Advice & Info Required

[Scooby_Steve]

My other half is looking to swap her Focus for a 02/03 Celica and we have a short list of a couple of cars to go and look at (both privates sales): First is an 02 190 Sport Pack & the 2nd is an 03 140 base model.

As we are both new to Celicas, we could do with any advice/info that you could share for known problems etc that we should look out for before we view the above cars. Both are out of warrenty so any help would be appreciated

Also, out of interest do you guys use normal or super unleaded?

Cheers

Steve

[Chyownster]

Welcome to the club mate.

Mechanically, they are sound as a pound. Check the usual, (exhause smoke, milky oil etc) . One thing, the alloys on Toyota's are not very good IMO. Mine keep flaking, so i just keep going back to deals to get it sorted!

Depends on the mileage on the cars on what to look out for.

I use Optimax every time on mine. Will tr Tesco 99 octane when it comes over to my area!

Have Fun

[discodave]

Well if I was you I would go for a 190/Tsport.

Things to look for are as follows.

1) Weak tailgate struts

2) alloys Corrode

3) Aux belt squeel

4) Front paint prone to stone chips

5) Lose heat sheilds

6) Lift bolts (190), not as bad as they used to be, just ensure that you get a nice kick in the back at 6200rpm, it will only engage lift when engine is warm.

7) Fronts disc are prone to rust, just inner disc.

All that I have mentioned above are just minor niggles, I don't think there is really anything major. Enjoy your test drives.

[Scooby_Steve]

Thanks for the reply....

I have just read elsewhere about the wheels, so that is something to look out for.

Both the cars are fairly low milage 17k & 22k

I found this on the What Car web-site:

RELIABILITY  

Some cars need new petrol tanks fitting - recall notice issued.... anyone know if this effected the 02/03 cars? Obviously I can contact the supplying garage but would be interesting to know upfront.

Cheers

Steve

discodave,

I type slow ;) so my post above crossed over with your reply.

Thanks very much for the list, and good to know its only niggles to look out for and no major problems to look out for

Thanks guys

Steve

[discodave]

Have a look on www.celica-club.co.uk I am a member and we are also a very friendly bunch...lol

I would go for the Tsport, Leather, climate, 17's, spoiler and 190bhp as standard.

From memory the celica has had 2 recalls, one for fuel tank which were early models and a problem with the master cylinder, from which I now no one that has had to have it changed.

[Scooby_Steve]

O.K, went to view the 190 last night:

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=52430 :D

Apart from that confusion, the car did have some flaking to the alloys and the discs did have a fair amount of surface rust...... althought the car has been off the road for a while so that may explain that. There was some noise from an engine belt on tick over.... would this be the aux belt as mentioned by discodave? I have never lifted the bonnet of a Celica before and there isnt alot that can be easily seen !!

Steve

[discodave]

If its a rattling/squeel and it's coming from the left hand side of the engine, looking into it from the front, then I would say yes, It is more noticable on cold damp days or if the cars been sitting, it normally goes when warm.

It's an easy fix and can be done yourself, I think toyota would charge in the region of £120 to change it, could try some silicon belt spray, that sometimes stops it.

Rust is not a problem, its more the corrsion to back of the discs

The front of my discs look fine. If it needs new disc/Pads your are talking in the region of £250 at Toyota supplied and fitted.

[Scooby_Steve]

If its a rattling/squeel and it's coming from the left hand side of the engine, looking into it from the front, then I would say yes, It is more noticable on cold damp days or if the cars been sitting, it normally goes when warm.

Yeah, that is where the noise was coming from..... and the car has been off the road for a while and it was a damp day! What is the official fix from Toyota - a replacement belt??

Will take a closer look at the rear sides of the discs.

Cheers

Steve