Hyde. Really good to be fair! 

At the minute the plugs aren't worth what I paid to be honest! Supposed to be for tuned engines so maybe now with my back box on and typhoon going on in a few weeks there might be a slight difference. I really doubt it though. Had a buy a start as mine was old and we'll worn. Thank God for black Fridays. Nothing worth £235!!!! 

[RazzerRazor]

No a clue why the pictures aren't straight. They are on my phone 

[MaximusPrime]

Thanks for the suggestions, pw96, will look into these! 

RazzerRazor, £21 for Castrol is a steal in anyone's books, and in Asda of all places, haha!

[SanaYusuf]

26 minutes ago, pw96 said:

Welcome to the forum,

My plugs: Denso SK20R11 (£30 Here) 

These are the original plugs for the T-Sport, however plenty of people have used NGK without any issues.

I bought my oil filter directly from Toyota, not necessary but I prefer going with original parts.

Let me know what gearbox oil you use, looking to change mine too. Although I have no way of getting the car lifted off all 4 wheels (you need the car to be level when changing gearbox oil)

 

Some references I found useful:

Replacing Spark Plugs: https://howtune.com/articles/139-replacing-spark-plugs-on-a-2zzge-engine-elise-exige-celica-matrix-vibe-corolla

Blog with great images: https://function88.wordpress.com/category/cars/toyota-corolla-t-sport-e12/

Brakes / Pads: http://www.mtecbrakes.com/brake-discs/toyota/corolla-02-07/corolla-1-8-vvtl-i-sport-zze123-01-02-12-06.html

I also have a T sport and would also recommend the Denso plugs, they are good for 60k! 

Would also recommend Denso oil filter from Toyota, costs about £11.

As you think the car has been neglected if I were you I'd change oil and use a cheap oil as a flush, run it for a few hundred miles then change it and replace with a good quality fully synthetic 5w30, I would recommend Mobil 3000 5w30 fe, I've been using this since I got my car in May 2015 and the car runs faultlessly.

[SanaYusuf]

Oh and I got 10L for £48 at Wilko, seems they still have it on offer

http://www.wilko.com/car-care-products/mobil-super-3000x1-fully-synthetic-motor-oil-5w30-5l/invt/0342808

 

 

 

 

[RazzerRazor]

2 minutes ago, SanaYusuf said:

Oh and I got 10L for £48 at Wilko, seems they still have it on offer

http://www.wilko.com/car-care-products/mobil-super-3000x1-fully-synthetic-motor-oil-5w30-5l/invt/0342808

 

 

 

 

Bargain👍

[oldcodger]

For Battery look at the Bosch S4, what seemed the best buy when I got one  5years ago, still strong today.

Used to use Magnetec , but now so pricey and its rare to see a special offer on it, like your Asda seems to have.

The other problem is that its just a 4 ltr can and my 2006 1.6 takes 4.2 ltrs so you have to buy an extra 1 ltr .

Now use Commas equivalent that comes in 5 ltrs cans, still use the same oil sump plug gasket, been on and off half a dozen times, still no leak.

Not sure why PW reckons you need the car jacked up to fill the gearbox, is the TS box so different to the 1.4/1.6 ?  just make sure you have a good fitting spanner for the filler plug as it can be really tight /semi seized.

Don't forget the pollen filter behind the glove box, the cheap eBay ones seem as good as the expensive ones.

Edit  - don't forget when buying a Battery they always say get at least the same power rating, ideally bigger if it will fit in the same space.

[MaximusPrime]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions so far, a bit overwhelmed to be honest, really appreciate your help!

pw96 - Money saver, superb! Same spark plugs on EuroCarParts are £20 more expensive - will buy the ones you have suggested from Opie, thanks!

SanaYusuf - That's a great tip regarding flushing the oil with something cheap first, will definitely consider it as an option. 

oldcodger - I have been looking at Bosch (Bosch everything!) batteries, will look out for an S4. Pollen filter has already been replaced by (you guessed it!) a Bosch one, thanks! 

RazzerRazor - The starter motor on mine sounded fine (for now), I'd rather avoid having to buy one, haha! That Comma gearbox oil in the picture - I guess it only needs a litre, or even less?

Cheers all!

[RazzerRazor]

Defo don't buy a starter if you don't need to. My mate owns a Toyota Specialist Garage in Hyde, and even he couldn't get it cheaper than me at that time. That's why I got it! 

The gearbox oil took about about 2.3ltrs if I'm right. I bought 3 from Halfords (with a trade card to make it cheaper). Defo one of the best things I've had done to the car for the money. Nice and smooth n not as notchy. Still big shifts between gears but I'm getting the MWR Short Shifter soon. That should cure the lot then👍

[oldcodger]

Don't forget the brake fluid change, just as  important... same with the brake caliper slider pins, should be cleaned/lubed etc along with the pad and disc checks.

[bod1065]

Razzerrazor let us know how the mwr short shifter goes as keep looking at them but seeing as just had my synchros done , don't want to tempt fate and bugger gearbox up as have red rather than change the shifter changing the gear linkage bushes makes a big difference to the feel of the box's shifting....

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

[KenMavor]

Do the lift bolts as well and a new rocker cover gasket.

These cars like their oil changed regularly.

All depends if you want to keep the car as close to stock as possible.  Watch for the pins on the seat slider mechanism going.  Very small pins for a big job!

Short shift gear lever is nice.  Some like racing engine mounts but I found them a bit too hard.  Also the inserts for the gear cables where they go into the box are prone to disintegrating....if they do then it's new cables with is a pita to fit.  Lots of people replace the inserts with either metal of polycarbon ones.  Just treat the car right and it will go on for years.

[RazzerRazor]

7 hours ago, bod1065 said:

Razzerrazor let us know how the mwr short shifter goes as keep looking at them but seeing as just had my synchros done , don't want to tempt fate and bugger gearbox up as have red rather than change the shifter changing the gear linkage bushes makes a big difference to the feel of the box's shifting....

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

Will do buddy. All money though😒

[bogsausage]

As said above you don't need to jack up all the wheels for gearbox oil, yes the car needs to be level.. So just jack up, drain it. Then put the drain plug back in and put the car on the ground to fill back up with oil.

And it's 75w90 gl4 you need. 

2.3 litres..

[bogsausage]

Also, how are the heaters on yours?