timmy

My mechanic is doing an overhaul of a Toyota 122 engine ( it was burning a lot of engine oil ). The engine parts (head, sump) have a lot of varnish deposited. Can you please let me know a good way or solution to get rid of this varnish/sludge ? I thought of getting the 3m carburetor cleaner but I dont know where I can buy it here in Sri Lanka ? This is similar to how the engine parts look (although not the engine that Im overhauling)

If anyones looing to bring down bulbs - https://www.powerbulbs.com/ Osram points to this site. Also they do free worldwide delivery.

Thanks, Im going to get the lights looked into by an electrician before buying the bulbs. Isn't there a guy near Alexander Place in Dehiwala who looks into headlights ? Or else can someone recommend a good place / electrician to get the lights checked ? I cant remember the bulb type exactly. It was some "D2R Osram XENARC" something.

Yes I found a few sources (from UK) on eBay who would ship Osram bulbs, but I'd like to know would they deliver the bulbs to Sri Lanka without any damage ? Is there any reliable place in Sri Lanka that I can buy Osram / Philips or any other reputed branded Xenon HID bulbs ? I thought the bulbs from Delkanda were used/second hand OEM bulbs and not Chinese ones, or are they ?

I thought the light output being low was partly due to the shield on the lamp (they are not projection lamps). It looks pretty dim. The OEM ones cost a fortune and I would like to know if they would make a difference in the brightness. I was led to believe that bulbs from Delkanda were used OEM bulbs, or are they Chinese branded ones ?

Hi, I just want to know if the second hand / used Xenon bulbs sold in shops in Delkanda are good for use and will give adequate output ? OR should I go replace with original bulbs from manufacturer ? My question is based on light output - that is are both bulbs giving the same volume of light and differ only by how long they can be used ? I jus want a bulb that give enough light. Currently both sides of the car has used / second hand Xenon bulbs from Delkanda and the light output is really low despite being HID Xenon. And the car is factory fitted with Xenon and the shield on the lamp. Looking forward to some helpful advice. timmy

Guys apologies for taking time to reply to this. When my car was at Tyt Lnk, they looked up the parts and said that the car originally came without Xenon headlights. I find it a little hard to believe cos I have seen the same "double lights" on several other 121's. Coud this be a light set that was developed specifically for later Toyota models ? Anyway the bad news to me is that the socket that the levelling device fits is loose and due to this the light on the driver side is aimed far too low on the road. The loose socket is also the reason for the flicker/blink. I was told to replace the light set. But I dont know where I can find a similar set of lights in good condition. My knowledge on lights is limited. I previously thought that the Xenons that came in the HID with the lenses and the Xenons found in cars such as mine with the reflector, were two different kinds of bulbs. They use the same Xenon bulbs dont they ? with ballast and ignitor and all ? When I was referring to HIDs in my OP above I was referring to the lights with the lenses which look really powerful and have a sharp and precise beam pattern. Supposing that my car was converted to Xenon, I would like to know what it means ? Does it mean that I could possibly fit a lens based HID kit too onto a Toyota Luxel such as mine. Now that would sound interesting Please help me get to the bottom of this. I really donno if the lights are genuninely Xenon or just halogen lights. Only thing I can say by looking from the outside is that there is a reflector. And I couldn't find a ballast or any thing out of the ordinary leading to the lights. In any case I wouldn't buying bubls from tyt. I know a place in Srnkr Mwth, Dehiwala, where they sell good brands of Xenon lights such as Osram, Philips. IS it possible that I can get the light set repaired ? thanks all. timms.

Hi All, My car is a Toyota Luxel manufactured in 2002 and it has come with factory fitted Xenon headlights with user adjustable levelling. One thing I have noticed since I bought it 2 years ago is that the headlights are really dim. It is more so because the beam from these xenon headlights are soft violet and they are not as bright as some of the lights you see on cars today (I am not referring to HIDs here). This causes undue strain while driving at night. The lights, when cold started has a nice blue beam and gradually turns soft violet in 5-10 seconds after starting. Lately the driver side bulb blinks/filckers while driving. I would like the lights to stay blue all throughout as that light is much easier to see. When asked from Tyt Lnka, they asked me to replace the bulbs which will cost 35k each. I want to know, if buying original bulbs will improve visibility ? Or should I go for an after market bulb ? Tyt Lanka has only one type of xenon bulb. I would prefer to select a nice blue light and this is why Im wondering if I should go for an after market bulb. thanks, timms.

Thanks for all your input, I jus need to know, is it possible to change the JDM head unit in a Luxel to an aftermarket one ? I jus realised that the head unit is mostly in Jap and the radio is of not much use here in SL. I'm a great fan of driving with my music on and for that I turn on the radio and do some channel hopping. Pls let me know of any remedies. Timmy.

Can someone tell me the benefits of going for a 121 facelift Corolla manufacutred in and after 2004 over a Corolla G or Luxel of the 2001-2003 era ? I know nothing about this car only that it is equipped with a 1.5 engine and 1.6 in LX Limited. But considering the G grade of this car, does it have a CVT gear box ? Does it do well on fuel ? Perform as good as or better than the old gen Corolla G ? What options does it come with (like auto wiper, auto light dimmer etc ) ? Should I consider the facelift model ? and if so why ? thanks, hope you can help me with these queries.

I've also thought about the facelift G model, but it occured to me that what it only offered was a slight facelift after all. Are there any benefits of going for this facelift model other than for the better looks of the car ? Yes that is TRUE. Compared to my previous car, which was a 97 Lancer CK2 MX Extra ( a jap domestic model ) which I sold off at 1.5 million, I really dont see much of a difference in the Corolla for it to command such a huge price. After all the 121 model is damn bloody old. Its only marketing hype that makes it so popular.

Yes I've read in this forum that it has great pullin power. In fact Ive bin in one when it was pulling like a beast. The car had 5 adults and still managed to pull like a monster. But altho it pulls like a storm it aint gud in handling or so Ive heard. But I dont care much about performance. What I really care about is getting a good car (of the 121 type) at a good price, so that I cud use it like a daily runner. This is the reason I looked to Luxel grade. But I'm not sure if the owner wud like to negotiate below 3.1 although it is in JE-**** series. I think he doesnt know much about car market and he hasnt even advertised on AL which is one reason the car is still available for sale. And I am not aware of any imminent problems that a Luxel car is generally known with. For instance the CVT gearbox cud be givn trbl. Maybe the suspension need rework. The suspension I cud bear with but engine and CVT need to have been maintained well. So need to look into all these when negotiating for a price.

Hi I am in the lookout for a sedan type car, preferably Toyota and I came across this Luxel ( a Corolla 122 ). It is Black in colour beige interior run for 70,000km manufactured late 2003 one owner got plenty of sensors like auto wiper, auto light dimming, tyre pressure etc got DVD, reverse camera, Xenon headlights The owner calls it a fully loaded car and wants 3.2 million. I kinda like the options listed above, best of all the colour being black. Just wanted to know the market price of a Luxel for a spec like that. Cos I've read in many threads here that although it's a good car ( fuel economy, luxury and performance wise ) it is difficult to sell at a good price. I need a good daily runner and I plan to use for quite some time. But I want good resale value. So can somebody with insight tell me how much is the maximum I must negotiate on the above car ?

Forgot to add, I did test ride that bike - the Maruishi from the local enthusiast who is selling it off. Damn I gotta tell you I was completely hooked from the moment I rode it. The alloy frame and the full suspension makes it look like you are gliding over the ground. Changed my perspectives on cycling altogether. I used to have a hardened Kenstar 21 speed MTB that was only good for the looks, back about 8 or 10years back which I gave away. Riding this Jap one ( although made in China ) felt so far away from that experience I had in mind. He also had a Chevrolet bike which was slightly smaller but looked gud with full suspension and index gears. But that had a steel frame and dint come with disk brakes. It however did have a sticker which said something like "It's an American thing" which was kinda cheesy. He also had a Hummer which was in topping condition but which was not for sale. If you guys wanna contact him it's 0772 240027. I hope it's not advertising, jus wanted to help ppl who're like me on the lookout for entusiast level MTBs.

I went in search in Seeduwa, found a few places (Onajo Lanka and Sugath Cycles) where they sell Japanese used bikes. But like mentioned almost all those Jap bikes are made in China. Sugath Cycles in Seeduwa said they'll be gettin a container load of bikes in around 15th. So waiting for that. I have also another deal on a good Maruishi bike from a local enthusiaist who is selling it off at 20k. What I'm looking for is a bike with full alloy frame front and rear disk brakes front and rear suspension shimano index gear shifters. and also bike in good condition with nice paint (color) and stripes/stickers The deal for 20k was something like that but since Maruishi is not a name recognized in MTB rallying I thought Id wait for the shipment on 15th to see what Sugath Cycles has to offer. If you guys are interested you can contact them on 112231559. I'm also thinking of coming to Kurunegala to find these Jap used bikes. How easy is it to find dealers of used Jap bikes once you get to Kurunegala ? Do u know of any reputed dealers there ? Can I get there phone numbers ? thanks a lot guys for the replies so far.

This is exactly the bike I want. After seeing this in a google image search I am no way going to look beyong Jap mountain bikes To me it looks sturdy and nicely built. Lean and mean jus like how I want to look after riding this thing

Guys thanks a lot for the replies. Never thought Id get replied here(in the lounge) so soon. I have heard Jap bikes are good but it's so hard to find a place selling them in Colombo. I'd hate to haul a bike all the way from Kurunegala or Seeduwa. If it's not an issue, can you PM me with the contact numbers of these sellers ? I'll leave my last resort option with Kenstar from the bazaar. And also Lumala. Reason why I want a Jap bike is cos I heard they are pretty light and have better gears compared to Kenstar and Lumala. I dont care much about durability though. Why oh why can't these recon bikes be sold in Colombo ?

Hi guys, I'm looking to buy a mountain bike purely for recreation and exercise purpose. I would want to know places that I can find them. I know about the bazaar in Borella and also the local bike maker, but I heard there are much better ones sold as reconditioned ones brought down from Japan, US etc. Also the price will be lower when buying second hand ones. If you guys have heard of places other than the bazaar and the local bike maker, specifically the ones whom bring down reconditioned bike, please do let me know. As for the specs I want the 26 inch wheels with at least 12 speed gear and Full suspension. thanks, hope you guys can help

I checked the ATF from the dip stick, and the stuff seems still pink and no prominent burnt smell, the signs of which ATF is bad. But Im not a good judge of how good or bad ATF is. Also could this be due to bad engine mounts and front suspension, cos this car is having bad mounts and suspension ? I jus need to know from this forum if these are common signs of a need for an ATF change ? If i do the ATF transfer now at a service station and then later if the problem persists and I need to change the tranny Id have to pay for the transfer again right ? Guys Im trying to minimise cost here and get this sorted sooner and more cost effectively. EDIT: the jerk is more akin to what you feel when you are driving and the revvs are closer to a shift point and u slightly lift your foot off the gas to make an advanced upshift (sorta like short shifting)

Actually what I feel more likely is a slight jerk, when the car selects gear from the 2nd upwards, less prominent when 1st moves to 2nd. I havent tried it in N, only in D. I want to know where I can get it looked into. And how do I make the ATF change ? Do i need to take it to the UMotors or can Auto Miraj do the ATF transfer ? EDIT: On second thought I donno how u mean the vibrations could come when u are in N since the car doesnt select gears in N. The jerk only happens when the car upshifts gears and not when I move the gear shaft up or down.

engine 4G15 4000 bucks which is the reason why many ppl opt to choose the low priced after market belts. I have tried all the other quick fixes such as using a spray, using soap shavings, 3 new after market belts and even spraying water, but all that do not last long.

I had the same problem in my car. Couldn't find the solution for a long time. Tried several fan belts but they started becoming noisy after a few weeks use. Then I went to the agents (in my case Unit#d Mot#rs since the car is a Mitsubishi) gave them the chassis/engine numbers and asked for the original fan belt from the manufacturer. That solved it! Oh and also what may appear as "there are no visible cracks on the noisy fan belt" wont actually be true when u remove it and try straightening it. All the cracks will appear when you try to stretch it in that way.

My car is a Lancer CK2 (97 model) with an auto gear transmission. Today I noticed that when the car shifts gears there is a slight knock-on effect. I donno if this is what you call knocking, but I can feel that there is about 1 sec delay when the car engages the selected gear and due to this the whole car sorta knocks/shakes/whips when the change happens, when it used to be all smooth shifting since the day I owned it. I donno if it is my imagination but I also feel that the first gear shift position has also slightly moved up ( to about 2.3k revvs ) but it dont happen all the time. The knocking effect is kinda scary and makes u feel as if somethings gonna break so I drove carefully all the way home. One of my friends said that it could be the signs of a disaster looming so better to get it checked. Now the car has a mileage of ~80,000 km and I havent changed ATF oil on it, donno if the previous owner did either ( I bought it at ~57,000 km ). The car has also run close to 5000 km after its previous full service in early this year. I would really like to know what this knocking sign is all about and if it is something wrong mechanically or due to not servicing or changing the ATF oil. thanks, Timmy.

I got the alternator belt replaced with a one from Unit#d Mot#rs. This is a Mitsuboshi brand made for Mitsubishi in Japan and is supposed to be better in quality. While I had the chance I checked the faulty belt and found that there were cracks all throughout the "lines" going around the belt. This was the reason for the squeaky noise.

Got the fix done at Thalawatugoda. Was an easy job for him. Compared with the darley road chap this guy was more professional. I highly recommend him.