Comments: 1-15, 16-19
Radiator leaked and had to replace at 110,000 Kilometers.
Carburettor overhaul at 110,000 Km.
Suspension was worn out at 115,000 Km.
Water body leaked at 120,000 Km.
Wind screen washer button worn out around 100,000 Km.
Starter motor burned around 110,000 Km.
Master cylinder of the braking system leaked with many small holes inside it at 120,000Km (today), and had to replace the whole cylinder.
I have driven Suzuki FX, Suzuki Baleno, Honda City, Honda Accord, Toyota Diesel 2D during the last 15 years. I was recommended by many friends and relatives to go for Toyota when I came here last year - reasons: Reliable, easy availability of the spare parts etc. etc. Moreover, my experience with my previous Toyota 2D Diesel Sedan was satisfactory. So, I decided to go for a second hand Toyota Corolla 1996 due to obvious reasons.
But this car proved to be a headache wrapped in a small bundle. I never got appropriate pick-up whenever needed. I tried every workshop and got the carburettor almost replaced in toto, but the car simply refuses to give me the required pick up while climbing hills etc. It simply does not climb in third gear. In hot weather, when the engine is hot and running in a city traffic, moving this car on at a green traffic signal is a real embarrassment. It simply jumps, thunders and then finally moves very slowly at a very high RPM.
Reliability is considered the most valuable characteristic and a very good quality which runs with Toyota. What happened today has in fact made me write this review about my Corolla 1996. I was coming to my office on a highway at a speed of 110 Km per hour when all of a sudden another car 600 meters ahead me had to slow down. As a result, when I pushed my brake pedal my foot simply hit the floor. There was absolutely no pressure in the braking system. You can simply imagine the situation should it be a busy highway, what would have been the result. Thank God, I was alone in the car and my wife and the kid had decided to take a day off, and I was able to stop this killing machine successfully, otherwise the cause of death in my death certificate would have been written as road accident.
The car was then taken to the workshop and there was no leak in the system anywhere. Finally the master cylinder was opened apart, and we were surprised to see many small holes and dents in the inner side of the cylinder. I spent the whole day with the mechanic, looking for the new master cylinder at various Toyota dealers in the city. The price of the master cylinder is 4 times that of other models and makes if compared.
I will never accept anyone saying that Toyota Corolla 1996 has cheap spare parts available easily. No way... this is completely wrong. Compared to other cars of the same model, spare parts are expensive and it really is a pain in the neck to try to find them with the dealers.
I will never recommend this car to anyone, and I am now trying to sell this machine as soon as possible.
I owned the toyota since the year model 1970s till 1980 and 1990s...unfortunately since late 1980s up to 1990s toyota corolla were not like other cars... Problems always occured like raditor.. oil leaking every where and even the engine jammed 1992 model... what I do to this toyota I burnt it make me satisfied because it costed me a lots to repaired and it also recommended not to buy Toyota corrola to my friends.
Our 1996 Toyota Corolla XL is already 10 years old and still running in good condition. Maybe you bought your car from a second hand or third hand owner/owners and maybe the engine or parts of the car is no longer the original. Buy parts and accessories from the REAL Toyota service centers to determine which is the genuine or inferior parts of the car. For me, Toyota is still good.
I bought a second handtoyota corolla xl and its really nice. no problem with the engine, it is low maintenance compared to other car brand. toyota is the best!!!
I have a 1997 Toyota corolla XL with a 1.3 engine. The car ran smoothly until I had some problems with the carburetor that stalled the engine and burned out the new spark plugs installed.
The engine ran fine again when I disabled the automatic choke and kept the butterfly valve in the fully open position.
I really don't know if that affected my fuel economy. Can somebody inform me on the highway and traffic driving condition fuel consumption of the car?
He doesn't like the Corolla because he lives in Saudia Arabia and the Corolla gets awesome gas mileage... Less $$ for his oil profit pocket...lol.
You may have bought a Corolla that was intended for a colder climate. This may explain the overheating. The 1996 Toyota doesn't have a carburetor it's fuel injected.
I will never accept anyone saying that Toyota Corolla has cheap spare parts available easily. No way... this is completely wrong. Compared to other cars of the same models, spare parts are expensive and it really is a pain in the neck to try to find them with the dealers.
I think your experience is quite frightening and I do hope that your next vehicle is much reliable than this one. For your next purchase here are few things that you should consider:
1. Most Saudis are not known to be good drivers. THey know how to abuse their car. They know how to drive over speed bumps at high speeds. At corners where you slow down to check for incoming cars, they speed up to race with incoming cars.
2. They're oblivious to regular and preventive maintenance.
3. Since they don't believe in regular maintenance, I have never seen anyone even 'thinking' about service books or records.
4. There are a lot of cheap parts in the market that are least reliable. I can honestly tell you that your car was repaired with them. That huge price difference in parts is there for a reason, but unfortunately your previous owner didn't know anything about it.
96 or 97 corollas are fuel injected not carb, d
i wouldn, t buy a 2nd hand car from saudi arabia anyway.
Buy one of an irish nun!!!
I've got a 96 corolla. Right now it has a mileage of over 350,000. Over the years I've used this car over steep hill climbs and pothole-ridden roads, summer or heavy rains. I've driven over really rough roads of mud, dirt and gravel. And right now it's still working pretty OK. I think the reliability and performance of the car goes hand in hand with proper maintenance of the car. Any brand and type of car, when poorly maintained will surely cause any kind of driver all kinds of headaches. I believe a car is an extension of a driver's personality. Poor performing/unreliable car? Well, that says a lot about it's driver/owner doesn't it? ;)
First of all 96 corolla doesn't have a carb, it's fuel injected! What are you talking about? And about the braking problem; it happens when you don't put in enough braking fluid. It's under the hood, check it out. My 96 corolla is running 246K, and still in pristine condition. The best value car I've ever driven.
We have a 1996 and it only has 103,00 on it, it is in great condition!! Besides the regular basic maintainers tires/oil changes/flushes...etc.. It has been GREAT!!! We love ours and hope to get a lot more out of it!!
I'm driving a corolla XL 98' 1.3 L. It's run by carburetor, not fuel injector, and it's running 419829k.. probably need to change the engine soon..
Can I fit a Corolla 1.8 engine in this??
I have owned a 1996 corolla since November 14, 1995. The car has close to 300,000 miles. I do have a problem now. The car stalls when it stops. Although I haven't put a lot of money into the car i.e., struts, brake jobs four times, timing belt twice, tuneup every other year, a starter, 3 batteries: the maintenance of the car is very low. The car has excellent gas mileage; performs well.
I have a 1996 Corolla that has treated me very well. But it vibrates. Anyone know why?