Toyota Corolla Problems

There are a number of things that could be causing the brakes to squeak. The best thing to do is to take the car back to the dealer and insist on having it fixed. It would appear that the dealer has not properly investigated the noise; he seems to have been guessing.

It's far better to have more ratios, since it keeps the car's engine operating at maximum efficiency for more of the time. Top-end car companies are now going for eight speeders, which are brilliant with diesel engines. But Japanese companies are turning to constantly variable transmissions, which don't have cogs - just adjustable belts that stop at preset ratios - and these are often disruptive and the operating software is poorly tweaked.

No matter which brand of fuel you use, you shouldn't be getting a pungent smell through the air vents. It sounds to me like there's a problem with a seal not doing its job in the engine bay, or around the plenum chamber.

If it has got progressively worse over time it could be that the clutch is worn and needs to be replaced. If it hasn't, and it appears to be a characteristic of the car then perhaps a change of technique is required. It might be that you simply need to raise the revs a little when using the clutch and make sure you feel the point of engagement so that you've got enough revs on board at the critical moment the clutch takes up.

Check under the bonnet and clean any debris that might have accumulated around the air intakes on the dash or plenum chamber.

Any of those oils would be perfectly ok for your car. If you are doing really short trips and want the engine to warm up a little faster, and reduce wear during that period, you could use a 10W-40 oil, but I would use a 20W-50 oil as a good all-rounder.

If you bought it from a private seller you can only persist in trying to contact the owner and come to a settlement with him/her. If the vendor was a licensed motor car trader you can contact Consumer Affairs Victoria and ask for their advice.

Take the car back to the dealer and ask that a service technician go with you in the car so you can demonstrate what it is that upsets you. That way you can come to an agreement on whether there is a problem or not, and what might be done to fix it if it is agreed that a problem exists.