In 2006, the Toyota automaker introduced the 10th generation of Corolla family cars: Toyota Corolla X (E140/150). The car was produced in a single body version - a sedan, and differed from the previous generation E120 in a more modern and solid appearance, as well as significantly increased dimensions.
Dimensions of Toyota Corolla X:
- length - 4540 mm;
- width - 1760 mm;
- height - 1470 mm;
- wheelbase size - 2600 mm;
- ground clearance of cars intended for the Russian market is 150 mm.
This Coroll model has been and continues to be in great demand among car enthusiasts and, in addition, was highly appreciated by experts. Thus, as a result of crash tests conducted by the independent European organization EuroNCAP, the Toyota Corolla E140 became the first class C car to receive five stars in the entire history of this organization. This was achieved thanks to an excellent safety system: up to seven airbags were installed in the cars, depending on the configuration; the front seats have a device to prevent neck injuries; There is a system that notifies about unfastened seat belts, etc.
Exactly, as always
Success has accompanied the Corolla since its release: as soon as it went on sale in 2007, almost a year-long queue immediately lined up for it. And you can’t say that a representative of the tenth generation has any superpowers. Neutral appearance, sufficient dynamics, reliable handling and an acceptable level of comfort - the portrait of a completely average car, but nothing more. However, belonging to one of the most revered families in our country and some similarities with the more expensive and respectable Camry turned out to be a tremendous success.
However, for those who are not looking for emotions and refined driving manners, but are simply looking for a comfortable vehicle for everyday life, Toyota has everything they need: already in the basic version it is equipped with ABS, a quartet of airbags, air conditioning, MP3 radio, heated seats, electric windows and mirrors. For the city crowd, the Japanese have provided a robotic gearbox. All this can be safely extrapolated to the Auris hatchback - this is the same Corolla, only with a hatchback body and a slightly edited appearance.
And yet, the main popular argument in favor of the “Japanese” is its reliability, which has been praised for years, and the carefully cultivated image of a car in which nothing breaks. But do such ideas correspond to reality? This is what we will try to find out.
Chassis and engine
DIY Toyota Corolla actuator repair
Tuning the chassis of Toyota Corolla 150
If your task is to drive quickly and maneuverably on city roads, then start your tuning with the suspension. The first step is to replace the standard shock absorbers with stiffer ones. For confident handling and stability of the car on the road, you need to change the springs. Don't forget about the wheels. For an attractive appearance and good grip on asphalt, you can install alloy wheels with low-profile tires. For a more unique look, steel hub and disc spacers are installed. This increases the wheel offset by 6 mm. After such an upgrade, the car gets an aggressive look.
To improve the fuel system, you can buy an RTD for just 1000 rubles. The fuel pressure regulator for Toyota Corolla 2015 raises the pressure to 380-480 kPa. Thereby increasing the productivity in the fuel rail, which contributes to the performance of the injectors.
If you want to change your car for the better, make it elegant, unique and at the same time with minimal investment, then analyze the prices and buy only high-quality products. Do-it-yourself tuning will save you money. If you are planning a grand replacement of any complex elements, then it is better to trust the professionals. See Toyota Corolla tuning photos and try to get as close as possible to the intended result.
Video: Tuning the headlights of a Toyota Corolla 150
In a healthy body (body and its electrical equipment)
With careful owners, the car retains its presentation for a long time. A well-painted body does not allow itself to rust even after several Moscow salty winters - naturally, provided that it has avoided accidents and handicraft repairs. Even the decorative strip above the license plate on the trunk lid, which rubbed ulcers on the body of the previous generation Camry, does not harm the health of the Corolla. It happened that, due to dirt, the headlight WASH NOZZLES were stuck in the open position. But it was not difficult to restore their mobility: in most cases, basic cleaning helped. And by January 2008, having modified the design of the injectors, the Japanese completely eliminated their jamming. In November, cars arrived with securely fixed decorative overlays on the radios - until then, the panels sometimes came off spontaneously.
As for the reliability of the climate control unit, power window buttons and heated seats, the Corolla is in complete order with this. In on-board electrics, only the BATTERY requires special attention. Its deep discharge, say, after a long period of listening to music with the engine not running, leads to shedding of the plates, after which the battery becomes completely unusable.
Toyota Corolla 150 tuning
Corolla 150 is one of the popular Japanese sedans from 2007-2013. The Toyota company releases a new model of this line every year, but outdated bodies still remain “favorite” and in demand. But how can you make your old car modern? Tuning a Toyota Corolla 150 will give your car an aesthetic and stylish look, and also improve its technical characteristics. Of course, we will talk about the types of tuning available.
Car tuning can be divided into three types: body, interior and chassis. If you want to “pump up” your Corolla 150 at low cost, then make minimal changes: the radiator grille, simple lamps with LED ones, mud flaps and other little things. More expensive improvements include: the chassis, interior and large elements of the outer body.
Of course, any tuning entails the expenditure of money and time. But you will be pleasantly surprised by the result of any improvements in your car.
Questionable convenience (transmission)
It happened that in manual Corolla transmissions, mechanics changed the rear BEARING of the secondary shaft. The faulty part was indicated by a hum that occurred when accelerating. Otherwise, the 5-speed manual transmission is quite reliable, and the clutch lasts at least 150,000 km for adequate drivers. But you can’t say a good word about the so-called multimodal (multi-mode) MMT box, which is designed to make life in the city easier - but it was with it that the vast majority of cars with a 1.6-liter engine were sold!
In the ill-fated “robot,” the clutch discs quickly wore out, the control unit and actuator died. All this led to the car’s reluctance to move, the clutch slipping during the start, and getting stuck in some gear. Neither the advice of mechanics to customers to move the lever to neutral when stopping for more than 10 seconds and slightly releasing the gas pedal during switching, nor the efforts of Japanese engineers solved the problems. As a result, in 2010, instead of the capricious gearbox, they began installing an ordinary hydromechanical “automatic” on the Corolla and Auris.
On pre-restyling cars, in cases of inadequate operation of the MMT (diagnostics shows error P0810), the “robot” is now changed entirely. On units younger than five years old with a mileage of up to 150,000 km, subject to routine maintenance, an official dealer can install a new gearbox free of charge.
A little background
In 2011, the Toyota Corolla E150 was considered the most modern car, but already in 2012 a new generation E160 appeared. Of course, the restyled version of the 150th body was produced until 2013, but this buyer interest, as expected, spread to the 160th. This situation became the impetus for the development of tuning for the X generation Toyota Corolla. Yes, we can say that various kinds of decorations and accessories appeared almost simultaneously with the release of the first 150th model. Nevertheless, the fantastic growth in the number of tuned Corollas on the roads began precisely during this period.
Upgrading the Toyota Corolla 150 is very easy to do with your own hands. Perhaps this is one of the most serious advantages of a car over its competitors, especially in the used car market. The possibilities for tuning the exterior and interior are incredible.
The same applies to the interior, which is complemented and modified by various kinds of accessories, as well as technological solutions (in particular, electronics).
It is worth noting that many of the additions carry not only an aesthetic, but also a functional component. Most body kits help improve the aerodynamic parameters of the car. A decorative cover on the engine, among other things, helps prevent damage to engine parts. Improved interior upholstery increases noise insulation properties and also extends the time that the driver and passengers can spend on the road. There are many ideas, the main thing is not to be afraid to experiment.
Good couple (engines)
In total, the Corolla has more than a dozen engines in its arsenal, but it was delivered to Russia with only two. These are gasoline inline fours: the 1.6-liter 1ZR-FE (124 hp) and its less powerful version 4ZZ-FE with a displacement of 1.4 liters and 97 hp. In both units, the timing drive is carried out by a chain designed for the entire service life of the motor. If there are no characteristic noises (an extremely rare occurrence), then mechanics do not recommend touching the “chain”. In general, the engines are unpretentious and durable - mileages of 250,000 km are not the limit for them. Candles, if you don’t pour outright crap into the tank, as a rule, take care of the 100 thousand measured by regulations. And thanks to the short intervals between maintenance, during which the engine oil must be changed, the VVT-i variable valve timing mechanisms, which are very demanding on its quality, live happily ever after.
"Toyota Corolla"
Sometimes it happened that the WATER PUMP of the cooling system began to leak - this mostly applies to the 1.6 liter engine, regardless of mileage. However, replacing the pump is inexpensive, and on machines manufactured since June 2008 there is no such problem at all. Sometimes at low temperatures the starter RETRACT RELAY failed. Alas, “defrosting” did not always help, and the entire starter had to be replaced. But by May 2009, the Japanese had sorted out this problem too.
Treatment for future use (chassis and steering)
There are only a few weak points in the suspension: sometimes “sweating” REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS, dying rear ABS SENSORS (hub replacement required) and squeaking front stabilizer bar BUSHINGS. In addition, on rare cars it is necessary to change the STEERING COLUMN that knocks when driving over uneven surfaces. However, by 2009, Japanese engineers had successfully eliminated all of the above problems. After which there is no longer any need to change anything in a car that has not covered 150 thousand kilometers. The brake system parts also have a decent service life. The life of the front and rear pads is approximately the same - on average 30-40 thousand km. Brake discs last 50–60 thousand.
"Toyota Corolla"
WE DECIDED:
Official dealers for cars with an expired warranty provide a 15% discount on spare parts, 25% on plumbing work and 30% on body work. In addition, for a Corolla no older than 3 years old and with a mileage of up to 100,000 km, you can buy another year of factory warranty for 10,000 rubles. But even taking into account the discount on servicing and the opportunity to extend the warranty, we don’t see much economic sense in choosing a three-year-old Corolla. When purchasing, you will save 100–150 thousand at most. About 25 thousand more can be gained during operation due to maintenance. In total, 125–170 thousand accumulate. In our opinion, this is not such a big surcharge for a completely new car, which also gets rid of all childhood ailments. Another question if your budget is strictly limited. In this case, you can safely buy a Corolla. She really is much more reliable than most of her classmates. But just don’t take a car with a “robot”.
We thank Toyota Center Rublevsky for their assistance in preparing the material.
Toyota Corolla: movable capital
Interior tuning
As surprising as it may be, interior tuning for the Toyota Corolla offers less extensive options.
However, inside the car you can install not only stylish, but also very technological accessories. For example, the steering wheel is often configured for SWC technology. Thanks to it, the wheel receives several switches that allow you to control the radio without being distracted by searching for buttons on the audio system. By the way, don’t forget that you can install an improved radio with many modes and even sensor and video support. A popular idea for tuning the Toyota Corolla E150 is, of course, reupholstering the seats. New upholstery has never bothered anyone, so anyone can afford to transform their chairs.
Lighting is also included. Often only the color of the lamp changes to calm, dull red, blue and green shades, but there are also original solutions, for example, color-changing lighting or creative placement of lamps. Finally, another popular interior idea is to replace the gauges on the dashboard. In addition, you can add interesting lighting to them to make it easier to navigate the car’s indicators at night.
