The 2006 Corolla 1.8 automatic transmission is known for its durability and worry-free. Many owners have been driving for more than ten years and still rarely have major problems-but old cars will inevitably encounter aging start-up systems.

This article records the real maintenance experience of this classic model after the “ignition slip” failure. From fault judgment to solution selection, it may be able to provide a reference for Corolla owners who encounter the same problem.

1. Vehicle & Fault Overview

The Corolla 1.8 automatic transmission in 2006 has always been very worry-free to use. I changed the roof lighting bulbs and turn signal bulbs once, and the lock motor broke down last year, but there was no major problem. Recently, there was a problem with the ignition, and the starter motor reacted, but there was a sound of ”hissing" and slipping. At first, you need to twist the key two or three times to light it. Recently, it has become a bit more serious. Sometimes you need to twist it four or five times before you can get in the car. I feel that there is a big problem.

2. Fault Cause Analysis

After learning, there are two main reasons for the ignition problem: (1) the battery loses power; (2) The starter motor fails. The battery loss capacitance is easy to judge and easy to solve. Just replace the new battery.

Starter motor failure is a bit more troublesome. According to the type of failure, it can be divided into three categories:

First, the carbon brush wears out excessively. The phenomenon is that the vehicle can be powered on, but the starter does not respond when igniting, and there is no sound of starting. This kind of failure is often not solved by twisting the key several times. It can be temporarily solved by tapping the starter shell and using vibration to make the carbon brush compress the motor, but it is often impossible to start in the later stage and throw it directly on the road. Carbon brush wear failure generally occurs only at 200,000 kilometers.

Second, the relay failure, that is, there is a problem with the magnetic suction part, and the gear cannot be ejected for bite after power is turned on.

Third, there is a problem with the motor gear, and the bite is not tight.

The car repair master usually judges it as a battery problem or a magnetic absorption problem, because the possibility of gear failure is very small.

3. Fault Confirmation: Starter One-Way Clutch Issue

I checked on the Internet. There are not many jobs about the failure of the Corolla starter. It is basically determined that it is a problem with the gear of the starter motor, and its scientific name is “starter one-way clutch", also known as one-way gear.

I don't know if it is due to wear or other reasons. The motor teeth cannot bite the engine, causing slippage. This has been confirmed as a common problem of the old Corolla. Generally, cars with more than 100,000 kilometers will have this problem.

4. Repair Option Comparison

To deal with this problem in 4S or large repair shops, it is generally required to replace the starter assembly, including the starter motor and relay, and the price is not low, including working hours. If you change the assembly for you at a low price, it must be a second-hand parts or a knock-off product.

A few conscience 4S will provide replacement services for motor teeth and carbon brushes, and the cost is relatively reasonable. Since the sales of original parts are monopolized, all parts on the market that are claimed to be original are generally highly imitated or refined, and most people cannot judge them.

Therefore, there are several options for repairing this fault:(1) It's not bad money, choose 4S to replace the assembly;(2) Find a conscience 4S to change the motor teeth;(3) Buy the so-called “original parts” or sub-factory parts, and find a repair shop to get it done.

5. Parts Purchase & Repair Shop Search

In line with the principle of spending less money and doing more, I bought “original motor teeth” from the Internet. The merchant claims that the fake one pays ten; there is also one that claims that the quality is more reliable, and the merchant claims that the fake one pays ten thousand. Now it is not based on the word “genuine” to judge, but on the merchant's after-sales commitment!

After looking for two car repair shops, I found that the current car repair is basically a replacement, and it is rare for a master who really dares to disassemble the motor to repair it. A young auto mechanic said he could take on the job, but when he heard that he wanted to dismantle the motor, he said he couldn't do it. It is understandable that few people want to take this kind of hard and risky job.

6. Practical Repair Process

Can it only be changed to the assembly? Simply buy a set of tools from the Internet and fix it yourself. After a closer look, the vehicle does not actually need to be erected, nor does it need to remove the fan and the guard plate. The specific steps are very simple:(1) Remove a 12mm nut at the tail of the starter motor, which is fixed to the positive electrode cable;(2) Unplug a small black cable plug at the tail of the motor, which should be the negative electrode cable;(3) Directly remove the two 14mm bolts that fix the motor from above.

Because it was dark and I didn't see clearly, I always thought that one of the 14mm bolts had to be fumbled and removed from under the car, so I felt a bit strenuous. The next day, I found a 30-year-old master in the garage near the unit and said that I could try it, so I decided to let him help.

It turns out that the repair is indeed not troublesome. The two 14mm bolts are easy to remove. The starter can be taken directly from the gap and the fan can be pressed slightly. Although the master has always said that it should be a relay problem, the motor teeth are fine. Considering the lesson of a netizen, I insisted on replacing the motor teeth.

It took a little effort to disassemble the circlip under the motor, and took a look at the carbon brush. Fortunately, it was only worn 1/4. OK, reload the car and connect the cable. It took a total of 50 minutes.

7. Post-Repair Check & Notes

Look at Corolla's motor belt is also a bit bad. In the morning, the cold start squeaks for a few minutes, and there are many cracks. I asked the master if he could change it. The master frowned: How is this car designed? Don't leave room for work! I took a look. Indeed, it is estimated that it is quite troublesome to change the belt.

The belt itself is not expensive, and the estimated working time is not low. Considering that the original car belt can generally last up to 150,000 kilometers, I won't change it first. In case there is a problem with the belt, it will be troublesome if there is no air conditioner and no power steering.

Due to the power failure, the idle speed dropped to 500rpm, and the computer would be fine to relearn and adapt. I have understood this, so I don't worry about it. After leaving the repair shop, I tried several times in a row, ran another lap, and started a few more times. Sure enough, the failure disappeared. Alas, Corolla's problem seems to be a common problem, and it's not worry-free. The total cost includes motor teeth, carbon brushes and working hours. If the carbon brushes don't come in handy, they are left for backup.

8. Post-Repair Reflection & Analysis

Some drivers may think that buying a new motor assembly from the Internet is enough. In fact, the quality of the motor, carbon brush, and relay of the original car is very good. On the contrary, it is not as cost-effective to change the assembly as to change the gear directly.

Afterwards, I analyzed it: The motor teeth of Corolla may have wear problems. It is estimated that the wear to a certain extent will cause the magnetic suction to be pushed out of place or stuck in a certain position, which will cause the bite to fail and slip. Try again in a few days. I hope the experience will be helpful to netizens who have this problem. If you really have the tools, you are indeed capable.

summary

This repair confirmed that the old Corolla "ignition slippage" is mostly a common problem of starting the one-way clutch (motor teeth) wear, rather than a complex motor or relay failure.The core experience is that there is no need to blindly replace expensive starter assemblies. Targeted replacement of worn parts (such as motor teeth) can not only solve the problem, but also retain the high-quality motors, carbon brushes and other parts of the original car; at the same time, the maintenance of old cars can give priority to masters who are willing to disassemble and repair, avoiding the high-cost trap of “only replacement parts without repair”.For Corolla owners with more than 100,000 kilometers, if they encounter similar ignition problems, they can give priority to troubleshooting the one-way clutch, and there is a high probability that the failure can be solved at low cost.