Toyota Sienna 1998 - 2003 review

Toyota Sienna 2003 (photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.)

Toyota Sienna (photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.)

The engine

The Sienna has the 3.0-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 enigne (model 1MZ-FE). Models from 1998 to 2000 have 194 hp and starting from 2001 the engine power has been increased to 210 hp by using VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing) technology. The Sienna engine has a timing belt that must be replaced at certain interval.

Strengths

- Good crash test ratings
- Sedan-like handling
- Fairly reliable
- High resale value
- Interior quality and comfort
- Standard ABS

Weaknesses

- Front cup holders placed almost at the floor - a little inconvenience.
- The engine is very sensitive to the oil quality or oil change interval.
- Since it's basically the Camry with minivan's body, some components (transmission, front end, etc.) may not be strong enough to withstand heavy load.
- Not as roomy as some of the competitors (Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey).
- Third row seat is heavy to remove.

Overall

If you like the Camry, you will probably like the Sienna too. It's comfortable and handles well. Toyota parts are usually not so expensive and any garage can handle the repair. You may want to consider an extended warranty to protect yourself.
From competitors I'd highlight Honda Odyssey, which has more room, more powerful engine and folding flat third row seat.

What to look for buying a used Sienna

It's definitely worth to check used car history records. A history report may uncover problems that you may not be aware of such as previous accidents, flood damage, rolled back odometer, rental use, etc.
Follow this link: How to check used car history
- Check the service records if available; it's very important to verify that the car was properly maintained and oil changes were done regularly.
- Check if the timing belt has been replaced; if not, you will need to do that.
- If the "check engine" light is on, make sure to check it with a Toyota dealer before buying a car.
Learn more what to look for when buying a used car
Shop wisely, check few cars to compare; it's worth to pay a little extra for a well-maintained vehicle in good condition.
Some models may be costly to insure. Check the insurance quotes first.
As a last step prior purchase, I'd recommend to have the vehicle inspected by a mechanic of your choice.

Maintenance tips

Few tips how to keep your engine in a good shape:
- To keep your engine in a good shape change the engine oil regularly; I'd suggest do this job at your local Toyota dealer, it will cost just a few dollars more, but you will have a peace of mind.
- Synthetic oil will be perfect if you want extra protection for your engine.
- Always check your parking space for leaks, and if you find one, get it fixed as soon as you can.
- Try to avoid overheating the engine, it may cause serious damage to the engine.
- Don't use front end covers - some of them make more restriction to the air flow causing the engine to run with higher temperature.
- Change the automatic transmission fluid regularly using the right fluid type (I'd recommend to buy it directly from Toyota)
- It makes sense to replace the water pump when you change the timing belt.
- whenever your engine is serviced, ask to check and if necessary to clean PCV valve (PCV - Positive Crankcase Ventilation) which is the important part of engine ventilation system. Clogged PCV causes increase in amount of carbon deposits (sludge) inside the engine.
- Try to stick with original Toyota parts, they are reasonable priced.
- Have your car inspected, at least once a year, in the garage on the lift (e.g. when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g. brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected by simple visual inspection at one of those fast lube places; the vehicle must be on the lift.
Check more car maintenance tips

Toyota Sienna short specifications (2003 LE model)

Links

If you want to know more about your car

If you want to find more technical information about you car such as repair manual with diagrams (vacuum line diagram, electrical diagram, etc.), specification, fluids type, maintenance schedule, component location, and so on, there is a website which for a small fee allows you to browse all such an information for almost any car model on-line. You also can find recalls, service bulletins, price for certain parts and labor and a lot more extremely useful information about your car. I tried this service many times and I'd certainly recommend it to anyone. To learn more visit this page:
Where to find technical information about your car

by Vlad Samarin