2003 Toyota Matrix engine and engine cooling problems

“I WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CHECK AND FOUND OUT THE I NEED TO REPLACE MY CATALYST CONVERTER AND ECU REPLACE. DEALER SAYS THAT I NEED TO PAY $3000 PLUS TAX. THE REASON WHY I NEED TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A NEW MODULE. I OWN MY CAR SINCE 2003. THIS IS TOYOTA'S FAULT, I SHOULD BE INFORM WHEN A NEW MODULE COMES OUT IN THE MARKET AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZZARD. IF I DON'T GET IT FIX, MY CAR WILL NOT START AND I AM NOT ABLE TO RENEW MY TAB BECAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”

“MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 TOYOTA MATIX, ACCELERATING UP TO SPEED AFTER PULLING ONTO THE INTERSTATE ON-RAMP WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD CLICKING SOUND. THERE WAS NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHT OR SMOKING FROM THE ENGINE OR EXHAUST SYSTEM. HE REDUCED SPEED, PULLED OVER AND EXITED AT THE NEXT EXIT. ALTHOUGH THE CAR HAD LOST SIGNIFICANT POWER, HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP, LOCATED NEARBY. THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH HAD FAILED AND THE OIL HAD LEAKED OUT. THERE WAS NO LEVEL ON THE DIPSTICK. AFTER REPLACING THE SWITCH, ADDING OIL, THE ENGINE STILL HAS A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND, IS LOW ON POWER AND WILL NOT IDLE. IT IS NOT BURNING OIL. DIAGNOSIS IS INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE AND THAT ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS 129,000 MILES ON IT, HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ONE MONTH AND 1500 MILES SHORT OF ITS NEXT OIL CHANGE. DEALER VERBAL ESTIMATE IS $5000 FOR REPLACEMENT ENGINE, FROM A BREAKER'S YARD. INDEPENDENT ESTIMATE IS $3000 - 4000. BASICALLY, THE CAR IS AN ECONOMIC WRITE-OFF. *TR”

“2003 MATRIX ENGINE QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THE ENGINE HAS CEASED UP. PUZZLED BECAUSE CLEAN OIL, TAKEN EXTREME CARE OF, REGULAR OIL CHANGES. FRUSTRATING. *TR”

“2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER STATES BURNED OUT CATALYTIC CONVERTER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED TO LET HER KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND THERE WAS ALSO A SULFUR SMELL AT TIMES. *JB UPDATED 10/08/10”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS AT A RED LIGHT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS RESTARTED AND THEN DRIVEN ABOUT EIGHT MILES AND IT STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 101,000.”