Bought a new used car, need help on maintenance.

[boz]

Hi all,

I just bought an 03 Toyota Matrix XR with Automatic Transmission and 150K on the odometer. I've waited literally months to buy a properly maintaned vehicle from a private sale, but none was available at a reasonable, or a sane price and I ended up buying one from a dealer in a rush as my old car suddenly decided to give it up..

Anyways, I am happy with my purchase ($8000, all-in) in the time being and I am planning to keep the vehicle for at least 3 more years, or most likely 5 years before selling it, so I need to maintain it somehow, but I do not know where to start.. I have absolutely zero information about the vehicle's maintenance history (which IMO means almost everything when you buy a 7 yr old vehicle with 150K) other than the air filter and engine oil looked clean and new when I bought it. However, the auto trans fluid looks so-so, I am not sure if it has been changed before. It should have, as I've seen dirtier auto trans fluids with less mileage on the odemeter, however, it doesn't look clean, bright and red. Should I just drain & refill, or take the pan out to get rid of some more dirty stuff before filling it again, or plug it into the machine for a full flush including the dirty stuff in the torque converter? I am clueless.

As the winter is very close now, rust proofing is another concern. I feel like it's not going to get any warmer here in SW Ontario anytime soon and AFAIK the current weather conditions are not the best for krowing it. I am thinking about a getting a regular oil spray for this winter and then getting it krowned in the summer. The car also have a very tiny, but rather nasty rust spot right next to the windshield sealing on the roof, which I overlooked in the rush.  

I am thinking about postponing the rust repairs until the summer, when the weather would be hotter and drier than now, or anytime soon. However I am afraid of damaging the roof sheet metal with postponing the repairs. What would you do?

[inco]

You have a couple of choices to make, one involves money and a peace of mind and the other is do nothing.

I would change the fluid - peace of mind thing and that would take away the guesswork. Same thing applies to other fluids like radiator and brake fluids - if in doubt - change them.

Spraying for the winter won't hurt and that one little rust spot you do have might benefit from some attention now before it gets bigger. Winter has a way of making little problems bigger problems.

[boz]

Thanks for the reply, Inco.

A second look in different light conditions revaled two things; first the label on the dipstick says it is not neccessary to replace the automatic transmission fluid under the "normal" driving conditions (?), and secondly the AT fluid looks just OK, so I think I am going to pass the fluid change if the looks of it satisfies me one more time. I wish I had the owner's manual though, I'd like to have an idea for the other items like spark plugs, etc..

On the toher hand, today I have inspeceted the rust spot on the roof again. The bubles are going under the windshield sealing, which means that even a temporary fix will be costly.. I'll tryt to take a picture of it and ask for help on another topic I think..

[Turbo Bob]

An 03 shouldn't be rusting should it?  Stone chip?

[rrocket]

Give your Toyota dealership the VIN number.  If the car has ever been brought into a Toyota dealership for service, they'll have a history for it.

[boz]

An 03 shouldn't be rusting should it?  Stone chip?

What's more suprising is I've seen a 2005, or may be a newer year matrix today and it has some rust on that area too. I guess the car's unique profile makes its roof and hood vulnerable to the stone chips, etc.

Give your Toyota dealership the VIN number.  If the car has ever been brought into a Toyota dealership for service, they'll have a history for it.

Good Idea

[articsteve]

I'd do a tranny service asap.   I'd change the oil, plugs, fuel filter and air cleaner and I'd get it Krowned asap.

[mmorriso]

I'd do a tranny service asap.   I'd change the oil, plugs, fuel filter and air cleaner and I'd get it Krowned asap.

[curls]

Regarding the fluids -- DIY on most if you're mechanically inclined, otherwise a few hundred bucks to a trusted neighbourhood mechanic is a very wise investment here.

Regarding the Krown -- get it done ASAP.  It can be applied in any weather, wet or dry, freezing or hot.  The sooner, the better, especially with winter and its salty roads and road spray getting everywhere.

The rust at the top of the windshield is fairly common on many cars and aside from removing the windshield, repairing the top edge with new metal and a lot of quality paintwork, you should probably just live with it.  The repairs to this can get expensive and are by no means long-lasting in our lovely Canadian climate.  If you want to try to slow the rust a bit, pry the rubber seal gently with a credit card or expired/empty gift card, and use a Q-tip to apply some Rust Check "Coat & Protect" spray (or liquid) all under the seal where moisture can accumulate.  This should at least help but not necessarily stop the rusting in the area.  The product I am talking about is available at Canadian Tire for about $8/can near the rust prevention section of the automotive department.  Green and silver spray can.  Spray it into a small plastic cup and dip the Q-tip into there and apply it that way (to prevent overspray onto windshield or into eyes!).