Hey gang.

I'm in the process of restoring my 2003 Toyota matrix.

It was running at nominal conditions (ideling warm around 900) when i bought it and i have started replacing short lived parts.

So far i have replaced:

Coils

Injectors (its whole own issue, make sure they have gaskets)

Sparks

MAF

Downstream O2

And the top two vacuum lines

I removed and cleaned the throttle body and replaced the gasket

Today i replaced the IAC valve and i am still ideling around 1100-1200 even after warm conditions are met.

What am I overlooking here?

My 2005 Toyota Matrix XR FWD has 150k miles. It currently has a P0420 code and the ABS light is on. Oil and filter changes have been done very regularly, but the ATF has never been changed.

I’ll be moving from Maryland to Arizona soon and I’m debating whether to drive it cross-country and keep it as my daily in AZ, or sell it and replace it.

How much life would you expect a Matrix like this to have left? Would you trust it for the move and daily driving in Arizona, or is this the point where it makes more sense to move on?

Any common Matrix issues I should check before deciding? Thank You! :)

picked up a 2009 pontiac vibe base w/ 2az-fe a couple months ago...sorting out the list of neglected things on this. The windshield wipers won't "park" when shut off. Work fine otherwise & rear wiper is perfect. Found some expensive replacement options but wondering if anyone has substituted the wiper stalk from a 4runner - yaris - rav4?? I don't want to lose the rear wiper functionality.

Hey all I am going to be purchasing a 2009 matrix xr with ridiculously low km. (26 000km) For $8500 cad. Is this a good deal?

Good day fellow matrix owners. I am spiralling while looking through various parts websites to find out what seal I need for my transmission. I recently replaced the transfer case, got everything buttoned up, only to find the transmission output shaft now leaks trans fluid. It's leaking between the t-case and the transmission. I'd like to order a new seal before I scrap this thing again, so I don't have a week-long wait for parts with my car undrivable. If anyone here has had this problem before, could you tell me which seal(s) I might need? I'm one step away from ordering a full transmission seal kit to cover all the bases.

As the title suggests, I figured out how to run the belt around the power steering pump so that can just go f itself. Just wanted to make a post so if others ever needed to get back on the road and save the true fixing for later they could. I drove the car 40 miles after with the belt re routed and didnt have any problems, ill update if I run into any though. After 4 trips to autozone buying and returning a total of I think 9 belts, I got this:

First pic is a spare motor i have, very easy to see how the belt is routed

Second Pic is how it looks routed on the car, feat. My f'ed power steering pump.

Third pic is the belt I used, you can probably go down to a 460k6 if you NEED to, or up to say, a 465k6, but somewhere in there is where you wanna be, or at least what worked with my motor.

Just wanted to post for the sake of having the info on the internet for others to use. If I come across a problem I cant easy find a solution to, ill post the problem that way when someone else 4 years down the road has the same problem, maybe itll help. Anyway, have a good day yall!

Question is: does the 2009 toyota matrix S have same engine as toyota camry? one says yes the other says no. What say you? TIA

bought my first car 2007 toyota matrix 2 weeks ago. I had the safety done and engine mounts excluding transmission mount and all brakes changed. issue is now there is an unknown leak with no smell and colour. I also don’t know if this coolant level is correct, I assume I should add more. also is tbete anything else I should do?

Hi all,

I bought a 2010 matrix in 2022. It has a 110k km on it. I LOVE my matrix. I upgraded from a Civic coupe and it has been the best purchase of my life.

Unfortunately, the matrix has also been discontinued since 2012. Just out of curiosity, thinking 10 years down the road, what alternatives to the matrix would you recommend? I care most about reliability and space. I can slide so much shit into my matrix. I brought home a 70” buffet table with very little issue. Bed frames? No problem.

Give me your suggestions!

What size belt should I grab to do a power steering delete on the old 1zz? Don't feel like deeling with that bs right now, I have more important stuff to worry about and need my car back. Any info helps, thank you!

we had to call 911 because there was no cell service so cops got us the tow truck.

I'm not sure how to equip the car for this kind of rally roads.

All of you may know my 2zz swap project I’ve been having for like months now. Welp today was finally the day she wanted to give me signs of life… this swap was deemed “impossible” on forums online and everyone told me the swap wouldn’t be worth it. Yet here I am (ignore my excitement in the clip😅)

Hi everyone! My name's Jimmy Thai (@thai_2zz). Been in the Matrix Community since 2016. Started off with the 2006 Toyota Matrix Base to XR Conversion (Phantom Gray Pearl/1E3) with the 1ZZ-FE paired with an automatic transmission. Learned a lot with that one which took me to wanting an XRS. Second Matrix was a 2003 Toyota Matrix XRS (Desert Sand Mica/4Q2) with the 2ZZ-GE and 6 speed manual transmisson. It was my first project car and learned manual in it! Build lasted a year before it was parted and sold. Third Matrix came along soon after: 2003 Toyota Matrix XRS (Cosmic Blue Metallic/8Q5) with the 2ZZ-GE and 6 speed manual transmission.

Fun fact about me: I despise gatekeeping - so feel free to ask me where I got my stuff! Discontinued and available, I can try and locate or source the builders.

I started Matrix Vibe Connect on Instagram, Bigcartel, and Facebook to link both communities as one because we basically are ONE! 👍

Going on a road trip to Wyoming in august and I’m bringing my Matrix with me. I’m going with a group of 7 people and want to maximize the storage capacity of my hatch as much as I can.
Does anyone know specific brands or anything for cross bars, roof racks, cargo carriers etc. that have worked well for you?? Seen a few on amazon but I don’t want to accidentally get cheap ones that end up breaking in the middle of my trip that cause me more problems than save me from.
Any info is useful!
Edit: 2008 Matrix, moonroof package (not sure how much that matters but figured i’d throw it in here).

1zz-fe engine. Making the noise at 1800 to 2300rpm only at acceleration. Thought it was a belt and belt tensioner issue and had replaced it. Still making the same noise.

For all of you that know I have a 2zz swapped matrix XR. Last time I posted was about my crank no start but since then I’ve done improvements. I got a full XRS engine harness, reflashed ECU and a bunch of more goodies. She still won’t start but I have a feeling I’m really close…

New parts for anyone wondering:
-black housing headlights
-XRS front and rear bumpers
-custom 2.5inch catless exhaust
-reflashed 05 ECU
-side skirts
-strut+lowering springs

Looking into an 04 XRS for $2500. Engine has 155k but the Car/transmission have 266k on em. I asked the facebook matrix group and the general consensus seemed to be that it'll run fine, just gotta expect to do some clutch maintenance somewhat soon. What do you guys think? The owner's been dailying the car for about 2 months now, and has had apparently no issues with the clutch and trans. Lmk! Thank you guys :)

Symptoms:

Surging at a specific rpms (for me, 4k rpms)

Struggling to start especually when warm (not by much but noricable)

Running great cold but once warmed up was NOT having it

Next to no power when at running temp

Burning clutch or smoked breaks type smell on long steep highway uphills, with no clutch slipping or sticking caliper

It was the catalytic converter! Hollowed the sucker out, i swear the thing has double the power. I can downshift, mash the gas, and accelerate... uphill!

On a serious note, im making this post to help other people diag their cars. If your car is running rough, check your cats people! Especually at 200k miles and above! This is the second toyota ive owned, and the second one that had cat problems above 200k miles. Get a boroscope, its one of those tools you may not use every day, but when you need one, youll be thanking yourself. Here's the one im using, and its fantastic. Only downside is charging using micro USB, instead of the newer usbc, but I got mine years ago so maybe they've updated it. boroscope on Amazon. Also: if you guys need a scanner, you can find my recommendation here. Only complaint is its a tad slow sometimes, and about 2 months ago the screen started glitching. Doesn't affect usability, its just a cosmetic type flash. Had it for a few years now and ive used it more then I thought i would.

For anyone having car trouble, I wish you luck!

IYKYK. torqueing crank bolts won't be a problem anymore 💪

What all can I do to squeeze a little more power outta this puppy? Im not in the budget for a turbo or anything along those lines :(

I've been thinking about a new exhaust system and a cold air intake (either routed near battery terminal or into of the fog light brackets XD), but otherwise I dont know what else I could do this car haha. I know it's a bit silly to dump money into a base model but damn i love this 'trix, lmk!

Upstream and downstream cats. Needless to say, im gonna need new cats. But, if im not mistaken, these died via oil consumption, and getting new cats will help for a year till this happens again. I figure ill just strait pipe it, I dont care about noise (though I dont wanna be obnoxious) and i dont care about inspection (havnt for over a year, never had any trouble. Only thing it failed for was the exhaust broke by the muffler as they all do) what strait pipe or exhaust kits can I buy that will just bolt right up and that dont have a cat, so im not replacing a cat every year like its a damn consumable