Hello All,
I own a 1998 and have noticed on the forum that the '98s and '99s seem to have more problems than any other recent generation. I just want to know what problems you've had.
I'm NOT looking to turn this thread into any of the following.
- A debate on whether this is the owner or Toyota's fault
- A debate on whether OEM parts are better than factory parts
- A discussion of how good Toyotas were before or are after these years
- A discussion of how you do or should drive your car. (Grandmas, Speed-demons...or even "Speed-demon Grandmas" are encouraged to provide input)
I just want to know the basics. Is yours a '98 or '99, what broke, who fixed it, how'd they fix it and how's your car running now? Thanks in advance for your input.
For the record, my car has/had the following problems.
#1 - Suspension squeak when going slowly over speed bumps. Dealer cannot diagnose problem. Problem continues
#2 - Interior light. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. Likely a bad connection. Problem sporatic
#3 - Excessive oil consumption. Diagnosed by dealer as bad rings. Repaired under warranty. Problem solved.
#4 - Catastrophic engine failure. Connecting rod snapped and punched two holes in block. Diagnosed as "likely a problem caused during the rebuild of your motor 3000 miles earlier (see #3)". Block replaced by dealer. Problem solved.
#5 - Engine hesitation at idle, especially during stop and go traffic. Multiple dealers cannot diagnose. Might have something to do with MAF sensor, injectors, idle air bypass, etc. Dealers recommend I wait until it gets worse or codes so they have an idea of what it is. Problem continues.
#6 - Starting issue. Sometimes, when the car is left parked for a few days, it won't fire after continued cranking. The only way to get it to go is to lay on the accelerator until it eventually sputters to life smelling like unburnt fuel (Yes, I know that you don't hit the accelerator to start an FI vehicle. This is just for these "special" occasions.) Problem rare, but continuing.
Cheers,
Regular Joe