1996 TOYOTA COROLLA check engine

145 Steering wheel
Be alert for changes in steering condition,
such as hard steering or strange noise.
Seats
Check that all front seat controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. op-
erate smoothly and that all latches lock
securely in any position. Check that the
head restraints move up and down
smoothly and that the locks hold securely
in any latched position. For folding-down
rear seatbacks and swing-up rear seat
cushion, check that the latches lock se-
curely.
Seat belts
Check that the seat belt system such as
buckles, retractors and anchors operate
properly and smoothly. Make sure the belt
webbing is not cut, frayed, worn or dam-
aged.
Accelerator pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and
uneven pedal effort or catching.
Clutch pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation.
Brake pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and
that the pedal has the proper clearance.
Check the brake booster function.Brakes
At a safe place, check that the brakes do
not pull to one side when applied.
Parking brake
Check that the lever has the proper travel
and that, on a safe incline, your vehicle is
held securely with only the parking brake
applied.
Automatic transmission Parkº mech-
anism
Check the lock release button of the se-
lector lever for proper and smooth opera-
tion. On a safe incline, check that your ve-
hicle is held securely with the selector
lever in Pº position and all brakes re-
leased.
IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Items listed below should be checked
from time to time , e.g. each time when
refueling.
Washer fluid
Make sure there is sufficient fluid in the
tank. See Chapter 7-3 for additional infor-
mation.
Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is between
the FULLº and LOWº lines on the see-
through reservoir when the engine is cold.
See Chapter 7-2 for additional informa-
tion.Battery electrolyte level
Make sure the electrolyte level of all bat-
tery cells is between upper and lower level
lines on the case. Add only distilled water
when replenishing. See Chapter 7-3 for
additional information.
Brake fluid level
Make sure the brake fluid level is correct.
See Chapter 7-2 for additional informa-
tion.
Engine oil level
Check the level on the dipstick with the en-
gine turned off and the vehicle parked on
a level spot. See Chapter 7-2 for addition-
al information.
Power steering fluid level
Check the level on the dipstick. The level
should be in the HOTº or COLDº range
depending on the fluid temperature. See
Chapter 7-2 for additional information.
Exhaust system
If you notice any change in the sound of
the exhaust or smell exhaust fumes, have
the cause located and corrected immedi-
ately. (See engine exhaust cautions in
Part 2.)ProCarManuals.com

146Be on the alert for changes in perfor-
mance, sounds, and visual tip-offs that in-
dicate service is needed. Some important
clues are as follows:

Engine missing, stumbling, or pinging

Appreciable loss of power

Strange engine noises

A leak under the vehicle (however, wa-
ter dripping from the air conditioning
after use is normal.)

Change in exhaust sound (This may
indicate a dangerous carbon monox-
ide leak. Drive with the windows open
and have the exhaust system checked
immediately.)

Flat-looking tire; excessive tire squeal
when cornering; uneven tire wear

Vehicle pulls to one side when driving
straight on a level road

Strange noises related to suspension
movement

Loss of brake effectiveness; spongy
feeling brake or clutch pedal; pedal al-
most touches floor; vehicle pulls to one
side when braking

Engine coolant temperature continual-
ly higher than normalIf you notice any of these clues, take your
vehicle to your Toyota dealer as soon as
possible. It probably needs adjustment or
repair.
Do not continue driving with the ve-
hicle unchecked. It could result in
serious vehicle damage and possi-
bly personal injury.CAUTION
! Does your vehicle need
repairing?
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152
Remember that battery and igni-
tion cables carry high currents or
voltages. Be careful of accidentally
causing a short circuit.
Add only demineralized or dis-
tilled water to fill the radiator. And
if you spill some of the coolant, be
sure to wash it off with water to
prevent it from damaging the parts
or paint.
Do not allow dirt or anything else
to fall through the spark plug
holes.
Do not pry the outer electrode of a
spark plug against the center elec-
trode.
Use only spark plugs of the speci-
fied type. Using other types will
cause engine damage, loss of per-
formance or radio noise.
Do not overfill automatic trans-
mission fluid, or the transmission
could be damaged.
NOTICEDo not drive with the air cleaner fil-
ter removed, or excessive engine
wear could result. Also backfiring
could cause a fire in the engine
compartment.
Be careful not to scratch the glass
surface with the wiper frame.
When closing the engine hood,
check to see that you have not for-
gotten any tools, rags, etc.
Here is a list of parts and tools you will
need on performing do-it-yourself main-
tenance. Remember all Toyota parts are
designed in metric sizes, so your tools
must be metric.
Checking the engine oil level
Parts (if level is low):

Engine oil API SH, Energy-Con-
serving IIº multigrade or ILSAC mul-
tigrade having viscosity proper for
your climate
Tools:

Rag or paper towel

Funnel (only for adding oil)
Checking the engine coolant level
Parts (if level is low):

Ethylene-glycol antifreeze

Demineralized or distilled water
Tools:

Funnel (only for adding coolant)
Checking brake fluid
Parts (if level is low):

SAE J1703 or FMVSS No. 116 DOT
3 brake fluid
Tools:

Rag or paper towel

Funnel (only for adding fluid)
Parts and tools
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Part 7Checking the engine oil level
155
DO-IT-YOURSELF
MAINTENANCEÐ
Chapter 7-2
Engine and Chassis
Checking the engine oil level
Checking the engine coolant
level
Checking brake fluid
Checking power steering fluid
Checking tire pressure
Checking and replacing tires
Rotating tires
Installing snow tires and chains
Replacing wheels
Aluminum wheel precautions
With the engine at operating tempera-
ture and turned off, check the oil level
on the dipstick.
1. To get a true reading, the vehicle
should be on a level spot. After turning off
the engine, wait a few minutes for the oil
to drain back into the bottom of the en-
gine.
2. Pull out the dipstick, and wipe it clean
with a rag.
3. Reinsert the dipstick'push it in as far
as it will go, or the reading will not be cor-
rect.
4. Pull the dipstick out and look at the oil
level on the end.If the oil level is below or only slightly
above the low level line, add engine oil
of the same type as already in the en-
gine.
Remove the oil filter cap and add engine
oil in small quantities at a time, checking
the dipstick.
The approximate quantity of oil needed to
fill between the low level line and the full
level line on the dipstick is indicated below
for reference.
When the level reaches within the correct
range, install the filler cap hand-tight.
Oil quantity, L (qt., Imp. qt.):
4A-FE engine 1.0 (1.1, 0.9)
7A-FE engine 1.2 (1.3, 1.1)
NOTICE
Avoid overfilling, or the engine
could be damaged.
Check the oil level on the dipstick
once again after adding the oil.
ProCarManuals.com

157 Look at the see-through coolant res-
ervoir when the engine is cold. The
coolant level is satisfactory if it is be-
tween the FULLº and LOWº lines on
the reservoir. If the level is low, add
ethylene-glycol type coolant.
The coolant level in the reservoir will vary
with engine temperature. However, if the
level is on or below the LOWº line, add
coolant. Bring the level up to the FULLº
line.
Use only ethylene-glycol type coolant.
See information in the next column.
If the coolant level drops within a short
time after replenishing, there may be a
leak in the system. Visually check the ra-
diator, hoses, radiator cap and drain cock
and water pump.
If you can find no leak, have your Toyota
dealer test the cap pressure and check for
leaks in the cooling system.
CAUTION!
To prevent burning yourself, do not
remove the radiator cap when the en-
gine is hot.Coolant type selection
Your coolant must contain ethylene-gly-
col antifreeze. In addition to preventing
freezing and subsequent damage to the
engine, this will also prevent corrosion.
Further supplemental inhibitors or addi-
tives are neither needed nor recom-
mended.
Read the antifreeze container for informa-
tion on freeze protection. Follow the
manufacturer 's directions for how much
to mix with water. The total capacity of the
cooling system is given in Part 8. We rec-
ommend 50% solution be used for your
Toyota, or a sufficient quantity to provide
protection to about -35C (-31F).
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze
or plain water alone.
NOTICE
To check the fluid level, simply look at
the see-through reservoir. The level
should be between the MAXº and
MINº lines on the reservoir.
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go
down slightly as the brake pads wear. So
be sure to keep the reservoir filled.
If the reservoir needs frequent refilling, it
may indicate a serious mechanical prob-
lem.
Checking brake fluid Checking the engine coolant
level
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158If the level is low, add SAE J1703 or
FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3 brake fluid to the
brake reservoir.
Remove and replace the reservoir covers
by hand. Fill the brake fluid to the dotted
line. This brings the fluid to the correct lev-
el when you put the cover back on.
Use only newly opened brake fluid. Once
opened, brake fluid absorbs moisture
from the air, and excess moisture can
cause a dangerous loss of braking.
CAUTION!
Take care when filling the reservoir
because brake fluid can harm your
eyes and damage painted surfaces.
If fluid gets in your eyes, flush your
eyes with clean water.
If you spill the fluid, be sure to wash
it off with water to prevent it from
damaging the parts or paint.
NOTICE
Check the fluid level on the dipstick. If
necessary, add automatic transmis-
sion fluid DEXRON
[-II or-III.
If the vehicle has been driven around 80
km/h (50 mph) for 20 minutes (a little more
in frigid temperatures), the fluid is hot
(60C'80C or 140F'175F). You
may also check the level when the fluid is
cold (about room temperature,
10C'30C or 50F'85F) if the engine
has not been run for about five hours.
a. Clean all dirt from outside of the reser-
voir tank.
b. Remove the filler cap by turning it
counterclockwise and wipe the dipstick
clean.c. Reinstall the filler cap.
d. Remove the filler cap again and look at
the fluid level. If the fluid is cold, the level
should be in the COLDº range on the dip-
stick. Similarly, if it is hot, the fluid level
should be in the HOTº range. If the level
is at the low side of either range, add auto-
matic transmission fluid DEXRON

-II or
-III to bring the level within the range.
e. After replacing the filler cap, visually
check the steering box case, vane pump
and hose connections for leaks or damage.
CAUTION!
The reservoir tank may be hot so be
careful not to burn yourself.
Avoid overfilling, or the power
steering could be damaged.
NOTICE
Checking power steering fluid
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166
Check the battery for corroded or
loose terminal connections, cracks, or
loose hold-down clamp.
a. If the battery is corroded, wash it off
with a solution of warm water and baking
soda. Coat the outside of the terminals
with grease to prevent further corrosion.
b. If the terminal connections are loose,
tighten their clamp nutsÐbut do not over-
tighten.
c. Tighten the hold-down clamp only
enough to keep the battery firmly in place.
Overtightening may damage the battery
case.
NOTICE
Be sure the engine and all acces-
sories are off before performing
maintenance.
When checking the battery, re-
move the ground cable from the
negative terminal (-º mark) first
and reinstall it last.
Be careful not to cause a short cir-
cuit with tools.
Take care no solution gets into the
battery when washing it.
There are two types of batteries: main-
tenance type and non-maintenance
type.
A non-maintenance battery has MAIN-
TENANCE FREE BATTERYº on its top. A
maintenance type battery does not have
such indication.
Maintenance type batteryÐ
Check the fluid condition by the fluid level
lines on the side of the battery. Or if the
battery has a hydrometer on its top, you
can also check the hydrometer.
Non-maintenance batteryÐ
Check the battery condition by the
hydrometer on the top of the battery.
ÐChecking battery exterior ÐChecking battery fluid
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168
ADDING DISTILLED WATER (MAINTE-
NANCE TYPE BATTERY ONLY)
1. Remove the vent plugs.
2. Add distilled water to cells needing
fluid.
If the side of your battery is covered,
check the water level by looking down di-
rectly above the cell as illustrated above.
3. Retighten the vent plugs securely.
NOTICE
Do not overfill the cells. Excess
electrolyte could squirt out of the
battery during heavy charging,
causing corrosion or damage.
During recharging, the battery is pro-
ducing hydrogen gas.
Therefore, before recharging:
1. Maintenance type batteriesÐRemove
the vent plugs.
2. If recharging with the battery installed
on the vehicle, be sure to disconnect the
ground cable.
3. Be sure the power switch on the re-
charger is off when connecting the char-
ger cables to the battery and when dis-
connecting them.

Always charge the battery in an
unconfined area. Do not charge
the battery in a garage or closed
room where there is not sufficient
ventilation.

Non-maintenance batteries: Only
do a slow charge (5A or less).
Charging at a quicker rate is dan-
gerous. The battery may explode,
causing personal injuries.CAUTION
!
Maintenance type batteries: Be sure
to remove the vent plugs before re-
charging.
NOTICE
Never recharge the battery while the
engine is running. Also, be sure all
accessories are turned off.
Battery recharging precautions
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