DIY Tune Up & Oil Change Corolla 98 - 02

This is a DIY on a full tune up job on a 8th gen non vvt-i Corolla .


First thing you do is you carefully remove your spark plug wires , If there not numbered then number them or lay them in order as you take them off.

While your wires are off you can remove your PCV which is located above the ignition coil on the right side of your valve cover . To test the PCV you shake it and if it rattles freely then your PCV is ok if it doesn't rattle freely then it is clogged .

With a extension and a spark plug socket you remove all the spark plugs . Make sure before you remove your spark plugs it is free from dirt or liquids so that when the whole is open nothing drops in your cylinders .

My OEM plugs are the double sided spark plug . Denso #3194 . Some places you have to order them as in my case . Some people have their own preference . This is mine and what my corolla calls for .

Then I gap them at .44 each side .

Then I applied some anti seize because the corolla heads are aluminum and the spark plug is metal . If you don't apply this they will be a pain to get out . Once I applied the anti seize then I put the plugs back . Hand screw first so that you don't strip the threads .

The with the dielectric grease you put some inside the spark plug wires so that it will make it easier to pull the wires on and off with out breaking them .

Since this car doesn't have a distributor and coil packs . Inspect the coil packs lube as well with dielectric grease .

In this case I have a aftermarket air filter . This air filter can be cleaned a reused . It's very simple you spray some degreaser all over the filter and let it sit for awhile . Then with a hose you spray from the inside out to remove all the dirt and grease . Do this as many times as needed . When you are done then you shake it dry or if you have a air hose you can use that to help it dry quicker . Set it out in the sun while you do other things and come back to it then spray the either transmission fluid or the oil spray that comes with it . Then you let it sit for awhile . This prevents it from rusting .

Next step is changing your oil . With your ratchet you remove your oil pan bolt . Make sure you have a oil pan underneath it . Let the oil drain for as long as you can , You want to make sure all your old oil is out . I do not use any oil cleaner additive but if you want to then you do what is best for you .

With that then you remove your oil filter make sure you have a oil pan underneath that cause oil will come over around the filter .

Then when you are ready to put your new filter back you wipe up the area where the old filter was then with your finger tip you apply a light coat of oil around the rubber ring of the oil filter . Then you hand tighten the filter . As the car runs it will tighten up more .

Then when you are done you add your new oil , check all your fluids , put your air filter back . Start your engine let it run then shut it down and look for any leaks . Check your oil fluid again . Then you have completed your tune up .

DIY Vehicle Battery Maintenance

This is a DIY on any car battery with top post .


This is basically the stuff I use when I do maintenance on my own battery . Everyone has their own methods this is mine .

This is how my battery looked with corrosion and acid all over the tops and post .

First I sprayed the battery cleaner and die spray . The red shows all the acid . Once you spray this you let it sit and eat up the acid . If you need to apply more then apply more . Always remember to use gloves cause the acid will eat your skin and sting a little . Wear eye protective glass . Never blow the acid , Always use a rag your not gonna reuse again then throw away .

Once you have wiped off all the cleaner and as much as acid you can , Then with your battery cleaner tool that has a wire brush inside you clean your top post . If you do not have this tool you can use sand paper or a wire brush .

Then you open the top of the battery cleaner tool and wire brush the inside of your battery terminals and then the outside of the terminals removing all the acid . Again if you don't have this tool you can use sand paper or a wire brush .



Once you have all the terminals and post clean you wipe down your battery . Check your fluid levels . Do Not Over Flow . You battery does boil when it is hot and if you over flow then every thing you have done has gone to waste . Once everything is clean you add what I call are pads to absorb any acid that the battery may boil out . This keeps the terminals a little protected .

I usually use the battery protectant lube & spray that they give you at the parts store . But it's your car battery and you do what you think is needed. Once you bolt down your battery terminals then you spray or add the battery protectant .
Some of the newer cars require you stick a 9v battery plug in your lighter to keep the computer from resetting itself . Make sure your vehicle doesn't need that or else you will be calling the dealership to reprogram your car . Some cars will not start. Some cars go into a dum mode and will sound horrible until it relearns itself .
Make sure you consult your manual first . For older cars you are ok to do this method .

DIY Rear Brakes & Wheel Cylinder Corolla 93 - 02

Since the 93-97 have the same exact rear brakes and wheel cylinders with out ABS as the 98-02 this DIY can be use for both vehicles . The best thing to do is one side at a time so if you don't remember how it goes you have the other side for help . Plus the shoes can go on either side there is no front or back .


Once you have your corolla secure with jack stands then you can remove the brake drum off . Some brake drums might need a little bit of tapping to get off .

The best way to remove your brake shoes is to start from the top removing the spring where the brake adjuster is through it then you can work your way either one side or the other side down till the brake shoes are completly off.

Then you can remove the emergency brake bracket from the brake shoe . Take the spring off first then spread the clip apart . Some brake shows come with this replacement and others don't so try not to destroy it .

In this DIY I replaced my wheel cylinder . In the back are two bolts and the brake line .

While I had everything off I decided to get a tiny wire brush and cleaned the braking plate , Then with some degreaser I spray the area and with my air hose I blew out the all the junk and made it easier to dry out too .

With having the drums off it's a perfect opportunity to pain your drums too .

Before I put the wheel cylinder back I took the bleeder out and put some anti seize on the thread and put some anti sieze on the bolts too and if you choose you can put some on your brake line .

Then I put some anti sieze on the areas that the brake shoes rub on , Then I took the brake adjuster to make sure it isn't frozen and un screwed it added anti seize on both ends .

Then I put the brake shoes back up starting from one side then the bottom then the other side and up .

Once you have your brake shoes on then you can put the drum back on bleed your wheel cylinders take the drums off then adjust your shoes . Then you can put your tire back on and test your brakes in a area that you can safely test the at .

DIY Brake Master Cylinder Corolla 93 - 97

This DIY is for the Brake Master Cylinder only .


As you can see some Brake Master Cylinder come with the plastic container and some don't . In a situation where you don't then you reuse the same container . There is a small phillips screw holding it in place .

First thing you do is to remove the brake lines from the master cylinder .

Then you unplug the brake light warning switch plug .

Then you can remove the 3 nuts holding the master cylinder to the power booster and there you have it , You have removed the master cylinder . Then after bench bleeding you can put it back on the same way you took it off . If necessary you can bleed the lines so that you have new brake fluid and secure you don't have any air in the lines .

Bench bleeding is simple . Your master cylinder comes with the parts to bleed it . If you don't have a bench you can attach it back to the power booster and have some one inside the vehicle slightly pressing on the brakes till you don't see it bubbling anymore . Master cylinder comes with bench bleeding instructions so put them in a area where the paper won't get brake fluid on it .

DIY Power Brake Booster Corolla 93 - 97

This DIY is for the Power Brake Booster only . Before you do this it is best that you disconnect the battery cause one you disconnect the brake pedal from the Power Brake Booster your brake lights will go on and kill the battery . You can use something to keep the pedal up but it takes 5 seconds to disconnect the battery .

If you have a cold air intake or the air filter box remove that first .

If you have a upper bar remove that or the one side so you lift it up and out of your way .

My car has a fuel air canister and if yours does then remove that too . The more you remove the better working area you will have .

The next thing to do is remove the brake master cylinder lines . But in my situation I didn't have to remove the master cylinder lines at all I just pulled the whole master cylinder forward .

Then remove the hose that connects to the power brake booster . Make sure you put this back on when you put the other one on .

Then you can remove the 3 nuts that hold the master cylinder to the power brake booster .

If you disconnected the lines keep the master cylinder standing up and place it somewhere it won't tip over . If you didn't remove the lines just pull the master cylinder forward and be careful you don't kink the lines or brake them .

If your car has the A/C duck for in between your legs then remove that piece .

Right by the brake pedal you remove the 4 nuts holding the power brake booster to the firewall .

There is a pin and a spring that you have to remove also . Once you have that all disconnected then you can go back to the front and pull the brake booster out . Then when you put the new one in you just do it in the reverse . If you disconnected the master cylinder make sure you bleed it correctly . If you didn't disconnect your battery put something behind the pedal .

Reminder before you put the brake booster back in you have to loosen the nut so that you can adjust it to the brake pedal . Very important it matches your brake lights so that the lights don't come on to early or to late then causing a accident . Once you have completed this then you can tighten the nut back . You can adjust your brakes by using a needle nose pliers twisting the ridged area so that the handle moves forward .