Corolla Sound's 97 DX AE101 On-Going Project

Cool, thanks for the advice. Did you put it in your vacuum line and oil too? Or just the gas tank? I'd like to run it throuh all 3 pathways for maximum effect.

I took a few more pics of my "make shift" coolant tank and the plastic on my header. I think its finally all burnt off.

https://s1149.photobucket.com/user/Davidfry12345/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG-20131211-00856_zpsff9bdc15.jpg.html?filters[user]=125693500&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0
Pics look a little blurry tho

Well, results are in. It did NOT pass etest. It did better and worse in some areas.

Edit: plan is to take it to a shop and have it diagnosed and repaired properly. I have a feeling they will want to replace the header and magnaflow catalytic converter back to OE.

Ahh just typed a bunch of stuff and it randomly delted before I finished.. So long story short.. Turns out I didn't need an etest and wasted a lot of money for nothing. I did however have my car diagnosed only for them to tell me I need a fuel system cleaner which they tried to sell me for 140$. But on the bright side, I thought I was going to have to spend a lot more so guess it worked out.

I am definetly getting a new computer for xmas so I will be more active soon

Nice!!!

That's quite the story David! Damnz... But happy to hear its sorted out, right

So here's an update from me:
- a stuck passenger door (frozen)
- leaking rad
- occasional strange "winey" engine noise (sounds like a manual in reverse)
- lots of new rust
- and a collapsed rusted rear strut scraping my tire


I noticed it last thursday after washing it, could hear a slight scraping sound which got worse driving home on friday. I took it to the shop and he confirmed it was rotted out so I made a decision to order 2 rear complete quickstruts and sway bar links to be installed tuesday for just over 600$.
I'm a little worried about getting it to the shop tho as its been sitting all weekend and its been warm so it probably rusted more.

Its been a snowy windy cold winter and its hurting my car, but its been starting at -35C and working rather well for its age. Ill be back with a new update soon.

You've been MIA!  Welcome back.

^^^
Im with chris,
hope all is ok, i know you will have all the problems sorted asap

I know I know, but I don't have highspeed where I live for my computer so I have to use my mobile which is slow and has a small screen lol.
I'm cleaning the interior today and getting it prepped for the shop (taking out my fragile custom rear deck and I'm going to try and pull out the back seat corner cushions to get access to the struts). Every time I've previosuly tried taking out those cushions they just folded and felt like I was gonna snap the clips. We'll see how it goes..
Ill take some more pics too

u can do it david

There, its now prepped for strut removal. I ripped out 1 of the corner cushions without breaking anything but snapped the plastic "clip" on the other cushion. I don't really care though lol
I checked the oil level (good) and tire pressure and the rear driver side tire was at 25 psi and everything else was 30 psi. So I moved my car about 30 feet to my garage to pump up the tire and my busted strut was sounding worse and making "cracking/crunching/scraping" sounds.
I'm a little worried about driving it 25 km to the shop tomorrow. Might have to get a flatbed to tow it.

I could probably put the struts in myself if it weren't for the break lines. I doubt I will be able to disconnect/remove them from the strut slide, plus I don't have a warm garage to work in.

Currently returning my quickstruts and ordering something else I will leave for a surprise...

I'm a little late on the update again, but I am finally rolling on some new struts. I had brand new Monroe quickstruts installed yesterday. They were even able to unbolt the end links and reused them. The improvement in ride quality was instantly noticed (in the rear atleast).
No pics yet of them installed but will take some today.

Finally...







These pics suck. Ill share some better ones later

Took some more phone pics after a car wash:

I'm so ready to be done with winter lol

Me too! Its finally starting to warm up here. But now that the snow and ice is melted off my car, I can see how much my rust has spread (it even took out one of my stuts lol).

I've got quite the leaking radiator too, seems to be coming out from everywhere on the bottom, plus I'm still leaking trans fluid from the valve leading to the rad. I think a good radiator "stop leak" product should fix it. Plus I should probably flush the system. I've got more pics on my photobucket of the radiator (oh and I got a used reservoir tank and put it in today, no more sauce bottle lol).

Time to go see the coolant section of the forum
EDIT: nevermind, it there is no cooling section.
Anyone know of a good thread or website on how to flush and repair a leaky rad?

I don't think you can repair a radiator, gotta put a new one in!

Well they have lots of different products to stop your radiator from leaking, but after finding out the oem toyota coolant is suppose to be red, I think I will get a new rad and do a complete flush.

I seen what looked like a good rad at the wreckers last week I've never seen before. I took the reservoir tank already. The engine actually looked cleaner than mine and had no signs of a collision. Might just buy the whole car for parts. I like the seats and its got a rear deck with oem speaker grills.

Took my splash shields completely off to see better underneath at my radiator and hoses.






That last pic is probably the only valve/line that shows no signs of leaking and yes my front motor mount is starting to crack.



These 2 pics are from 2 days ago:



It seems to be leaking from everywhere. but today it wasnt near as bad. wonder inf it had anything to do with the new reservoir tank?.

Ill take it somewhere tomorrow to get another inspection. Hopefully I can just flush it and put a stop leak product in with my new coolant to seal it but we'll see.

Heres the top of the rad:





Think I might need a new distributer gasket possibly

Went for my free inspection. My radiator and coolant system was pressure tested and passed holding 15psi. But then I showed them the transmission line valve and they said it was non-repairable.
Need a new radiator and front motor mount

Well hopefully that fixes it for a while!

The pressure test didn't fix anything, just tested to see if anything leaked out anywhere and apparently nothing leaked or even seaped out meaning my coolant system isn't leaking. The shop was honest and told me there was no need to replace it, and the reccomended maintenance says it should be good for 250,000 km.
Now that I think about it. The transmission line from the rad is probably leaking from the damage done by the previous owner as I remember seeing damage on the transmission pan.
I also got a quote for a new rad of 189$. Or I could shop online and get a Denso OE radiator for 70$, plus a new thermostat, thermostat seal and a temp sender all for just over 100$ from rock auto.