New owner of a beaten xA
09-28-2012, 11:57 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: WI
Posts: 6
New owner of a beaten xA
Just bought a 2005 White xA with 100,000 miles. $2,500! It has been treated very badly. According to CarFax, it has been in three accidents. The previous owner(2nd owner), was a young girl. First owner lived in New York. It has rust marks because the girl literally scrapped bumper stickers off of the car and scratching the car badly. Nevertheless, I plan on performing a full engine maintenance and drive it until 250,000 miles. The idle is very rough right now. It did not come with an owner's manual so I will be asking many questions.
-Peace
P.S. I tried to find the maintenance schedule on the internet but they all say different intervals. All I know is that oil changes are every 5,000 miles.
-Peace
P.S. I tried to find the maintenance schedule on the internet but they all say different intervals. All I know is that oil changes are every 5,000 miles.
09-29-2012, 12:53 AM
#2
Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 41
1. Change all fluids. Engine oil, brake fluid, transmission, coolant etc.
2. Add fuel injector cleaner.
3. Drive the car for about 100 miles and change the oil again. This oil change basically clears away all the sludge that might have built up from previous owners that neglected the car.
4. Change your oil. I would use full synthetic since you don't know how many times the oil was changed.
5. Check your spark plugs. It might be the reason you are idling so rough.
2. Add fuel injector cleaner.
3. Drive the car for about 100 miles and change the oil again. This oil change basically clears away all the sludge that might have built up from previous owners that neglected the car.
4. Change your oil. I would use full synthetic since you don't know how many times the oil was changed.
5. Check your spark plugs. It might be the reason you are idling so rough.
09-29-2012, 01:41 AM
#3
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: WI
Posts: 6
LEDeZ, thank you for your reply:
1: All fluids are at normal range. However, currently at 100,000 miles, they all need to be replaced.
2. I filled up with Shell premium gasoline and added Techron Fuel system treatment yesterday.
3. Yesterday I changed the oil. The young girl told me she got her oil changes at Walmart at unknown miles. The oil was thick and black. I changed the oil using Mobil 1 5w30 High Mileage.
3.5 and 4. After synthetic oil change and Shell gasoline w/Techron fuel treatment, the engine sounds and feels much better but the idle is still rough.
5. New Air filter and Spark plugs will be done next Saturday. I'm thinking the cheapest Air filter (Purolator) and NGK V-Power for spark plugs. I'm thankful I don't have to buy plug wires.
6. I will take the car to a Toyota Dealer so they can change the Automatic transmission fluid and Radiator fluid. I trust that this car will serve me with honor because of Toyota's reputation for longevity.
1: All fluids are at normal range. However, currently at 100,000 miles, they all need to be replaced.
2. I filled up with Shell premium gasoline and added Techron Fuel system treatment yesterday.
3. Yesterday I changed the oil. The young girl told me she got her oil changes at Walmart at unknown miles. The oil was thick and black. I changed the oil using Mobil 1 5w30 High Mileage.
3.5 and 4. After synthetic oil change and Shell gasoline w/Techron fuel treatment, the engine sounds and feels much better but the idle is still rough.
5. New Air filter and Spark plugs will be done next Saturday. I'm thinking the cheapest Air filter (Purolator) and NGK V-Power for spark plugs. I'm thankful I don't have to buy plug wires.
6. I will take the car to a Toyota Dealer so they can change the Automatic transmission fluid and Radiator fluid. I trust that this car will serve me with honor because of Toyota's reputation for longevity.
09-29-2012, 05:32 AM
#7
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: WI
Posts: 6
Will do, thanks. I saw a can of MAF sensor cleaner at the auto store. Made by CRC. I will buy a new PVC valve too. Good call.
It is a habit of mine to use premium fuel every time I use a fuel treatment cleaner. Probably a bad habit. Marketing has got me bad.
It is a habit of mine to use premium fuel every time I use a fuel treatment cleaner. Probably a bad habit. Marketing has got me bad.
09-29-2012, 05:51 AM
#8
Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 41
Running premium gas might hurt the engine. 91 needs higher compression to 'explode' and 87 does not. Left over fuel might still be in combustion chamber and cause further problems.
If you can access to a jack, it's very easy to exchange coolant and transmission fluid.
Tranny fluid: Should be a 10mm hex bolt. Remember to change gasket.
Measure how much fluid comes out and put the same amount in. Run the engine until its hots and measure the fluid level.
Coolant. There should be a bright yellow plug that you can just twist out. Drain and refill. Go out and buy a radiator funnel.(cost me 13$) fill the radiator with fluid and run the car until the fans come on automatically.(don't turn on the AC)
Save yourself a couple hundrend bucks!
If you can access to a jack, it's very easy to exchange coolant and transmission fluid.
Tranny fluid: Should be a 10mm hex bolt. Remember to change gasket.
Measure how much fluid comes out and put the same amount in. Run the engine until its hots and measure the fluid level.
Coolant. There should be a bright yellow plug that you can just twist out. Drain and refill. Go out and buy a radiator funnel.(cost me 13$) fill the radiator with fluid and run the car until the fans come on automatically.(don't turn on the AC)
Save yourself a couple hundrend bucks!
09-30-2012, 07:21 PM
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: WI
Posts: 6
If you don't mind telling me the following mileage maintenance intervals:
-Replace Coolant
-Replace Fuel Filter
-Replace Air Filter
-Automatic Transmission fluid change
-Brake Fluid Change
-Spark Plug Change, recommended plugs, and gap (NGK V-Power OK?)
-I am not understanding the front differential oil change... on a FWD car?
Thank you much in advance. I hope you win the lottery or something.
Very good information. Thanks.
-Replace Coolant
-Replace Fuel Filter
-Replace Air Filter
-Automatic Transmission fluid change
-Brake Fluid Change
-Spark Plug Change, recommended plugs, and gap (NGK V-Power OK?)
-I am not understanding the front differential oil change... on a FWD car?
Thank you much in advance. I hope you win the lottery or something.
Running premium gas might hurt the engine. 91 needs higher compression to 'explode' and 87 does not. Left over fuel might still be in combustion chamber and cause further problems.
If you can access to a jack, it's very easy to exchange coolant and transmission fluid.
Tranny fluid: Should be a 10mm hex bolt. Remember to change gasket.
Measure how much fluid comes out and put the same amount in. Run the engine until its hots and measure the fluid level.
Coolant. There should be a bright yellow plug that you can just twist out. Drain and refill. Go out and buy a radiator funnel.(cost me 13$) fill the radiator with fluid and run the car until the fans come on automatically.(don't turn on the AC)
Save yourself a couple hundrend bucks!
If you can access to a jack, it's very easy to exchange coolant and transmission fluid.
Tranny fluid: Should be a 10mm hex bolt. Remember to change gasket.
Measure how much fluid comes out and put the same amount in. Run the engine until its hots and measure the fluid level.
Coolant. There should be a bright yellow plug that you can just twist out. Drain and refill. Go out and buy a radiator funnel.(cost me 13$) fill the radiator with fluid and run the car until the fans come on automatically.(don't turn on the AC)
Save yourself a couple hundrend bucks!
09-30-2012, 08:18 PM
#11
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SL Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SoCal-626
Posts: 549
-Replace Coolant - at 100k mark then every 50k after that
-Replace Fuel Filter - is this the same as oil filter? if it is then every 5k with your oil change
-Replace Air Filter - 30k
-Automatic Transmission fluid change
-Brake Fluid Change -
-Spark Plug Change - 30k
this is all i could get.
-Replace Fuel Filter - is this the same as oil filter? if it is then every 5k with your oil change
-Replace Air Filter - 30k
-Automatic Transmission fluid change
-Brake Fluid Change -
-Spark Plug Change - 30k
this is all i could get.
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