New Member - KeepItSimpleStupid - 2000 SLE V6
by KeepItSimpleStupid » Mon Jun 18, 2007 11:26 am
My 2000 Solara is a Silver 2000 SLE V6, automatic with leather and traction control bought new. It also has climate control which I love. I'm currently running with Pierilli P400 tires. They are a nice tire for the buck. A friend did some tire research as well and ended up with the P400's as well. I had them on the Celica as well. Some guy I knew didn't like the way I could take corners, but he was perfectly happy driving his car above 100 MPH. I have about 60K miles on the car.
I haven't done any maintenence myself, but have had the following non-maintenence issues: rear rotors, both oxygen sensors and a battery. The dealership told me they don't check the battery water. WTF?
When the O2 sensor went bad the TRAC off control also illluminated for whatever reason. I had the dealership flush the brake system and install new bleeder valves. I need to get that done again.
My 60K service that I got last week cost about $1600. It also included the rear brakes and rotors and a coolant flush.
The only mod is the rearview mirror dimming and the hole in the seat from a scredriver in my back pocket. I had that fixed professionally.
I also had all the paint dings repaired professionally. Some idiot rear-ended me and did bumber damage. About $800 (INsurance paid) because they had to remove the bumper to paint it.
As for things I'd like to have (not in any order):
1. K40 radar detector
2. Class D sub-woffer.
3. Heated seats - Aftermarket systems available
4. Nav system
The impossible dream:
TRD supercharger and suspension kit, but I'd need the K40 first.
I owned an '82 Celica before this was with a manual transmission and did all the maintenence on the car from rebuild the carb, replace steering rack, installed AC from a box, replaced rear wheel bearings, full body work in prep of getting painted and the standard stuff. 237K miles and 17 years. I also replaced the clutch and replaced the crankshaft pully. Did valve adjustments every year.
The car never left me totally stranded that I needed a tow truck. One close call. I was driving near a bunch of junk yards. Car just died. I went to a Junk yard and repoved the ignition module from a later car. Modded it to work with a couple of jumpers and drove home.
A long time ago, I said I won't do exhaust systems, but I do check when they are done. The car didn't SOUND quite right so I looked at the newly installed muffer and the arrow was pointed in the wrong direction. I took it back to get fixed and it still didn't sound right and I look and agin it was backwards. I took it back the thired time and was told that the pipe was bent wrong and the kid that installed the muffler said it fit better that way.
I added a headlight on reminder of my design (Driver's door open and lights on = buzz). I installed an alarm system and power door locks. MACCO messed up the paint job by not using a clear coat that the paint system required and said it was my fault because I preped the car. I had the original front calipers when I got rid of the car probably because of flushing the brake system about every 3 years. Then the car was used as a getaway car after I sold it for two store roberies causing me a little grief.
Alarm systems don't work. They take a stereo and replace it pound for pound with Lentils. I guess my stereo and the Lentils were too much to carry. Or the alarm is going off in the parking lot in the rain and the thieves are running away.
I do one odd thing. I use Armor All on the hoses in the engine compartment. It makes them last a long time.
I always use anti-sieze and a torque wrench and petroleum jelly on light bulbs.
After my experience with the '82 and maintaining parent's and previous vehicles from Ford, Chrysler, Plymouth and GM. I'll stick with Toyota. They design a part. If it fails they re-design it. The parts are used in many models and therefore are available for a long time.
ME: Education in general engineering, self-taught for the most part machinist, EE design and troubleshooting skills, know many programming languages. Self-taught auto-mechanic (got to give Popular Mechanics a plug here), Small engine repair; Household anything: Plumbing, fixing a chimney, roofing, siding, etc.
KISS
I haven't done any maintenence myself, but have had the following non-maintenence issues: rear rotors, both oxygen sensors and a battery. The dealership told me they don't check the battery water. WTF?
When the O2 sensor went bad the TRAC off control also illluminated for whatever reason. I had the dealership flush the brake system and install new bleeder valves. I need to get that done again.
My 60K service that I got last week cost about $1600. It also included the rear brakes and rotors and a coolant flush.
The only mod is the rearview mirror dimming and the hole in the seat from a scredriver in my back pocket. I had that fixed professionally.
I also had all the paint dings repaired professionally. Some idiot rear-ended me and did bumber damage. About $800 (INsurance paid) because they had to remove the bumper to paint it.
As for things I'd like to have (not in any order):
1. K40 radar detector
2. Class D sub-woffer.
3. Heated seats - Aftermarket systems available
4. Nav system
The impossible dream:
TRD supercharger and suspension kit, but I'd need the K40 first.
I owned an '82 Celica before this was with a manual transmission and did all the maintenence on the car from rebuild the carb, replace steering rack, installed AC from a box, replaced rear wheel bearings, full body work in prep of getting painted and the standard stuff. 237K miles and 17 years. I also replaced the clutch and replaced the crankshaft pully. Did valve adjustments every year.
The car never left me totally stranded that I needed a tow truck. One close call. I was driving near a bunch of junk yards. Car just died. I went to a Junk yard and repoved the ignition module from a later car. Modded it to work with a couple of jumpers and drove home.
A long time ago, I said I won't do exhaust systems, but I do check when they are done. The car didn't SOUND quite right so I looked at the newly installed muffer and the arrow was pointed in the wrong direction. I took it back to get fixed and it still didn't sound right and I look and agin it was backwards. I took it back the thired time and was told that the pipe was bent wrong and the kid that installed the muffler said it fit better that way.
I added a headlight on reminder of my design (Driver's door open and lights on = buzz). I installed an alarm system and power door locks. MACCO messed up the paint job by not using a clear coat that the paint system required and said it was my fault because I preped the car. I had the original front calipers when I got rid of the car probably because of flushing the brake system about every 3 years. Then the car was used as a getaway car after I sold it for two store roberies causing me a little grief.
Alarm systems don't work. They take a stereo and replace it pound for pound with Lentils. I guess my stereo and the Lentils were too much to carry. Or the alarm is going off in the parking lot in the rain and the thieves are running away.
I do one odd thing. I use Armor All on the hoses in the engine compartment. It makes them last a long time.
I always use anti-sieze and a torque wrench and petroleum jelly on light bulbs.
After my experience with the '82 and maintaining parent's and previous vehicles from Ford, Chrysler, Plymouth and GM. I'll stick with Toyota. They design a part. If it fails they re-design it. The parts are used in many models and therefore are available for a long time.
ME: Education in general engineering, self-taught for the most part machinist, EE design and troubleshooting skills, know many programming languages. Self-taught auto-mechanic (got to give Popular Mechanics a plug here), Small engine repair; Household anything: Plumbing, fixing a chimney, roofing, siding, etc.
KISS
- KeepItSimpleStupid
- Just Licensed SolaraGuy
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:31 pm
... But then again a remote trunk popper would be more of a feasable option.
