Toyota Yaris/Echo Service Manuals

About The Toyota Yaris/Echo

The Toyota Yaris can be classed as either a subcompact car or a supermini, depending on what region you are in.

Either way, it’s a small car that is packed full of features and has been in production since 1999.

It was intended to replace the Starlet and Tercel which had both served the company since the 1970s in the same segment of the auto market.

For many years the Vitz nameplate was used on the same car primarily in Japan, although some of those models appeared elsewhere in the world.

Up until 2005 some regions also had the same car on sale as the Echo and then the Belta.

In 2020 Toyota introduced the Yaris Cross, a subcompact crossover SUV that uses the same chassis underneath but with a larger body.

During the various generations that the Yaris has been on sale, it has been available in some regions as a sedan, with a small boot sticking out of the rear.

The lions-share of the models have been produced as hatchbacks though, available with 3 or 5-doors.

More recently the fourth-generation version was released in 2020, initially in Japan, Australia and Europe.

It shares its platform with the Prius and Corolla although they have extended, larger versions of the same chassis.

For the first time, a hybrid option was added to the car in its fourth generation attached to a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and CVT.

A performance trim was also added to the car for the first time called the GR, which shares only a few parts with the standard Toyota Yaris.

A 1.6-liter turbocharged engine powers all four wheels intelligently that can get the car to 60 in just over 5 seconds.

Outside of the GR Yaris is a much more sporty-looking body sporting flared arches and a lower, wider profile.

Common Problems With The Yaris

• Changing gears – if you are noticing problems changing in the lower gears then it could be the synchromesh failing and needing replacement
• Rear-wheel bearing – if at low speeds you are hearing a rumbling coming from a rear-wheel then a bearing could have failed and needed replacing
• Air-conditioning – the compressor is the most likely culprit if you are experiencing a lack of cold air coming through
• DPF light – a common problem among diesel-engined Yaris’ was that they are regularly driven a short distance and the DFP is blocking due to the exhaust never getting hot enough to unblock it