Toyota Matrix 2003 Air Conditioning Stop Cooling
Toyota Matrix, 2003 model had the air conditioner suddenly stop cooling. After checking the refrigerant and seeing that it was ok I checked further and found that the compressor clutch was not engaging.
The wires all tested ok and the connections were in good shape so now that all of the easy stuff was checked it was time to get into the meat of the air conditioning system. After checking the circuitry for the air conditioner clutch and relays in the circuit we found that the M/G relay was not operation correctly. The M/G relay is located in the long black fuse box under the hood by the battery. Our M/G relay was small and white in color and plugged in so soldering was not necessary.
The M/G relay was a dealer item costing around $80.00
The parts counter person at Toyota said that they have several complaints about that relay and he is surprised that it hasn't been recalled.
With the M/G relay replaced we had no further trouble with the air conditioner.
Categories: Air Conditioner, Automotive, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix, Uncategorized Tags: toyota air conditioning stops working
Toyota Corolla Door Handle Inside
Replacing the inside door handle on a Toyota Corolla can be done by removing one screw. Once you have the screw removed you will need to release the clip that holds the linkage to the door handle and then replace it in reverse order. The inside door handle seldom cracks, but it can happen making your Toyota Corolla unsightly.
New Toyota Corolla inside door handles are fairly inexpensive if you buy one from someone other than the dealer. After market inside door handles can be bought for less than ten dollars and they are good enough quality that you would never know that they were after market unless you studied them up close. A few quick searches ought to yield you several places to choose from to buy an inside door handle.
Categories: Automotive, Toyota, Toyota Corolla Tags: corolla door handle, Toyota Corolla Door Handle Inside
2003 Toyota Corolla Door Handle Covers Chrome
The 2003 Toyota Corolla has painted door handles and they are always getting black surface marks on them from daily use. The marks look unsightly and they need to be removed with wax every time it happens.
To fix this annoying problem with my 2003 Corolla I found some chrome door handle covers and put them on the doors and no more problems. The chrome is durable and it doesn't show any blemishes after use and accents the look of the doors at the same time.
If you keep getting the door handle blemishes, or worse chipped paint on the door handle you really need to consider the protection of chrome door handle covers.
Categories: Automotive, Toyota, Toyota Corolla Tags: 2003 Toyota Corolla Door Handle Covers Chrome, door handle scratches Toyota Corolla
1995 Toyota Corolla Outer Door Handle
One of the most important things to do if you are going to keep an older car is to keep it in shape. If it is left to deteriorate and get ugly you will get turned off to it and wind up spending tons of money and tax on a new car.
Keep your Toyota Corolla in shape.
One problem that I have found with my 1995 Toyota Corolla is that the door handles get ice built up under them and usually causes them to crack. Replacing the door handle is easy, all you have to do is remove the inner door panel. First remove the screws in the arm rest and the inner door handle. If you have power windows you will need to unplug the window/lock switches in the armrest by popping the switch panel up off of the armrest so you can see the wires and plug. Unplug the wires and remove the switches. If you have manual windows you will need to remove the window crank. There should be a clip behind the crank than needs to be pulled out, once it is out the window crank should come right off.
Once you can see inside the door you will see the back of the outside door handle, remove the bolts and linkages for the door mechanism and the handle should come right out from the outside of the car.
Replace the door handle and re-assemble in reverse order. That should be an inexpensive fix that should last you for years.
Categories: Automotive, Toyota, Toyota Corolla Tags: 1995 Toyota Corolla door handle, 1995 toyota corolla door handle left, 1995 toyota corolla door handle right
1995 Toyota Corolla Power Window Stops Working
It starts off slow, first the window starts to close slower and then, after a few months the window will be noticeably slower in both directions. No, spraying WD-40 inside the door won’t help. The only thing that will fix it is to replace the unit that raises and lowers the window, called a regulator. The window regulator is essentially a slide mechanism with a cable coming out of each end and an electric motor in the middle to drive the slide either up or down.
Once the slide wears out it creates drag on the cables and motor slowing down the window.
Replacing the window regulator is a fairly straight forward job.
1) First thing to do is remove the inside panel off of the door and unplug both electrical connectors in the door armrest that go to the window switches and power locks.
2) Carefully remove the plastic vapor barrier, it is stuck on the door with a non-hardening rope caulk and it will peel away easily.
3) Once the plastic vapor barrier sheet has been removed you will see the window regulator and the window attached to it. You will have to position the window so you can get to the two bolts that hold the window to the slide. Once you can get at the bolts, all 10 MM bolts and nuts, and support the window while loosing the bolts and lift the window out of the door.
4) With the window removed from the door you will be able to remove the window regulator easily. Looking at the regulator you will see four nuts holding it to the door. Remove all of them from the bottom up and take the regulator out through the largest opening in the door panel.
5) Once the old regulator is out install the new one in reverse order.
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 2000 2001 Toyota Corolla Front Window Regulator Motor L  US $46.00
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 88 89 90 Toyota Corolla Window Regulator w Motor LF LH US $56.90
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 2007 07 TOYOTA COROLLA window Regulator wo Motor LF US $54.99
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6) After attaching the wiring harness to the new regulator run the regulator window mount down to where you can access the bolts to install the window. When you attach the window be sure to square it up on the regulator mount. Now run the window up slowly and see how the window lines up in its tracks. When the window closes it should contact all of its edges equally and you will have to loosen the window regulator and move it around slowly until the window becomes square in its track. Once square tighten the window regular and run the window up and down watching to see that it hits the closed position square.
7) Double check that all of the hardware has been put back on then re-attach the plastic vapor barrier, connect the wiring harnesses and attach the inside door panel.
When I replaced my window regulator in my 1995 Toyota Corolla a couple of years ago it cost me $375.00 at the dealer for just the regulator and motor, I still had to install it. Now Toyota Corolla power window regulators are offered on E-Bay for under fifty bucks!
Categories: Toyota, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix Tags: Toyota Corolla Window Regulator
Toyota Headlight Lens Care
When it was new our 1995 Toyota Corolla had a clear headlight lens covers, but through the years of road debris and weather the lens yellowed and become pitted. The yellowed look made the lenses almost look like they were permanently steamed over. I started looking for ways to clean cloudy headlights the right way.
There are several opinions and ideas on how to restore a headlight lens to its original clear look. Cleaning a headlight lens is best done with a headlight cleaner; something made specifically to clean headlights.
1) If the headlight is cracked and damaged and you just want to clean it until you get a new one using a polishing compound on the lens to remove the haze will work, the only problem with that is the compound actually removes some of the plastic film on the lens as it makes them clear. Once, the clear protective layer is removed by the compound, the lens will cloud up again very quickly so it is not the best remedy to use the polishing compound on a headlight that you want to keep.
2) The second, and best, way to clear up a cloudy lens is to use a product or system that is designed as a headlight cleaner. Headlight lens cleaners are designed with the correct chemical solutions so you will be able to clear up the lens and keep the original outer layer of plastic intact which will allow the lens to stay clear longer. This is the cheapest way to fix the problem of a cloudy headlight and let the light out so you can see better while you are driving.
3) If your headlight lens is cracked through to the inside of the headlight and heavily yellowed they will need to be replaced with a new set. The best deals that I have found on replacement headlights is on E-Bay, they are cheaper than the dealer and most auto parts stores, if you can even find them there. A new set of headlamp lenses or restoring your lenses back to clear again will make your car look great and it will almost look brand new from the front again.
Categories: Toyota, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix Tags: Toyota Corolla headlight lens, toyota headlight lens care
Toyota Corolla Tail Light Lens Repair
On the 1995 Toyota Corolla the tail lights are three colors, red, amber, and clear for back up lights.
The lights are designed to use two bulbs for the brake lights and driving lights. The backup light and turn signal light is done with one bulb, so there are four bulbs in each tail light.
When one of the brake lights burn out it can give drivers following a confusing signal when you put on your brakes because one bulb will go out and the other will glow bright and that almost looks like the turn signal is turned on. So be sure to check the bulbs often.
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 TOYOTA COROLLA 3TC 18 1982 83 WAGON LH TAIL LIGHT LENS US $95.00
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 TOYOTA COROLLA 1983 LIFTBACK TAIL LIGHT LENS US $140.00
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 TAIL LIGHT toyota COROLLA sedan lens part CAR NEW 97 96 US $63.90
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To change the bulbs on a Corolla you need to actually remove the tail light to get at the bulbs. When you remove the tail light pay particular attention to the gasket that seals out the weather from the trunk. If you notice that the gasket has been ripped it will need to be repaired before you replace the light assembly so water doesn't get into the trunk.
The tail light assembly is a sealed unit and the only access point is the socket where the bulbs attach.
If for some reason a tail light assembly gets broken it should be replaced to prevent leaks and to keep the vehicle in compliance with traffic laws and safe.
Categories: Toyota Corolla Tags: toyota corolla tail lights
2003 Toyota Corolla A/C Doesn’t Cool-Compressor Won’t Start
On my wife's 2003 Toyota Corolla/Matrix XR the A/C suddenly stopped working for no reason. She just pressed the A/C button and no cold air.
After checking into the problem I found that after turning on the A/C the engine RPM would increase as if the compressor was turning on, and the cooling fan would start to run as well. I had found that there were a few reasons for the A/C compressor not to turn on and the first reason was a lack of refrigerant in the A/C system. I checked the refrigerant and it was up to the correct pressure.
I had to run a jumper wire to the compressor clutch directly from the battery to get the compressor to turn on to test the refrigerant pressure and it turned on like it should have so that eliminated the compressor clutch as being the problem. My problem was that there was no continuity from the A/C switch inside the car to the compressor clutch.
After going to the Toyota dealership and asking both parts and mechanics I found out that the 2003 Matrix and Corolla had a potentially defective relay in the A/C circuit, in fact Toyota issued a service bulletin about the problem, not a re-call just a bulletin.
The defective A/C relay is called the M/G CLT relay and it is located in the fuse box under the hood next to the battery. The relay is solid state so you can't take the cover off and check the contacts all you can do is replace it.
The large contacts on the relay are the ones that are connected to the contacts, and the smaller contacts are the power contacts for the relay itself.
A new relay is around $70.00 from the Toyota dealer, an after market relay isn't much cheaper so it would be a good idea to get the dealer relay for the better quality part.
Categories: Air Conditioner, Automotive, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix Tags: Corolla A/C
2003 Toyota Matrix A/C Compressor Not Working
On my wife's 2003 Toyota Matrix XR the A/C suddenly stopped working for no reason. She just pressed the A/C button and no cold air.
After checking into the problem I found that after turning on the A/C the engine RPM would increase as if the compressor was turning on, and the cooling fan would start to run as well. I had found that there were a few reasons for the A/C compressor not to turn on and the first reason was a lack of refrigerant in the A/C system. I checked the refrigerant and it was up to the correct pressure.
I had to run a jumper wire to the compressor clutch directly from the battery to get the compressor to turn on to test the refrigerant pressure and it turned on like it should have so that eliminated the compressor clutch as being the problem. My problem was that there was no continuity from the A/C switch inside the car to the compressor clutch.
After going to the Toyota dealership and asking both parts and mechanics I found out that the 2003 Matrix and Corolla had a potentially defective relay in the A/C circuit, in fact Toyota issued a service bulletin about the problem, not a re-call just a bulletin.
The defective A/C relay is called the M/G CLT relay and it is located in the fuse box under the hood next to the battery. The relay is solid state so you can't take the cover off and check the contacts all you can do is replace it.
The large contacts on the relay are the ones that are connected to the contacts, and the smaller contacts are the power contacts for the relay itself.
A new relay is around $70.00 from the Toyota dealer, an after market relay isn't much cheaper so it would be a good idea to get the dealer relay for the better quality part.
Categories: Automotive, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix Tags: Toyota Matrix A/C Problem
Toyota Corolla Engine Running Too Cold
After a persistent problem of my 1995 Toyota Corolla engine running too cold, even in the hottest weather, I had to investigate the problem before I had problems with the engine computer. If the engine runs too cold all of the time the engine computer is always trying to make adjustments for the engine to warm up to operating temperature which can result in poor gas mileage and a fast idle.
In another post on this website I have an article explaining another cause of a fast idle on the 1995 Toyota Corolla caused by the idle air control valve. The symptoms seem the same as they do with the engine running cold all of the time except when the IAC valve is the problem the idle remains high, but the engine is up to its operating temperature.
With the engine running cold all of the time I found the cause of that to be the thermostat. It stuck wide open so the flow of water going through the radiator and engine was never slowed enough to allow the water to heat up.
If this is your problem and you have to go get another thermostat be sure to get one from Toyota because the after market thermostats don't have the small bleed hole on either side that allows water flow even when the thermostat is closed to relieve pressure on the water pump. The Toyota thermostat costs around $25, but it is worth the extra money to keep your Corolla running strong.
Categories: Toyota Corolla Tags: toyota corolla running too cold