20 Most Recent 1988 Toyota Corolla 4 Door - Page 6 Questions & Answers

starter is on its way out or battery terminals are loose or corrided

Quite likely rear brake shoes are worn out & need replacement.

It sounds like the core of your speedometer cable is rubbing the outer housing. The speedometer cable runs from the inst panel, thru the firewall, and onto the side of the transmission that faces the driver. This is not a hard job to do, but, when replacing the cable, take care to not break the ears off of the part that hooks on to the back of the speedometer.

you need to replace or tighten your sway bars.

I had a similar problem, the middle cylinders- both compression was low. The Expert Mechanic told me that the valves have to be replaced. So the Head was opened and the valves were checked and they wer allright. The the Head was machined, and the PISTON rings were replaced. Now the vehicle runs good. This might help.
So when you get to replace the valves, be ready for the pistons/ or piston rings. cost about 600 dollars in all.

check the switch above the pedal brake, if you step on it there's a small metal coming out and if you release the pedal it will push the metal inside and that will turn the brake lights off, if the switch is broken you can easily replace it, just ask for your local auto store. hope i help you on this..

Check your remote to see that it isn't setting off the alarm. If the battery is dying on the remote, this could happen. If not, have alarm checked.

you will have to take the disc and caliper off too.
Then put the wheel nut back on, screw the nut until the top is level with the thread on the stud. A few good hits should do it, when you put the new one in put a few washers on the stud, then put the nut on and tighten up just so the stud is in right.
Here is a diagram will show you the stud.
i hope this helps!

This sounds like the cluster switch that is mounted against the steering collumn that has the stalks for the Wiper, indicator and headlights on is faulty. They sometimes are a pair meaning that the headlights and Indicators are matched together and is a combined unit, you have to replace the unit.

First of all, check the bulb conditions inside the backlight cluster section , if any bulbs are blackened replace them with the correct type. Next take the bulbs out and hold them against the light and see if the fillaments are solid and connected to the posts, if broken or drooping badly or looks badly oxidized(dullsilver or greyish appearance) replace. If after all this then check the actuator switch located on the gearbox of the car, check the connection of the plug that connect to the switch if it is sound. Using a VOM (multimeter) on the Ohm range with the plug disconnected , ush the VOM's probes one on either pin of the switch(make sure the handbrake/emergency brake is engaged) select reverse gear in the car with the ignition switched off. You should get a reading of approx 1 - 30 Ohms on the meter meaning that the switch is working, if not and if you have confirmed the car is inded in reverse then you will have to replace the switch.

You need to expand more on your statement. What do you want to know? How to replace the starter/solenoid? or should you replace it. Depending on the symptoms that you are getting like is the starter dragging when you turn it over or is it making a whining noise?
If it is dragging sluggishly then possibly after you have excluded the battery, the bushes(2) could be worn and is easilly replaced along with the four commutator brushes. If it is whining that could be due to the solenoid not engaging or possibly the bendix mechanism. Attach + 12 volts to the thin pigtail lead that comes of from the solenoid and attach the negative lead to the body of the starter, you should get a healthy kick response and looking inside the halfmoon open section of the front of the starter assy you should see the engaging gear kick to the front. Certain Toyota Corolla models have 2 bolts that mates the starter to the gearbox and others have 3 bolts. I have also found that in some cases the earthing band that goes from the negative pole of the battery to the chassis of the car and the engine sometimes doesn't make a good contact either on the engine or body, check these out as well as that can lead to not enough current passing through for efficient cranking.

Try some 'bead sealer'. I use this stuff religiously.

Sounds like you have blown the head gasket when it got overheated.. The white stuff in the oil cap is emusified oil, a bit like mayonnaise.
You will almost certainly need to replace head gasket and service the cylinder head.

Check first the status of the clutch fluid. If the fluid seemed to drop check for leaks in the side of the transmission and up in the pedal. If here is, the culprit is the clutch master. If there is non, have the clutch and the pressure plate checked out.

not the dashboard but you need to remove the glove box

well the oil sending unit is located on top of the oil filter housing most likely its bad if not your knock sensor is bad

You can't see it from the top because the oil pan and drain plug are on the bottom of the engine. You will probably have to jack up the car in order to crawl underneathand reach the drain plug.

You should change the oil when the car is cold, otherwise you'll end up with hot oil spilling onto your hands. You'll also need a pan that holds 2 gal of liquid and place it under the car beneath the drain plug.

Remove the plug, drain the oil, replace the plug. Remove and replace trhe filter. then refill with oil. Do not over fill

there is a program that i use on the internet that has all the info you need including tsb's and wiring diagrams. type eautorepair.com then scroll down and you will see diy. the program costs 12 dollars but has priceless info. you will find everything you need there, and if you have any trouble they have people that can help standing by. i have used them on several occasions and their diagrams are profesional quality.