52K and never done maintenance -- what now?

[Andrew]

My '01 Solara V6 5-speed is at about 52K, and it's time to bring it in for tune-uppy stuff.

I have never had any service done, so I'm wondering what to have taken care of now.

No, no, no -- I don't mean NOTHING. I've changed the oil every 3,000-5,000 miles, kept the K&N air filter clean, rotated the tires, and kept the battery terminals acid-free.

But no coolant or tranny flush, or anything along those lines.

(Yes, I've been a bad boy. I've also been a busy and a poor boy.)

I plan to change the plugs to those nice NGKs (arriving Monday), and to flush the coolant myself.

My question: What should I have done A) at the very good local shop, and B) at the dealer?

I figure the dealer should handle anything having to do with timing and electronics, but the local guy will have better prices for things like a tranny flush.

Thanks for any help!

[Jackass-Jeff]

I'd say to do all FLUSHES right now because of the lack of maintenance lol

Coolant FLUSH, Tranny FLUSH, Brake Fluid FLUSH

Check radiator for build up and do a pressure test on it (old coolant turns into sediment ("dust", however it's spelled) and eats holes into the radiator... (booo)

The flushes should suffice though... just remember

Coolant every 30

Brake every 30

Tranny every 15

Timing belt at about 90 (do the water pump, etc too, because labor times overlap)

Drive belt life is around 60ish, I think

[Andrew]

Brake flush? That I never thought of, and I don't remember seeing it in the manual. Grr.

I figured I had a while on the timing belt, but I've never heard of replacing the drive belt at 60K. [sigh]

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

My question: What should I have done A) at the very good local shop, and B) at the dealer?

If you can reach in the rear for the sparks, then do it DIY, if not, then have the local shop replace them along w/ ignition wires.

FLUSH everything jeff said.
Coolant = DIY
Tranny+diff flush= A local shop might charge you 75-80, i used a dealer coupon this past weekend for $104.99, if you can get the coupon then use that
Brake flush = anyone with nice fresh DOT3 fluid
Local shop should be able to do a EFI (electronic fuel injection) service and depending on your DIY skills clean your throttle body!

[bronzemaxell]

i think a tranny fluid flush probably only cost $20, it is nothing more than drain and refill, you can even do it yourself, edmunds.com recommend every 30k miles, i would probably said 60k or 90k, it is just gear oil.

[Hsakuragi]

i think a tranny fluid flush probably only cost $20, it is nothing more than drain and refill, you can even do it yourself, edmunds.com recommend every 30k miles, i would probably said 60k or 90k, it is just gear oil.

it's not 20 bucks for flush! that's for sure, no comments if you know a friend has the machine and hook u up with that price...

flush is WAY DIFFERNT than just drain and refill...

and also depends on the way you drive the car to determine how many miles you should change the fluid

[Andrew]

Yep, gonna try to reach those back plugs. Wish me luck.

Talked to the local shop and they heartily recommended the brake flush. So I'll have them to that and the tranny flush for sure. (And yes, I'll talk about flush vs. just a switch.)

Do I need to replace the wires? I read that, considering that they look clean and soft and new, I don't have to worry.

Besides the flushes and the various checks (e.g., brakes), any electronic stuff I need to worry about? Timing? Valve clearance? Dwell angle? (Kidding!)

[bronzemaxell]

i think a tranny fluid flush probably only cost $20, it is nothing more than drain and refill, you can even do it yourself, edmunds.com recommend every 30k miles, i would probably said 60k or 90k, it is just gear oil.

it's not 20 bucks for flush! that's for sure, no comments if you know a friend has the machine and hook u up with that price...

flush is WAY DIFFERNT than just drain and refill...

and also depends on the way you drive the car to determine how many miles you should change the fluid

for solara with automatic transmission, flush trans fluid will be around $80 to $100 or more, i've seen it done using a machine at jifflube, pretty neat.
but i think andrew has a 2001 v6 5 speed, i've changed manual transmision fluid twice, one at jifflube, one at local shop, both cost $20 per change, and also done a 99 v6 5 speed at home, just jack up the car, and unbolt the manual transmission drain plug, drain all gear oil out, and put the drain plug back, and refill oil from the filler plug until it spill out.

[Andrew]

Any particular oil I should get if I go this route?

[cam2Xrunner]

Any particular oil I should get if I go this route?

For the tranny I've heard awesome stuff for Redline fluid. And it's just a drain and fill, no flush. I would drain and fill the radiator with toyota coolant. Definitely do a brake fluid flush. You don't need new plug wires yet. When changing the plugs replace with NGK laser platinums or Denso platinums. If you plan to supercharger go with the Denso IK22 Iridium plugs. A fuel injection service is a good idea as well as changing out the fuel filter.

You can do most of that stuff yourself. I'd take it to a local goodyear or other reputable shop to do the brake fluid flush if you're not comfortable with bleeding brakes.

[Andrew]

Okey doke.

So I'm gonna change the plugs with those nice NGKs, and flush the coolant (replacing it with Prestone Orange). I'll spray cleaner into the throttle body till it gleams, and I'll replace the PCV valve 'cause it's cheap and easy.

I'll just have the shop flush the brake fluid and change the tranny oil (never done that -- don't know how hard it is; it is a stick though...).

Is that it? I guess I figured there'd be more to worry about.

Differential oil? Fuel filter? Anything? I'll do the timing belt and fuel pump next year.

Seems easy... too easy.

[Jackass-Jeff]

I'm only recommend flushes since you haven't EVER serviced any of those fluids =P Flushes aren't normally needed unless there is serious build up in the lines/reservoirs of those particular fluids

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

and also done a 99 v6 5 speed at home, just jack up the car, and unbolt the manual transmission drain plug, drain all gear oil out, and put the drain plug back, and refill oil from the filler plug until it spill out.

Isn't that still a drain and fill and not a flush?

[Andrew]

To me, "flush" = drain, fill, use briefly, drain, fill, drive.

Am I wrong?

[Jackass-Jeff]

To me, "flush" = drain, fill, use briefly, drain, fill, drive.

Am I wrong?

Flush uses a machined that forces water and (depends on the shop) cleaning solution (NOT SOAP! A special cleaner per flushed component) that clears out any sludge/deposits, etc etc THEN you refill the fluid

Drain and refill means Drain and refill =P