1•8 Maintenance procedures
1 General information
1 This Chapter is designed to help the home
mechanic maintain his/her vehicle for safety,
economy, long life and peak performance.
2 The Chapter contains master maintenance
schedules, followed by Sections dealing
specifically with each task in the schedule.
Visual checks, adjustments, component renewal
and other helpful items are included. Refer to
the accompanying illustrations of the engine
compartment and the underside of the vehicle
for the locations of the various components.
3 Servicing your vehicle in accordance with
the mileage/time maintenance schedule and
the following Sections will provide a planned
maintenance programme, which should result
in a long and reliable service life. This is a
comprehensive plan, so maintaining some
items but not others at the specified service
intervals will not produce the same results.
4 As you service your vehicle, you will
discover that many of the procedures can
- and should - be grouped together, because
of the particular procedure being performed,
or because of the close proximity of two
otherwise-unrelated components to one
another. For example, if the vehicle is raised
for any reason, the exhaust can be inspected
at the same time as the suspension and
steering components.
5 The first step in this maintenance
programme is to prepare yourself before the
actual work begins. Read through all the
Sections relevant to the work to be carried
out, then make a list and gather together all
the parts and tools required. If a problem
is encountered, seek advice from a parts
specialist, or a dealer service department.
2 Routine maintenance
1 If, from the time the vehicle is new, the
routine maintenance schedule is followed
closely, and frequent checks are made of fluid
levels and high-wear items, as suggested
3.3 Left- and right-hand engine
undershields (arrowed)
throughout this manual, the engine will be kept
in relatively good running condition, and the
need for additional work will be minimised.
2 It is possible that there will be times when
the engine is running poorly due to the lack
of regular maintenance. This is even more
likely if a used vehicle, which has not received
regular and frequent maintenance checks, is
purchased. In such cases, additional work
may need to be carried out, outside of the
regular maintenance intervals.
3 If engine wear is suspected, a compression
test (refer to Chapter 2A) will provide valuable
information regarding the overall performance
of the main internal components. Such a test
can be used as a basis to decide on the extent
of the work to be carried out. If, for example,
a compression test indicates serious internal
engine wear, conventional maintenance as
described in this Chapter will not greatly
improve the performance of the engine, and
may prove a waste of time and money, unless
extensive overhaul work (Chapter 2B) is
carried out first.
4 The following series of operations are those
often required to improve the performance of
a generally poor-running engine:
Primary operations
a) Clean, inspect and test the battery (See
'Weekly checks').
b) Check all the engine-related fluids (See
'Weekly checks').
c) Check the condition and tension of the
auxiliary drivebelt (Section 9).
d) Renew the spark plugs (Section 22).
e) Check the condition of the air cleaner
filter element, and renew if necessary
(Section 10).
f) Renew the fuel filter - non-VVT-i engine
models only (Section 20).
g) Check the condition of all hoses, and
check for fluid leaks (Section 4).
5 If the above operations do not prove fully
effective, carry out the following operations:
Secondary operations
All items listed under Primary operations, plus
the following:
a) Check the charging system (Chapter 5A).
b) Check the ignition system (Chapter 5B).
c) Check the fuel system (Chapter 4A).
3.4 Slacken the engine oil drain plug
(arrowed)
3 Engine oil and filter renewal
Non-VVT-i models every 7000 km or 6 months
VVT-i models -
every 8000 km or 6 months
1 Frequent oil and filter changes are the
most important preventative maintenance
procedures which can be undertaken by the
DIY owner. As engine oil ages, it becomes
diluted and contaminated, which leads to
premature engine wear.
2 Before starting this procedure, gather
together all the necessary tools and materials.
Also make sure that you have plenty of clean
rags and newspapers handy, to mop-up any
spills. Ideally, the engine oil should be warm,
as it will drain better, and more built-up sludge
will be removed with it. Take care, however,
not to touch the exhaust or any other hot
parts of the engine when working under the
vehicle. To avoid any possibility of scalding,
and to protect yourself from possible skin
irritants and other harmful contaminants
in used engine oils, it is advisable to wear
gloves when carrying out this work. Access
to the underside of the vehicle will be greatly
improved if it can be raised on a lift, driven
onto ramps, or jacked up and supported on
axle stands (see Jacking and vehicle support).
Whichever method is chosen, make sure that
the vehicle remains level, or if it is at an angle,
that the drain plug is at the lowest point.
3 Although not strictly necessary, to improve
access, undo the screws and remove the
right-hand engine undershield - where fitted
(see illustration).
4 Slacken the drain plug about half a turn (see
illustration). Position the draining container
under the drain plug, then remove the plug
completely. If possible, try to keep the plug
pressed into the sump while unscrewing it by
hand the last couple of turns (see Haynes Hint).
Recover the sealing ring from the drain plug.
As the drain plug releases from the
sump threads, move it away sharply, so
the stream of oil issuing from the sump
runs into the container, not up your
sleeve.