1990 Toyota Corolla Consumer Discussions

Toyota Corolla Basic Maintenance Questions

• Re: 2005 Toyota Corolla - Break Issues [circuitsmith]

  Written by: holidaylisa on Jul 6, 2011 11:24:13 AM

  I mentioned that I bought the car in 2005 with it having 3,500 miles on it.. i would assume you'd figure it was a 2005 Corolla w/my title as well ;) I'll have the dealer look at the master cylinder. I had an emissions inspection done on my car last week and it passed. I do put break fluid in my car and I have a bottle on hand. Btw, I ... Read More

Toyota Corolla Maintenance and Repair

• My 1990 Toyota Corolla’s headlights and turn signals are not working.

  Written by: jmcneal87 on Feb 2, 2011 6:41:03 PM

  My 1990 Toyota Corolla’s headlights and turn signals are not working, but my high beams and hazard lights are. So far I’ve checked my fuses for both headlights and the headlight relay. All seem to be in fine working order. Now I’m out of ideas, got any suggestions?

1990 Toyota Corolla’s headlights and turn signals are not working

• Re: 1990 Toyota Corolla’s headlights and turn signals are not working [jmcneal87]

  Written by: terceltom on Feb 2, 2011 6:35:13 PM

  You might get better results on the "Toyota Corolla Maintenence and Repair" thread. I would guess the stalk/switch could be the problem.

• 1990 Toyota Corolla’s headlights and turn signals are not working

  Written by: jmcneal87 on Feb 2, 2011 6:25:09 PM

  My 1990 Toyota Corolla’s headlights and turn signals are not working, but my high beams and hazard lights are. So far I’ve checked my fuses for both headlights and the headlight relay. All seem to be in fine working order. Now I’m out of ideas, got any suggestions?

Toyota Corolla Electric-Assist Power Steering (EPS)

• Re: programming [terceltom]

  Written by: sjarea on Sep 30, 2010 12:07:16 PM

  First off let me say I mis-interpreted this forum use. I thought it was for those having EPS issues. Clearly I was incorrect about that. Also, again for the record I have had the TSB-0140-10 applied and my 2010 corolla is doing fine so far. 2nd all my posts have been about my issue and my experience. I have never said all toyotas are bad. All I am trying to do ... Read More

Toyota Corolla Maintenance and Repair

• Re: changing cv boot in 1990 toyota corolla [Mr_Shiftright]

  Written by: JDM5LugHatch on Aug 3, 2009 7:42:12 PM

  To be honest I have never paid any attention to where the axles were rebuilt. Something I have never seemed to worry about especially when it's something you need in a pinch on a Sunday and pretty much everything else around is closed. Everything is made in china now. Even the Japanese companies are outsourcing the once Made in Japan products. It's China, Taiwan, or Malaysia for almost everything unless you ... Read More

• Re: changing cv boot in 1990 toyota corolla [JDM5LugHatch]

  Written by: Mr_Shiftright on Aug 1, 2009 9:55:52 AM

  I think I specified not to buy rebuilt axles made in China. Sure, if you can find a reliable domestic or Japanese rebuilt unit, go for it. Also remember that this person wanted to do the job herself, and may not have access to the same sources you do---that's why I picked the easiest and safest ones for her---reputable junkyard or Toyota dealer. So I was specifically trying to advise a ... Read More

• Re: changing cv boot in 1990 toyota corolla [Mr_Shiftright]

  Written by: JDM5LugHatch on Aug 1, 2009 4:07:46 AM

  I completely disagree with buying only OEM Toyota axles. I have bought several rebuilt axles over the years and they have held up just fine and have been completely trouble free. There is no need to buy an OEM product that cost 3 times the price and doesn't come with a lifetime warranty. Never have I once suffered from vibrations because of a rebuilt axle. Hell, I don't know anyone else ... Read More

• Re: changing cv boot in 1990 toyota corolla [rlhounds]

  Written by: terceltom on Jul 30, 2009 1:46:35 PM

  I would suggest letting a tech. do it. I have an "86" Tercel that I had the axles replaced on already because of the torn CV boots. It much easier and cost effective to just get axles right away. Get the axles that are not original equipment. They are just as good as the originals and are gauranteed for as long as you own the vehicle. Even the OEM toyota axles ... Read More

• Re: changing cv boot in 1990 toyota corolla [Mr_Shiftright]

  Written by: imidazol97 on Jul 30, 2009 11:19:51 AM

  >Your public library probably has what you need to get started If you decide not to buy a factory authorized service manual, your public library may have access to AllData from their computers. I sometimes download the internet pages complete with pictures to my USB memory then plug it in at home and view the same things I saved, page by page.

• Re: changing cv boot in 1990 toyota corolla [JDM5LugHatch]

  Written by: Mr_Shiftright on Jul 30, 2009 9:09:28 AM

  Good advice in principle but DON'T buy rebuilt axle kits made in China---they are not well balanced and your axles may end up vibrating like crazy. Either get them from Toyota, or get original Toyota ones from a wrecking yard.

• Re: changing cv boot in 1990 toyota corolla [rlhounds]

  Written by: JDM5LugHatch on Jul 30, 2009 8:39:58 AM

  It might actually be easier and more cost effective to just replace the entire axle than to do just do the CV boots. Besides it would suck to do all that work for some boots only to have an axle start to go out on you a few thousand miles later. I look at it like this in order to replace the boots you practically have to remove the axle as ... Read More

• Re: changing cv boot in 1990 toyota corolla [rlhounds]

  Written by: Mr_Shiftright on Jul 30, 2009 8:14:48 AM

  I think a printed repair manual would be better for a newbie. Also you'll need to "tool up" for the job, and I think a repair book would help you make the right and thorough preparations by mentioning the tools and tool sizes. Believe me, once you are covered in that axle grease (and you are going to get VERY dirty) you're going to want some good photos as well as ... Read More

• changing cv boot in 1990 toyota corolla

  Written by: rlhounds on Jul 29, 2009 7:29:36 PM

  I'm a 30 yr old female and want to change cv boots myself, does anyone know where I can get free online instructions to this?

Toyota Corolla Paint Problems

• Re: Toyota Corolla Paint Problems [laurenfowlkes]

  Written by: jesush91 on Oct 30, 2008 10:32:46 PM

  Uh well id like to state that i work at a car wash and many of the new corollas i clean have scratches, which surprises me also...see im the proud owner of a 1990 toyota corolla dx myself and its paint is a LITTLE faded on the hood and on its top (and keep in mind this is its original paint), but no scratches and i drive it everywhere even in ... Read More

Toyota Corolla Lease Questions

• Re: I am thinking (lease ) 90 Corolla S VS 09 Honda Fit Sport ? which is be

  Written by: Car_man on Sep 16, 2008 3:50:24 AM

  Hi movingsale45. A 1990 Toyota Corolla will definitely be much less expensive than a 2009 Honda Fit. I kid, I kid. Just poking fun at the typo :P . If you are set on leasing, I suspect that the Corolla will be the better choice for you right now. Toyota is providing lease support on the '09 Corolla, but Honda is not providing any lease support on the Fit. Car_man Host ... Read More

Toyota Corolla Maintenance and Repair

• Re: 1990 toyota corolla problem [leede1]

  Written by: elizabethf on Jun 20, 2008 1:34:25 PM

  My 1990 Toyota corolla also won't start. I have tried the repairs you mention also with no luck. I am about to try a new starter, but mechanics will not say with any certainty if this will work. How did you solve your problem? It takes 20 - 50 tries for the car to turn over. When you turn the key, it clicks, as if the battery is dead, but does ... Read More

• Re: 1990 toyota corolla [Mr_Shiftright]

  Written by: blazer01 on Apr 3, 2008 9:37:56 AM

  Thank You

• Re: 1990 toyota corolla [blazer01]

  Written by: Mr_Shiftright on Apr 3, 2008 9:19:46 AM

  eBay! Hurry up! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1990-Toyota-Corolla-Owners-Manual-owners_W0QQcmdZ- ViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQcategoryZ34233QQihZ006QQitemZ16020326303- 1QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

• Re: 1990 toyota corolla [Mr_Shiftright]

  Written by: blazer01 on Apr 3, 2008 9:14:14 AM

  HelloWould You Know Where I Can Get A Owner Manual For My Daughters 1990 Corolla?

• Re: 1990 toyota corolla [savagez7]

  Written by: blazer01 on Mar 29, 2008 5:17:30 PM

  Hi Just Bought 90 For My 20Year Daughter Would You Sell Me Your Owner Manual Also What Is Little Button On Left Side Of Shift Lever My Daughter Got Hit And Run Thats Why I Bought This Car Sorry About Your Car Thanks Robert

• Re: 1990 toyota corolla [savagez7]

  Written by: Mr_Shiftright on Mar 26, 2008 10:10:48 AM

  I'm afraid this car is a goner. You can buy a very nice 1990 Corolla for less than the cost to repair all this damage.

• Re: 1990 toyota corolla [savagez7]

  Written by: whilst on Mar 25, 2008 5:38:57 PM

  Hi. Bummer! What is to help? The car is a 1990. Time to say good bye. Seriously,the cost of repairs is too great. IF, you were to put used parts on ,you have no idea of their integrity.New-prohibitive. At minimum,tie rod ends,control arm/ball joint,strut(s)and alignment. Sell the parts and buy another. Cheers,Jeff. ;)

• 1990 toyota corolla

  Written by: savagez7 on Mar 25, 2008 9:25:57 AM

  i got hit on the front left side of my car making a u turn, the whole engine is perfect but the whole knuckle, rotor setup just moves left and right really easy. Probobly something to do with the power steering, please help me. email me poplid@sbcglobal.net http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd155/Teamvomit/IMG_0592.jpg http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd155/Teamvomit/IMG_0593.jpg http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd155/Teamvomit/IMG_0591.jpg http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd155/Teamvomit/IMG_0590.jpg

2009 Toyota Corolla

• Re: For example... [roxy11]

  Written by: backy on Mar 11, 2008 8:34:20 AM

  you can bet that if a 6 year old hyundai platform kept pace in sales with a brand new honda or toyota platform, backy would have been screaming from the rooftops to let us know about it. The only people I see screaming from the rooftops here are Toyota employees who rave about all the positive aspects of the Corolla and quickly shove aside any not-so-great aspects. ;) But since you ... Read More

Toyota Corolla Maintenance and Repair

• Re: 1990 Corolla and Emergency Brake - additional message [bewashen]

  Written by: Mr_Shiftright on Jan 22, 2008 5:38:06 PM

  Hmmm...I'd like to know how an e-brake works without a cable. Also why these people are selling an e-brake cable for a 1990 Corolla? 1990 Toyota E-Brake Cable

Toyota Corolla Basic Maintenance Questions

• How do you install the ignition lock cylinder on a 1990 Toyota Corolla?

  Written by: vw6366 on Dec 2, 2007 8:41:42 PM

  Yes I have replaced the ignition cylinder on my 1990 corolla. But one thing there is a little thing that came out with the old one and I cant get it back in it holds the steering wheel lock and it turns the car on. I need to know how to get this thing back in and what the hell its called. I have talked to a toyota machanic and they ... Read More

Who plans on keeping their Corolla for 200K+ miles?

• Re: Who plans on keeping their Corolla for 200K+ miles? [bottgers]

  Written by: digitaldragon on Oct 21, 2007 6:13:11 PM

  If my 2004 Corolla S is as reliable as my previous Toyotas, I'll definitely keep it to 200,000 miles. I usually buy new vehicles, but I made an exception and bought the Corolla used a few months ago. I currently have a 1990 4wd Toyota truck with 192,000 miles on it that I plan to keep it until Toyota imports their diesel or maybe puts a hybrid in a 4wd truck, ... Read More

Toyota Corolla Maintenance and Repair

• Re: 1990 toyota corolla problem [leede1]

  Written by: Mr_Shiftright on Aug 20, 2007 9:01:49 AM

  Well you're gonna have to start some diagnosis and stop throwing parts at it, or that will get expensive for you. A good first step is to test for fuel delivery (a fuel-pressure gauge is safest) and then test for spark (you can buy a spark tester real cheap at Kragens, Autozone, etc.) and if you have fuel injection (can't recall on a '90 model, sorry) then you can buy a ... Read More

• 1990 toyota corolla problem

  Written by: leede1 on Aug 18, 2007 10:28:50 PM

  My car wont start... we put in a new distributor...new spark plugs....and battery..alternator..and yet it still dont work.. anyone know why it wont start then?

Toyota Corolla

• 1990 toyota corolla

  Written by: xpslayer on Apr 18, 2007 4:27:21 PM

  i am thinkin of buyin a 1990 toyota corola some body hole rust 4 500 bux. r they good cars? car seems mechanicaly fit...

Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla vs Mazda3

• Comparison of all Three

  Written by: nube on Aug 9, 2006 1:09:40 PM

  Hi. I'm in the Kansas City suburbs and am looking to purchase one of the three cars listed here. Recently, I went to five dealerships for each make of car listed here. I test drove all three cars and drew some immediate conclusions. For background, I'm a well-spoken, 31 year old executive at a manufacturing corporation. I currently drive a fully-loaded 1990 Nissan Maxima 6cyl AT that has 211,000 miles. I'm ... Read More

2009 Toyota Corolla

• clarification

  Written by: sonatabean on Apr 23, 2006 9:41:08 AM

  My only concern is that Toyota will turn the Corolla will turn into what the Camry USED to be . . . and that just ain't the car I want. To clarify, I meant the original V-6 with 5-speed SE version that a lot of kids pimped-out after their dads cast the car off (late 1980s, early 1990s).

Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla vs Mazda3

• A Mazda by any other name ... [legalpenguin]

  Written by: autonomous on Sep 14, 2005 9:55:58 AM

  I wouldn't rate the Mazda3 as being equal or in the same league as a Civic especially since the Mazda3 is pretty new. Over the long haul of ownership, I can see the Civic outlasting the Mazda3. The same with a Corolla. (Because I've owned Toyotas (Corollas and Camrys) for 16 years with no problems. And I bought Honda because I've heard no complaints from owners who I have talked to.) ... Read More

Toyota Corolla Maintenance and Repair

• 05 corolla problems

  Written by: bigrod on May 19, 2005 10:34:17 PM

  Thanks for all of your post's on corolla problems. I have a 05 corolla ce that has "paint chip problems" not so much chip but coming off leaving little round paintless dots. after countless hours of researching this I have found Toyota paint problems going back to the 1990's( and have printed out over 212 post/complaints I have found ). I took my car to a freind who's known world wide ... Read More

2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Prices Paid and Buying Experience

• Re: Update NY Corolla LE [basu]

  Written by: macedon on Oct 11, 2004 8:15:15 PM

  Send me an email and I'll be happy to tell you. This car better last forever. I had a nightmare of a time with Toyota dealers. The $15,7 guy was so unconscionable that I was compelled to file complaints with everybody and anybody, as well as friends. Word of mouth. Though I was warned about that dealership previously, as long as they honored the price I had no problem with them. ... Read More

• Long Island Corolla LE $$ Help sought

  Written by: macedon on Sep 20, 2004 11:57:37 PM

  I am shopping for a 2005 Corolla LE Automatic with ABS and mats. (floor & trunk). Please help me know if this is a good price. I see some posts stating getting under $15k. Thanks to Edmunds, I knew the first dealer was trying to take me big time! I am a member of some of those large warehouse buying clubs. The salesperson the 'club' told me to contact stated that ... Read More

Honda Civic vs. Toyota Corolla

• Corolla LE 2005

  Written by: minnie on Sep 4, 2004 5:18:50 AM

  Hi I too was in the market to buy a car. I went for the 2005 Toyota Corolla LE. My brother bought a 2004 Honda Civic EX back in January of '04 the car is nice and I like it alot. Both my parents, and my brother said that I should get one too. Before I bought the Corolla I had a 1990 Acura Integra which I still have. "My husband ... Read More

Toyota Corolla Maintenance and Repair

• 2000 Corolla Issues

  Written by: jsylvester on Apr 24, 2004 12:35:38 PM

  Other than a 92 Miata I owned, this is the only Japanese vehicle I've had a long term experience. Let me say I am completely underwhelmed at 76,000 miles. My wife bought this before we were married. At 59,000 miles we took the car in because of piston slap. Toyota rebuilt the engine, and did pay for a rental car. I can buy one issue with a car. At 75,000 miles, ... Read More

Toyota Corolla

• Corolla Engine

  Written by: jsylvester on Apr 9, 2003 9:27:19 PM

  While this is just an incidental event, my fiance's 2000 Corolla with 59,500 miles is currently in the shop getting the engine rebuilt. The engine started sounding very noisy when cold, I thought it sounded like the valves were bad, and she always kept up on her oil changes. I finally convinced her to take it in and get it checked before the powertrain warranty expired. After checking it once, adjusting ... Read More

• most of

  Written by: nippononly on Mar 19, 2003 9:54:38 PM

  the older carbureted cars have been chased off the roads in the last few years by the big bad smog check - carburetors just were not very good at regulating emissions, fuel injection is much better. Corollas and Tercels began to be fuel-injected right around 1990, with the hotted-up models (GTS) getting FI a couple of years earlier. If you look carefully, it is the higher end 80s cars that are ... Read More

• Corolla 2000 suspension

  Written by: mikar70 on Jul 18, 2000 12:08:29 AM

  I have a new 2000 Corolla LE as of beginning of June and was very surprised to realize how rough is its suspension. I had before (and still have)1990 GEO Prizm (Corolla twin) that served me a lot and now has 240K miles on it without any repair on powertrain and I'm still very happy with it. That was the reason I went for Corolla once more and did not test ... Read More

Toyota Corolla Maintenance and Repair

• tarman

  Written by: mazda323 on Jun 1, 2000 6:16:44 PM

  The 1990 Corolla with the SOHC 1.6 has a non-interference type engine. The 1990 Corolla with a DOHC 1.6 has an interference type engine. I belive that the DOHC was only available on the 2-door Corolla GT (or was that SR5??). Since you have 4-door Corolla DX, it seems unlikely that you damaged the engine head when the timing belt broke the first time. Here's a link the a page that ... Read More

• Timing belt broke and now I'm having serious engine trouble...

  Written by: tarman on May 25, 2000 7:25:37 PM

  The timing belt broke on my 1990 Toyota Corolla DX sedan last week. After having the belt replaced, my car broke down again several days later. After ruling out a possible faulty belt, my mechanic believes that one or more of the valves may have been damaged. After reading the posts here, I'm under the impression that the Corolla has a non-interference engine. If so, could the valves/cylinder head/or pistons been ... Read More

• No troubles with our Corolla

  Written by: ginger16 on Jan 25, 2000 7:20:09 PM

  When I saw the post entitled "Toyota Corolla Trouble" I just had to check it out, since our 1990 Corolla has been an amazing car. As of today, it has 146,000 miles and the only repair it has needed (besides routine things like brake pads, etc.) is a starter at 100,000 miles. The clutch is still going strong and I thought for sure the car would become troublesome when my teenager ... Read More

• 1990 Toyota Corolla

  Written by: nenepop1 on Oct 15, 1999 3:25:52 PM

  Everyone is interested in new cars and thats understandable. I am needing a second car and a very good friend of mine just passed away. They have a 1990 Corolla which they purchased new. It has 61000 miles on it. Auto trans, cruise, am/fm/cassette. Pretty standard. My friend has always been very meticulous about servicing his cars. I just wonder if this would be a reliable to and from the grocery ... Read More