slaphappy

Just wanted to post an update. Spoke with the mechanic at MOT a few weeks ago re. clutch noise (sailed through MOT). He still reckons it's the gearbox. I'll live with it for a while and see how things go. Got breakdown cover just in case.

- thanks, i'm not a mechanic but i would have guessed clutch release bearing given the symptoms. However... ... googling the problem and there's debate re. clutch or gearbox. e.g. this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=818743

- thanks for your reply. Just spoke with the garage owner that did the job last year. He reckoned that the symptom (noise on idle, clucth not engaged, noise disappears if clutch depressed) isn't the clutch. Says if it was the clutch the symptms would be the opposite i.e. noisy on pressing clutch, no noise on releasing clucth. Says it's the gearbox that at some point will need overhauling. Says the sooner I do it the better, before broken bits of metal circulate through the box doing more damage. Looking at £400ish all in to overhaul. Is this anyone else's experience? ty

You won't regret buying her. Ultra reliable, not much to go wrong, cheap as chips to service n insure. Mine's suburst red and when autoglym'd looks amazing for an 18 yo car. 0-40 so quick for a 75ps car, I can only image how a 300ps glanza feels. An owner's comment left on: http://blog.toyota.co.uk/history-of-the-toyota-starlet

Changed the rear brake shoes a couple of years ago on my 1.3 sportif. From memory: - there were quite a few options re. new shoes, I picked a mid-priced one and it fitted ok - I don't remember having to losen or torque up the rear hub nut, I just removed the drum and got on with it - the biggest problem I had was removing the drum, a pain in the *ss job - the second biggest problem was fitting the new shoes with all springs attached, 'til a mechanic friend showed me the knack Haynes manual #3259 Toyota Corolla '92-'97 helped a lot.

Hi, I had an exedy clutch fitted to my Starlet 1.3 sportif late last year, only done 5K easy miles in it since then. For the last few weeks noticed that when idling at lights out of gear, the clutch makes a slight whirring noise.Soon as the clutch is depressed the noise goes away. Is this anything to worry about? Should I go back to the original garage and ask them to check it? I've since read on blogs that I should have insisted they use original Toyota clucth and bearing, as most non Toyota bearings don't last - is this true? All help appreciated. Thanks. by the w

May have finally fixed it Latest thing tried is to reseat the new rubber seal with some roof sealant all along the inside of the outer lip, plus some roof sealant below the two black plastic roof strips toward the back that were lifting up from the body. Rained for a couple of hours last night - this morning no water in boot. Not a drop. Zilch. Nada.

- new boot seal didn't fix it, water's still dripping, albeit not so much, down the inside of the shell, onto and around the rear suspension mount and light cluster. I'll try some sealant on the outer lip of the rubber seal, when rain water drips around it you can clearly see it's not water tight, some water gets under it. That bloody rubber cost me £97 and stiil hasn't fixed things

- it was a dumb question was actually pretty obvious what way it goes on - just need to hope the boot stays dry now

stupid question: I just bought a new boot seal from Toyota *. The rubber seal has small holes at regular intervals all the way around the rubber. Should the holes face outward or inward when I fit the rubber onto the boot rim? Outward would seem the correct way, but won't rain run into these small holes? Does any of this make sense to anyone or am i talking gibberish? lol Thx * had to re-mortgage the rabbit hutch to pay for it.

ok, thanks. I'll call your number 01484 535665 tomorrow.

Hi, I've owned a '97 Starlet sportif for a couple of years now, 1 prev lady owner, 50K miles, mint condition apart from a bit of red pain fade that regular autoglymning brings back to a shine. The most reliable, economical and comfortable budget car I've ever owned, easy and cheap to service. Damn quick off the lights too and surprisingly tourqy for a 1.3 The only issue with it is my partner thought it's a piece of sh*t and told me I should buy a 'decent' car LOL. That issue was solved when partner became 'ex' partner LOL. Hey, priorities, right

Hi, My '97 sportif is leaking water into the boot, i reckon it's the rubber boot seal. I'm reluctant to buy a second hand one mail order as it may be in no better condition than mine. Anyone know if Toyota main dealers are likely to stock new seals? Or anywhere else I could get one from? Thanks. ed. sp