I have a 2000 Corolla I bought used in 2002. I have never replaced the plugs. A few months ago, the engine started running very choked, it wanted to chug when first starting up and taking off at lights and stop signs, and going up hills, regardless of the speed, it sputtered. My check engine light flickered off and on intermittently for a week or so, frustrating me, since it never did it when my husband was in there. It finally came on, and stayed on for several days. I consulted my local CarX, and they said to bring it in. They told me it was my fuel injectors, did the job, charged me $200, and sent me on my way with a notice that the engine light may do this periodically over the life of my car, since this seems to be a design flaw for this type of Corolla. They also told me I may have to come back several times to have the injectors cleaned to keep the car running. I asked if the plugs could be the problem, and they said no. The car ran fine for months, then, it starting acting up a little again a couple weeks ago for my hubby (I got a van for me, he now drives the Corolla exclusively), although not as bad. I called the local Toyota dealership, since my hubby said he thinks it is a fuel filter problem, explained to them what happened, and they said 1) They have not heard of an engine design flaw in the 2000 Corolla that requires multiple injector cleanings. 2) It shouldn?t be a fuel filter problem, since the filter is built into the gas tank, and designed to never need replacing, unless I?m putting some seriously bad gas in my car. 3) More than likely, since we?ve had the car since 2002, and never replaced, or checked the plugs, it sounds like that?s the problem, and that if we replace them ourselves, we need special Iridium plugs, because regular ones will foul, and possibly destroy, the engine. The plugs will run about $12 each. I guess I need to know if anyone else has had this problem, if they?ve needed to replace the plugs with these special Iridium plugs (the auto parts stores I called laughed and said I could spend the money if I wanted, but they never heard of regular plugs destroying an engine unless they weren?t spaced right), and where exactly the plugs are located in the engine compartment. We have been unable to locate them. I don?t want to get the runaround on the phone, and I?m no dummy when it comes to engines, but I?m not going to take my car to 15 different places and get told 15 different stories if it?s something as simple as plugs. Any help anyone could give would be appreciated. Thanks!
- posted
19 years ago