Recent content by VersatileGuy

My mom has a 2007 Matrix. No noise insulation whatsoever Never tried a similar year Camry. Did buy a 1996 Camry that had a small exhaust leak I didn't catch even during a test drive...part of the reason was that it was still quieter than the Matrix....

They let it be that way so people go buy the Camry.

So the Dorman air intake hose arrived(around 50 bucks compared to the $16 after shipping for the SKP). It's actually stiffer(maybe it's been sitting on a shelf or the material is a worse plastic, who knows) than the SKP, but the hole for this union tube is an actual circle compared to the SKP...

I bought a new air intake hose and the SKP Rockauto hose had a hole that was too small for this hard plastic union thing on the hose, the holder for some electrical connector is also different from Toyota OEM. So now I'm stuck waiting for a Dorman and if that fails, then it's a new OEM hose.

Usually, you get what you pay for with regards to suspension parts. ACDelco used to be the quasi OEM grade but they have disappeared from many parts of the Rockauto catalog. I guess Delphi is the new ACDelco? SKP are cheapos, so I except a suspension only good enough to pass an inspection but...

Toyota Hybrids are better than pure EVs. Grid "independence" has its perks. Toyota cornered the "reliable appliance" part of the vehicle market. The other makes have gone EV because the motor might be reliable but they can engineer obsolescence elsewhere. Mechanics push inquiring customers to go...

Injectors are pretty expensive, so if you have a multimeter, you can first check for resistance both cold and hot. https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/my-car-has-trouble-starting-when-the-engine-is-hot-i-never-have-a-problem-in-the-morning-or-when-i-get-off-work-by-jonathan-p Corollas(the...

Actually, no. The 2007Toyota Matrix I'm dealing with(almost the same thing as a Pontiac Vibe) did not have any codes I can say it directly caused by the coils themselves. It did throw a P0171 when I was revving the engine hard, but that could have been the injectors, which simultaneously...

Ignition coils. Measure the resistances on one of them. In my experience, the color of the lead on the multimeter matters. Red on the bottom, black on the top pins. The bottom of the coil-on-plug has a removable boot. Don't use a Harbor Freight or similar Chinese multimeter. Use a Klein(or...

The point is the probability of a failed motor mount on a 200k or more with no service history of the mounts is essentially 100% and one should go in assuming that all of the motor mounts require service. For a 100k car, that requires the visual inspection of whether the engine is jerking around...

The other component of "reliability" is the cost and time to restore function. For a 9th gen Toyota Corolla, swapping lamps or parts is often relatively easier compared to another manufacturer. A headlamp just needs a twist out of its socket. The alternator is in the front with the serpentine...

Matrix and Pontiac Vibe The the iM hatch. They've always had them, though not necessarily wanted enough. My mom bought a Matrix first gen back in the day and it is still around.

I've seen the DIY video that shows the solenoid repair. It's a process fraught with potential error during the process. Maybe someone cuts too far with the angle grinder or drills the hole too low(which the guy does on one). Along with taking a long time just to separate the metal case from the...

The solenoid is sealed and "not serviceable" in this gen Corolla and checking the brushes is also necessary given the time that has passed. Chances are the brushes are basically worn out gone and would require replacement along with the solenoid. Starter failures are sudden and not in advance...

Most cars, if not all, with 200K will have failed motor mounts and thus won't pass a safety inspection without paying some fees to a mechanic for the work. There's usually at least one mount that's a pain to remove. And if one needs replacing, it is best to replace all of them. But furthermore...