2002 Corolla Issues - And A Rant!

[atikali2000]

For a couple of months now my 2002 Corolla has been causing me some niggly issues that are just frustrating me now!

Firstly, there seems to a vibration/knocking on the pedals that feel quite strong on uneven surfaces. Even on surfaces that I know to be smooth, I can feel tiny vibrations running through the pedals.

It has since advanced a little to being able to feel the same vibrations through the steering wheel. They are especially bad on speed-bumps. Round my area, we have speed-bumps galore, but there is a certain road where they are quite smooth and I know for a fact that my car can take them smoothly at 30mph. Now I find that at even 15mph, my car vibrates and rattles as though there is something wrong.

I suspect it could be an issue with the suspension? Any experienced people know what this could be? I have even taken it in to Toyota and they couldn't diagnose the fault. In fact I have a serious issue about Toyota's shoddy work which I'll get to in a rant later!

The car runs smooth for short periods of time and feels like it was when I first got it. Then suddenly an imperfection in the road surface will hit the car and the pedals and steering will rattle!

I really dont know what to do! I've taken it to a couple of garages and to Toyota, but to no response.

Secondly (and ever since brand new), the rear driver side suspension creaks when the car is cold and someone gets in or out. I put this down to the car just being cold and the springs being a little tight and needing a little warming up on the roads. It has since become a little more frequent, so that I can hear it pretty much all the time. Going over speed-bumps, I can distinctly hear the rear suspension creak as the car passes over it.

Again, any ideas as to what this could be?

Thirdly, my fuel consumption has decreased really bad!

When I first bought the car, I was able to fill up the tank (and by fill, I mean to the brim! I always fill the tank so that the pump click three or four times) from the moment the fuel indicator light came on and do around 380-400 miles before the light came on again. Now I can barely manage 300-320 miles and I'm actually driving much more conservatively now. This is really hitting my pockets hard - and its only a piddly little 1.4l petrol!

Any ideas why this could be?

Finally, on to my rant.

I took the car in to Toyota for the above problems around 3 weeks ago. Asked them to check the car inside and out and report back with any faults at all - thats just asking for trouble, I know.

But, they came back with no problems at all. They couldn't even find a problem to make money off me!

I had an issue with my gas pedal sticking when I took it in to them. I asked them to check out what could be causing it and how I needed to fix it - ie how much £££ is would be. They said there is nothing wrong at all with it. It blatantly sticks when depressed. I eventually took it myself and got under the dash to see if I could work it out. Lo and behold, there was my alarm console lodged between the gas pedal and its return position! I was able to move it back into place and now my pedal is fixed.

Did Toyota actually look under the dash? Did they look at anything at all?

If anyone has any ideas at all about the above, I'd be really grateful for any help on why/what they could be.

I'm getting so frustrated by this, that I'm thinking I just want to sell the car and buy something else!

[Black Knight]

It sounds simple but have you tried demonstrating the faults to the guy doing the servicing. If you complained about the throttle sticking my first point of call would be checking that the throttle body operated smoothly rather than checking for a fault on the pedal for example.

If you're not clear what the fault is they may be struggling to understand where the fault us and hence not working out what it is.

I wasn't there when you asked them so I can't judge but is it the dealer being cr*p or are they just not clear what fault you're complaining about?

[atikali2000]

I wasn't able to actually demonstrate the problems to Toyota, as I dropped the car off to them before work, but I think I explained it clear enough.

When depressing the gas pedal, it sticks and doesnt come back to is position resulting in over-revving. I specifically said that the pedal was stiff and not like its usual smooth self.

Toyota 'looked' at it but could see anything. They couldnt see that my alarm unit had fallen and lodged itself behing the gas pedal.

As for the pedal/steering vibration, I will readily admit that no-one who gets in the car now will really notice it. But I've been driving the car since Dec 2002 and I KNOW there is a problem somewhere.

I suspect it could be possible damage received to the wheel/suspension strut/absorbers when I went over a particularly bad pot-hole a few months back. Does this sound like potential pot-hole damage.

I'll get it to another garage again this week/weekend and see if I can actually drive the car with the mechanic as passenger so I can explain how and when I feel the problems arise.

Till then I guess I just live with it!

[Black Knight]

Sounds like they've not been clear what the problem is and they've done the wrong checks to me.

Definately make sure you've a mechanic in the car. Preferably driving if you want them to feel a problem with the steering. Also if possible get them to go for a drive in a similar spec car on the same road so you can do a back to back demo of it.

Possibly something like wheels gone out of balance causing the vibration or a damaged rim maybe

[atikali2000]

Thanks Black Knight.

I'll ask the mechanic to drive it with me and as a passenger.

Its not a damaged rim, but could potentially be the wheel balance. In any case I'll try and get it to a garage soon. Just got to wait till pay-day now.

If I still cant get it fixed, anyone want to buy a 2002 Corolla? In perfect condition ;-)

:-)

[rents1977]

With the vibration - I had a real rattle going over bumps in my 52 T2. I speicifed the drivers side, as pot holes etc on the drivers side made the worst noise.

A quick trip to the dealer, and they've either done the track rod ends, or ball joint (didn't let me see the job sheet) and it fixed it up a treat... however I am now noticing it from the passenger side so I think I'll take it back again.

I experience a rumble/knock going over bumps, and hard corenering. More noticeable through the pedals than the steering wheel becasue of the remoteness of the power steering.

Mine was diagnosed and fixed no problem.

[atikali2000]

That is exactly what it is!

A rumble/knock going over bumps. I only noticed the hard cornering bit the other day when I was driving a little hard (bad mood and all that).

I think I'll give Toyota another call back tomorrow and see what they say.

Incidentally how much did you pay for your repair? Albeit for just the one side. I get paid on Friday this week so ideally I'd get it repaired this weekend cos the car is driving me nuts!

Thanks rents1977

[rents1977]

I didn't pay as I've only recently bought the car, and it was done under extended warranty.

I've paid to have it done on previous (non-Toyota) cars and it had cost about £70-80 at an independant.

[atikali2000]

So here's the update.

Last Saturday I was driving along with the rickety pedals and drove past a garage local to me. Took it in and had a word with a friendly kid about my edals and the knocking. So he takes it for a test drive and cant feel anything!

I suggested we take a route where I can demonstrate the fault exactly while he drives. When we get to the road, I tell him that for the next 10 metres or so the pedals will be smooth then you'll feel the knocking as you pass over a tiny imperfection in the road surface. He felt it! Then it went smooth, and I said wait 5 metres then you'll feel it again... and he did! Now he knew what he was looking for , he took it for a spin around the local roads, driving slow and fast, cornering slown and hard and suggested it might be a dodgy suspension spring or something.

On the ramp it turns out that my shock absorver has popped and was leaking some kind of oily residue so my springs weren't as compressed as they should be.

All fixed now, fitted the fronts with a new set of shock absorbers and the cr runs like brand new.

Thought I'd let people know in case someone else gets similar issues in the future.

:)

[Black Knight]

Cool, good to know you've got it sorted

[rents1977]

I've had mine in to get checked again and "it doesn't knock/rumble anymore than any other car"

Perhpas the issue I have is similiar to yours, and not related to track rod/ball joint etc.

I don't know if I have the patience to keep pursuing it. Maybe I just have to accept it?

I'll have a peek at the shocks though...