2006 Corolla - Broken Gearbox, And Others!

[TheGreyMan]

Right, new to this site so hope I'm posting in the correct place!

Took on a new lease car in 2006 - Corolla 1.4 DWD T2. Owned from brand new and fully serviced at the main dealer. Lease expired this year (after 3 years). It's been a great car so I decided to purchase the vehicle last month (July).

However, about a week after purchasing (and consequently a week out of warranty!) the alternator started to grind. Took it to the main dealer who confirmed alternator bearings had gone and that it required replacement. I told them I could not belive this had gone after just 3 years (the car's covered 4500 miles) and they agreed it was unusual. They therefore gave me a "goodwill contribution" towards the cost of the labour (£120). However, the total cost still set me back £300.

When I picked the car up following the new alternator fitting, they informed me that there is some noise coming from the gearbox. I checked it when I drove home and, sure enough, the grinding that I thought was due to the alternator was still there (although a slightly different noise HAD disappeared). It would seem that the 2 noises I was hearing related to 2 separate issues. The noise is a distinctive grinding / rattling in the higher gears and it disappears when you dip the clutch, so I don't think they are trying to pull a fast one in that respect.

Toyota have quoted in the region of £1250 to have the gearbox stripped and repaired. I bought the car for £6500 thinking that (as it's a Toyota!) it would easily run for the next year or 2 at least without any major problems. However, I am amazed that a Corolla can have these issues after so few miles! Toyota have again agreed to contribute £250 towards the labour but this still leaves me with a £1000 bill to pay! I think I'm now going to have to sell the vehicle (once it's repaired) to claw back some cash, but wanted to know if anyone else has expirenced similar issues with a Toyota so new - these things are supposed to be indestructible, aren't they?!!

Any recemmendations gratefully received, such as.......

Is it worth writing to Toyota to express my disatisfaction - are they likely to offer any compensation?

Should I cut my losses and get rid now before the next thing breaks?

Is this a common fault, in which case I will probably be okay for a while now and should keep the car?

Or is the problem not as serious as Toyota would have me believe? Should I just ignore it and carry on regardless (although I DO have a lot of money invested in this car!)

This is a first time I've owned a vehicle this new. I knew it might be a little more costly than running old bangers, but didn't expect such high repair bills this early in the day! Should I go back to £500-a-throw Escorts?!

Many thanks in advance........

:ffs:

[happydude]

to be honest mate i think youve just been unlucky and i also think 2 goodwill contributions totaling £370 is a great gesture on toyotas part. ive had my 02 plate t.spirit from new and apart from a noisy inlet manifold which was a recal item ive had no problems at all and everyone comments on how amazed they are that the car is 7 years old!!! ive owned lots of differt makes and models but i can honestly say that i will never buy any other make that toyota now. I cant say for definite you yourself will not have anymore problems im just giving you a bit of information on my experience with toyota. good luck with yours mate.

[farhanali89]

If the worst comes from it all and toyota wont pay out, I would go for a new engine and gearbox....from another company. You can pick up a t-sport engine and gearbox now for around £950...im sure you can get a d4d for around the same price if not cheaper.

[TheGreyMan]

to be honest mate i think youve just been unlucky and i also think 2 goodwill contributions totaling £370 is a great gesture on toyotas part. ive had my 02 plate t.spirit from new and apart from a noisy inlet manifold which was a recal item ive had no problems at all and everyone comments on how amazed they are that the car is 7 years old!!! ive owned lots of differt makes and models but i can honestly say that i will never buy any other make that toyota now. I cant say for definite you yourself will not have anymore problems im just giving you a bit of information on my experience with toyota. good luck with yours mate.

Thanks, Happydude. Guess I should just bite the bullet, get fixed and and see how it goes. Do you think the parts were dodgy to begin with? Don't think my driving style would have caused any problems and the mileage is reasonable for it's age (45,000 at 3 years). S'cuse my ignorance - not an expert in these things!

Just for the record, the past 3 years from new, the car has been fantastic. I can see certainly see the appeal!

[TheGreyMan]

If the worst comes from it all and toyota wont pay out, I would go for a new engine and gearbox....from another company. You can pick up a t-sport engine and gearbox now for around £950...im sure you can get a d4d for around the same price if not cheaper.

Hi, Farhanali89.

Thanks for the info. Though the prices you quote sounds really cheap!

New gearbox AND engine for £950! Is that 2nd hand, recon or what? Not new at that price, surely?!

[Rez89]

My gear box went at 54k miles.....it was a 2002 model....sell the car and look for something else... :)

my car is up for sale now....i have lost faith in toyotas...

[farhanali89]

Its used prices, Ask a guy on the forum omasis he messed his t-sport gearbox up and got it for i think £250, Obviously its a used gearbox but if you dont have faith in it long term i would change it then sell the car. Its better to look into a used gearbox as you cant sell a car with a gearbox fault thats just wrong.

[Rez89]

go on www.1stchoice.co.uk

i got my gear box for £220 by using that website.....

[Rez89]

Its used prices, Ask a guy on the forum omasis he messed his t-sport gearbox up and got it for i think £250, Obviously its a used gearbox but if you dont have faith in it long term i would change it then sell the car. Its better to look into a used gearbox as you cant sell a car with a gearbox fault thats just wrong.

i dont know if that msg is aimed at me.......but i have replaced my gear box and the car is runnning fine but i just dont have that confident in the car like i did when i bought it.....