Page 194 of 384
1944-7. Driving tips
COROLLA iM_U (OM12M42U)
NOTICE
■Driving with tire chains
Do not fit tire chains. Tire chains may damage the vehicle body and
adversely affect driving performance.
■ Repairing or replacing snow tires
Request repairs or replacement of snow tires from Toyota dealers or legiti-
mate tire retailers.
This is because the removal and attachment of snow tires affects the opera-
tion of the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters.
Page 219 of 384
219
6Maintenance and care
COROLLA iM_U (OM12M42U)6-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior .......... 220
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior ........... 223
6-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ................... 226
General maintenance........ 228
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs......................... 232
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service precautions ..................... 233
Hood ................................. 235
Positioning a floor jack ...... 237
Engine compartment ......... 238
Tires .................................. 250
Tire inflation pressure ....... 260
Wheels .............................. 263
Air conditioning filter.......... 265
Wireless remote control battery ............................. 267
Checking and replacing fuses ............................... 269
Light bulbs......................... 272
Page 231 of 384
2316-2. Maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
COROLLA iM_U (OM12M42U)
Vehicle exterior
ItemsCheck points
Doors• Do the doors operate smoothly?
Engine hood• Does the engine hood lock systemwork properly?
Fluid leaks
• There should not be any signs offluid leakage after the vehicle has
been parked.
Tires
• Is the tire inflation pressure cor-rect?
• The tires should not be dam-
aged or excessively worn.
• Have the tires been rotated according to the maintenance
schedule?
• The wheel nuts should not be loose.
Windshield wipers/rear window
wiper
• The wiper blades should not show
any signs of cracking, splitting,
wear, contamination or deforma-
tion.
• The wiper blades should clear the
windshield/rear window without
streaking or skipping.
WARNING
■If the engine is running
Turn the engine off and ensure that there is adequate ventilation before per-
forming maintenance checks.
Page 233 of 384

233
6
Maintenance and care
COROLLA iM_U (OM12M42U)
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service precautions
If you perform maintenance by yourself, be sure to follow the
correct procedure as given in these sections.
ItemsParts and tools
Battery condition
(→ P. 246)• Warm water• Baking soda• Grease
• Conventional wrench (for terminal clamp bolts)
Brake fluid level
(→ P. 244)• FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703 brake fluid
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding brake fluid)
Engine coolant
level ( →P. 242)
• “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” or a similar high
quality ethylene glycol-based non-silicate, non-
amine, non-nitrite and non-borate coolant with long-
life hybrid organic acid technology
For the U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is pre-mixed with
50% coolant and 50% deionized water.
For Canada:
“Toyota Super Long Life Coolant” is pre-mixed with
55% coolant and 45% deionized water.
• Funnel (used only for adding engine coolant)
Engine oil level
(→ P. 239)• “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equivalent
• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only for adding engine oil)
Fuses ( →P. 269)• Fuse with same amperage rating as original
Light bulbs
(→ P. 272)
• Bulb with same number and wattage rating as origi-
nal
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Flathead screwdriver• Wrench
Radiator and con-
denser (
→P. 244)⎯
Tire inflation
pressure
(→ P. 260)•Tire pressure gauge
•Compressed air source
Washer fluid
(→ P. 249)• Water or washer fluid containing antifreeze (for win-
ter use)
• Funnel (used only for adding water or washer fluid)
Page 250 of 384
2506-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
COROLLA iM_U (OM12M42U)
Check if the treadwear indicators are showing on the tires. Also check
the tires for uneven wear, such as excessive wear on one side of the
tread.
Check the spare tire condition and pressure if not rotated.
New tread
Worn tread
Treadwear indicator
The location of treadwear indicators is shown by a “TWI” or “Δ” mark,
etc., molded into the sidewall of each tire.
Replace the tires if the treadwear indicators are showing on a tire.
Rotate the tires in the order
shown.
To equalize tire wear and extend
tire life, Toyota recommends that
tire rotation is carried out at the
same interval as tire inspection.
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in accordance with maintenance sched-
ules and treadwear.
Checking tires
Tire rotation
1
2
3
Front
Page 251 of 384

2516-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
COROLLA iM_U (OM12M42U)
Your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that uses
tire pressure warning valves and tr ansmitters to detect low tire infla-
tion pressure before serious problems arise.
If the tire pressure drops below a predetermined level, the driver is
warned by a warning light. ( →P. 294)
◆Installing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
When replacing tires or wheels, tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters must also be installed.
When new tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are
installed, new ID codes must be registered in the tire pressure
warning computer and the tire pr essure warning system must be
initialized. Have tire pressure warning valves and transmitter ID
codes registered by your Toyota dealer. ( →P. 253)
◆Initializing the tire pressure warning system
■The tire pressure warning system must be initialized in the fol-
lowing circumstances:
● When rotating front and rear tires which have different tire infla-
tion pressures.
● When changing the tire size.
● When the tire inflation pressure is changed such as when chang-
ing traveling speed or load weight.
When the tire pressure warning system is initialized, the current tire
inflation pressure is set as the benchmark pressure.
Tire pressure warning system
Page 252 of 384
2526-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
COROLLA iM_U (OM12M42U)■
How to initialize the tire pressure warning system
Park the vehicle in a safe place and turn the engine switch off.
Initialization cannot be performed while the vehicle is moving.
Adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified cold tire inflation
pressure level. ( →P. 331)
Make sure to adjust the tire pressu re to the specified cold tire infla-
tion pressure level. The tire pressure warning system will operate
based on this pressure level.
Turn the engine switch to the “ON” position.
Open the glove box. Press
and hold the tire pressure
warning reset switch until the
tire pressure warning light
blinks slowly 3 times.
Wait for a few minutes with the eng ine switch in the “ON” position
and then turn the engine switch to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position.
1
2
3
4
5
Page 253 of 384

2536-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
COROLLA iM_U (OM12M42U)
◆Registering ID codes
The tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is equipped with a
unique ID code. When replacing a tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter, it is necessary to register the ID code. Have the ID code
registered by your Toyota dealer.
■When to replace your vehicle’s tires
Tires should be replaced if:
●The treadwear indicators are showing on a tire.
●You have tire damage such as cuts, splits, cracks deep enough to
expose the fabric, and bulges indicating internal damage
●A tire goes flat repeatedly or cannot be properly repaired due to the size
or location of a cut or other damage
If you are not sure, consult with your Toyota dealer.
■Replacing tires and wheels
If the ID code of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is not reg-
istered, the tire pressure warning system will not work properly. After driv-
ing for about 20 minutes, the tire pressure warning light blinks for 1
minute and stays on to indicate a system malfunction.
■Tire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician even
if it has seldom or never been used or damage is not obvious.
■Routine tire inflation pressure checks
The tire pressure warning system does not replace routine tire inflation
pressure checks. Make su re to check tire inflation pressure as part of
your routine of daily vehicle checks.
■Low profile tires
Generally, low profile tires will wear mo re rapidly and tire grip perfor-
mance will be reduced on snowy and/ or icy roads when compared to
standard tires. Be sure to use snow tires on snowy and/or icy roads and
drive carefully at a speed appropriate for road and weather conditions.