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2001 Toyota Corolla - Cannot Reverse ?


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notmyday
New User

Jul 9, 2016, 3:14 PM

Post #1 of 6 (1946 views)
2001 Toyota Corolla - Cannot Reverse ? Sign In

Hello,

A few weeks ago, I started having problems reversing.
I noticed that if the car was left overnight, I could get in, start the engine, put the car in Reverse, and it would Reverse as normal.

However, if I drive the car, for 30 to 60 mins to run my weekly errands, and pull into a parking spot at the grocery store for example,
when I return and try to Reverse out of the parking spot - nothing. For clarity, I can shift (it's an automatic) into Reverse fine, but when I push my foot down on the accelerator, it just revs,
and the car doesn't move at all, or very slowly will move backwards.

I am not a car expert and just know the basics, change my own oil, etc. but I seems apparent that when the car heats up - this triggers the problem.

I am the original owner of this car, it's 15 years old, has 164,000 km on it, and it's starting to rust, has had the fuel and brake lines redone years ago.
The car previously (years ago) had a problem with the gear selector being stiff to switch into various gears (Drive, Reverse) but I had the wire? under the car just lubricated - and this fixed the issue.

Since I live in a major city and only use the car maybe twice a week, I am really just trying to get another 6 months out of the car, before buying a new one.
Spending hundreds on investigating the transmission doesn't make sense to me - the car is only worth $1,000 or maybe now just $500!

Any tips on what I might try to keep it going a little longer?
The car actually drives very smoothly otherwise and the interior is kept spotless so it's not too bad of an experience.
Would changing the transmission fluid be worthwhile?

I called the garage where I have it serviced over the last 3 years.
They told me: just try and park in a way that you don't need to reverse !
Ya, ok, I am already doing that...

Thanks for any tips or suggestions!


kev2
Veteran
kev2 profile image

Jul 9, 2016, 3:23 PM

Post #2 of 6 (1943 views)
Re: 2001 Toyota Corolla - Cannot Reverse ? Sign In

simple easy ideas ok
Check the trans fluid, level ok?
scan for codes yes even if engine light is off... post any codes.
Hopefully something will show up with those ideas to help figure it out.


notmyday
New User

Jul 11, 2016, 9:31 PM

Post #3 of 6 (1917 views)
Re: 2001 Toyota Corolla - Cannot Reverse ? Sign In

Thanks for the reply.

I have checked the transmission fluid level, and it's fine.
The color is a medium shade of red which tells me nothing serious seems to be wrong with fluid, or it would be black or a dark color.

The engine light has been on for years, and l know the problem is the evap system the charcoal canister needs replacing. My mechanic told me not to bother because it's $500 for the replacement canister and it doesn't affect the driveability or safety of the car. Codes po440, po441 and po446. Thus this seems to be a separate issue.

Any ideas?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jul 12, 2016, 2:41 AM

Post #4 of 6 (1911 views)
Re: 2001 Toyota Corolla - Cannot Reverse ? Sign In


Quote
The engine light has been on for years, and l know the problem is the evap system the charcoal canister needs replacing.


No, since you are ignoring the warning light, you don't know if any new issues have developed and the light is on for other reasons.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



notmyday
New User

Jul 12, 2016, 7:29 AM

Post #5 of 6 (1906 views)
Re: 2001 Toyota Corolla - Cannot Reverse ? Sign In

Well, your correct. I don't know for certain if there are additional problems that have developed.
The codes have also been checked again as recently as 6 months ago however.
The same codes associated with the evap system problem...

Because of the age of the car, I am working on probabilities here and narrowing down the likely problem and perhaps a solution.
I would bet you $1,000 if we ran the engine light check - only the evap codes would appear again.

I am either going to leave the car as is, and drive it without the reverse, or change the transmission fluid (not a full flush) as an inexpensive potential partial solution.
Ultimately, I suspect the transmission is going, and it's simply not worth fixing on a 15 year old car.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jul 12, 2016, 9:43 AM

Post #6 of 6 (1895 views)
Re: 2001 Toyota Corolla - Cannot Reverse ? Sign In

If you want to work on assumptions, good luck with repairing this.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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