Question: Our 2005 Corolla odometer has stuck at the 299,999-kilometre mark. After months of trying to find an answer, Toyota Canada finally told me “it’s not a fault, it’s a design feature so there will be no monetary recourse to fix it.” Depending on the dealership, they “may” offer some relief from the $600 charges. Researching this “design feature” on the internet brings up numerous hits so the “design feature” is relatively common. I can’t even find out if it’s illegal to drive with a broken odometer here in British Columbia. Can I fix this myself or with the help of a regular mechanic without paying the exorbitant amount for the new part?
S.T.
Answer: It seems many 2003-2008 Matrix, Corolla and Prius vehicles are afflicted with a software snag that prevents the digital odometer from displaying beyond 299,999 kilometres. I’m unable to determine if this was intentional or not. The best solution I could find is to remove and send the speedometer to ProSpeedo to have the EPROM memory chip re-flashed to eliminate the quirk. The actual mileage accrued is stored in the chip and will be restored to the display. The service cost is $200 US and removal isn’t difficult.
Q: My 1993 Explorer — a great vehicle, with the most comfortable seats ever produced — has a defective gasoline tank sender. The process for replacement involves dropping the tank, etc., a huge and expensive pain. When it happened on my old VW hippie van I cut a hole (very carefully) in the metal above the tank, simply replaced the sending unit, and replaced the metal with a good seal. Where, exactly, might I cut the Ford metal to do the same thing? I cannot find any good diagram that shows me where the sending unit is situated underneath the sheet metal.
R.S.
A: I wouldn’t do this! The floor area beneath the back seat above the fuel tank is complicated in shape and very near rear seat/seat belt structural parts. In the amount of time it would take to do this and attempt to properly reseal/reinforce the floor, one could easily drop and replace the tank to access the sending unit/fuel pump. I’d also be concerned about accidentally damaging the fuel lines or wiring harness leading to the tank unit when cutting with the saw.
Q: Can you tell me if my 1999 Ford Contour LX has an interference engine or a non-interference engine? My timing belt broke, and I am trying to make a decision about getting it repaired.
J.B.
A: Wow! There is a huge quantity of conflicting information on your engine. The best info I found indicates North American 2.0-litre DOHC engines are non-interference (valves do not hit piston tops if cam and crank shafts are mistimed). I’d check the valve clearance. If any valves show very wide clearance, they are likely bent/not closing fully, which complicates the repair.
Brad Bergholdt is an automotive technology instructor at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, California. Readers can email him at [email protected].
