Author Topic: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?  (Read 3248 times)

DeniseNJ

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What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« on: March 16, 2021, 01:01:27 PM »
Just bought a 2010 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L engine, FWD, 4 speed automatic transmission, 114,000 miles.

I've changed the oil and filter, transmission fluid and coolant (but not the transmission filter), in and outside air filter, spark plugs (but not the ignition coils--too expensive), cleaned the battery terminals, cleaned the mass air flow sensor, filled the tires (including spare), and got new wiper blades. I'm going to clean the throttle and idle air control valve and put a new gasket on it, and also change out the brake fluid. And check the belt.

It's a front wheel drive, so no transfer case or rear differential fluid, and an electric steering so no power steering fluid.

I wasn't sure if I should change the transmission filter, or even honestly if the car has one, so I didn't. And I can't find where to get to the front differential fluid so if that's supposed to be changed I sure don't know how, since I can't even find it. Also the oxygen sensors seem really expensive and not sure if I'm supposed to change those or clean them or what.

So am I missing anything? Don't know the maintenance history--the oil and transmission fluids looked like chocolate syrup. I'll check the brake pads and rotors. I think I'm supposed to grease something behind the brakes like the ball joints. What other type of maintenance do you do to an older car? 

secondcor521

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2021, 02:43:49 PM »
I'd find a copy of the owner's manual somehow and do what it says.

If the engine is an interference engine and you don't know the history on the car, I'd have the timing belt changed.

On a car like that, I'd also expect the alternator and the water pump to go out at some point fairly soon if they haven't already.  But if it's just for driving around town you could wait for those to fail.

I'd leave the oxygen sensors alone.  As you point out, they're expensive, and unless there's reason to suspect an issue (like the engine throwing codes), messing with them is more likely to introduce a new problem than fix any existing one.

(Someone who actually knows what they're talking about should be along shortly.)

BudgetSlasher

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2021, 06:08:20 AM »
Get a hold of the service schedule for the car. It is usually in the owner's manual or a seperate book, if it didn't come with the car it is pretty easy to search online and find the schedule for almost any care. (In fact here it is: https://my.gm.com/content/dam/gmownercenter/gmna/dynamic/manuals/2010/pontiac/vibe/2010_pontiac_vibe_owners.pdf) Find where you are now in terms of miles and years and do everything that should have been done by now (since you don't know the history of the car). There may be some things you can skip, but ask yourself what happens if that part fails; an O2 sensor failing might result in the engine running a rich, a failed timing system could result in a destroyed motor.

Looks like maintenance up your age and miles includes:
Oil Change
Engine Air Filter inspect/replace
Cabin Air Filter inspect/replace
(omitting transfer case and rear differential as you are FWD)
Inspect Seatbelts
Inspect Drive Belts
Listen to engine for tappet noise and adjust valves if needed
Inspect Gas Tank/Cap/Gasket
Change Automatic Transmission fluid

I would probably also flush the coolant.

Check to see if any on the shocks/dampers are leaking.

Personally, I would find the date code on the tires (if it easy to determine a quick internet search for the model of time will tell you how) and if they are original or close to original (so ~10 years) I would replace them regardless of how much tread is left on them. Some folks will argue that number should be 6 years.

Check the tires for uneven wear, if you can detect it with your eye ... well it maybe too late. Even if they look fine it might be worth getting the alignment checked.

On the non-maintenance/wear item front. For my own peace of mind I probably would have a trusted mechanic (if you know one) look it over and tell you what isn't perfect and what needs to be done now/what can wait/what you can live with forever. At that age and mileage and without a known service history I suspect there is a thing or two that is less than perfect outside of the normal upkeep (worn/cracked rubber parts/worn out shocks/slightly bent suspension components/exhaust least/leaking gaskets/

Oh and a good cleaning. Every car I have ever owned gets a good wash, at least a light polish, a "permanent wax" applied, a good vacuuming, ideally a carpet/upholstery shampooing (I once took the entire interior out of a car and hosed out this carpet ... it was that bad), and rise/"wash" the undercarriage.

It would not be a bad idea to replace the headlight bulbs. The standard filament bulbs do eventually die, but along the way they get dimmer and dimmer. There is an entire sub-section of the internet where people argue about bulb temperature, brands, lumens, whether LED retrofit kits are bad and if not which ones are good, and on and on.

go to recalls.gov and look up your car. See if there are any recalls that apply (looks like brake problems, sticking gas pedal, melting window switch, and the airbags have been subject to recalls for your car). It may take a little leg work to tell if a recall has been performed. While you are there feel free to scroll through the "manufacturer communications" there are 747 for your year/model. A lot of them point to issues that the manufacturer knows occur and gives information of how to address them should they arise.

chemistk

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2021, 06:09:08 AM »
First red flag that pops up to me - when you say that the fluids looked like 'syrup', are you referring to the viscosity of the fluids (aka thicker/'gloopier' than new) or are you just referring to the color?

If they seemed extra thick, I'd strongly recommend doing another oil change after 500 miles, and then another after ~2000 miles. I'd also recommend doing another trans fluid swap after 5000 miles. If they already aren't on your car, I'd also really strongly suggest getting magnetic drain plugs for both the oil and trans fluid. Finally, you also might want to send the oil in for analysis.

That aside, check your brake pads and rotors. Pads should have at least 1/4" (1/8" is the bare minimum) of friction material on each pad (inner and outer). Rotors should be worn evenly and not have grooves or pitting. The brake fluid is probably older and should be swapped next brake change, too.

I'll also second the recommendation to look at the owner's manual to see when the recommended maintenance intervals are.

Finally, although there are plenty of Vibe/matrix owners floating around here, you absolutely can't beat the knowledge from your vehicle's specific forum. Nearly all vehicle specific forums have a checklist of things to watch out for when buying used, and most have a good list of recalls, TSB's, and common maintenance headaches.

DeniseNJ

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2021, 07:52:02 AM »
You guys are so great!  Thanks.

the fluid wasn't super thick, just brown instead of rather clear or cherry colored. I'll look the the lists you all supplied and start checking things off.  And yes, a good cleaning!

Paper Chaser

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2021, 08:33:46 AM »
Brake fluid can attract condensation and cause issues internally in a braking system. It should usually be replaced every 4-5 years, and almost nobody does it. Other than that, I'd just drive it and fix issues as they come up.

Sandi_k

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2021, 11:38:07 AM »
I'm a big fan of preventive maintenance. What I did when my car reached 10 years old, aside from all the routine maintenance through the years:

- Replaced thermostat.
- Replaced all hoses and belts.
- Replaced EGR valve.
- Replaced strut on rear hatch; inspected struts and shocks for replacement.
- Transmission filter.


stclurker

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2021, 09:34:45 PM »
About the only thing pontiac on that is the badge, underneath is a toyota matrix. In other words, just drive it and if it's not broken, leave it alone

DeniseNJ

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2021, 05:12:20 AM »
About the only thing pontiac on that is the badge, underneath is a toyota matrix. In other words, just drive it and if it's not broken, leave it alone

lol. Yep--I learned that on this site. I was really happy to get it. I know it can last another 100K miles if I take care of it so I want to make it good as new now and drive it forever. I'm really enjoying working on it too.

Greystache

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2021, 08:07:35 AM »
As a couple others have noted, check the recalls. My Vibe was recalled for Takata airbags.

Boll weevil

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2021, 04:39:37 PM »
If you don't know the history, consider the TPMS sensors. My approach would be to let one go bad and then change them all, but you appear to be very proactive.

DeniseNJ

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2021, 07:02:35 AM »
If you don't know the history, consider the TPMS sensors. My approach would be to let one go bad and then change them all, but you appear to be very proactive.

I guess I am. I don't want to waste money, but I just love this car so much. Plus my son will be driving it and I want it to be as safe and reliable as possible.

Next problem is that I checked the dates on the tires. The front ones are from 2016 and 2017 and are different brands and slightly different max load. the rear ones are original to the car, 2008 and 2009. So I should replace the rear. BUT . . . you get a discount when you buy four tires and my accident prone kid needs all the braking room he can get and anyway, I won't have to buy new tires for years and years and this way they won't need rotating, balancing, or alignment, so I'm really saving money. (You see how this can quickly get out of hand.) So should I drop $550 on Michelin tires? or get cheaper ones? Or just get new back tires? Obviously, I'm leaning toward the 4 Michelins, but is that really dumb?

secondcor521

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2021, 07:09:47 AM »
You're not being dumb IMHO.

But I've always thought and been told that you should still rotate and balance your tires even if you buy 4 new ones at a time (which is what I have typically done).  Lifetime rotation and balancing is commonly included in the tire price at the leading tire shops around here.  I like Discount Tire and Costco.  I rotate mine every 7500 miles or so, and it makes them last much longer.  Discount Tire will also do a free air-fill/adjust any time, and I usually do that right before any long trips.

DeniseNJ

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2021, 08:30:29 AM »
You're not being dumb IMHO.

But I've always thought and been told that you should still rotate and balance your tires even if you buy 4 new ones at a time (which is what I have typically done).  Lifetime rotation and balancing is commonly included in the tire price at the leading tire shops around here.  I like Discount Tire and Costco.  I rotate mine every 7500 miles or so, and it makes them last much longer.  Discount Tire will also do a free air-fill/adjust any time, and I usually do that right before any long trips.
Yes, I would rotate and balance, etc., after a while, but I would have to do that now anyway, so if I get the tires then they'll do that all at the same time. (You can see I really want the four new tires. :) ) I'm polishing the headlights today--I just love this car.

JLee

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #14 on: March 22, 2021, 08:39:57 AM »
If you don't know the history, consider the TPMS sensors. My approach would be to let one go bad and then change them all, but you appear to be very proactive.

I guess I am. I don't want to waste money, but I just love this car so much. Plus my son will be driving it and I want it to be as safe and reliable as possible.

Next problem is that I checked the dates on the tires. The front ones are from 2016 and 2017 and are different brands and slightly different max load. the rear ones are original to the car, 2008 and 2009. So I should replace the rear. BUT . . . you get a discount when you buy four tires and my accident prone kid needs all the braking room he can get and anyway, I won't have to buy new tires for years and years and this way they won't need rotating, balancing, or alignment, so I'm really saving money. (You see how this can quickly get out of hand.) So should I drop $550 on Michelin tires? or get cheaper ones? Or just get new back tires? Obviously, I'm leaning toward the 4 Michelins, but is that really dumb?

Replace them all without a question.  2008-2009 is outright scary and 2016-2017 is approaching end of useful life.  Michelin makes excellent tires and that's pretty cheap for them - compare the other tires you're considering and see what the mileage warranty is.  At $550 I'd be inclined to do Michelins and be good for another 6 years.

chemistk

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #15 on: March 22, 2021, 08:48:34 AM »
Absolutely replace your tires if they're that old.

One of the areas in life that I have chosen to spend without questioning is tires - although there are many systems in the car involved with braking and handling, your tires are ultimately doing the work to stop, steer, and accelerate. While cheap tires are rated to be "safe" and legally allowed for road use, the differences between a $50 tire and a $100 tire are incredibly vast.

Other good tire brands - Continental, Yokohama, Goodyear.

Also, just because a tire costs $100, doesn't mean it's particularly great. Even if you choose to go through a shop, I'd highly recommend checking out Tire Rack - they publish comprehensive tests for most mainstream tire 'models' which are coupled with thousands of consumer reviews. They are superior to Consumer Reports and other similar publications when it comes to shopping around and comparing different tires.

JLee

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #16 on: March 22, 2021, 09:09:55 AM »
Absolutely replace your tires if they're that old.

One of the areas in life that I have chosen to spend without questioning is tires - although there are many systems in the car involved with braking and handling, your tires are ultimately doing the work to stop, steer, and accelerate. While cheap tires are rated to be "safe" and legally allowed for road use, the differences between a $50 tire and a $100 tire are incredibly vast.

Other good tire brands - Continental, Yokohama, Goodyear.

Also, just because a tire costs $100, doesn't mean it's particularly great. Even if you choose to go through a shop, I'd highly recommend checking out Tire Rack - they publish comprehensive tests for most mainstream tire 'models' which are coupled with thousands of consumer reviews. They are superior to Consumer Reports and other similar publications when it comes to shopping around and comparing different tires.

Yes!  I've also used Discount Tire Direct (if you don't have Discount Tire in your area) and Simple Tire.  Discount Tire Direct via eBay had $100 off $400 but it unfortunately expired last week.

lthenderson

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #17 on: March 23, 2021, 08:30:51 AM »
For those mechanically inclined, you can get the Haynes manual for your vehicle so you can strip it completely down and rebuild it at your leisure.

https://haynes.com/en-us/pontiac/vibe/2003-2010

jbfishing

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #18 on: March 23, 2021, 11:51:57 AM »
Back to the oil that looked like chocolate syrup. You said it looked brown. If it was the color of chocolate milk, lighter brown than just syrup, that indicates water has mixed with the oil and is a serious issue. This may not be what you saw in the oil, but is worth checking on. If you're not sure then check the oil color on the dip stick now that you've changed the oil, and presumably driven some.

DeniseNJ

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #19 on: March 24, 2021, 07:20:35 AM »
Back to the oil that looked like chocolate syrup. You said it looked brown. If it was the color of chocolate milk, lighter brown than just syrup, that indicates water has mixed with the oil and is a serious issue. This may not be what you saw in the oil, but is worth checking on. If you're not sure then check the oil color on the dip stick now that you've changed the oil, and presumably driven some.
No not like chocolate milk. Dark brown like chocolate syrup.  So far so good.

DeniseNJ

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #20 on: March 24, 2021, 07:26:18 AM »
So I'm trying to decide between the Michelin Premier AS or Michelin Defender.  Premier comes to about 50 bucks more, less about $600 with a $70 rebate.  My kid needs the best handling and all the stopping distance he can get and we don't drive much so I'm inclined toward the Premier, even the the Defender lasts longer and tread wears longer.  I made an appt at Mavis Discount Auto and they also match competitor price so I'm looking for cheapest prices online. They are about $130 each and then they pile on the extra charges and taxes. 

I've never been so excited about new tires!

And I got a free download of the shop manual, but it's like 1,000 pages so maybe I should buy the hard copy? It's hard to view and search and refer to in PDF.

DeniseNJ

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #21 on: March 25, 2021, 06:02:16 AM »
OK, here's a stupid question: Are you supposed to drive in D or in 3?  I tried to google but there seem to be different opinions. Some ppl say 3 for just driving around town and D for highway. Some ppl say leave it in D and leave all the gears available and let the car decide. It's a 4 speed automatic transmission.

One person said, "Are you kidding me?!  Used to be people didn't know how to drive a manual so the cars all came with automatic. Now ppl don't know how to drive an automatic!!"

I must say, in 20 something years, I've never used anything but P, R, and D and didn't really know what the others were for until recently. I actually just learned to use cruise control.

zolotiyeruki

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #22 on: March 25, 2021, 07:42:01 AM »
Put it in D and don't worry about it.  The engineers at Toyota know what they're doing when it comes to transmissions.

JLee

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #23 on: March 25, 2021, 08:24:50 AM »
OK, here's a stupid question: Are you supposed to drive in D or in 3?  I tried to google but there seem to be different opinions. Some ppl say 3 for just driving around town and D for highway. Some ppl say leave it in D and leave all the gears available and let the car decide. It's a 4 speed automatic transmission.

One person said, "Are you kidding me?!  Used to be people didn't know how to drive a manual so the cars all came with automatic. Now ppl don't know how to drive an automatic!!"

I must say, in 20 something years, I've never used anything but P, R, and D and didn't really know what the others were for until recently. I actually just learned to use cruise control.

Leave it in D.  If you're driving down huge mountains, use 3 (or potentially 2 depending on the speed) when you're going downhill to use the engine for braking so you don't cook your brakes. 

acepedro45

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #24 on: March 30, 2021, 10:39:45 AM »
I think you've already done pretty much all the important stuff from your list. Those are almost the exact things I've done to my two Craigslist Toyotas that were older and even more high mileage at the time of purchase than your Vibe. I've had zero problems even as both are getting close to the 200k mark.

I agree you could do another transmission fluid drain and fill in 5000 or so miles if you suspect the transmission fluid was never changed. Keep in mind that a good 30-40% of the original fluid remains in the car after a single transmission drain and fill.

I would not flush the engine coolant on any car, and I would especially stick to only drain and fill on an older car with unknown history. You've already replaced the coolant so I would leave that one alone.

Check the shocks for any leaking. Inspect the brakes. Generally you will know your brake pads are worn enough to need replacement when they start squealing (pads are built to make this sound when they are almost worn out).

Check for any open recalls with your VIN on the Toyota website - with your VIN, the website can tell you when any recalls were addressed and if any are still open.

Inspect the brake lines and ball joints (you're probably good there but it doesn't hurt to be thorough).

On the tires....
Quote
Replace them all without a question.


I disagree. I would definitely replace the older two tires but I wouldn't be concerned about the age of the two newer ones. Even with a 2016 date of manufacture, you've got another year to go before they are 6 years old (and even the 6 year old standard is not a hard and fast tires pop at one day passed 6 years type of rule).  Replacing the newer two based on age alone veers too far into the territory of replacing things for the sake of replacing them for my taste.

Is the tread pretty worn down to the point where it's on the verge of failing the penny test on the newer tires? That would be my cue to replace all four. Inspect all the tires for signs of uneven wear even if you're replacing. That can be a sign there is something off in your suspension and will probably manifest itself on your new tires too so better to fix it now if needed.

The Vibe has a timing chain so no need to worry about the timing belt. It also doesn't have a separate differential fluid that needs changing because the Vibe uses transmission fluid to keep the front differential lubricated (often called a transaxle).  I also wouldn't touch the oxygen sensors without cause.

Quote
In other words, just drive it and if it's not broken, leave it alone

Best advice on the thread for the supremely reliable Matrix/Vibe. Drive it and don't go looking for problems. Whatever small things pop up you seem well-equipped to handle with the work you've performed already.



JLee

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #25 on: March 30, 2021, 10:59:12 AM »
I think you've already done pretty much all the important stuff from your list. Those are almost the exact things I've done to my two Craigslist Toyotas that were older and even more high mileage at the time of purchase than your Vibe. I've had zero problems even as both are getting close to the 200k mark.

I agree you could do another transmission fluid drain and fill in 5000 or so miles if you suspect the transmission fluid was never changed. Keep in mind that a good 30-40% of the original fluid remains in the car after a single transmission drain and fill.

I would not flush the engine coolant on any car, and I would especially stick to only drain and fill on an older car with unknown history. You've already replaced the coolant so I would leave that one alone.

Check the shocks for any leaking. Inspect the brakes. Generally you will know your brake pads are worn enough to need replacement when they start squealing (pads are built to make this sound when they are almost worn out).

Check for any open recalls with your VIN on the Toyota website - with your VIN, the website can tell you when any recalls were addressed and if any are still open.

Inspect the brake lines and ball joints (you're probably good there but it doesn't hurt to be thorough).

On the tires....
Quote
Replace them all without a question.


I disagree. I would definitely replace the older two tires but I wouldn't be concerned about the age of the two newer ones. Even with a 2016 date of manufacture, you've got another year to go before they are 6 years old (and even the 6 year old standard is not a hard and fast tires pop at one day passed 6 years type of rule).  Replacing the newer two based on age alone veers too far into the territory of replacing things for the sake of replacing them for my taste.

Is the tread pretty worn down to the point where it's on the verge of failing the penny test on the newer tires? That would be my cue to replace all four. Inspect all the tires for signs of uneven wear even if you're replacing. That can be a sign there is something off in your suspension and will probably manifest itself on your new tires too so better to fix it now if needed.

The Vibe has a timing chain so no need to worry about the timing belt. It also doesn't have a separate differential fluid that needs changing because the Vibe uses transmission fluid to keep the front differential lubricated (often called a transaxle).  I also wouldn't touch the oxygen sensors without cause.

Quote
In other words, just drive it and if it's not broken, leave it alone

Best advice on the thread for the supremely reliable Matrix/Vibe. Drive it and don't go looking for problems. Whatever small things pop up you seem well-equipped to handle with the work you've performed already.

It's recommended to place new tires on the rear of the vehicle (to avoid catastrophic oversteer - see links below). With Vibe being front wheel drive, the used front tires will wear at an even more accelerated rate vs the new rear tires, further exaggerating their differences. 

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2009/11/tires-q-a-can-i-replace-one-or-two-tires-at-a-time-on-my-car/index.htm#:~:text=Mixing%20tire%20brands%20or%20even,oversteer%20condition%20on%20slick%20roads.

https://www.tireamerica.com/resource/replacing-two-tires

https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/learn/choosing-your-tires/replacing-only-two-tires

With the two newer tires already not matching each other, I would absolutely replace them all.
« Last Edit: March 30, 2021, 11:03:13 AM by JLee »

acepedro45

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #26 on: March 30, 2021, 12:22:25 PM »
Quote
With the two newer tires already not matching each other...

I missed that part in my first reading. I guess that pushes me into reluctant agreement with @JLee on replacing all four since the older two already absolutely need replacement.

I'm slowly working on my inability to discard anything with a shred of useful life remaining. Baby steps.

ketchup

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #27 on: March 30, 2021, 02:28:43 PM »
You mentioned not replacing the coils because they were too expensive.  As someone that's had misfires from bad coils on several older cars, I'd do those proactively.  If your coils are silly expensive, maybe just keep one on hand.  Every time I touched my (20 year old) Volvo under the hood, I swear one of the coils (all original and same as as the car when I got it) would be acting up a week later.  Eventually I just said to hell with it and replaced the ones I hadn't yet.  No issues there since.

Maybe not at 10 years/110k miles, but I'd probably plan on doing them all by around 150k.  Even if it's "expensive" it's cheap insurance against dealing with a misfire 300 miles from home during a snowstorm with a pregnant dog popping out puppies in your back seat at 80mph at 3am.

JLee

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #28 on: March 30, 2021, 04:27:14 PM »
You mentioned not replacing the coils because they were too expensive.  As someone that's had misfires from bad coils on several older cars, I'd do those proactively.  If your coils are silly expensive, maybe just keep one on hand.  Every time I touched my (20 year old) Volvo under the hood, I swear one of the coils (all original and same as as the car when I got it) would be acting up a week later.  Eventually I just said to hell with it and replaced the ones I hadn't yet.  No issues there since.

Maybe not at 10 years/110k miles, but I'd probably plan on doing them all by around 150k.  Even if it's "expensive" it's cheap insurance against dealing with a misfire 300 miles from home during a snowstorm with a pregnant dog popping out puppies in your back seat at 80mph at 3am.

Toyota coils are generally pretty reliable - I had a Corolla (same engine) that made it to ~200k without needing coils, and my Toyota-engine SUV is over 220k with (as far as I know) original coils.  It should throw a misfire code if one does start to act up.

DeniseNJ

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Re: What do you need to do when you get a 10 yr old car?
« Reply #29 on: March 31, 2021, 09:32:47 AM »
thanks you guys for all the advice.  I did get new tires, ended up with Continentals from Mavis discount tire. They broke a stud bolt that was super rusty and it would cost 100 bucks to fix it and I'd have to leave the car, so I didn't. Turns out a bolt is 3 bucks but you have to take the brakes apart to do it.  Looks pretty easy on YouTube though.  The said the brakes look fine, so I assume they looked at the pads and rotors. The did an alignment, another 100 bucks--so I'm aligned, balanced, and rotated for now. But apparently the struts are super rusty and they recommend new struts. 

So next on the list is replace the stud on the tire and buy and install new struts and links. A car is just like a body. As soon as you fix your knee, your shoulder hurts. And it's not just time that does it, but also mileage.