2003 Corolla LE - new to me!

[MaxOersted]

Hi Everyone. This is my first post and I'm very grateful to have found this forum!

I recently acquired a 2003 Corolla LE, 51000 miles, obsessive/compulsively maintained, red, zero rust, practically no wear: an Arizona "old man" cruiser car. Everything is pretty much perfect with it and there are zero issues. I flew down to purchase it and drove it back, averaging 41.5 mpg at 70+mph and needless to say, I'm pretty much blown away here. Runs and handles like a brand new car!

As time goes on, what should I expect in terms of issues? Things to watch for? This is my 2nd Toyota, the first being a 1974 Corona which was also a great car.

 

[Betzy]

Hi Everyone. This is my first post and I'm very grateful to have found this forum!

I recently acquired a 2003 Corolla LE, 51000 miles, obsessive/compulsively maintained, red, zero rust, practically no wear: an Arizona "old man" cruiser car. Everything is pretty much perfect with it and there are zero issues. I flew down to purchase it and drove it back, averaging 41.5 mpg at 70+mph and needless to say, I'm pretty much blown away here. Runs and handles like a brand new car!

As time goes on, what should I expect in terms of issues? Things to watch for? This is my 2nd Toyota, the first being a 1974 Corona which was also a great car.

Welcome MaxOested.
You have a gem of a car and by reading your thread it has not been touched. Hopefully it wasn't just stored and never warmed up much but this is just me being funny. I'm not much a mechanic but mine is an 08 corolla witg just over 174000. Zero issues. Can't complain it does what is supposed to. You migh be interested in the following link: 2003 Toyota Corolla | Read Owner and Expert Reviews, Prices, Specs
https://www.vehiclehistory.com/repo...Pn1Oe48dfvlkLxAgTgHhPndnVfOQZ8v8aAkI_EALw_wcB
Good reading and great to hear about your find. Good luck.
Betz.

 

[BravoRed]

Hi Everyone. This is my first post and I'm very grateful to have found this forum!

I recently acquired a 2003 Corolla LE, 51000 miles, obsessive/compulsively maintained, red, zero rust, practically no wear: an Arizona "old man" cruiser car. Everything is pretty much perfect with it and there are zero issues. I flew down to purchase it and drove it back, averaging 41.5 mpg at 70+mph and needless to say, I'm pretty much blown away here. Runs and handles like a brand new car!

As time goes on, what should I expect in terms of issues? Things to watch for? This is my 2nd Toyota, the first being a 1974 Corona which was also a great car.

Holy Cow! 51K?! My sister's Corolla from that gen lasted 200K before the engine said no more. The automatic, too. transmission was still going strong. Congrats!

Br.

 

[Bgbdwlf2500]

Holy Cow! 51K?! My sister's Corolla from that gen lasted 200K before the engine said no more. The automatic, too. transmission was still going strong. Congrats!

Br.

Just picked up an 07 with 42k

 

[Betzy]

Just picked up an 07 with 42k

Wow i don't know either someone forgot to drive and simply stop driving or you are the luckiest guy to gey this gem, whatever the case, congrats it's a great find for sure!.
Regards
Betzy

 

[Bgbdwlf2500]

Wow i don't know either someone forgot to drive and simply stop driving or you are the luckiest guy to gey this gem, whatever the case, congrats it's a great find for sure!.
Regards
Betzy

Was a friends parents car who passed away. He sold it to me for 750. That make it a better find? Lol

 

[Betzy]

Was a friends parents car who passed away. He sold it to me for 750. That make it a better find? Lol

Yeah!
Betz

 

[RFiShTaCo]

Hi Everyone. This is my first post and I'm very grateful to have found this forum!

I recently acquired a 2003 Corolla LE, 51000 miles, obsessive/compulsively maintained, red, zero rust, practically no wear: an Arizona "old man" cruiser car. Everything is pretty much perfect with it and there are zero issues. I flew down to purchase it and drove it back, averaging 41.5 mpg at 70+mph and needless to say, I'm pretty much blown away here. Runs and handles like a brand new car!

As time goes on, what should I expect in terms of issues? Things to watch for? This is my 2nd Toyota, the first being a 1974 Corona which was also a great car.

Wow. If is not too much to ask, How much you paid for it? We bought a used 2003 Corolla LE back in 03 from the Toyota dealer with 20K miles. It was $12K. We still have it. It has 250K miles. We got our money's worth! Same engine and transmission. We had to replace a rear wheel bearing at 150K miles, also these Corollas are notorious for leaking oil from the timing belt tensioner, it is an O ring gasket. Not a big deal to replace.
We replaced all the spark plug coils, as mileage were racking up. Replaced the water pump, replaced the starter at 240K miles. At around 200K miles MAF sensor and CAT converter was replaced with an aftermarket one and lately the fuel injectors were replaced. We are happy after 17 years of service. We have 4 Toyotas in our household. With the proper maintenance these cars will last forever. LITERALLY!

 

[ebuzek]

My 05 has 305,000 on the clock. Typical oil leaks. When these start to go bad you should have already changed your PCV valve because it can stick and start to build crank case pressure. Path of least resistance is the orings. 4 orings to typically look for, Timing chain tensioner, VVTI oil solenoid (had to replace the solenoid when I tried to remove it), cam shaft position and crank shaft position sensors. Rear main seal is leaking on mine but that's to be expected with that many miles. The odometer on most will not go over 299,999. This is a Toyota defect on Corolla, Prius, and Matrix from the 03 to 08 era. Both trip meters will still work. Converters after about 200,000 and aftermarkets are crap. I gutted mine and got a O2 simulator. Likely caused by valve guide seals gone bad and burning oil. Struts at over 200,000. Just buy a good pair of complete sets. Only about 45 minutes per side to change. If you get a squeaking in the front end, check the sway bar connecting links. They connect the sway bar to the struts. The rubber boots go bad and the little ball joint inside dries out. For the money they are a great reliable car. Mine still has the original starter, alternator, water pump, radiator, power steering pump and the a/c has never had a set of gauges on it. I do refrigeration and live in the gulf coast area. Just replaced my timing chain set and valve seal at 300,000. Not because it was bad. Just because it had 300,000. Take that Honda with your timing belt.