Free Buyer’s Guide
1999 Toyota Corolla
A simple guide for buyers with no car knowledge. Do most of the work from home, on the phone. Only go and see the car if you like what you hear. The decision is always yours.
The free guide is below. The full guide is made for this car after you pay.
Most complete
Want the full step-by-step plan for this 1999 Toyota Corolla?
The full guide is made for this exact car. It runs to up to 40 pages, with drawings, so you know where to look and what each answer means.
- Drawings of the car, the engine bay and where oil and coolant leaks show up
- A step-by-step walk around, start-up and test drive, with a Yes or No for every check
- A colour on every No that says how serious it is, and a rough repair budget at the end
- Your name, odometer reading and VIN printed on it, if you give them
Which 1999 Corolla is it?
A 1999 Corolla is either the older Australian-built series or the newer imported series. Toyota stopped local building in 1999. No page gave the exact month. Check the build date on the compliance plate.
Ask the seller: "Is this the 1.6 or the 1.8 litre, and is it a manual or an automatic?"
1.6L petrol 4A-FE
Engine code 4A-FE · 5-speed manual
- 78 kW petrol engine, listed for the older Australian-built series
- 5-speed manual listed for 1999
- Front-wheel drive, so the engine drives the front tyres
1.8L petrol 7A-FE
Engine code 7A-FE · 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic
- 85 kW petrol engine, in both the older and the newer series
- Has a timing belt. Toyota advised a change every 7 years or 150,000 km
- Front-wheel drive, so the engine drives the front tyres
Safety rating
CarsGuide says there is no ANCAP safety rating for this model. A rating for a later Corolla does not apply to this car. Stability control did not exist on this model yet.
The big-money items
You can’t see inside these parts, but you can ask about them.
Steering rack 1999 TO 2001 COROLLA
$$ ($500 to $2,000)The steering gear. A rattle at the front can point to it.
Ask: "Has the steering rack been checked or replaced? Is there a receipt?"
Timing belt change 1.8L 7A-FE ENGINE
$$ ($500 to $2,000)A rubber belt that keeps the engine's valves in time. It needs changing on schedule.
Ask: "When was the timing belt last changed? Is it in the logbook?"
Oil use and oil leaks 1.8L 7A-FE ENGINE
$$ ($500 to $2,000)Some owners report this engine uses oil or seeps it. Costs vary a lot.
Ask: "Does the engine use or leak oil? Has the oil ever been low?"
Water pump and coolant leaks 1999 TO 2001 COROLLA, AND THE OLDER SERIES
$ (under $500)The pump moves coolant around the engine. A leak can cause overheating.
Ask: "Has the water pump been replaced? Any coolant leaks or oil leaks near the distributor?"
Want to check these yourself?
The full guide shows where each of these parts is on this car and how to check it safely, with a Yes or No for every check.
Get the full guide · $29Regular maintenance
Look for these on the service invoices.
- Engine oil
Keeps the moving parts in the engine slippery
As shown in the logbook
- Spark plugs
Small parts that make the spark to start the fuel burning
As shown in the logbook
- Brake fluid
The liquid that carries your foot push to the brakes
Every 2 years (our guide)
- Coolant
The liquid that keeps the engine from getting too hot
As shown in the logbook
- Gearbox oil
Keeps the gears in the gearbox slippery
As shown in the logbook
- Air filter
Cleans the air before it goes into the engine
As shown in the logbook
- Tyres
The only part of the car that touches the road
Replace at 6 years old, even with good tread (our guide). Alignment every 10,000 to 15,000 km (our guide)
- Battery
Gives the power to start the engine
Most last about 3 to 5 years
Questions to ask on this Corolla
These are for this model. The full list of questions, with tick boxes, is in the PDF.
When was the timing belt last changed?
Good answer: A date and kilometres, with a receipt or logbook stamp.
Why: The belt is a wear item, and a missed change can cost a lot.
Is it the 1.6 or the 1.8 litre, and manual or automatic?
Good answer: A clear answer that matches the compliance plate and the papers.
Why: Two engines were sold that year, and the cars are not the same.
Does the engine use or leak any oil?
Good answer: No leaks, and a service record that shows regular oil changes.
Why: Oil use is reported on the 1.8 litre engine, so it is worth asking.
Words you might see on an invoice
- Timing belt
- The rubber belt that keeps the engine's valves in time. It needs changing on schedule.
- Water pump
- It moves coolant around the engine. A leak can cause overheating.
- Distributor
- The part that sends the spark to the engine. Oil leaks around it are a check item.
- Steering rack
- The steering gear. A rattle at the front can point to it.
- Valve cover gasket
- The seal on top of the engine. When it wears, oil seeps out.
- Cam or crank seal
- Small oil seals in the engine. Fixing them means removing the timing belt.
Two quick checks at home
All you need is the VIN.
- Recalls: toyota.com.au/toyota-recalls
- Recalls: vehiclerecalls.gov.au
- Money owing: ppsr.gov.au (small fee; check again on the day you pay)
- The $2 PPSR search shows if the car is free from debt. It may also show if it is stolen or written off.
- The PPSR does not show how much money is owed.
- A state rego check is separate from the PPSR.
Free guide or the full guide?
Both are for the exact car you are looking at. Here is what each one holds.
| What it holds | Free guide | Full guide · $29 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 12 pages | Up to 40 pages |
| The engines sold that year, with their codes | Yes | Yes |
| The big-money items, with the question to ask | Yes | Yes, and where each part is and how to check it safely |
| Questions to ask the seller on the phone | Yes | Yes |
| Service history | What to look for on the invoices | A table for the odometer reading, with the jobs that should be done by now |
| Drawings of the car, the engine bay and the leaks | No | Yes |
| Step-by-step walk around, start-up and test drive | No | Yes, with a Yes or No for every check |
| How serious each problem is | A simple scorecard | A colour on every No, and a rough repair budget |
| Your name, odometer reading and VIN printed on it | No | Yes, if you give them |
| A PDF to print or open on your phone | Yes | Yes |
A look inside the full guide
Four real pages from a full guide for a 2015 Toyota HiLux. We blur most of each page on purpose, so it cannot be copied. Your own guide is clear, and made for your car.
Your car drawn see-through, with the key parts marked
The engine bay, with numbered pins
A Yes or No for every check, with a colour on each No
A rough repair budget from what you tick
General information only, not an inspection of any vehicle. “Our guide” means our recommendation, not a legal rule. Costs are a rough guide. Information current at October 2026: always check the VIN yourself.