₦airaland Forum

available for your car concerns!

nemadfsyahooc:
Pls house the rear brake lights of Camry 2008/stays on even when car is switched off. What could be the cause.

Faulty brake switch. Replace.

Aanumi16:
Good Morning.
Recently I observed that my Toyota Camry 08 i4 consumes more fuel than normal and a check engine came up. After scanning I have P2238 and P0172. Did an emission test and it failed. What do you think could be the problem?
Attached is my diagnostic report.
Need help here

Oxygen sensor faulty. Replace Oxygen sensor. Check and confirm all vacuum lines are in place.

here!

TobiDirax:
Hello Motor Guru,

I will like to know where I can get Castro Oil for my Honda Accord Discussion Continue. Thats actually the oil the guy who sold the car to me was using and I want to stick to it as well. He uses the 10W40 Castro Oil instead of the 5W20 recommended.

The engine runs well and the car has no issue since I bought it. Please advice if I can change oil to the recommended 5W20 or I should just stick to what the guy has been using.

Thanks in anticipation of your prompt response.

10W40 is a heavier weight compared to 5w20. your car's engine was designed to use 5w-20 from factory. I think you should just stick to the 10w-40.

shady08:
dear Motor gurus in the house, i drive a 2007 volkwagen jetta 1.6L. my major issue is the break pedal goes in soft atymes and i have to pedal 2-3 times before bringing the car to a halt, pls whats the major cause of this as its mostly an electronic drive car and the break fluid is in tact.

also, when starting up the car most times and when on the road breaking and decelerating, the power steering indicator goes red and the steering becomes really hard to maneuver...like trailer steering . pls how can I remedy these issues as i really like this car. thanks

Your master cylinder may be the culprit. Check it out.
Your car is equipped with Electric power steering. Scan the car and check the codes the steering system is giving you.

addscope:
Which car is the most economic to maintain in nigeria?

A lot of cars fit the bill. Corrollas, Civics, Matrix, Elantras, Accents, Yaris, City, etc.

Toylove:
Good evening boss
I use a Toyota Avalon 1999 model. I noticed of recent that any time the gear is about shifting , the car vibrates..,sir, what do u think is the reason for this

Check transmission and engine mounts

P0780(Shift control system) says it all ( was just careful to assume initially). You have a mechanical problem with your gearbox.

What happens is that once your gear approaches operating temperature , it starts slamming into gear(and in some cases stuck in gear 3)

Replace gearbox.

seanfer:
Please the Guru in the House I want you to help me compare this 2 cars .. Toyota Camry 2009 i4 and Nissan Altima 2008-09 2.5s
I will like to know how strong,durable, availability and cheap parts,fuel economy, power, and the gear...

cc Nurey
Gazzuzz
Motorguru
Heavenlybang
Radautoworks

The Nissan will be more fun to drive. Both cars have their pros and cons. Engine wise, I go for the Nissan. Transmission wise, I go for the Camry.Suspension wise, i will go for the Nissan.

They are both good cars. If you want to play safe, go for the camry. If you want to stand out, Go for the Nissan.

captainking:
hi motoguru.

Please i need your assistance on my honda accord 2005 i4 . My gear is giving me issues...when i drive..i believe between gears 1 and 2, not so sure about the gear range..it flares...or should i use the word..skips...as in,,,my rpm goes high upto 4 or 5 before it engages with a thud..it dosent happen all the time though...followed by brief loss of power...when this happens, i quickly depress the accelerator pedal.so the gear changes back to lower gear and its fine from there..what could be the problem...no codes yet after scanning...any thoughts

Mechanical malfunction of gear rebuild or replace(better option)

nurey:
You have heard it from motoguru a season technician who certified it OK.

I have also told you it's an OK product I have used Nissan b4 and an avid follower of the brand

A first hand experience user also said it's a reliable car which he has used for 3 years.

if you can't afford 10 to 12L of fuel per 100km don't buy it

if the mechanic says the specimen has fault don't buy it

someone said buy the Avalon funny, the 1mz in the avalon is not as strong as the Vk in this Nissan.

they said buy corolla if thieves snatch it or burgle the corolla he Don finish be that.

A Nissan tokunbo for 800k (if seller agree) is 100% better than a naija rocked ticking time bomb cary big daddy

A word is enough for the wise

Words on marble

nurey:
the 02 and 03 of this same model. this looks like that.

On the contrary sir. This is the 2000/01 model. It was equipped with the VQ30 engine which was a revised carryover of that used in the 1995 to 1999 Model.

The dead giveaway was the rear taillight which is all transparent in the 02-03 model but red / clear in the 00/01 model.
We can say it is the prefacelift of that generation of maximas

feelme3:
See them. Most times peeps wey dey talk like this has never had first hand experience of wetin dem dey talk.

@OP, I am using the 98 model maxima going 3yrs now and I even bought mine Naija used. Very strong and reliable car. Also offers certain level of comfort for a car its age. Powerful 3.5 engine. I've done countless trips from Lagos including 4 trips to the east and back and I never had any problems with mine. Also I believe if you take good care of any car it will also reciprocate the gesture.
Like someone said, go with a good and trusted mech to check it out and I think you should get a deal for 800k. If you have a good maintenance habit you won't have any issues.

This car was from the golden age of Nissan. The years after the 2003 model is another matter entirely( for the worse)

nurey:
You can still beat it down to 1m or less since its not the luxurious infiniti i30 variant. THough if you like it buy it very solid vehicle and good engine. Doesn't fall apart easily and the [b]3.5L V6 [/b]is power on demand responsive engine.
This is a 2002/2003 model year
Note: has a very poor resale value around 400k naija used.

The VQ35 engine was only available from 2002 This is equipped with the 3.0 v6

mystiquerebirth:
Hello Motorguru,

Please, I got a scanner and scanned my Toyota Camry 07. I got the following results.

Please, kindly help me interpret the scan.

Fault log report generated by Torque for Android
=================================================

Vehicle VIN: 4T1BE46K47U089225
Vehicle Manufacturer: Toyota
Vehicle Calibration ID: 33366100

Current Fault Log
------------------
P0012: "A" Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded (Bank 1)
P0451: Evaporative Emission Control System Pressure Sensor Range/Performance
P0705: Transmission Range Sensor Circuit Malfunction (PRNDL Input)
P0713: Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Circuit High Input
P0793: Intermediate Shaft Speed Sensor Circuit No Signal
P0798: Pressure Control Solenoid "C" Electrical
P0983: Unknown code - More information may be available on the web
P0986: Unknown code - More information may be available on the web
P2610: M/PCM Internal Engine Off Timer Performance
P2716: Pressure Control Solenoid D Electrical

Pending Fault Log
------------------
P0441: Evaporative Emission Control System Incorrect Purge Flow
P0713: Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Circuit High Input
P0748: Pressure Control Solenoid "A" Electrical
P0778: Pressure Control Solenoid "B" Electrical
P0793: Intermediate Shaft Speed Sensor Circuit No Signal
P0983: Unknown code - More information may be available on the web
P0986: Unknown code - More information may be available on the web
P2610: M/PCM Internal Engine Off Timer Performance
P2770: Torque Converter Clutch Circuit High

Historic Fault Log
------------------
ECU reports no historic faults
Other discovered fault codes
(possibly pending, current or manufacturer specific)
----------------------------------------------------
ECU reports no other fault codes logged

End of report.

Hope the gearbox have not been converted to the 10 pin type (U141E)? Does the car skip gears when you drive?

Has the gear ever been replaced at all?

If not,

Get an electrician to check the harness connector to the gearbox, If connection is good, clear codes drive the car for at least 20 miles and re-scan again.

bulletproofmonk:
Thanks MotorGuru. Most of us just let the mechanic pour whatever oil without verification.

Thank you sir

Deprofessional:
MotorGuru,

Please which type of oil do you recommend for toyota corrola 2008 model.

I just took delivery of one ( tokunbo)

For which aspect of your vehicle sir? Is it the engine or transmission?

For the engine you can use any reputable brand (Mobil 1 is ideal) of viscosity 5w-20 . Fully Synthetic is best.

For the gear use Toyota WS atf fluid. attached below.

Cc. Dru23, Gazzuzz

Top 5 Tips to Preserve Your Engine on Nigerian Roads
It is the desire of most prospective and current Nigerian car owners to ensure that their car’s engine is always in pristine working condition at all times, to avoid the risk of the astronomical cost (in most cases) of engine replacement or repair.


All vehicle manufacturers design and manufacture their engines to run for at least 300,000 kilometers with little or no problems. However, this is subject to complying with engine maintenance best practices which are outlined below:

Engine oil grade
Your engine has been designed to run on specific lubricating oils that possess specific viscosity and properties in order to assure optimum engine performance, good fuel economy and minimal engine wear. When this is not respected (like using the usual 20W-50 engine oil), the result is accelerated engine wear. This of course is not immediate but will become evident over a long time. Please note that after prolonged use of such non-recommended oils, returning back to factory spec may cause more harm than good(e.g. increased oil consumption).

Frequency of oil change
If the right oil is used, then how often should I change it? Although your car manual may tell you how you should go about it, it is also good to establish your own timing on how it should be performed. Mineral oils may need to be changed more frequently (usually 5000 kilometers), synthetic oil may be done at less frequent intervals. Most modern cars are equipped with maintenance required warning lights. If yours is equipped with one, always reset it after every oil change.

Quality of fuel used
Yep. You heard me right. This is equally important. It is good to know the fuel octane rating your car requires for it to run properly and without problems. In Nigeria, the only available gasoline (Petrol) has a RON of 87-89. This is not a problem for most passenger cars on our roads, but for luxury and high end performance cars that require (not recommend) Premium gasoline (with RON of 91 and above), there will be a problem with pre-ignition (spark knock) and over a long period, will result to engine damage, except if an octane booster is used. As a potential car owner, it is necessary you know the fuel requirement of the car before you purchase it to avoid high running cost of long term engine damage.

Use of water as coolant/use of non-specified coolant
This is another silent killer of engines, which many people are ignorant of. Your car engine is designed to run on specific engine coolant which assures optimum engine temperature and longevity of the materials used in the engine’s construction. Using water that is not distilled (tap water) will over time cause calcified deposits within your engine and radiator and will ultimately kill your water pump, causing overheating and expensive engine repair or replacement.

Removal of your Thermostat and running your radiator fans direct
Your car’s engine is designed to run most efficiently when hot, and needs to get hot quickly, usually within 2 minutes. Removing your thermostat and running your fans direct will deny your engine that right, which will cause an increase in fuel consumption and dilute your engine oil with fuel over time, which over time will cause engine damage. If you ever experience an overheating problem, it is advisable you do not drive the car. Do not attempt to modify the cooling system. Get it fixed by a professional mechanic.

Read more :

http://mymotorguru.com/5-tips-preserve-engine-nigerian-roads/#more-81

habeeb246:
4 cyl i am talking about the general performances and reliability too sir, Thanks

ES350

Much better resale value, more luxurious same reliability with camry v6 of the same year

here!

HeavenlyBang:
CLK doesn't have an air suspension. I'm a bit weary of W203 issues like AC and the rest, since they share parts.

G37 Convertible wasn't until 2009, I believe. And I don't like cabriolets anyway.

Surely the Cayenne statement is exaggerated? I've gotten really positive feedback about it.

Believe it or not, the Cayenne (particularly the V8) is quite reliable.

Aside the Cayenne, your choices would have led me to believe you are considering a very careful balance of Horsepower to weight...

habeeb246:
Lexus es350 2007 and Camry 2010? Which one is more better thanks sir

Is the camry 4 cyl or v6?

Marvel4u:
Good evening.
Im planning to get my first car.
1. What are the pros and cons of Nissan maxima 2007.
2. Or which is preferable between 2007 - 2009.
3. Local use or tokunbo which is better.
4. Price range is below 1.5m
5. What other alternatives
6. Im also considering aesthetics.
Thanks

For a first car, i will strongly discourage that particular car.
get the alternatives: Toyota Corolla (2003-07), Honda accord (2005-07 4 cylinder), Toyota camry 4 cylinder (2002-06), Hyundai elantra US spec 2007-09, Honda Civic 2006-08.

You do not need to start your car experience with tears. Trust me.

Noblepreneur:
Hello, which do you think is better? Nigerian used Hyundai 2012 or a Foreign used Ford 2010. The plan is to give it out for Uber. I am also looking at its second hand value when I decide to sell the Car.

Thanks and awaiting your reply.

Sir please could you be a bit more specific ? like Hyundai Elantra 2012

tjfasasi:
Dear MotorGuru,
God bless for your good work.
I have these codes below on my Honda Civic (2014)
P0420 - Cstalyst efficiency below threshold (Bank 2) & P0128 - Coolant temperature below thermostat regulating temperature.

Suggested permanent solutions will be highly appreciated because it has been cleared but always comes back.

Thank you

for code 1, there are 2 possibliltes:
a. The catalyst is getting bad
b. You have a leak in your exhaust system

for code 2, your thermostat has been removed. it seems you suffered form overheating before ?
Reinstall your thermostat.

habeeb246:
motorguru ? Got a cheap 2009 but the mech insists 2010 is far better

Haa it is far better sir.

Better, reliable and more powerful engine (2.5l vs 2.4 l) The 4 cyl engine is cheaper as a result.
better and more reliable gearbox for the 4 cyl and v6
better looks
Better sound insulation.
Better resale value.

codemaster2much:
In cases of cracked engine block what is a permanent solution and how much will it cost me

engine replacement. Dont worry it rarely happens.

dicksonadams:
Hello guru , I just purchased a copart salvage title Run and drive, Honda Civic 2008 LX model for my use to and fro work . Can u please give me some useful tips on the ride and the best way to maintain it.

Congrats bro!

well the Civic is a reliable ride.
But ensure you only use Honda specific fluids for your gearbox and power steering.
Change your oil when due.(3000 miles if using conventional oils.)
Do not remove your Thermostat.The engine block on this car is prone to cracking without warning

Other than that you are good to go.

here for you!

here for you